Classic-Banjo

A Site Dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo

Forum

Clifford Essex Imperial restoration project 6 Replies

Started by Andrew 'blind boy' Butler in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Pär Engstrand 2 hours ago.

well, how should my banjo sound ? 1 Reply

Started by nick stephens in Classic Banjo. Last reply by carrie horgan 2 hours ago.

a traitor or just a weirdo ? 16 Replies

Started by nick stephens in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Jody Stecher yesterday.

Xmas is coming.... 1 Reply

Started by carrie horgan in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Trapdoor2 on Tuesday.

When does classic banjo start? 30 Replies

Started by Pär Engstrand in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Jody Stecher on Tuesday.

Variations, Banjo Pollutions of The Blood, etc. 13 Replies

Started by Jody Stecher in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Richard William Ineson on Monday.

Short Readings for Performance -- Poems, Prose, any Recommendations? 5 Replies

Started by Aaron Jonah Lewis in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Aaron Jonah Lewis on Sunday.

Classic Banjo Course with Aaron Jonah Lewis 12th - 14th June at Halsway Manor in Somerset

Started by Sandra Woodruff in Classic Banjo on Sunday.

Chatterbox Rag (1910)....George Botsford.

Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Nov 27.

New Classic Banjo Project 1 Reply

Started by Michael Nix in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Michael Nix Nov 25.

Here is a new one on me from Tarrant Bailey Junior. 4 Replies

Started by thereallyniceman in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Chris Cioffi Nov 24.

Prancing Pickaninnies (1897)...Max Dreyfus

Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Nov 23.

Flying Arrow (1906)...Abe Holtzmann.

Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Nov 19.

"Emmerson" & Cammeyer 5 Replies

Started by Jody Stecher in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Jody Stecher Nov 17.

Bees Wax Rag (1911)..Harry James Lincoln.

Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Nov 16.

Hunky Dory (1900)...Abe Holtzmann 4 Replies

Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Steve Harrison Nov 14.

Jim Hogan-- you out there? 1 Reply

Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Nov 12.

LaBella 17 14 Replies

Started by Andrew 'blind boy' Butler in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Nov 11.

WEBSITE MAINTENANCE UNDERWAY 3 Replies

Started by thereallyniceman in Classic Banjo. Last reply by thereallyniceman Nov 7.

"Classical Banjo" by Al Jeffery. 18 Replies

Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Nov 5.

Blog Posts

Nut Material

I need to change the nut on my Clifford Essex Professional. It currently has an ebony one but I'm not happy with the string spacing.

Would you replace with ebony or bone or perhaps something else?

Posted by Andrew 'blind boy' Butler on November 19, 2019 at 11:30 — 2 Comments

Crémona__ 2019

Just back from Crémona where we played , as usual , Classic Banjo on the bluegrass external stage . The sound engineer love us ' cause there are only 2 mikes , ...LOL…

Continue

Posted by marc dalmasso on September 29, 2019 at 16:30

Photos

Latest Activity

Paul Draper commented on Paul Draper's video

Creole Belles.

"Thanks Carrie!"

1 hour ago

carrie horgan commented on Paul Draper's video

Creole Belles.

"Really enjoyed that. I might have to give that one a go - looks tricky though!"

2 hours ago

Pär Engstrand replied to Andrew 'blind boy' Butler's discussion Clifford Essex Imperial restoration project

"Ok. Then I missunderstod your post, Marc. I'm sorry for that."

2 hours ago

carrie horgan replied to nick stephens's discussion well, how should my banjo sound ?

"Hello Nick. Happy to join in and give feedback. I think the Weavers have a 'dry' sound with a strong bass - more plunky. The whyte ladie banjo will have a brighter-tone. A tubaphone would have even more resonance…"

2 hours ago

Paul Draper posted a video

Creole Belles.

Composition (c. 1900) by Jens Bodewalt Lampe

3 hours ago

2 Comments

nick stephens posted a discussion

well, how should my banjo sound ?

prompted by watching videos posted here I am unsure now of how my banjo should sound ! I recently acquired a sweet old Whyte Laydie which I am very pleased with and, I set it up to give some richness of sound I felt was lacking in my old Weaver,…See More

12 hours ago

1 Comment

marc dalmasso replied to Andrew 'blind boy' Butler's discussion Clifford Essex Imperial restoration project

"Yes Pietsch is a well knowed & very good luthier ; sanding the fretboard straight is the good way to make it playable again , and in the same time , keep the instrument as original as possible ; I was just kidding ON most of the English banjos ,…"

yesterday

Pär Engstrand replied to Andrew 'blind boy' Butler's discussion Clifford Essex Imperial restoration project

"Well, as I said, the neck is slightly warped, maybe a millimeter here and there, and not in a uniform way, sort of wayvy...Not even sure the neck is warped, might only be the fretboard being out of shape. To me it sounds like the sensible…"

yesterday

Jody Stecher replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"It's the first letter of the words that preceded my typing it. All Music That Ever Happened Before."

yesterday

Jody Stecher replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"Your reading of the situation seems very likely to me. I know a number of able musicians who began playing when young to please others and who later put it aside. Thank your for the subtle invitation to attend a rally. I have not specifically…"

yesterday

nick stephens replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"Jody, you will need to explain that acronym to me, yes indeed the band sharing a common tuner was what I had in mind, to my ears things have improved tunewise within local bands, I no longer have to leave the room when they play ! I guess my modest…"

yesterday

Jody Stecher replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"Nick, your perceptive ability is what is known as "relative pitch". You are able to effortlessly discern when music is in or out of tune with itself. "Perfect Pitch", as Marc has hinted, is indeed an affliction.…"

yesterday

Joel Hooks replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"I think the truth was that she was compelled or felt obligated to play banjo for her brother whom she adored. Perhaps after she married she felt free from that obligation. Though she was a amazing banjoist, it is possible that she did…"

yesterday

nick stephens replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"well, I dont know how perfect pitch is determined but I am often able to say what key a piece of music is in upon hearing it for the first time without reference to any instrument and, when I hear an instrument, any instrument played out of tune…"

yesterday

Trapdoor2 replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"We had a friend of the family who suffered from perfect pitch. She hated my banjo (naturally) but also most music. She was a concert grade pianist. Oddly, she had a stroke, late in life, and she told me that it made her pitch sensitivity go away."

yesterday

Jody Stecher replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"I know about her career as an expert and historian. There must be more to the husband story. If he was going deaf he would notice the sound of the banjo being played less and less. Maybe the developing deafness was accompanied by tinitus, which can…"

Wednesday

Joel Hooks replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"Hi Jody, She was devoted to her brother Cliff (who basically raised her) and banjo playing was his thing. She stopped playing after she got married. Her husband was going deaf and they avoided any noise in their house-- that includes…"

Wednesday

Jody Stecher replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"By all accounts she was a fantastic person. Do you know why she stopped playing? I can easily understand retiring from performing and recording. No more pressure. But stopping playing banjo means no more pleasure (of a particular…"

Wednesday

Joel Hooks replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"Nope-- see what people miss by not going to ABF rallies! I found ads from Vega where she claims to have used a WL to record with. We also got to read letters from both Bill Nelson at Vega (who was not very nice and kinda demanding) and William Lange…"

Wednesday

nick stephens replied to nick stephens's discussion a traitor or just a weirdo ?

"well, that is good then ! I kinda thought that I was somewhat odd in my choice since most players wax lyrical about those old Weavers, a very pleasant little player but, to me it feels somewhat cumbersome almost like an agricultural implement with…"

Wednesday