"I agree, but I don't see Keith very often and we have never been on intimate terms so I don't feel able to approach him on the subject. There are not many Classic banjo players left in the UK and I'm not sure who is in a position to…"
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The last Vibrante Royal ever made? 36 Replies
Started by Steven Watson in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Richard William Ineson 3 hours ago.
The Irish Grenadier march rewrite 2 Replies
Started by Austin in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Austin on Saturday.
Mocking Bird Rag..1912..Charles Theodore Straight.
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 21.
Ragtime Jingles...1916..Al.J.Markgraf
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 18.
Dance on the flat boat-Uncle Remus March..1884..M.Louis
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 16.
30 More Pieces Scanned 2 Replies
Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 14.
What is this ornament? 6 Replies
Started by Ethan Schwartz in Classic Banjo. Last reply by TONY BRYAN Sep 12.
Here Is One For The Boat People 2 Replies
Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 10.
Scott Joplin's mother 1 Reply
Started by bud bennett in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 9.
The Darkies' Drill (1902)....Agnes Melville 3 Replies
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 6.
Yankee Doodle Boy (1904)..George Michael Cohan.
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 5.
7 STRING ZITHER BANJO IDENTIFICATION. 2 Replies
Started by IAN SALTER in Classic Banjo. Last reply by IAN SALTER Sep 5.
Ham Bones..1912..Homer Denney
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 4.
Jaunty/Festive Classic banjo music 4 Replies
Started by Byron Thomas in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Byron Thomas Sep 2.
Some Walter Jacobs Publications Scanned
Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo Aug 31.
Blog Posts
Help please
My Nan used to play the banjo ( many many moons ago ) she was known as “Ena and her banjo”.
Unfortunately her banjo has fallen into disrepair over the years . However her musical genius (apparently a blooming brilliant singer too)has skipped the last 3 generations .We are looking for a recommendation for someone/company to do a sympathetic repair as a surprise for our mums 80th birthday next year .We live in Leicestershire (England) can any one advise us please
Many…
ContinuePosted by Deborah Powers on February 7, 2025 at 14:00 — 3 Comments
"SOMEWHERE IN DIXIE" Banjo 2
Hello, I wrote a Banjo 2 accompaniment for Somewere in Dixie, as there was none. Is it possible to put it in the music library?
Posted by Alexandre Derycke on October 20, 2024 at 20:06 — 2 Comments
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"It would be nice if persons associated with Keith could persuade him (or allow someone else) to scan/digitize and post the Cammeyer ledger in entirety. It would be a huge historical loss if such a document were to be lost in the shuffle that…"
"All's well that ends well, as they say. A small world with old banjos being passed on to new owners as usual. It is interesting to know that the last VR is still in existence. Cam retired in 1938, the year that his wife died, he then moved up…"
"Well, it turns out that Keith previously owned this banjo! He has the ledger and, yes, as far as he can tell it was the last Vibrante Royal made under Cammeyer's name."
"I found him on FB and have just sent a message. I'll let you know if I hear anything. I hope he's okay."
"I understand that Keith has been in hospital for several weeks this year which might explain his absence from this site. I don't seem to have his email address but I will try to find someone who has his contact details. He lives in Leeds and…"
"Thank you both for string suggestions. I measured an original 3rd gut and an original 2nd wire that were in the case. The 3rd string was .8mm (.315") and the 2nd string was .22mm (.086")"
"Do you perchance have contact info for him? I see he's a member here, but appears to be inactive."
"I have had success in feel and in sound using light gauge steel for strings 1,2, and 5, gut or nylgut for string 3, and an Aquila Type D lute string, which is copper wound on nylgut filaments. For a Camm Vibrante Royal I've used,…"
"As to Cammeyer bridge heights, I think that Cam favoured 3/4 inch high bridges on his zither banjos. The only way to get a satisfactory set of zither banjo strings, is as you say, by assembling them yourself. I'm pleased that the zither banjo…"
"I believe that Keith Wilson now has the Cammeyer records."
"Interesting. Always so many Watsons! Given Young's connection to JAT, I'm wondering if Cammeyer's records ended up with JAT -- will investigate...
Yes, I got the Clifford Essex zither banjo set but realise this is still too high…"
"I had until recently, a lot of Cammeyer pieces which were stamped with 'W. E. Watson', and the address 68, Falconer Rd. Bushey, Herts. The only pieces I kept from this pile were 'Handy Jack' and 'Danse Bizarre' which I…"
"1.) The D grace note is a giant quick leap. Admittedly it's spectacularly difficult to pull off at tempo, but my hands have adjusted to worse so I figured others could as well. It is necessary for the voice leading otherwise the lower voice…"
"Most of this looks okay, with the exception of:
1. How do you propose that low D grace note in m.2 be played, given that the LH is up at the 12th fret?
2. Measures 28-29 and 33-34, doubled notes would typically be interpreted as playing the same…"
"Many thanks Byron! It sounds more powerful and brilliant in person. I do find the louder the instrument, the harder to record... I'm using the Clifford Essex zither banjo set with a gut 3rd."
The Irish Grenadier march rewrite
I rewrote most of this march because the original had potential, but was incredibly dull.See More
"That was amazing! Thanks for sharing! I'm loving the sound of the Vibrante. I'm sure it sounds better in person. Are you using the Clifford Essex zither banjo set with nylon 3rd and 4th strings?"
"Just recorded Scheaff's Handel arrangement (possibly not by Handel!) on the Vibrante Royal, with a little semi-improvised prelude...
https://youtu.be/NRmynDgtvjk?is=r_-OS_j9zmNH4VWm"
"RE Marc= well, there you go!
I have all types, including the Starrett Vernier (and some good reading glasses). I usually carry, in my bib coveralls, a pair of Starrett pocket calipers, which are no longer made, and read in both metric and SAE,…"
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