"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."
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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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"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,…"
"I would think that all professional and semi-professional zither-banjo and "regular banjo" players who lived and performed within 90 miles of London in 1939 would have known each other. "
"Allow me some pedantism as an old machine-shop denizen:
"Vernier" is the type of readout on the calipers. They are "Calipers" and there are 4 common types of readout: Vernier (the oldest), Dial (has a dial with a needle),…"
"Very cool story and connection, It will be fantastic for you to give it voice again.
Regarding connection to Cammeyer? My guess, Watson bought that stuff from Cammeyer at Cammeyer's "studio" (store)."
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