BANJO AUCTION

[IAN SALTER]

These are a few nice banjos that are coming up soon:

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/be4a56a631885...

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/bd87c2cfb6263...

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/f386c6136412d...

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/72521857b24a6...

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/c64d74b4e850e...

[Joel Hooks]

Sorry, was not talking down to you.  My point is, many things in history do not follow logic or reason to our presentist minds. 

We find certain things very obvious, yet they were not obvious until they were.

"Presentism" is not an insult.  We can't help it. It is the reason we cringe everytime we read a racist title of music, so it can be a good thing.  I am sorry you took it as such. 

Stewart constantly claimed that the pitch should match the size of the banjo.  He also claimed that frets were bad, slowed one down, and sounded metallic.  He claimed that A notation was the best way to note the banjo.  He claimed that wire strings were unmusical.

We know that frets make it easier to play rapid passages, in position and sound clear.  We know that C is a better system of notation (perhaps I don't know, but just have that opinion). We know that plenty of music can be made on wire strings.  And we know that large size banjos may be pitched higher. 

I have theories why SSS made all these claims, but I don't really know why.  And that is okay. 

[Jody Stecher]

Thank you for this clarification. 

[Trapdoor2]

LOL. And yet Stewart sold a lot of huge "Imperial Banjeaurines"...and small-rim "Ladies Banjos" that were tuned standard.

Frankly, I harbor suspicions that he was trying to make money...even at the expense of presentistically minded banjo players of his time. His snake oil upbringing served him well...