Getting a better banjo

[Pär Engstrand]

So, in the near future, I'm looking to "upgrade" my banjo. My main, and only, classic banjo is an Clifford Essex Imperial, from 1908, according to the seller (how ever he found that year out).

My question is, where do I go next?

I am planing to spend around 1000 €, maybe a couple of hundreds more if something really interesting shows up.

On the Bernunzio homepage there's a Clifford Essex C.E Special for 950 $, would that be the way to go? Here's a link: C.E Special

For some reason I'm drawn to english banjos, I have no idea why. Is there a difference between english and american made banjos? I have never seen an english banjo draw the prices of some Fairbanks and Stewards, but admittedly, I have very little experience in this field.

For me it's alot of money to pay for an instrument without being able to try it out and I don't want to end up making a misstake. Although buying from Bernunzio would be pretty safe, I reckon.

Or maybe there's some member here who would like to part from one of their banjos? ( I can't think of a reason why, but maybe, maybe... :-) )

So, any thoughts and ideas are most welcome! Thanks in advance!

[Trapdoor2]

In my opinion, the CE Special is exactly that, "Special". I think it is the deep pot 3-1/4" (82.55mm) that does it. My CE Special is a banjo that will never leave my home while I can still see the green side of the grass.

Some banjos just resonate. In the case of my CE Special, I can feel the bass rattling my chest cavity.

Dating CE banjos is problematic. If you go by the nameplate and S/N, mine looks to be 19-teens but Eli Kaufman has one only a few digits away from mine and he has the original hang-tag from CE...1934!  

[Pär Engstrand]

Thanks Trapdoor (Mark?)

In your opinion, is 950 $ a good price?

[Rob MacKillop]

"For that snappy Bill Ball sound". Looks great. 

[Jody Stecher]

I had a CE Imperial. Eventually I sold it to a student who needed it more than I did. It was an excellent banjo. I saw no need of an upgrade. The more expensive models are "sidegrades" so to speak. I think they have different qualities rather than better ones.  Are you sure whatever shortcomings you perceive in this banjo are not a question of setup?  The right bridge and right vellum and right vellum tension are all essential. And the neck/pot fit must be snug. And if I remember right,  this may have been one of the banjos on which Nylgut strings sounded awful. I settled on new Clifford Essex gut strings and they were perfect for this banjo. I found a natural vellum was the best head for this banjo.

[Joel Hooks]

I have not played that one, but I know someone who has.  The neck has been reset and it now requires a very high bridge to keep it from buzzing.

It is also priced a little under double what the going rate is.

Network, make friends, go to the banjo rallies in England, put the word out that you are looking for one.  One will turn up that has been unmolested.

I also like English banjos.  I am picking up my "new" Metal Hoop Special at the ABF rally next month.  I am very excited!  It will be a nice voice to complement my Professional.

[Trapdoor2]

That would be Marc...the Marc sans savoir-faire. ;-)

I haven't been in the market for a long time. I have no idea what is a good deal today. I can't remember what I gave for mine!

I suddenly remembered that I reviewed my then new CE Special on youtube. Set the wayback machine to 2011!

Pär Engstrand said:

Thanks Trapdoor (Mark?)

In your opinion, is 950 $ a good price?

[Rob MacKillop]

What a charming fellow in that video! Really good playing there too, and the Rob MacKillop gut strings sound good, with no squeak. Those strings are collector's items. 

My, that pot is deep. Sounds great.

Pär, you'd better buy that banjo before I start thinking about it! :-)

[Pär Engstrand]

Thanks alot for your thoughts, guys!

I'm sorry I haven't been answering until now, I ended up in Hospital the day after I posted the question and was held there for about a week (it turned out to be nothing to serious...). So with that happening, I will not be able to buy a new banjo. So go ahead Rob :-)

That's why Jodys tips makes me more than happy. I have gut strings on my Imperial now, but a plastic head. Will put a natural head back on it as soon as I get the chance and hope that will make me happier. Although it's not that I'm unhappy with the Imperial. I guess I just wanted one more banjo, but then again, who doesn't...? :-)

All the best

[Rob MacKillop]

I hope you are ok now, Pär? We have to take care of ourselves. 

And, no, I will not be buying that banjo...I have enough already, and my fretted SSS Orchestra 2 is finally arriving tomorrow. 

Best wishes...

[Pär Engstrand]

Rob MacKillop said:

.I have enough already,

I will be, thanks! But are you ok?? Never heard a banjo player say that before... :-)

[Rob MacKillop]

Haha. I didn't really mean it, of course :-)