"I want to be clear, I think these kinds of attachment gizmos are the coolest thing ever. I might not ever use these things, but that won't diminish my admiration of them.
Mutes, Willmot Wood resonate chamber things, Grover Vibrator…"
Classic-Banjo
A Site Dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo
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IAN SALTER
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IAN SALTER's Discussions
JOHN PIDOUX ACCESSORIES.
23 Replies
These are currently on eBay UK…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Joel Hooks Apr 29.
CUNINGHAME MANUSCRIPTS?
23 Replies
I've received the following email from a friend; can anyone help?Hi Ian,I wonder if I can enlist your help again? One of the now sadly neglected players from the early 20th century is John (Jack)…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by thereallyniceman Nov 22, 2025.
WOOD HOOP WINDSOR?
6 Replies
Can anybody identify this banjo? In looking at the catalogue that Joel recently posted, I'm sure that it is a Windsor. Although similar to the Popular model no1 except for the peg head, which is like…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jody Stecher Oct 22, 2025.
WANTED: 'DOMINO POLKA' BY HENRY AUSTEN.
3 Replies
Another tune request, if anyone has it in their collection. It appeared as 'Turner's Banjo Budget N°100' and in 'Turner's Dance Album N°7'. The British Library has it, but their digitisation service…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by IAN SALTER Oct 10, 2025.
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"Thanks Joel, I just tried that on my Farland (with both fingers and a bit of wood). It just sounds like a quieter version of more or less the same sound, rather than a different sonority, which is what I imagined the the harp attachment, expression…"
"Yes, just about any banjo mute that touches the bridge has the same impact on the sound. The only one that really makes a very different sound is the Gibson "Wrist Action" mute, which is like running your banjo thru a phazer or flanger.…"
"Press something (fingers, wine cork, block of wood) inside the head where the bridge sits and strum the strings. That is what these gizmos sound like. There might be more nuance to it than that, but it will give the basic idea."
"The info about the Expression Stop is extremely interesting, thank you for sharing. I would be very curious to hear how it sounds. The idea of having the banjo muted by default seems so counterintuitive."
"It is surprisingly adjustable. The corks fit in brass sleeves, which are very lightly spring loaded into the threaded "cans". So, you can turn the cans in and out individually. The mechanism's spring is pretty light by itself, but the…"
"Nice job Marc! So it works like the Farland Harp Attachment, always on. Farland recommended that you keep a stiff pocket book in your breast pocket to press the lever against.
I figured there was a pretty good reason why 100% of…"
"Here's some pix of the Expression Stop mounted (and it works!). I had to make a clamp bar, as the original metal one had been lost. So, about an hour ago, I made this one out of a scrap of Ebony fretboard. I used the advertisement that Joel had…"
"The only way I could see this being workable is for me to reach out to my day job's Ningbo factory and have them find someone to make them. But then they would be on Temu and Aliexpress before the container reached the US with my first…"
"What? Not printing German silver yet?
Maybe next month... ;-)"
"It is pretty unlikely that I will make more than one. I have to cut the parts out with a jeweler's saw and then try to bend the socket to size and shape (the last time it took a few tries to get a useful one). Then I have to solder it…"
"Joel, I would like to try one of the SSS style thimbles, if you make some. I'm currently using a mizrab-type from Canada that suits me nicely for steel string stuff.
The Expression Stop uses 10-32 threads, so that is no problem. I'll have…"
"I received the patent thimble. I am fairly certain that it did not come from SSS. Along with the lot was a copy of the Fitrite pick. This copy is exactly the size of the original Fitrite picks that I have except that the metal is…"
"Well! Less than a month later, the "Expression Stop" has arrived!
Only two missing bits: the nut which holds the lever arm extension to the lever and the plate which clamps the whole unit to the dowel stick. A nut should be easy to find…"
"Here is a piece of music to go with it. Note the note the instructions at the Introduction : "Expression stop ON" and at the bottom of page 2 :"This arrangement cannot be rendered with good effect without an "SX" EXPRESSION…"
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Comment Wall (6 comments)
- At 21:33 on November 7, 2017,
carrie horgan said…
Thanks Ian - I hope you are enjoying learning classic banjo. Are you new to playing the banjo or have you migrated over from another style of banjo playing? Let me know if I can be of any help.
Carrie
- At 16:44 on December 10, 2021,
David Nuttall said…
Yes, that's me. Although I was playing the banjo before I met him, David
- At 19:09 on December 11, 2021,
Oh,yes, I've clocked up 50 years and am entering the rheumaticky fingers stage of Scan's career. However, apart from the Covid effect, even prior to that the places I used to play in had diminished alarmingly.
I've been listening to Olly Oakley on this site - I'd never heard him play material like 'The Policeman's Holiday' or 'Under The Double Eagle' before; Scan played them, all parts. David
- At 23:43 on December 11, 2021,
I was with Ken Stubbs the first time he ever went to 'Elsie's'. I went a couple of times before I moved to ipswich. Steve Pennells and I used to stay the weekend with Ken in Edenbridge and play at The Crown or The Working Men's Club. I played banjo then. David
- At 22:03 on March 1, 2022,
Danielle Saxon Reeves said…
Hi Ian
saw your post about moving to Selly Oak; I run Midlands Fretted Orchestra bit too far away in Stourbridge- we’re always very happy to have reading banjo players along! Give me a shout if you fancy coming along. Best wishes, Danielle
- At 21:33 on March 2, 2022,
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for your invitation. When I've settled in, I'll be in touch to arrange a date to visit you.
Best wishes, Ian.
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