"I've got an old Cammeyer Patent ("Patent" is the name of the model of zither-banjo) that has lost lots of its veneer. I bought it As Is and have never strung it up. You've given me the idea that maybe I should see how it plays,…"
Classic-Banjo
A Site Dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo
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Jody Stecher
- 73, Male
- San Francisco, CA
- United States
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Jody Stecher's Discussions
Crazy Banjo
1 Reply
Started this discussion. Last reply by Pär Engstrand Jan 17.
Farland Banjo strings. Questions for the historians.
6 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Trapdoor2 Dec 28, 2019.
"Emmerson" & Cammeyer
5 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jody Stecher Nov 17, 2019.
Gifts Received (2)
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"All good news. And yes, differences in timbre due to 3 string types is the essence of zither-banjo."
"Four thoughts:
If the bridge is sitting on a flexible surface, then the vellum is too loose.
If the bridge has been "mounted", that suggests it has been affixed. That's worrisome.
If the action seems high then the strings…"
"A tension hoop over time will go down as far it is possible to go. But "over time" can mean decades.
26 inches? That's on the short side. Not longish after all."
" A high tension ring is not unusual when a new vellum has been mounted. It lowers itself over time. I suggest giving it time to settle in. Unless.... did you wet the vellum with a wet towel last time? That's not going to do the…"
"I have played literally hundreds of old instruments with low frets. I never found a problem. I never had a problem with period gauge string and never with modern gauges. If the frets are not worn then what's the concern? What did you mean…"
"I had an Abbott z-b a while back that on the back of the peghead had something like what might be a ribbon holder or strap holder on yours. It screwed out and could be screwed into a threaded hole at the fifth fret. It was a sort of capo and…"
"1) yes, that's a long-ish scale.
2) some players like to use a strap whilst playing seated. ( I don't)."
"Your proposed tuning (g DADGAD) using the guitar 4th string for tuning to A. And using the guitar fifth string to tune to low D. "
"Maybe try using the guitar 4th for the banjo 5th and the guitar 5th for the banjo 6th. Otherwise they might be too heavy to work in tandem with the higher strings. "
"Not just Windsors and not just early zither-banjos. I have 2 high quality 20th century zither-banjos, an Abbott and a Dallas and neither has a perch pole. But there is no danger that I can see because these banjos have not been mis-strung. The…"
"Ah, Now I see what you meant. About gauges: 008 for 1st and the high drone and .010 for second string are good for longer scale z-banjos. For shorter ones 9 and 11 is ok but no thicker. But the third string should not be steel.…"
"The pots of lightly built open back banjos that were intended to be played with light gauge gut strings tuned low will go out of round after years of medium or heavy gauge steel strings. And these all have perch poles. And some necks may warp.…"
"A few comments: Steel strings and plain wood bridges have been a happy combo for over a hundred years. No problem.
My "understanding" is that 6 and 7 string banjos were used mainly for song accompaniment. But I think Joe Morley used more…"
"Or perhaps Mozart was the Joe Morley of the Fortepiano."
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Banjo Benches at San Francisco Airport!
I was taking a flight out a new terminal at San Francisco the other day and was surprised and amused to see the shape of some comfortable new benches with a new shape. Off topic because they look like plectrum banjos? No indeed, these are Zither Banjo Benches! I'm afraid my mobile phone takes horrible quality pictures but at least the shape was captured. The wave of the future?
…
ContinuePosted on November 17, 2011 at 4:06 — 5 Comments
Farland Metal banjo head on ebay
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 20:50 — 2 Comments
clear photos of the missing banjo
Note the copper bass string, the red binding around the pot and the inlay "The Cammeyer Vibrante Royal" These are distinctive.
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 22:16
Comment Wall (17 comments)
- At 4:06 on April 7, 2009,
Trapdoor2 said…
- Jody, regarding the banjo I'm playing in my videos: that's one of Bob Flesher's "Cotillion" (12") models; my main axe for about 6 yrs. Thanks for the kind remarks, I've gone from archtop Stelling "shrill" to "tubby" over the years (in more ways than one!). I have a fiberskyn head on it, Aquila Nylgut strings and one of those Cole 5-footed bridges. I have a small collection of banjos but the Flesher gets all the playing time these days.
- At 1:08 on April 12, 2009,
Paul Hostetter said…
- Then I shall cheer your posts.
- At 5:54pm on March 14, 2010, Joel Hooks gave Jody Stecher a gift…
- At 8:11 on August 19, 2010,
Liz McElwain said…
- Thanks, Jody. Hope to be able to meet you over the Didmarton weekend.
- At 17:08 on September 11, 2010,
Anthony Peabody said…
- I enjoyed meeting you at Backwell, and I am afraid that I assumed that you were a newcomer to Banjo, so please erase from your hard drive any superfluous and quite unnecessary advice. You don't need any encouragement either. I was the bass banjo at the end of the line, filling in the blanks, and wishing I could play better. So you see, you encorage me!
Anthony Peabody
- At 17:48 on December 22, 2010,
Eric STEFANELLI said…
Thanks Jody, to add me as a friend, i am deeply honored !
I would be to give you some piece of information about my banjos making, give me please your e-mail, mine is : eric.pat-luths@orange.fr .
About your music, many people in France like bluegrass & old timey music, and play it, there is many bands, many american banjo players come to France every years to teach, and have many pupils, there is summer country festivals...i was myself a pupil of Tony Trishka in 1978 and and Ben Eldrige in 1982/83, but we can speak about it by mail. Classic banjo is unknow or very few people know this kind of banjo music.
Eric
- At 14:09 on August 3, 2011,
Pam Tointon said…
Thank you Jody I enjoyed that. Nice to hear an original composition, but well beyond me yet as a beginner I'm afraid.
regards Pam
- At 12:51 on October 18, 2011,
Neil Angus Goodwin said…
- Thankyou for the info, that might explain why it is the only Cammeyer I have seen with the metal bands.
- At 23:51 on March 5, 2012,
allan ideson said…
thanks jody for your input.ime a guitarist .i have good instruments ...this banjo .has a lot of volume .also the neck and fingerboard are a work of art .after all these years the neck is straight .....no truss rod.when i master the beast ill put some tunes on ....thanks...allan
- At 21:34 on March 8, 2012,
skip sail said…
hi Jody,met you on your australian tour,we talked Fred Macdowell and Robert Petway and jammed a bit on some fingerpicked blues at Camperdown. Thanks for the welcome to the forum! Skip
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