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Plectrum banjo strings
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Hi. Im Currently fixing a 1920s Clifford Essex plectrum banjo and was wondering what strings it should have... nylon or steel? It originally had metal friction style pegs but I've fitted pegheads…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Richard William Ineson Sep 13, 2023.
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An Irish Fair Day, played on a Hewett-Stainer banjo circa 1910
"I'm surprised no one commented on your mission, John. Too many Americans here with no interest in English banjos? Surely it can't be that. I'm a Scotsman, and have a great interest in English banjos, as many of them would have been…"
Bristol Hornpipe on Harry Spratt banjo
"Not sure what was going on there. Glad you got it eventually. Yes it's an odd one and raising a lot of questions."
Bristol Hornpipe on Harry Spratt banjo
"The video will not play. A message commanding one to "sign in" appears instead. I'm already signed in to both Youtube and this forum so I have no idea what this means, but it's not banjo music."
Bristol Hornpipe on Harry Spratt banjo
Here's the Bristol Hornpipe Played on a 6 string short scale Harry Spratt banjo. At least we think it's a Harry Spratt. The neck, although somewhat different...
Parisot's Hornpipe
"Thanks, it's a fun little tune. I chose it as its quite simple to play on this tiny little banjo"
Parisot's Hornpipe
"Nicely done, John. When I was in the local Irish session, we often played Madam Parisot's Hornpipe (I was on Irish Tenor Banjo). Looks like the source is "Wilson's Companion to the Ballroom", 1816."
Parisot's Hornpipe
Here's Parisot's Hornpipe Played on my circa 1870, 6 string, piccolo, Tunbridgeware banjo.Mademoiselle Parisot was a dancer and singer of the late 18th and e...
Piccolo/pony scale banjo
"I can't remember how many hours. It started off as a carving exercise and as I was struggling I took a lot of long breaks. It's stained then french polished"
Piccolo/pony scale banjo
"Cool ! How many hours are you into building that neck?
What sort of finish did you end up using?
Y|ep....I can envision the toils of carving it. You did a fine job!"
Piccolo/pony scale banjo
"Thanks. I got it from a hardwood timberyard in Wiltshire. To be honest it's a total nightmare to work with and the carving nearly broke me... I'd never seen it before"
"Hi Joel, Grimshaw recommended a metal 1st string because the gut 1st strings at the time were so thin that they often broke and were just a nuisance. Joe Morley also recommended and used a metal 1st string, this information came as a surprise to me…"
"AFA strings, I am kinda a moron when it comes to plectrum but have been a casual outside observer reading period accounts.
While wire seems to be the standard for pick playing there were plenty who held onto gut. Clifford Essex and…"
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Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 20:27 on May 17, 2022,
nick Kelly said…
Howdy John, rather intrigued by all the string talk, not really understanding gauges, cheers, Nick.
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