Bare finger experiment

[Trapdoor2]

Well, I decided today to do a little experiment. I was cutting my nails and simply cut my usual picking nails back to the quick. I generally leave about 1/16” to 3/32” nail exposed on both index and middle finger (a bit more on the thumb, maybe 1/8”) and rarely cut those, rather filing them back occasionally.

I dunno why, maybe it is the Ball videos, maybe Rob’s exploration of the ZB or Ian’s tutorial on getting those finger-grooves set in. Maybe I’m still getting over last Sunday’s head-cold or perhaps it is sunspot activity. In any case, it’ll be flesh only for the next week or so.

Wish me luck, I’m going to need it. Thankfully, if I cannot make it work, I have Joel’s thimbles to save the day (or I could simply put on my old BG picks…or drag out a Tenor).

BTW, I have acquired a Gold Tone OT-6 banjo (it is a monster…14” pot with a special 6-string neck rigged as 5+chanterelle). I cannot seem to find any use for the extra bass string whilst fingerpicking (tuned gGDGBD at the moment) but it is a hoot playing clawhammer. However, I intend to convert it to a 5-string Cello-Banjo ASAP.

[Ray Jones]

Thank you Marc.   I really enjoyed your show and tell.    I learned a few things as well.

You are a valueable asset to any banjo chat group.

[Jody Stecher]

Marc, another outstanding feature of your CE Special is the heavy bezel (tension hoop) that after all these years still shines like new. Clifford Essex was so good at that. On my old  Clifford Essex and Co banjo I have the same notched bezel and same doodads inside the hoop at the end of each bracket shoe. The whole pot seems the same as yours except for the type of wood. The neck on mine corresponds to the Imperial description. On the perch pole where you have a black label saying The CE Special I have the numbers 901 stamped into the wood.

[thereallyniceman]

That was great Marc,  

I hope that you think the perseverance has paid off...I do!

Nice banjo, nice sound too.  I think it may be a Weaver made CE Special and the wood of the hoop, I believe, is oak.

I have one similar, but not in as nice a condition.

You have certainly got the groove :-)

 

Ian

[Greg Adams]

Thank you for sharing this really fun video Marc! Will you be bringing the CE Special to Suwannee Banjo Camp? If you send me the second for it "Cannon Jig," I'll learn it for you for when we see each other in March and for our classic banjo sleeper cell at AEBG IV.

I really appreciate your experimenting with no nails. It produces such a distinctive and inviting tone. Keep us posted with what you decide to stick with as time goes on!

Later,

Greg

[Trapdoor2]

Thanks y'all!

Greg, yes, I'll have it a Suwannee...but be aware when you play it, I'll have armed guards lurking about so that it doesn't accidently follow you home. ;-) I posted the dots to "Cannon Jig" here back in Nov. but I'll send you them seperately as well.

 

Ian, I think you may be right about the wood. It is cut so perfectly along the grain that it shows none of the pore structure one would expect of oak. It really looks like walnut until you get out the magnifying glass. Weaver built? That's a "twofer" for me. I've wanted a Weaver for a long time. Two fer one!

 

Jody, yes that tension hoop is massive...and I'm sure it adds something to the tone. The S/N on mine is 4330. Since it is an "& Son" banjo, it could have been made as late as 1936. Too bad it can't be pinned down closer than that.

 

Ray (hullo mate!), Silvia, this was fun...I'm thinking about doing the same thing (show 'n' tell) with a few of my other banjos. At least it will give me an excuse to learn more tunes!

[Trapdoor2]

One of the things I like about posting stuff like this is that no matter what you say, somebody with just a bit more information will always crop up...sort of like Ian and the wood species.

 

I sent the link to Eli Kaufman and he came back with even more info about the banjo:

 

Based on his personal CE Special which has a S/N about 300 past mine...with its original sales slip from CE (dated 1934), my banjo was probably made very close to that time.  If we just knew the production rates, etc. From now on, I'll simply say it is from "the early 1930's".

 

Also, Eli sez that by the '30's CE was no longer contracting with Weaver. Evidently CE had opened up their own luthery and were making things on their own.

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Marc,

Interesting what Eli says about the CE link with Weaver. The banjo has very simple dots for fret position markers, which was indicative of Weaver. Other maker of CE Specials, I have seen, have more elaborate MOP markers. I could'nt see clearly but the fifth string nut also looked  a bit like Weaver.

Look here for details and illustration of Weaver banjos. If not relevant to your CE Special, it may be interesting!

 http://www.witchhazelmusic.co.uk/JoeMorley/pages/weaver1.htm

Ian

[Jody Stecher]

"Ian and the Wood Species" sounds like the title of a children's book.

 

 

[thereallyniceman]

Hey Jody,

That is knot funny. I don't want to bark at you but I must ash you to stop these wood jokes. They may be poplar, but will soon be sycamore of them.  I can't think of any more so I guess these laurel have to do.

 

:-)

 

[Jody Stecher]

That's pine with me but it was knot as fir as I could go.  Maple yew don't agree but others wood.   I could alder my plane to  pear this down or change my toon  but I walnut do that. Wooden yew prefer me to? I satin-ly wood.