Tyro Mazurka by Brooks & Denton, arranged by Fred Van Eps from his "Van Eps Banjo Solos" book available for download at http://classic-banjo.ning.com/page/tutor-books.

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Comment by Dave Houle on July 6, 2015 at 1:55

Great job Joel! One of my most favorite CB songs and you nailed it.




I am also intrigued by the alterations you made to your Eastman Whyte Laydie No. 2. Mostly the tailpiece. I'm wondering how affected the sound from the factory tailpiece. I could never figure out what impact a tailpiece has on a banjo's sound…

Also, a belated Happy Birthday!

Comment by Joel Hooks on July 6, 2015 at 2:24

Hi Dave, thanks!

By the rules of bluegrass it is no longer a Eastman.  It is now a genuine "conversion" Fairbanks WL (the Hartnett came off a original-- all it takes if one part).

I changed the bridge to one of mine.  The bridge on it currently is a "Stewart" pattern that I drilled the legs hollow (don't ask why cause I don't know, it seemd like a good idea at the time).

Because this is a modern banjo, the neck is pitched for wire strings and it uses a really tall bridge.  The reach was a little too much for my hand so I put on the tone bar.  I like it.

The tailpiece is a Colby (sorta FVE).  I had bought it and thought I'd try it out and just left it on.  It looks cool and puts pressure on the bridge.  It also helps keep the bridge from sliding around as I can be heavy handed.

Sound?  I don't know, it is loud.

Comment by Trapdoor2 on July 6, 2015 at 2:25

How cool! I think one of the very first vintage banjo books I ever came across (Brooks & Denton "Gems #1") had this tune in it. I tabbed it out in an old program called "tabrite"...that was in the mid 1990's. I had a terrible time with it as I recall, very different from what I was familiar with (BG, OT, etc.) at the time.

Well done! I believe there is a 2nd for it somewhere (I don't have it). I think TBjr and 'Mouse' (or TBsr & TBjr) play it as a duet on a recording I have around here somewhere.

Comment by Dave Houle on July 6, 2015 at 2:51

Sounds great at any rate. If nothing else the tailpiece makes the banjo look sleek and more important!

There I thought the tone bar was for sound to keep the fingers off the head, while I noticed little difference between the two, but good reason and now I know! I started lifting my fingers off the head only to not wear it out like my BG banjo.

I wish I could fix 'em up like you. I guess the reason you hollowed out the legs is because you could!

Again, great job on a wonderful number!

Comment by Eric STEFANELLI on July 9, 2015 at 11:44

That's a great tune well played! Thanks for share it !

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