Cello Banjos Today

[David Trainer]

Dear All. 

As noted in my previous post, I play a modern 5-string Goldtone Cello banjo which I have arbitrarily tuned to E and absolutely love it. The 14 inch head gives the instrument a loud and melodic tone. 

I have always wondered what happened to all the original cello banjos that were made in the early 1900s and I assumed tuned an octave below the normal G tuning ? 

Does anyone own and play a vintage 4-string or 5-string cello banjo or are they all in museums or private collections ? 

Regards. 

Dave 

[Trapdoor2]

I own and play an ~1895 S.S.Stewart CB. One of my favorite instruments.

[David Trainer]

Thanks for sharing photographs of your banjo collection - superb !!. 

I also found your video on the internet last night showing you playing your S S Stewart cello banjo. It's an impressive instrument for sure. I wonder why cello banjos aren't seen or heard these days ? . I have never seen a vintage Cello banjo for sale in the UK. 

Regards. 

Dave 

[Trapdoor2]

Originals are fairly rare...they were never built in large numbers. I was told there are only around a dozen Stewart CBs known to still exist. Part of the problem is that they're typically relegated to playing simple bass lines..no solos. However, I have found a couple of Classic banjo pieces that sit quite comfortably played solo on the CB. You saw me playing the A part of Norton Greenop's "Skeleton Dance". The full piece is a hoot to play on the CB. Amazingly, "Fun On The Wabash" sounds really good too.

Generically, pieces with strong bass-string solos/melodies and minimal chord stacks do well. Busy stuff just gets lost in a low muddle. I have had good luck with slower stuff like waltzes too.

[Joel Hooks]

The Gold Tone cello banjo is not exactly what they represent it to be.  It is really a tenor banjo with a 5th string added.

By "tenor banjo" I mean it based on a Gibson tenor cello banjo (one octave below the tenor banjo).  This was the model that they used for size and scale.  It is pretty short for a 5 string cello and can lack the power needed in the original intent ensemble setting. 

Marc pretty much covered it.  They are great in theory, in practice it is another thing.  For their intended use-- bass lines or counterpoint to second banjo accompaniment (playing the root note to the 2nd banjo's chords) they fill in the bottom end perfectly.  At rally before last Marc's cello added much to the general playing as he thumped along to the roots.  It was a welcome addition. 

That said, I've heard people try to play clawhammer or other solos.  Clawhammer ends up sounding like buzzing noise that is very unpleasant to me, so much so that when it was being done I had to remove myself from the area.  Classic solos end up sounding like dull noise but it can be a good bit of novelty. 

[David Trainer]

Hi Marc, Joel. 

Thank you both for responses to my question on the cello banjo. At the other end of the scale is the so-called Giraffe banjo or banjorette that seems to have been a novelty instrument with a very small [5 inch ?] head. Again I have never seen one for sale or heard one being played. It's another instrument that really intrigues me !!.