CE FOOT STOOL ON EBAY UK.

[IAN SALTER]

I can't imagine what else it would be,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187388378723?_skw=vintage+banjo&itmm...

[Joel Hooks]

There have been, historically, a few banjo holders invented but I do not know of any that were successfully marketed.   I have seen a few designs for guitar that might be adapted to work with banjo.  At some point I might try to work that out. 

When I bought my Spanish guitar it came with a guitar holder that sticks on with suction cups.  I've used this a few times with banjo by just setting the banjo on it.   For guitar I like to use one of those pillow things, but my guitar is based on an 1860s Torres and is kinda small. 

IAN SALTER said:

There are a number of articles and discussions on various websites, about injuries caused by the long term use of footsteps and the development of guitar holders as an alternative to them.

[Jody Stecher]

The suction cup  guitar holder seemed like a good idea— until I tried it. The cups did not adhere well to the side of the guitar and the part that was supposed to go over my leg had a curve that did not resemble the curve of my leg. It seems to work for some. But not for me.

Joel Hooks said:

There have been, historically, a few banjo holders invented but I do not know of any that were successfully marketed.   I have seen a few designs for guitar that might be adapted to work with banjo.  At some point I might try to work that out. 

When I bought my Spanish guitar it came with a guitar holder that sticks on with suction cups.  I've used this a few times with banjo by just setting the banjo on it.   For guitar I like to use one of those pillow things, but my guitar is based on an 1860s Torres and is kinda small. 

IAN SALTER said:

There are a number of articles and discussions on various websites, about injuries caused by the long term use of footsteps and the development of guitar holders as an alternative to them.

[Jody Stecher]

Banjo-between-the-thighs is for people with long arms.  If I place the banjo there and want to actually pluck the strings I have to bring my right shoulder very  far forward into a contorted position. Also the brackets hurt the tender skin of the thigh insides. That's probably why most of the people I've seen use the BBTT position are playing resonator banjos. One exception was an equestrian who played a Whyte Laydie open back banjo. He would ride for many hours at a time. The insides of his thighs were probably tougher than the bottoms of my feet,  

The top of my legs are like shoe leather, no problem placing the banjo on my right knee. No need to clamp or exert force with the forearm. Just its presence is enough to hold the banjo in place.

Joel Hooks said:

I think your design is better than the CE version.

They are not for everyone.  The last couple of ABF rallies I have not used mine.  I have found that many people now hold their banjos between their thighs.  When I do that I find myself slouching and collapsing my chest which restricts breathing.  For me the stool is a compromise so that I do not have to clamp the rim to my body with my forearm. 

Trapdoor2 said:

I made a copy based on photos/measurements from Joel. I re-designed it to be more compact, more easily stowed, and it uses fewer components (no springs). I find them uncomfortable, but never really gave it more than a few minutes trial. If I made another, it would be angled a bit so my foot didn't sit flat...maybe make a secret compartment for a half-pint flask of liquid courage. ;-)

[Joel Hooks]

 Several of the "old timers" at the ABF rallies hold their banjos like Eddie Peabody, between the thighs with the neck pointing up like a cello towards their left shoulder.  They got their start on plectrum banjo at Shakey's Pizza and this position has transferred over to regular banjo. 

I tried it and did not like it.

[Jody Stecher]

All with resonators I presume. 

Joel Hooks said:

 Several of the "old timers" at the ABF rallies hold their banjos like Eddie Peabody, between the thighs with the neck pointing up like a cello towards their left shoulder.  They got their start on plectrum banjo at Shakey's Pizza and this position has transferred over to regular banjo. 

I tried it and did not like it.

[Joel Hooks]

Sometimes.  But for the last few years really fancy Stewarts seems to be the choice. 

Jody Stecher said:

All with resonators I presume. 

Joel Hooks said:

 Several of the "old timers" at the ABF rallies hold their banjos like Eddie Peabody, between the thighs with the neck pointing up like a cello towards their left shoulder.  They got their start on plectrum banjo at Shakey's Pizza and this position has transferred over to regular banjo. 

I tried it and did not like it.

[Jody Stecher]

OK. Less weight in the pot than a Tu-ba-phone.

Joel Hooks said:

Sometimes.  But for the last few years really fancy Stewarts seems to be the choice. 

Jody Stecher said:

All with resonators I presume. 

Joel Hooks said:

 Several of the "old timers" at the ABF rallies hold their banjos like Eddie Peabody, between the thighs with the neck pointing up like a cello towards their left shoulder.  They got their start on plectrum banjo at Shakey's Pizza and this position has transferred over to regular banjo. 

I tried it and did not like it.

[Trapdoor2]

Eddie Peabody is probably why I'm here...

My Dad was the pilot of a Navy transport airplane during the Korean War (he also flew in WWII). He was assigned to a USO type tour taking Buddy Hackett, Anne Blythe and Eddie Peabody around the war zone. Eddie gave him a couple of albums, and I grew up listening to them.

When I got my first banjo (at age 13), it was a 5-string (a Kay) and I had no idea Eddie played 4 strings...and all I had was the Mel Bay "Fun With The Banjo" book.

I accidently tried again at age 20...and it took.

I prefer to have the banjo on my right thigh, angled to about 2 o'clock (depending on your POV). I use one of Joel's cloth protectors to keep the hardware from digging into my leg. Another banjo has the old rubber hose trick, protecting my leg.

When I was playing BG, my teacher recommended I adjust the strap to suspend the banjo whether sitting or standing. I still do that but I tend to shift it so that it is over my right thigh. I think that is because that geometry makes my picking fall closer to the neck/pot joint (which makes my ears happy) rather than close to the bridge...

I see in the picture that Eddie is picking pretty close to my preferred position. Imagine that!

Joel Hooks said:

 Several of the "old timers" at the ABF rallies hold their banjos like Eddie Peabody, between the thighs with the neck pointing up like a cello towards their left shoulder.  They got their start on plectrum banjo at Shakey's Pizza and this position has transferred over to regular banjo. 

I tried it and did not like it.

[Joel Hooks]

No judgement on my part regarding Peabody, while not really my thing I totally get it.  He was a true entertainer and pretty much changed the general approach of playing plectrum banjo.  

I also feel like I would have been all in on Shakey’s were I born earlier. It sounds like good fun.

[Jody Stecher]

Maybe not, after tasting the "pizza". 

Joel Hooks said:

I also feel like I would have been all in on Shakey’s were I born earlier. It sounds like good fun.

[Jody Stecher]

Does anyone (else) remember a 1950s LP series called "Pardon My Blooper"?   Misspoken gems from radio and TV were 
reproduced in the grooves. One of them was " And now... Eddie Playbody will pee for you".   

Trapdoor2 said:

Eddie Peabody is probably why I'm here...