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evenkeel

evenkeel

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Just back from a week at my parents house in NH. Snow, cold, very, very Christmasy! But enough of that cold stuff!! Feels good to be back in St. Pete.

While helping the 'rents clean out the basement and garage I stumbled upon...

Banjo002.jpg


As best as I can figure she's a 1967, Silvertone. I remember having this as a kid, but had no idea it was still around. Thought it was tossed eons ago. Needs a bit of work...

Banjo005.jpg


but is now in St. Pete awaiting same.

Also discovered hundreds of '50's and 60's sheet music, song books, instruction books (inc. a early 60's Pete Seeger now to play banjo book). Also now in St. Pete awaiting my attention.
 
sumitomo said:
He Haw,cool find break out the moonshine and squeal like a pig.Sumi:D
Click to expand...

Hey! I resemble that remark! :messedup: :rotflmao:

It is a cool looking banjo! I've always wanted to play one, but never bothered.
 
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Very nice EvenKeel, after seeing The Steeldrivers play live in October why would anybody not want a banjo, mandolin, fiddle or a guitar. Enjoy that fine item.
 
street music said:
Very nice EvenKeel, after seeing The Steeldrivers play live in October why would anybody not want a banjo, mandolin, fiddle or a guitar. Enjoy that fine item.
Click to expand...

:AOK: My mandolin came today so I'm right with ya on that one!
 
peachhead said:
:AOK: My mandolin came today so I'm right with ya on that one!
Click to expand...

So, we get you with your mandolin and Keel with his banjo, and I believe Muddie has a steel guitar. I'll find a slap bass and we'll do a little pickin' and grinnin'! :D

Of course, somebody would actually have to show me HOW to play the slap bass, but I love a challenge!
 
So the repairs are underway.

The paint on the resonator was badly damaged, likely from years of storage in a damp basement and more recently in a unheated garage. I could see no other option but to remove all the paint. The wood turned out to be in pretty fair shape, so I sanded it and applied a light stain. I figured I could always paint later if the stain looks lousy. But I think it looks pretty good.

Banjo006.jpg


Banjo008.jpg


Next step will be several layers of a clear lacquer coat, sanding in between with a final wet sand.

For who knows what reason there are two small holes drilled into the fretboard under the 5th string. Some banjo players use "spikes" to capo the fifth string, but these holes are way to big. Totally playable as is, but I'm going to try and figure out a way to fill the holes.

Banjo009.jpg


In poking around the interenet researching banjos I've discovered several banjo forums. Nice to know banjo pickers are as goofy as we are. :D :D Usual craziness re: strings, finishes, tone, brands.

Strum, No problems re: weather. Lots of snow on the ground and way cold, but flights were on time, no problems. Checked the banjo on the way back and came thru just fine.
 
Ta Da!!! :D

Came out pretty good.

banjo002-1.jpg


banjo001.jpg


Not going to mess with the fretboard, at least for a while. The resonator got 5 coats of lacquer, sanding with 220 between coats and 400 before the last coat. Did not wet sand at the end, as it looked fine w/o.

Discovered a couple of interesting things re: banjos. Even the very best have a laminated resonator. Would have guessed solid wood, as with top of the line acoustic guitars. Like Fender electric guitars, they are modular. People swap out bridges, necks, heads (the drum like part).
 
I missed this thread.

Wow! Nice surprise evenkeel & great job restoring it. I agree with the rest, it looks better now.

I love me some banjo music.
 
Hey there Keel,

Are you going to add banjo tunes to the repertoire? Just wondering what 4 & 20 would sound like? Did you put that binding around the resonator? Looks very good.

Steve
 
Steve206 said:
Are you going to add banjo tunes to the repertoire? Just wondering what 4 & 20 would sound like? Did you put that binding around the resonator? Looks very good.
Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks,
I'll probably try and learn a bit of banjo. Some of my guitar stuff is fingerpicking, so maybe the transition will not be to hard. Hah!!!
The binding was on the resonator. I sanded that along with the wood and it cleaned up very nicely.
 
evenkeel said:
Thanks,
I'll probably try and learn a bit of banjo. Some of my guitar stuff is fingerpicking, so maybe the transition will not be to hard. Hah!!!
The binding was on the resonator. I sanded that along with the wood and it cleaned up very nicely.
Click to expand...

Does anyone know some basic banjo moves?

All I've heard are the phrases "banjo rolls" & "frailing".

I just googled frailing & found this:

http://www.archive.org/details/frailing.banjo
 
Keel,,

I tried to play a banjo, many years ago. Almost convinced myself to own one, along with the mando and the violin. Luckily, I did not put any money into the idea. I did find that my rudimentary picking transferred from the guitar to the banjo pretty easily. As long as you do not want to sound like all the other banjo players. Also learned that the definition of politeness is being able to play the banjo and then not doing so.

Have some fun,,,

Steve
 
Woo-hoo, congrats!

Pete Seeger is supposedly also one of the proponents of the long-necked banjo (has a few extra frets and longer neck), which is the type I have.
 

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