Your Thoughts On Open-Back Banjo Choices Welcomed!

[SpruceTop]

Thanks, Folks, for putting this thread over 30,000 views; I guess banjos are more popular than many of us thought they were!

Another guitar and banjo in my stable: Epiphone DR-500MCE and Vega Old Tyme Wonder 12"

[SpruceTop]

I thought I'd post a photo of today's practice instruments:

Huss & Dalton TD-R - Deering Sierra Maple - Martin D-18

[SpruceTop]

Today's trio of practice instruments is a Larrivee SD-40, a Taylor 614ce, and a Rickard Maple Ridge 12.

The Canadian-made Rickard Maple Ridge 12 features an aged-brass 12-inch Dobson Tone Ring, aged-brass hardware, and EVO frets. Its tone is deep with a pleasing metallic ring and with its 25.5-inch scale length, a joy to play!

[H165]

Blasphemy though it may seem, my favorite open back banjo after my converted Whyte Laydie is an ancient Gibson Oriole conversion (both were tenors). However, this oddball might also interest readers of this thread:

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by H165

Blasphemy though it may seem, my favorite open back banjo after my converted Whyte Laydie is an ancient Gibson Oriole conversion (both were tenors). However, this oddball might also interest readers of this thread:

I Like It! There are quite a few old tenor to 5-string conversions out there, especially in the bluegrass banjo world.

[Mr. Natural]

OK I'll play. Here's my Guild D-20 canoodling with my Helix spoon-jo.


Just wish I could play them both at the same time!

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Mr. Natural

OK I'll play. Here's my Guild D-20 canoodling with my Helix spoon-jo.


Just wish I could play them both at the same time!

I'll bet them spoons give y'all a heapin' helpin' of a ringin' good thing, eh?

[Mr. Natural]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

I'll bet them spoons give y'all a heapin' helpin' of a ringin' good thing, eh?

They do, they do...

I was pretty skeptical, but I gotta say the sound on the Helix is amazing. Kind of growly like a tubaphone, but still clear and plunky like a senator. I've almost completely stopped playing my Ode longneck in favor of this thing.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Mr. Natural

They do, they do...

I was pretty skeptical, but I gotta say the sound on the Helix is amazing. Kind of growly like a tubaphone, but still clear and plunky like a senator. I've almost completely stopped playing my Ode longneck in favor of this thing.

The Ode Longneck! What I lusted for back in 1964 as a novice banjo player, and it would have been a gigantic step up from my Kay 5-string! Alas, new at a $150 or so with case, it was beyond my means as a 14-year-old.

[SpruceTop]

Well, it ain't the ODE Long Neck of my younger dreams, but from ODE and OME founder, Charles Ogsbury, comes my OME North Star Walnut 5-String Banjo featuring aged-brass hardware including its Vintage Brass Tone Ring. Other playing comforts include its scooped fretboard and walnut armrest. This banjo is effortless to play and will be with me for the duration! Keeping my OME North Star company on this cold and snowy Sunday afternoon is my Taylor 356ce 12-String and my Taylor 618e. Thanks For Looking!

[SpruceTop]

Hi Folks,

This Sunday afternoon's playing session includes a 2016 Taylor 322ce, an Eastman EBJ-WL1 Whyte Laydie, which is a recreation of an extant 1903 A.C. Fairbanks Whyte Laydie Number 2, and a Pisgah Appalachian Walnut 12-Inch Tubaphone Custom. Please note the banjo tone rings, a scalloped Whyte Laydie for the Eastman, and a Tubaphone for the Pisgah. The Tubaphone tone ring is the sound of the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s as it was an integral part of the Vega Long Neck banjos as played by Pete Seeger, The Kingston Trio, The Limeliters, and many other artists and bands of the era. The Pisgah has a Lakota Leathers Bison Leather Strap for playing comfort. Thanks for looking in!

[stevo58]

Ok, here are mine. Not as huge a collection as yours, but I am pretty much GAS-free.

First, my beloved Martin OM-21 and 1920's Slingerland pot with a Karsten Schnoor neck:



Then my jazz combo, a The Loar LH-700 and a Prucha Pioneer tenor:



Detail of the peghead. This is, of course a Weymann shape and inlay pattern. Unfortunately, this photo doesn't catch all the subtleties in the pearl:




steven

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by stevo58

Ok, here are mine. Not as huge a collection as yours, but I am pretty much GAS-free.

First, my beloved Martin OM-21 and 1920's Slingerland pot with a Karsten Schnoor neck:



Then my jazz combo, a The Loar LH-700 and a Prucha Pioneer tenor:



Detail of the peghead. This is, of course a Weymann shape and inlay pattern. Unfortunately, this photo doesn't catch all the subtleties in the pearl:




steven

Hi Steven, Nice Instruments! The Martin OM-21, even though I don't own one, has always sounded good to me when playing one in a store and they always seem to have excellent spruce tops. I'm always interested in combination banjos made up of different assemblies such as your Slingerland/Schnoor banjo, and the peghead inlay is gorgeous. Prucha banjos are well thought of but I haven't played one, yet. Enjoy!

[SpruceTop]

YAY! I've actually had a couple of emails from Ozark Banjos, not regarding my custom build in the queue but about their new lesson platform. This is great as it lets me know that they're still alive and kickin'--Go, Ozark, Go!

[SpruceTop]

This afternoon's fun instruments to play and surf and brew with!

Republic Duolian - Vega No. 2 - Larrivee C-03R TE Tommy Emmanuel



Current Banjos:
Vega No. 2 Tubaphone
OME North Star Walnut
Eastman EBJ-WL1 Whyte Laydie
Vega 12" Old Tyme Wonder
Rickard 12" Maple Ridge Dobson
Pisgah 12" Walnut Tubaphone
Bart Reiter Regent Whyte Laydie
Deering Sierra Flathead