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Tenor Banjo
After spending a few weeks in Ireland I am intrigued with the idea of getting a tenor banjo to have fun with. Does anyone have experience with these?
Looking at a few on line shops there seem to be plenty “vintage “ tenor banjos that are very reasonably priced. Are the vintage examples a better starting point than the new ones that are available?
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#2
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Yes. You’ll get a far superior instrument for less money.
A Deering Sierra tenor will cost you $2500 new. For $1000 you should be able to get a Vega Tub-a-phone, a Paramount Model A, possibly a Weymann, any of which will outclass the Deering. Check the Banjo Hangout classifieds. Make sure, if the neck is held with a piece of wood (the “dowel stick”) that the neck angle is ok. A dowel stick is nothing you want to mess with, as I learned from experience. I play jazz, not Irish, and Irish uses a different tuning and heavier strings. But any tenor can be set up either way. You may have to widen the nut slots. I’ve also read Irish players prefer the shorter scale 17-fret necks, rather than the longer scale 19 fret necks usually used for jazz. I’m just spouting internet knowledge here. I’m sure there are Irish players who can help you. Steven
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2007 Martin OM-21 1950 Epiphone Devon 2019 SilverAngel mandolin (“Swazi” - it’s a long story) Eastman MDA-315 2021 Karsten Schnoor Custom B&D Style 5 tenor banjo 2019 Schnoor Weymann (orphaned pot) conversion 1958 Gibson ES-125T 1967 Emmons GS-10 1976 Fender Telecaster (“Ohmygodthisweighsaton”) Lots and lots of other stuff Last edited by stevo58; 08-19-2022 at 11:58 PM. |
#3
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I bought a Gold Tone last summer thinking I'd enjoy it. I was wrong, I'm a Clawhammer guy and don't. The banjo itself is pretty nice and sounds great. Is it as good as a vintage one? Probably not. Will it get you started for under a grand? Absolutely.
Myself I don't like Deering banjos, so I'd definitely go vintage before dropping any dough on a deering. |
#4
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Right now Gryphon has a Paramount, Elderly has a Bacon Serenader and a Vegaphone, and Smakula has a Bacon style C, all for $1000 or less. The Bacon at Smakula is already set up for Irish.
Steven
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2007 Martin OM-21 1950 Epiphone Devon 2019 SilverAngel mandolin (“Swazi” - it’s a long story) Eastman MDA-315 2021 Karsten Schnoor Custom B&D Style 5 tenor banjo 2019 Schnoor Weymann (orphaned pot) conversion 1958 Gibson ES-125T 1967 Emmons GS-10 1976 Fender Telecaster (“Ohmygodthisweighsaton”) Lots and lots of other stuff |
#5
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#6
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Jimmy Mazzy and Don Vappie immediately come to mind as jazz players whose deep knowledge of blues informs their jazz playing. But it’s not Irish. These two are particular favorites who show what the instrument is capable of. There are many others.
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2007 Martin OM-21 1950 Epiphone Devon 2019 SilverAngel mandolin (“Swazi” - it’s a long story) Eastman MDA-315 2021 Karsten Schnoor Custom B&D Style 5 tenor banjo 2019 Schnoor Weymann (orphaned pot) conversion 1958 Gibson ES-125T 1967 Emmons GS-10 1976 Fender Telecaster (“Ohmygodthisweighsaton”) Lots and lots of other stuff |
#7
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Tenor banjos are GREAT if you have a group to play with, but by yourself nah it's not worth it. I sold mine after just a few weeks because I had no use for it and it was soooo loud.
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#8
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As far as solo, a top player could do it with no problem of course. As a rule I always play with at least one other. Check out Jimmy Mazzy’s duo wit Eli Newberger (tuba) “Shake It Down.” It's not missing anything. But like anything, you have to put in the time.
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2007 Martin OM-21 1950 Epiphone Devon 2019 SilverAngel mandolin (“Swazi” - it’s a long story) Eastman MDA-315 2021 Karsten Schnoor Custom B&D Style 5 tenor banjo 2019 Schnoor Weymann (orphaned pot) conversion 1958 Gibson ES-125T 1967 Emmons GS-10 1976 Fender Telecaster (“Ohmygodthisweighsaton”) Lots and lots of other stuff |
#9
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Generally volume can be tamped down with a rolled t-shirt or small piece of foam between the head and the down that runs through the back of the banjo.
If you are playing a resonator-backed tenor banjo, simply remove the resonator.
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Sorry, no longer suffering fools |
#10
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If I were seeking a "new player" vintage tenor right now I'd buy this. Is it beat up? yes, however... Is it made by Gibson? Yes. Is it vintage? Yes (100 years old). Can it be built into a better banjo with commonly available parts (tone ring, flange, resonator, bluegrass neck, additional coordiantor rod)? Yes. Does it have a danged useless "perch pole" stick? NO! Is it a darned good banjo only needing a setup and a new head? yes. If I didn't already have a couple almost exactly like this, I'd buy it myself.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12546589786...Bk9SR77C8tDXYA If you want to go wild right off the bat, consider making an offer on this one (19-fret): https://www.ebay.com/itm/14452161879...Bk9SR6bp5tHXYA Last edited by H165; 08-20-2022 at 03:22 PM. |
#11
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A solid inexpensive starter option is the $250 GoldTone AC4 or AC4-IT available in local and online stores.
The AC4 worked well enough in GDAE Irish tuning that I bought a second to try out alternate tunings. The AC-1 5 string version won a NAMM best of show award. Cheers https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldt...string&sort=az
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#12
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stai scherzando? Last edited by frankmcr; 08-21-2022 at 10:32 PM. |
#13
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Going back to the OP's question, if you're looking to get a decent tenor banjo and not spend top dollar, I'd go for a well set up vintage 19 fret tenor banjo over affordable new tenor banjos such as Goldtones or the Deering Goodtime series. Nothing wrong with either of them but sound wise they don't do much for me. A good source for vintage tenor banjos that are well set up for playing in GDAE tuning would be the Trad Banjo website (they're a US business that specialises in restoring vintage tenor banjos and setting them up in GDAE for playing irish music). The banjos are well set up, reasonably priced and Dan, who runs the shop is the salt of the earth. For some reason in the States people think that Irish tenor banjo players prefer 17 fret tenor banjos - couldn't be further from the truth, even kids play 19 fret tenor banjos over here. You will rarely see a pro playing a 17 fret tenor banjo, the few that come to mind would be the late Barney McKenna RIP who switched from 19 fret to 17 fret in his later years due to health issues, and Angelina Carberry - otherwise it's 19 fret tenor banjos all around. Good ones are easier to source, things like cases for them are easier to source etc. I prefer the string tension on 19 fret tenors when tuned GDAE vs. the feel of 17 fret tenors in GDAE.
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1969 Martin 00-18 2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar Last edited by packmule; 08-22-2022 at 02:02 AM. Reason: added info |
#14
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#15
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For vintage banjos of all kinds, the best place I know of to find them is Bernunzio's in Rochester NY.
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