 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| A question about styles and banjo types | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
|---|
| Posted: Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 06:30 am |
|
1st Post |
|
BigBear51 Approved
|
Greetings Everyone! First of all, I have to compliment Richard for making such a great site, I starting playing ukulele a couple months ago and this site has done wonders for my playing, Keep up the great work!! Now for my question... In addition to the uke, I have decided that id like to learn how to play the banjo and am hopefully going to be in the market for one within the next few months. My problem is that im not really sure which style id like to learn how to play, ("Scruggs" style bluegrass or Clawhammer). and i suppose that ideally, id like to learn how to play both. Now, i know that clawhammer is mainly played on an open back banjo, while bluegrass is played with a resonator. So i guess what im saying is, is there one type of banjo that is suited for both styles? would it be possible/better to try and play clawhammer on a resonator, or bluegrass on an open back? Any input on the impact that the type of banjo will have on the sound would be very helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance!! P.S. - So far in my research ive been looking into the Gold Tone Cripple Creek models. If anyone has any advice for other good, (possibly cheaper, but still "good") "beginner" banjos out there, I would appreciate it. Thanks again!!
____________________ "I do not fear ukuleles, I fear lack of them" -Isaac Asimov, author |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 10:04 am |
|
2nd Post |
|
1four5 Approved 
|
Since I fingerpick, and am the worlds worst clawhammer attempter...I really can't give you an educated answer...however, one thing I can tell you is that Richard recommended the CC100R to me a little over a year ago, and I'm am still loving mine more every day. I even bought a banjo worth 5 times more (Deering Sierra) and ended up selling it because I like the CC better. Another thing to consider, is that if you buy a CC100R (with a resonator) and decide to play it open back, all you would have to do is remove the resonator, and 4 resonator brackets, and walla, you have a CC100 open back banjo. I also might add that banjo playing is extreamly addictive...I haven't touched my uke in over a year now  Another great banjo in the same class is the Deering Good Time. Our local Guitar Center carries them, so I get to play them every time I go in there. I really like the Good Time II with a resonator. They are close to the same sound, volume, punch and light weight as the CC. If Gold Tone didn't make the CC, I would have a Good Time II, and I constantly read in the internet that the Good Time open back is a great clawhammer banjo. Welcome to ezFolk!
____________________ These are the good times! |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 01:54 pm |
|
3rd Post |
|
Philj200 Approved 
|
My 1.345 cents. Any decent five string banjo can play any style. Open backs seem more suited for frailing and traditional styles. But you can do all that on a resonator instrument. Big heavy resonator instruments...usually asssociated with bluegrass and related music...can do everything too. My advice: Think before you buy. Viist a lot of music shops. Talk to as many banjo pickers as you can find. Ask question. And ask questions here. Observations: No good banjo is cheap. No cheap banjo is good. You might find someone selling something they don't know the value of but don't count on it. A poorly set up, hard tp play instrument will frustrate you. Buy the best you can afford. And get it set up for you by a competent person. Banjo set up is more personal than buying a guitar. You can always change you mind. Start out playing bluegrass and migrate to traditional. Smae instrument works. Or get a second instrument. Or trade in your first. It won't shake the pillars of heaven if you don't keep your first banjo. I took my first one apart. Facts: Resonator banjos are heavier. Open backs are lighter. Will you be carrying it around a lot? In and out of cars? Backpacking? Banjos are more fragile than guitars. Are you prepared for an instrument that will not take kindly to bouncing in a trunk? Banjo players are a different breed. If you want to enter this fraternity, you ust be prepared to memorize the secret hand shake and learn by heart the answers to at least banjo jokes.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 02:04 pm |
|
4th Post |
|
Richard Hefner Administrator 
|
Hi BigBear51, The ability to remove the resonator from the Cripple Creek (CC100-R) is unusual and a really good feature of that banjo. Dean especially likes it because it's light and sounds good and all of the Gold Tone banjos play great too. Most banjos (even the Gold Tones) don't have a removable resonator, but another one that does is the BG-250 (The Bluegrass Special). That's what I play and I really like it for both bluegrass and clawhammer. Tell you the truth, I took the resonator off within about two weeks of getting it 3 or 4 years ago and still haven't put it back on but I do have it just in case I ever decide to. The drawbacks to the BG-250 over the Cripple Creek is that it's pretty heavy because it's got a heavy tone ring and it's also a bit more expensive. Not many people sell the BG-250 for some reason and it's not available through ezFolk right now (wish it was) but you can find it at Janet Davis's music store. Here's a link... http://www.bluegrasscenter.com/gt5.html One other consideration about this: you can play bluegrass or clawhammer on any openback or resonator 5-string banjo. You don't absolutely need one or the other. That's why both styles suit me playing the BG-250 as an openback.
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 08:34 pm |
|
5th Post |
|
banjo brad Super Moderator 
|
And now, for something completely different . . . (Just so you know right up front, I'm the forum's contrarian curmudgeon old-time clawhammer banjo player.)My first banjo was a Deering Goodtime 5-string banjo. It is not the Special or II model. I have had it since 2000 when I started playing. For $300, I don't think it can be beat in the price range (Sorry, Philj, I think it is good.) Now, I play old-time and folk music on my banjo, almost exclusively clawhammer style, with some beginning 2-finger old-time style. I tried, but cannot begin to play in any bluegrass style, and, to be truthful, don't really care to learn. The Deering Goodtime line is reasonable, durable (it can be used for the camping trips, beach parties, etc.), and I think it sounds good. Just had to give a differing viewpoint - I have played a couple of Goldtones, and am especially impressed with the Bob Carlin signature model. If I were to come upon a spare $grand or $so, I would be sorely tempted. Incidently, if you are going to be playing bluegrass, I hope you have other players available as it is really a group-oriented music. To really sound like a tune, you need the banjo, a guitar, a mandolin (at least), plus fiddle, bass and dobro to do justice to the music. Clawhammer style is adaptable to bluegrass music, but not exactly welcomed with open arms. I think you will find that most bluegrass people look on the Goodtime with scorn, and also look the same way at any open-back banjo. "It's Earl's Way or the highway" with them. Incidently, when you do buy, I suggest a reputable dealer who will assist with a proper setup as part of the deal. Without a decent setup, any banjo will sound bad, be hard to play, and make you wonder what you ever saw in the instrument in the first place! (Bunker gear on, rant off)   (By the way, welcome to ezFolk!)Last edited on Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 08:37 pm by banjo brad ____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Aug 3rd, 2006 11:18 pm |
|
6th Post |
|
Philj200 Approved
|
I consider any banjo over $50 expensive.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Aug 4th, 2006 01:58 am |
|
7th Post |
|
BigBear51 Approved
|
Hey guys, Thanks for all the responses! It certainly gives me alot to think about! I think ill spend the next few weeks shopping around at some of the local music shops here in town and seeing what they have to offer, (id like to see and hear the Deering and Goldtone(s) in person and probably make my choice then). 1four and Richard, That advice about the CC100R and the BG-250 having removable resonators is awesome, it pretty much seals the deal for me right there, (Although ill shop around a bit and see if my local music stores carry either so i can hear them in person and hope fully compare them with a deering or similar type instrument). Brad, thanks for the advice on bluegrass music, thats really good stuff to know about just how many folks it takes to make that sound! That fact alone has me leaning more towards the Clawhammer style as my first banjo endeavor, I even started fishing around on the clawhammer uke section of EZfolk, hehe. Phil, thanks for all the insight, im definitely going to do my research and take my time with this purchase. Now if youll excuse me, i need to go learn the secret handshake and practice the punchlines for banjo jokes  Thanks again for all the great info and advice guys!
____________________ "I do not fear ukuleles, I fear lack of them" -Isaac Asimov, author |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Current time is 10:58 am | |
| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > A question about styles and banjo types | Top |
