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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Is this worth it? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Feb 5th, 2005 10:24 am |
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1st Post |
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1four5 Approved 
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I'm starting to get the inkling to try a banjo, after having tried one at a local music store. Something small and simple, 4 string, nothing fancy. Banjos come through Goodwill all the time, but I don't know enough about them to make an educated bid on one. Here is one I'm currently watching http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=1195219 Is it worth the current bid of around $70? I missed out on a Harmony of about the same size and condition last week that went for even less. What's something like this worth? Thanks for any pointers anyone can offer! 
____________________ These are the good times! |
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| Posted: Sat Feb 5th, 2005 11:58 am |
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2nd Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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Dean... Just my personal opinion, but I don't see you as a banjo guy... you might be though, and you'll have to decide for yourself. The banjo's a whole different animal than the uke or guitar, and a tenor banjo like this one you're looking at is a whole different thing than a 5-string banjo. I think you can tune it like a baritone uke though, and if that's what you're wanting to do just for a little different sound that's not a bad idea. Then you don't have to learn a lot of new techniques... just play your bari uke stuff on the 4-string banjo. About this particular banjo, it's a cheapo but not bad for 70 bucks... you can't get a heck of a lot for 70 bucks anyway. Musician's Friend has a new Rogue banjo for $79.99. Here's a link... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/511195/ However, the Rogue is a 5-string, which probably wouldn't suit you as well unless you're wanting to do clawhammer or bluegrass, which I'm thinking you don't want. If it was me, I think I'd just stick with the baritone uke. Good instrument, not too complicated, and takes up less space in your head and in your house. 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Sat Feb 5th, 2005 04:04 pm |
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3rd Post |
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1four5 Approved
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Thanks you Richard for a perfect post! I'm still on the fence, and you are right, I was planning to play with the tuning to bari uke. When I did my uke version of "Drinking about the future" my buddies said it sounded like I was picking a banjo, and I really like that rhythm sound. Still thinking it over...
____________________ These are the good times! |
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| Posted: Sun Feb 6th, 2005 08:19 pm |
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4th Post |
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UkeForever Approved 
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What's cool about posts like this is that in the 80s, 1four5 would be looking for a midi-sampler to hook up to his bartione uke so he could get a sampled banjo sound. As music fads come and go, we find there ain't nothin' like the real thing. I think that's awesome. There's a whole new generation now appreciating real instruments as opposed to all the sampled crap of the 80s. I loved my sampler (got rid of it) and I even love my current keyboard, but I don't know how long those things will last. I know I will always have my acoustic guitar (even if I don't play it), and my ukes (well, those I don't sell for other ukes). I just picked up a soprano-scale banjolele cheapo from e-bay to see if I like the sound, and to do a recording for our school's Li'l Abner production. Seems the banjolele is featured prominently in the orchestration. A great excuse to branch out. I also picked up an accordion for uke/accordion multitrack recordings for this site. Banjo Uke: http://i18.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/4e/82/1d_1_b.JPG "Helga": http://i10.ebayimg.com/02/i/03/49/6c/dc_1_b.JPG If we could ever convince 1four5 to play a smaller-scale re-entrant instrument, perhaps a banjolele might be for him. I think changing up his sound would be a benefit to us all. I say grab it, and tune it bari, but then I am a nut. Of course, for slide blues, I think you'd love an open tuning. Why not experiment some? (Especially since we all get the benfit of hearing the result.) Last edited on Sun Feb 6th, 2005 08:23 pm by UkeForever |
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| Posted: Sun Feb 6th, 2005 09:27 pm |
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5th Post |
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1four5 Approved
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I do have a gadget that's used with my electric guitar with a million "presets" so it will sound like anything, or any popular guitarists guitar. It's got tons of canned drums, and a wha wha pedel and all that stuff. I haven't messed with it, or had my Telecaster out of it's case since I started playing uke. Actually, a uke sized banjo, or Banjolele does sound more appealing to me...in fact, at 34" long and only 4 string, I wasn't even sure if the goodwill one was considered a true banjo. I'm still not sure what to do. The cool part about goodwill, is that they just keep on coming...and I'm in no hurry, and the Kay banjo is getting pretty high for my price range...
____________________ These are the good times! |
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