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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| Getting a Long-Neck Banjo | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Fri May 29th, 2009 04:03 pm |
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1st Post |
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garyblanchard Approved 
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Since Pete Seeger was my banjo inspiration, it is only natural that I have wanted a long-neck banjo for the past 40 years. I could not, however, justify getting one simply because Pete plays one. More and more, however, I find that the key of E is a great singing key for me. Since I am a singer who plays banjo rather than a banjo player who sings, it began to make sense that a long-neck banjo was not just something I wanted but something that I could really use. While searching for banjo players in Massachusetts at the Banjo Hangout I came across Noho Banjo. This is Bruce Kriviskey, who restores old banjos and builds new banjos from parts. We started communicating and he offered a great price on a long-neck banjo. He stated that he gets his banjo necks from Asia ; having seen some of the overly-ornate necks on EBay, I was a bit reluctant. Then I saw a long-neck on EBay that was more ornate than I would usually choose, but less than the ones I generally see. I bid on it and was the sucessful bidder. So the neck is on its way to Bruce who will add an RK rim with a Whyte Laydie tone ring, a fiberskyn head, and all the other tuners. The end result will be a unique and very personal instrument. This is quite a step forward for me, and I am quite excited to get this into my hands. I have already booked a gig for late July so I can show-off the new banjo! The best part of it all is that the banjo will cost less than the cheapest mass-produced long-neck I have found. Not too shabby. 
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Fri May 29th, 2009 04:45 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Jim Yates Approved 
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I hope you'll post a picture when it's done Gary. Like you, I've always wanted a long neck.
____________________ Jim http://www.myspace.com/jimyates http://www.myspace.com/mapleleafchampionjugband |
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| Posted: Fri May 29th, 2009 05:35 pm |
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3rd Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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Not to worry. I'll be like a proud new papa and bore people to tears with pictures.  And sound clips. 
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Fri May 29th, 2009 07:10 pm |
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4th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Well, I guess you're really about ready to re-don the bowler! Congratulations, I'm looking forward to the pictures, review and some sound clips!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Fri May 29th, 2009 08:09 pm |
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5th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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You know, I'm really no closer to the bowler than I was before. My focus now is more folk than old-time, and the bowler just doesn't seem right for folk. But then too, you just never know.
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Sat May 30th, 2009 06:21 pm |
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6th Post |
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Jim Yates Approved
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 We were playing "folkie stuff" in this picture. I don't think my bowler seems out of place.
____________________ Jim http://www.myspace.com/jimyates http://www.myspace.com/mapleleafchampionjugband |
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| Posted: Sat May 30th, 2009 08:36 pm |
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7th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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I think it is primarily my head that is out of place. The bowler suited a frame of mind I had while doing the old-time/good-time music. Now I am doing more music that has themes of peace, hope, and social struggle and the bowler doesn't fit my frame of mind. I never say never, but right now the bowler waits in the hat box.
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Sun Jun 21st, 2009 02:50 am |
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8th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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It's here!!!!!!!!!!!  I picked up the banjo today, and it is great. I think, after playing the Goodtime, that it will take more to get used to the weight and sound of the tone ring than the neck legnth.  Here's some pictures:    
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22nd, 2009 02:24 pm |
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9th Post |
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Jim Yates Approved
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Very pretty! Is that flamed maple on the neck? It looks like it'd look good with a bowler.
____________________ Jim http://www.myspace.com/jimyates http://www.myspace.com/mapleleafchampionjugband |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22nd, 2009 03:48 pm |
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10th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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I really don't know what the neck is made from. I'll have to go back to the Ebay listing for the neck and see if they said. Okay, the listing says: Geez, that bowler thing won't die, will it.  Last edited on Mon Jun 22nd, 2009 04:05 pm by garyblanchard ____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23rd, 2009 01:40 am |
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11th Post |
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JWTURNOUT Approved
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congrats on the long neck. love to hear it.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23rd, 2009 10:30 pm |
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12th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Gary- Great looking banjo! Many happy hours with it, and many good songs/tunes!  /* Omit bowler comment */ 
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 02:19 am |
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13th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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I just posted 4 songs that I recorded using the long neck. Tom Dula's Lament is, to the best I have been able to figure, an older version of the song Tom Dooley. Tenting Tonight was written in 1864 and shows a weariness with an endless war. Sadly not an outdated song. Jacob's Ladder is a song I sang in grade school; I use Pete Seeger's last line, "Brothers, Sisters all." Worried Man Blues is a great old tune. As much as the Kingston Trio were an early introduction to folk music for me, they sure did pop-up some songs; I much prefer these words. The songs are here: http://c1.ezfolk.com/Gary_Blanchard/audio.php Sorry to be touchy about the bowler, but, as the saying goes, that was then and this is now. I have never been much of one to go backwards. I have been where I have been and am glad for it, but I am more focused on where I am going.
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 02:41 am |
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14th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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I understand, Gary. I've just been using it as a running gag - I'll delete it from my repertoire. Gotta find a few minutes to go listen to your new stuff!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 10:14 pm |
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15th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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What a great sound, Gary! I like your version of Tom Dula - I've heard bits and pieces of it mixed with other verses by some old-timers. Worried Man Blues is another favorite of mine, and your version is very similar to mine. Welcome back!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 11:08 pm |
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16th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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Thanks, Brad. For the new CD I am getting mechanical rights for The Hammer Song, Get Up and Go, and This Land Is Your Land. It will be mostly Seeger-related material. That's not hard to do because he has recorded so many songs. (It will not be a Seeger Sessions type of disc.)
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27th, 2009 08:40 pm |
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17th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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"(It will not be a Seeger Sessions type of disc.)" That's the best thing I've heard! I would never expect to see you bastardize the music like those sessions did. Let me know when you have the CD finished, I'd like to obtain a copy. Hope you use all the verses in "This Land is Your Land."
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28th, 2009 02:44 am |
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18th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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banjo brad wrote:
Of course I am using all the verses. The last two verses are among the best. Last edited on Sun Jun 28th, 2009 02:44 am by garyblanchard ____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28th, 2009 02:59 am |
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19th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Jul 6th, 2009 01:11 pm |
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20th Post |
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garyblanchard Approved
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I finished the CD on Saturday. I ended up doing three songs on the guitar - The Hammer Song, The Water is Wide, and Turn, Turn, Turn. I did a re-record on Tenting Tonight as there was one place where I choked a little and I messed up the words on the last verse. I hope to have copies of the disc in my hands by early next week. I am pleased with the cover design as well. It turned out to be rather eye-catching. I've learned my way around the Harry Fox website. It's funny that sometimes a search for the song title turns up nothing but a search for the writer turns up the very song you were looking for.
____________________ http://www.GBandF.com http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/audio.php?p=1 |
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