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Post by philw on Jun 20, 2013 12:36:04 GMT
Ey up everyone Im already thinking of my next instruments to learn mandolin and banjo. My classical i will buy in another couple of months i think so i can have a look at them at the show in Sept.
I have already looked at a banjo teacher and looking at getting a banjo in a few weeks.
I know Martin is a banjo man and appreciate his input thus far. Anyone else dabbled on the banjo?
Any advice or recommendations as to which to go for? I thought deering were the ones to go for but the guy who i might go to for lessons recommends the Pilgrim brand, the vpb 018 and 045 models In particular?
Its a resonator banjo i am looking at.
Any thoughts?
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 20, 2013 12:52:11 GMT
Well, you know my thoughts Phil so I'll not repeat them, but I hope you get the input you are looking for.
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Post by philw on Jun 20, 2013 13:23:29 GMT
Well, you know my thoughts Phil so I'll not repeat them, but I hope you get the input you are looking for. yeah pal, appreciate it. To be honest i have seen a few deering banjo that i like the look of and the wife is gonna lend me a few quid mid July so i can go get one then. One i saw was the goodtime special at about 550 i think aswell as a couple of cheaper ones which You know but didn't know if there were any closet banjo players other than yourself who have played some other makes so i don't get blinkered on the deerings as i know Nowt about these. Also wasn't sure if the pilgrim brand were being plugged as his mate is behind them?
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 20, 2013 13:44:00 GMT
The Special was one of those I had, and it has a tone ring (the standard GT doesn't). It's dearer but sounds a lot better and louder.
I played an open back Pilgrim at a guitar store last year and it wasn't as good as a Goodtime IMO.
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Post by philw on Jun 20, 2013 16:19:30 GMT
The Special was one of those I had, and it has a tone ring (the standard GT doesn't). It's dearer but sounds a lot better and louder. I played an open back Pilgrim at a guitar store last year and it wasn't as good as a Goodtime IMO. Yep here she is the one I have an eye on www.eaglemusicshop.com/5-string-banjos/deering-goodtime-special-banjo.htmIs it worth paying the extra 150 quid for a tone ring though? I have emailed the shop to see if they have em in stock for me to go look at hopefully they will being the main dealer, and can have a look at the others too - might pop across tomorrow afternoon after my guitar lesson
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 20, 2013 16:55:09 GMT
It might be. I liked the sound it produced in the open back version quite a bit, but the best way is to try them side by side like you're planning. Good luck and have fun! PS: For what it's worth, I still think this one is the best 'bang for buck' banjo out there... www.thomann.de/gb/recording_king_rk_r35_br.htm
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2013 22:54:30 GMT
The Special was one of those I had, and it has a tone ring (the standard GT doesn't). It's dearer but sounds a lot better and louder. I played an open back Pilgrim at a guitar store last year and it wasn't as good as a Goodtime IMO. Is it worth paying the extra 150 quid for a tone ring though? Yes, if you're planning to play Scruggs/Keith styles. A tone ring adds a lot of wellie, needed to play in a driving and fluid way. I can't really give any advice on specific banjos, except to say that I've tried a Goodtime or two and several Goldtones, and as a Scruggs player myself much preferred any of the Goldtones. (My own 'jos are a 1979 Deering, a terrible 1970s Kay job and a Pac rim job called Countryman, bought for a festivals around six years ago and actually OK.)
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Post by philw on Jun 21, 2013 4:44:33 GMT
Is it worth paying the extra 150 quid for a tone ring though? Yes, if you're planning to play Scruggs/Keith styles. A tone ring adds a lot of wellie, needed to play in a driving and fluid way. I can't really give any advice on specific banjos, except to say that I've tried a Goodtime or two and several Goldtones, and as a Scruggs player myself much preferred any of the Goldtones. (My own 'jos are a 1979 Deering, a terrible 1970s Kay job and a Pac rim job called Countryman, bought for a festivals around six years ago and actually OK.) Ok bud thanks for that - you'll have to post some of your banjo playing in the plucky duck There's a banjo player called Dan Walsh who is playing the London Acoustic Guitar Show on the Saturday in the Café which would be cool to see, I was planning on going the Sunday so I could see Jake Shimabukuro on Uke, but not sure now
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Post by philw on Jun 21, 2013 4:51:54 GMT
It might be. I liked the sound it produced in the open back version quite a bit, but the best way is to try them side by side like you're planning. Good luck and have fun! PS: For what it's worth, I still think this one is the best 'bang for buck' banjo out there... www.thomann.de/gb/recording_king_rk_r35_br.htmBeing listening to this on youtube - it sounds sweeeet and a reasonable price too Now then this is seriously tempting me - cant see it anywhere for sale local to me, in fact I read somewhere due to lack of demand they don't ship this model to the UK anymore, so if I go for this one its just on recommendation and listening to via youtube alone, which I have to say again it sounds very nice indeed thanks for posting martin
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2013 5:22:51 GMT
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Post by philw on Jun 21, 2013 5:32:30 GMT
thanks for the link Robbie - will check it out 430-5am is normal, the dogs usually bark to be let out, then by 530am the kids usually rise, so its all systems go early doors here A lay-in is a foreign word to me
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 21, 2013 7:57:14 GMT
Yes, if you're planning to play Scruggs/Keith styles. A tone ring adds a lot of wellie, needed to play in a driving and fluid way. I can't really give any advice on specific banjos, except to say that I've tried a Goodtime or two and several Goldtones, and as a Scruggs player myself much preferred any of the Goldtones. (My own 'jos are a 1979 Deering, a terrible 1970s Kay job and a Pac rim job called Countryman, bought for a festivals around six years ago and actually OK.) Ok bud thanks for that - you'll have to post some of your banjo playing in the plucky duck Phil, though you might be interested to know that Pete ( walkingdecay ) is actually the Founder and inspiration behind our virtual folk club in its previous incarnation on the Forum which gave birth to this one. I'm sure you'll get to hear some of his banjo(and mandolin and guitar and slide guitar) playing plus amazing songwriting and singing at some stage! You'll find at least some if you explore the back pages of the Plucky Duck. keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 21, 2013 8:07:45 GMT
There's a banjo player called Dan Walsh who is playing the London Acoustic Guitar Show on the Saturday in the Café which would be cool to see, I was planning on going the Sunday so I could see Jake Shimabukuro on Uke, but not sure now Dan Walsh is an excellent player, although I wouldn't give up the chance to see that fella Jake - he's something special on the uke!
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 21, 2013 13:28:02 GMT
Martin seems to have rather been left to shoulder the responsibility for advising in this thread ... sorry 'bout that, Martin, but, like, you knows what yer gannin' on about wiv banjers and I don't
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 21, 2013 15:27:14 GMT
Martin seems to have rather been left to shoulder the responsibility for advising in this thread ... sorry 'bout that, Martin, but, like, you knows what yer gannin' on about wiv banjers and I don't Everyone with a banjer should weigh in here I reckon. Us weirdos need to stick together
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