davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Mar 17, 2015 13:44:54 GMT
Martin, Great new banjo - looks and sounds great. Love the cross on the headstock - is there a piece of garlic inlaid in it  I can see seven laminates in the neck but the thinner white veneers may be two pieces each which would make nine. Interesting comparison between the three - VictorM sounds very muffled compared to the other two so I've a long way to go in my banjo making apprenticeship. |
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Mar 17, 2015 14:01:07 GMT
I was thinking "loud", "cheerful", "warm" as I listened to these, in that order.
The tone rings will make a big difference in sound but (and I hate to say this as it took us ages to fit!) I suspect the main differentiator for VictorM is the vellum - VictorM's vellum is top quality but quite thick compared to others I've fitted. But, assuming they have the same rim diameter, it would be fairly straightforward to swap, and see if the warmth travels with the head, or stays with the banjo.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 17, 2015 14:23:46 GMT
Martin, Great new banjo - looks and sounds great. Love the cross on the headstock - is there a piece of garlic inlaid in it I can see seven laminates in the neck but the thinner white veneers may be two pieces each which would make nine. Interesting comparison between the three - VictorM sounds very muffled compared to the other two so I've a long way to go in my banjo making apprenticeship. Ha! Yes, the cross is quite gothic - I love it! You may be right about the laminates - I tried counting them, but my eyesight isn't quite good enough  VictorM is quieter and more muffled, but at the same time is fuller and bassier. It also has much heavier strings than the other two (the Chuck Lee has very light strings on it, which feel weird!), and this will affect the response, as well as the vellum. It's one of the reasons I wanted to adjust the neck angle and lower the string height - just to see the affect on tone/volume with the playing style that would allow. I was thinking "loud", "cheerful", "warm" as I listened to these, in that order. The tone rings will make a big difference in sound but (and I hate to say this as it took us ages to fit!) I suspect the main differentiator for VictorM is the vellum - VictorM's vellum is top quality but quite thick compared to others I've fitted. But, assuming they have the same rim diameter, it would be fairly straightforward to swap, and see if the warmth travels with the head, or stays with the banjo. Interesting observations on the sound! I probably agree  I think you may be right with the vellum, combined with the much heavier strings, giving VictorM the character it has. I have a spare Remo Renaissance head that I might try on it when I sort out the string height and try a lighter string. Although 'muffled', it really has a lovely tone. |
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Mar 17, 2015 14:46:41 GMT
I was thinking "loud", "cheerful", "warm" in that order. That is the perfect description! I didn't like one more than any other - they were just all different and, as with guitars, some will be suited to particular tunes, or circumstances/situations, than others. I mean, that's why we have so many of 'em, right? It's not cos we're greedy or anything.... |
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Mar 17, 2015 16:01:32 GMT
see if the warmth travels with the head, or stays with the banjo. Joe - what great bon mots - I'm having those.  |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 17, 2015 16:22:19 GMT
Lovely vid Martin - enjoyed all three sounds v much! Keith |
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Andy P
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My main instrument is: Furch Vintage, Taylor 312ce, Deering 5string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Mar 20, 2015 20:27:50 GMT
A fine looking instrument. Chuck Lee? Didn't he make a dodgy video with Pamela Anderson  ? |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 20, 2015 21:17:18 GMT
Yeah, that's him! |
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minorkey
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On book 3 of the Guitarist's Way, thanks Keith
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My main instrument is: a 20 year old Fender DG-5 Dreadnought named Tilly
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Post by minorkey on May 24, 2015 14:09:30 GMT
What, pray, is the collective noun for banjos? A pluck, dungaree, inbred....? Brian An Ojnab of Banjos |
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Andy P
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My main instrument is: Furch Vintage, Taylor 312ce, Deering 5string banjo
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Post by Andy P on May 31, 2015 16:47:36 GMT
Chuck sounded the best to me Martin. All you need to you is snip off that extra string and you have a decent instrument  |
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Post by gavdav on Sept 11, 2015 12:34:28 GMT
Late to the party on this one, but really enjoyed the comparison vid. I've also just 'upgraded' to a tuba-phone. I may be addicted...
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 11, 2015 15:29:50 GMT
Cheers, Gav!  You should put your tubaphone on your signature, unless it's too embarassing to admit to a banjo  |
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Post by gavdav on Sept 11, 2015 15:35:15 GMT
It's a long and complicated instrument to list - A Helmut Rheingans Orb 5 string neck on a 1920 Vega hoop - and I'm hopefully gonna get Jack Smidmore at Brook to do a tasty headstock inlay! Plus, if i listed everything, it'd be a loooooong list |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 11, 2015 16:21:58 GMT
It's sounds fascinating. Any chance you could post some pics at some stage? Love to see it, or better, hear it as well |
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Post by gavdav on Sept 15, 2015 12:36:17 GMT
I will take some pics and when I'm feeling brave a recording. I went over to Brook guitars yesterday to talk to Jack about a faceplate for the headstock, which feels weirdly unfinished as it is (paramount style, solid flame maple) - I almost want to wait until he's wreaked his magic...
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I can see seven laminates in the neck but the thinner white veneers may be two pieces each which would make nine.
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Jo whoever he is.
