Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 16, 2015 13:04:26 GMT
On Saturday, I managed to do a deal whereby I acquired a rather fine Chuck Lee custom banjo with tubaphone tone ring. It came out of the blue - a good friend of mine had this banjo for years which he played in a band, but he sent me a text a week ago saying he might want to sell it as the band was moving in a different direction. I was interested, but couldn't afford a big outlay since I just got CBM from Dave (see the thread in the 'Build' section), so I suggested a part-exchange. At the weekend, I swapped my Bart Reiter Special (plus some cash) and walked away with a new (to me) banjo. While the Bart Reiter was a fabulous instrument, in excellent condition (there's a thread about it in this section I think), the Chuck Lee is a bit better, and crucially has a different sound with the tone ring - louder, more sustain, more piercing. On a banjo, maybe that's not generallya good thing, but for an open back with a vellum head, it's great. It also has a Tony Pass 'Lost Timbre' block rim, made from ancient submerged wood (mucho mojo ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/4P2m7Wdr3EokVQJu96z8.gif) ). It's an older banjo, and while it has very minor signs of use, it's in very good nick generally. Solid as a rock, plays beautifully and sounds amazing. After selling my Luke Mercier banjo to a fella in Canada yesterday, I'm now lucky enough to have three very good quality, very different sounding banjos (De Faoite, Cedar Mountain and Chuck Lee). The pics are a bit rubbish, but if I get the chance I'll upload some more later. ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4462/37431374496_e0e33a42f7_b.jpg) ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4492/37431375176_0bb7050b6c_b.jpg)
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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 16, 2015 14:09:57 GMT
There's no denying it's a banjo ... cool headstock inlay, too (for me) Of course, a picture paints a thousand words, but a soundclip equates to a thesis so... ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/mlxlZma8z9CKeadTJnRG.gif)
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 16, 2015 14:45:35 GMT
Understood, sir! ![:topper:](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/6TalHzkcVNwJ5UlDE6Iz.gif)
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 16, 2015 14:53:21 GMT
....piercing.....? ![:faint:](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/j11lAmRoqE0VoR_NIsP1.gif) But congrats anyway Martin - the technicalities are lost on me, but I'd love to hear it too! Keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 16, 2015 15:04:15 GMT
....piercing.....? ![:faint:](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/j11lAmRoqE0VoR_NIsP1.gif) Very! ![(rofl)](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/9FGfkpbK2m06xGDe4F98.gif)
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 16, 2015 15:14:28 GMT
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brianr2
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Post by brianr2 on Mar 16, 2015 17:28:41 GMT
What, pray, is the collective noun for banjos?
A pluck, dungaree, inbred....?
Brian
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 16, 2015 18:08:02 GMT
... a deliverance?
K
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 16, 2015 20:02:32 GMT
A 'Symphonic Revolution' of Banjos ![:banjo:](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/2J7Lcu5dNKtByFOMOqS2.gif)
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Mar 16, 2015 21:47:07 GMT
I like the "air-gapped" nutslots and pretty (3-piece?) dowel stick. Hope you're not planning to change the head very often with that 28-bracket rim!
Look forward to more photos!
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 16, 2015 22:18:31 GMT
Cheers, Joe. Yep a scalloped nut! Fancy! The dowel stick is the same as the neck, and I think is described as nine piece (I think it's only five ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/_g1DVDIn6z4r1ytlD55x.gif) )!!! The previous owner just put a brand new vellum on it before I got it, so it'll be there a good long time, thankfully!
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 16, 2015 22:41:06 GMT
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Mar 16, 2015 22:58:20 GMT
...plus some sounds from Dave's banjo which is long overdue a recording. I have been waiting very politely and patiently , but now that you mention it... ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/4P2m7Wdr3EokVQJu96z8.gif)
Perhaps I could put in a request for Star Of The County Down?
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 17, 2015 0:09:35 GMT
You can indeed, although I can't promise it'll be recognisable ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/4P2m7Wdr3EokVQJu96z8.gif) I'll do another thread with pics and sounds from VictorM, but for now, here's a short clip of all three banjos playing the same small piece back to back as a comparison.
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brianr2
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Post by brianr2 on Mar 17, 2015 8:38:58 GMT
Fascinating and very enjoyable. I can see why you wanted the Chuck Lee!
Brian
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