I have been limiting myself to buying one at a time these days.
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I have been limiting myself to buying one at a time these days.
I missed the Chanterelle that Elderly had. Had a lot more inlay than a typical banjo in that price range. Looked like a lot of instrument for $1,100. Oh well, there's a tenor coming that will keep me plenty busy. I've been watching Lukas' videos on YouTube. Discovered he was the banjo player on E-And' A with Darol Anger and Joe Walsh. That recording is about half clawhammer and half bluegrass 5 string. And not to turn this into a banjo thread but he posted this recently and it is such a beautiful example of his playing:
Lukas worked at TME for a while. He makes a great banjo, and he has a great Cd out on Bandcamp. Banjo has a lot of different cultures, and the styles kind of mesh together depending on the region of country you are from, how you learned, etc. Another great is Riley Baugus (who recorded some of the Cold Mountain soundtrack) and makes great banjos out of NC. This is all great music and all these guys play mandolin too, so there's your mandolin content.
I'm into the re fretting some I already owned, by now.. should sell a couple..
I figure several people likely bought instruments with the stimulus money they recv'd, but when times are "uncertain" (though there have never truly been "certain" times) people do sometimes hold back on buying more toys.
Recently I have wondered about many of the artists who simply make a living by going out and playing (like most of the people discussed on this forum). I really hope no one has had to sell instruments off to make their bills. That would be awful.
I read a letter from the host of Woodsongs a couple weeks ago. He stated that if things don't pick up, he might have to sell his place with his cabin in the woods sometime in the summer. That is just so sad to me. Hopefully before things come to that, he (or anyone in his shoes) would seek a regular job with a steady paycheck to hold things together till he can get back to making music. God help us all.
Speaking of two finger style banjo playing, Nick Hornbuckle with John Reischman and The Jaybirds plays an amazing two finger style bluegrass banjo. Others probably do too, but I've never heard about them playing at his level. If you didn't know about it, you'd think Hornbuckle was playing three finger bluegrass style. Fast too when he needs to!
John, there seem to be a lot of two finger players, from what I have been finding. Aaron Keim, who makes ukuleles and banjos (mighty fine ones too) under thebeansprout.com mon, has a book out dedicated to this style. There's a great Mike Seeger documentary, Just Around the Bend, put out by Smithsonian Folkways, just after Mike passed away. It goes through all the different styles with some of the great players in all the styles.
https://folkways.si.edu/justaroundthebend
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Incoming!
Me too! Well, in progress.
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I'm certainly buying less mandolins.
Out of Work low income at best Professional musicians are selling gear now.
That's the beauty of playing an instrument, while jamming with others is a plus, it usually isn't the primary reason to purchase an instrument. If you're gong to be stuck at home and you always wanted to learn an instrument or are just ready because you feel you will be able to commit at least some time to it, that's ussualy good enough justification to take the plunge.
Not a bad thing to "clear inventories" of lower end mandos, as we all know purchasing a low end mandolin often leads to purchasing higher value instruments and in some cases to excess. So I understand the concern for "supply chain" but I am a firm believer in the the invisible hand of the free market forging the economic path.
I bought one of those Ute banjos direct from the Ogsburys during isolation. So I'm doing my part to keep the economy going.
I like it. It plays well and is very light. I'm a fan of woody banjos so the lack of a metal tone ring was no big deal to me. I think it's very similar to the early Enoch Tradesman banjos I tried out back then in terms of sound and feel as well as over all vibe. I like the chamfered fingerboard edge solution to the scoop dilemma. I would have liked a little more fine sanding and another coat or 2 of oil on the neck but I'd say it will wear/play in over time. Now if I ever do get the chance to play it with people....
Congratulations on the purchase! I've been dedicated fan of Ome Banjos for quite a while. I'm thinking that you probably became immediate friends with Chuck and Tanya Ogsbury if you dealt with one or both of them. They truly are super nice folks. The Ute line truly offers some very nice instruments at some terrific prices. I had heard a couple of stories about how the Ute line came into being but I don't know how valid those stories are. But that's for another discussion; I've derailed this thread enough.
I commissioned a custom Davey Stuart build a year ago, no way I'm giving up my spot in line to a virus. :-)
i probably heard a few of the same stories, i did hear there will probably only be around 200 of the Utes made due to the supply of material already available for such-not sure if that is true but it came from a trusted source about a year ago.
i love OMEs , Chuck and Tanya have always been super nice to speak with in regards to their banjos. the Utes are really nice banjos for the $, and if you want to have a slightly different tone, buy a Dobson tonering from Rickard and they usually slide right on-instant Dobson tone. You can do the same with the Enoch Tradesman and have a different tone with little investment.
not meaning to derail the thread, but hope this adds. the entry level Deering Goodtime can be a swell platform to start on, they are made out of good solid woods and setup quite nice. you can go far with one. this young lady has been all over the place with hers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBkhAg8S_Gs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBkhAg8S_Gs
and she took up mandolin some time last year if i remember correct
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSxQ_xl7Ls0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSxQ_xl7Ls0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H6IUQqG_U4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H6IUQqG_U4