I'm buying a banjo

[JimmyM]

In an effort to be as cool as my friend, famed Estonian producer and Winny Puhh guitarist/banjoist/singer Silver Lepaste (far left), I am buying a banjo! His is a tenor banjo, but I'll be getting a 6-string.

A couple years ago, I set up a Rogue 6-string banjo for a friend without knowing the first thing about setting up a banjo, and it ended up being a perfectly good cheapo banjo with low action and a decent sound. Always wanted to get one for myself but never did because I didn't have a reason.

Lately I've been writing songs, and some will sound amazing with banjo. Silver's occasional use of banjo in Winny Puhh's music really showed me how great banjo can be in heavier rock settings. And like Silver, while I've always been a sucker for a great banjo player, I'm a bass and guitar player and don't really want to play bluegrass, nor do I think I could learn how to do banjo rolls. But I can flatpick a 6-string and get what I want out of it.

So my plan is getting one of these Dean 6-string banjos...

...and the plans for world domination of retirement villages can commence.

 

[Oddly]

What a strange thing to buy for a mid-life crisis!
Most people just get a Harley, or a Ferrari.
Looking forward to hearing some of what you're gonna write and play!

 

[MynameisMe]

I had a friend who had one of these banjos that was setup like a guitar and it sounded. Awesome!

 

[hrodbert696]

[Copyrighted image removed per DMCA takedown request]

All right, just kidding, just kidding... have fun with it! I've been wanting a contrabass balalaika forever myself, but they're impossible to find.

 

[BLDavis]

NO JIMMY! NOOOOooooooo!
B.

 

[MattZilla]

I was just reading the other day, something which may or may not be fiction, that archtop guitars were developed to be a better banjo.

When reading that it made sense of why I always thought every archtop I played sounded awful... from the $$$ Loars to the $$,$$$ customs- they're supposed to?!

IDK, something to chew on.

 

[Guitalia]

Next step: form a Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry Orchestra tribute band.

 

[two fingers]

What a strange thing to buy for a mid-life crisis!
Most people just get a Harley, or a Ferrari.
Looking forward to hearing some of what you're gonna write and play!

I just grew my hair out and didn't buy squat.

Have fun, Jimmy! I need to hear some of this rock musoc with bantar when you record it! (Isn't that the common name for a banjo tuned like a guitar? "Bantar"?)

 

[BargeOn]

Buying one is one thing. It takes real courage, or something, to say so on this forum

 

[Pizza1988]

Isn't that the common name for a banjo tuned like a guitar? "Bantar"?

I played one at Sam Ash years ago and the sales guy called it a Guitarjo lmao

 

[Durham52]

Maybe something like these guys would wake things up down at the retirement village?

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

I'll let my bluegrass purist colors show here by saying that the thing with 6 strings and a banjo resonator IS NOT a banjo. It's a guitar, and you won't really be able to play anything that sounds like actual banjo music on it. If you wanna play the banjo but not learn Scruggs rolls, maybe get an open-back banjo and learn to play clawhammer? It's easier than three-finger, and there's a whole world of great music to explore.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 4275996

In an effort to be as cool as my friend, famed Estonian producer and Winny Puhh guitarist/banjoist/singer Silver Lepaste (far left), I am buying a banjo! His is a tenor banjo, but I'll be getting a 6-string.

A couple years ago, I set up a Rogue 6-string banjo for a friend without knowing the first thing about setting up a banjo, and it ended up being a perfectly good cheapo banjo with low action and a decent sound. Always wanted to get one for myself but never did because I didn't have a reason.

Lately I've been writing songs, and some will sound amazing with banjo. Silver's occasional use of banjo in Winny Puhh's music really showed me how great banjo can be in heavier rock settings. And like Silver, while I've always been a sucker for a great banjo player, I'm a bass and guitar player and don't really want to play bluegrass, nor do I think I could learn how to do banjo rolls. But I can flatpick a 6-string and get what I want out of it.

So my plan is getting one of these Dean 6-string banjos...

View attachment 4275997

...and the plans for world domination of retirement villages can commence.

Awesome. I've been wanting to get one for eons.

 

[Pacman]

The definition of a gentleman is someone who knows how to play a banjo, but doesn't.

 

[antfarm]

Maybe something like these guys would wake things up down at the retirement village?

Deliverance comes to mind...

 

[Border]

Hey Jimmy, I think that is a great idea! I enjoy Bluegrass, love the Grateful Dead, especially Jerry, and catch Oh brother, where art thou, every time its on. I think you have made a good decision. Please post clips when you feel comfortable.

 

[BLDavis]

(Isn't that the common name for a banjo tuned like a guitar? "Bantar"?)[/QUOTE]

I thought it was called a Gitjo. But I could be wrong.
B.

 

[BassBrass]

Best traditional jazz band in the USA uses banjo, washboard, no need for a drummer... leader is Shaye Cohen on cornet, vocalist is Erica Lewis, this is back in the old days of 2012. I chose this track not because of the banjo work, there's songs with banjo and archtop solos but this sounds good and has dancers, trombonist seems exhausted

 

[Siggy]

The best of both worlds

 

[GretschWretch]

Forget the banjo, Jimmy; go for the bass (or contrabass) domra. I'll bet Winny Puhh had to go Milne's before they found theirs. Or, if you simply *must* have a banjo

And no, I am not convinced that bluegrass style is harder than clawhammer.