Christmas find!!!

[evenkeel]

Just back from a week at my parents house in NH. Snow, cold, very, very Christmasy! But enough of that cold stuff!! Feels good to be back in St. Pete.

While helping the 'rents clean out the basement and garage I stumbled upon...

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/Banjo002.jpg

As best as I can figure she's a 1967, Silvertone. I remember having this as a kid, but had no idea it was still around. Thought it was tossed eons ago. Needs a bit of work...

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/Banjo005.jpg

but is now in St. Pete awaiting same.

Also discovered hundreds of '50's and 60's sheet music, song books, instruction books (inc. a early 60's Pete Seeger now to play banjo book). Also now in St. Pete awaiting my attention.

[peachhead]

Wow, that sounds and looks like fun. Let us know how it goes as you fix it up!

[Katastrophe]

Flippin' sweet, evenkeel!

Can't wait to hear some bluegrass music!

[mrmudcat]

yes nice catch!!!!!:beer:

[sumitomo]

He Haw,cool find break out the moonshine and squeal like a pig.Sumi:D

[peachhead]

He Haw,cool find break out the moonshine and squeal like a pig.Sumi:D

:eek:

:rotflmao:

[Spudman]

He Haw,cool find break out the moonshine and squeal like a pig.Sumi:D

Great find but I'm with Sumi...I can't get this scene out of my hhheaaaaadddd!
rR84ez1pvvc

[Robert]

Hey that sounds like an awesome find!

[markb]

Just to prepare you for the inevitable :D

http://bluegrassbanjo.org/banjokes.html

[just strum]

It will make a nice wall hanging until you get around to fixing it.

Hope you had a great trip - did you hit a lot of the bad weather or did you mange to dodge it?

[bigoldron]

He Haw,cool find break out the moonshine and squeal like a pig.Sumi:D

Hey! I resemble that remark! :messedup: :rotflmao:

It is a cool looking banjo! I've always wanted to play one, but never bothered.

[street music]

Very nice EvenKeel, after seeing The Steeldrivers play live in October why would anybody not want a banjo, mandolin, fiddle or a guitar. Enjoy that fine item.

[Childbride]

very cool, Keel! :)

[peachhead]

Very nice EvenKeel, after seeing The Steeldrivers play live in October why would anybody not want a banjo, mandolin, fiddle or a guitar. Enjoy that fine item.

:AOK: My mandolin came today so I'm right with ya on that one!

[bigoldron]

:AOK: My mandolin came today so I'm right with ya on that one!

So, we get you with your mandolin and Keel with his banjo, and I believe Muddie has a steel guitar. I'll find a slap bass and we'll do a little pickin' and grinnin'! :D

Of course, somebody would actually have to show me HOW to play the slap bass, but I love a challenge!

[evenkeel]

So the repairs are underway.

The paint on the resonator was badly damaged, likely from years of storage in a damp basement and more recently in a unheated garage. I could see no other option but to remove all the paint. The wood turned out to be in pretty fair shape, so I sanded it and applied a light stain. I figured I could always paint later if the stain looks lousy. But I think it looks pretty good.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/Banjo006.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/Banjo008.jpg

Next step will be several layers of a clear lacquer coat, sanding in between with a final wet sand.

For who knows what reason there are two small holes drilled into the fretboard under the 5th string. Some banjo players use "spikes" to capo the fifth string, but these holes are way to big. Totally playable as is, but I'm going to try and figure out a way to fill the holes.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/Banjo009.jpg

In poking around the interenet researching banjos I've discovered several banjo forums. Nice to know banjo pickers are as goofy as we are. :D :D Usual craziness re: strings, finishes, tone, brands.

Strum, No problems re: weather. Lots of snow on the ground and way cold, but flights were on time, no problems. Checked the banjo on the way back and came thru just fine.

[peachhead]

Looks great- I think what you did looks better than paint, anyway.

[mrmudcat]

Looks great- I think what you did looks better than paint, anyway.


+1:beer:

[bigoldron]

Looks great- I think what you did looks better than paint, anyway.

Way better! :AOK:

[evenkeel]

Ta Da!!! :D

Came out pretty good.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/banjo002-1.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/banjo001.jpg

Not going to mess with the fretboard, at least for a while. The resonator got 5 coats of lacquer, sanding with 220 between coats and 400 before the last coat. Did not wet sand at the end, as it looked fine w/o.

Discovered a couple of interesting things re: banjos. Even the very best have a laminated resonator. Would have guessed solid wood, as with top of the line acoustic guitars. Like Fender electric guitars, they are modular. People swap out bridges, necks, heads (the drum like part).

[bigoldron]

Great job, Keel! She's looking really good! :AOK:

[Kazz]

That is going to look awesome Keel.....I can't wait to hear that sing.

[Kazz]

Only one other thing to say :RyKvD-4IxOY

[tot_Ou_tard]

I missed this thread.

Wow! Nice surprise evenkeel & great job restoring it. I agree with the rest, it looks better now.

I love me some banjo music.

[Steve206]

Hey there Keel,

Are you going to add banjo tunes to the repertoire? Just wondering what 4 & 20 would sound like? Did you put that binding around the resonator? Looks very good.

Steve

[evenkeel]

Are you going to add banjo tunes to the repertoire? Just wondering what 4 & 20 would sound like? Did you put that binding around the resonator? Looks very good.
Steve

Thanks,
I'll probably try and learn a bit of banjo. Some of my guitar stuff is fingerpicking, so maybe the transition will not be to hard. Hah!!!
The binding was on the resonator. I sanded that along with the wood and it cleaned up very nicely.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Thanks,
I'll probably try and learn a bit of banjo. Some of my guitar stuff is fingerpicking, so maybe the transition will not be to hard. Hah!!!
The binding was on the resonator. I sanded that along with the wood and it cleaned up very nicely.

Does anyone know some basic banjo moves?

All I've heard are the phrases "banjo rolls" & "frailing".

I just googled frailing & found this:

http://www.archive.org/details/frailing.banjo

[luvmyshiner]

Wow! Nice job Keel.:AOK:

[Steve206]

Keel,,

I tried to play a banjo, many years ago. Almost convinced myself to own one, along with the mando and the violin. Luckily, I did not put any money into the idea. I did find that my rudimentary picking transferred from the guitar to the banjo pretty easily. As long as you do not want to sound like all the other banjo players. Also learned that the definition of politeness is being able to play the banjo and then not doing so.

Have some fun,,,

Steve

[Brian Krashpad]

Woo-hoo, congrats!

Pete Seeger is supposedly also one of the proponents of the long-necked banjo (has a few extra frets and longer neck), which is the type I have.