Know anything about banjo's?

Jeff Metz Jr. · Post by **Jeff Metz Jr.** » 8 Dec 2012 3:11 am

I have recently acquired a 5 string banjo. The headstock says EAGLE on it. It has a resonator, "mother of pearl" inlays. I cannot find one thing on this instrument. If it helps the banjo has 2 rings on the back being Yellow and baby blue.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 8 Dec 2012 4:14 am

Jeff... If you could post a photo or two it would be extremely helpful.

Thom Gustafson · Post by **Thom Gustafson** » 8 Dec 2012 8:39 am

You could also get info at the Collector's Corner forum at the Banjo Hangout.

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 8 Dec 2012 8:57 am

Whatever you do Jeff, don't ask b0b for advice!

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 9 Dec 2012 5:14 pm

Not sure without photos, but I think "Eagle" was the brand of kit banjos--the early foundation of Stewart-McDonald, now a wide-ranging source for stringed-instrument parts and luthier supplies.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 9 Dec 2012 7:35 pm

A general answer as to the quality of a banjo is, "the heavier, the better." Cheap, crappy banjos are normally made with an aluminum pot. The good ones are all mad from more substantial metal like steel or brass. This is a very generic view but is generally correct.

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 11 Dec 2012 5:56 pm

they are really good for driving nails when you dont have a hammer

Lavon Chappell · Post by **Lavon Chappell** » 12 Dec 2012 5:33 am

Joseph Barcus wrote:they are really good for driving nails when you dont have a hammer

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 12 Dec 2012 11:43 pm

Ben is correct, but seeing a photo would help.

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 12 Dec 2012 11:44 pm

Joseph is also correct... LOL!!!

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 13 Dec 2012 4:28 am

Here's an ad from Elderly Instruments for a Stew-Mac Diamond Eagle kit banjo, Jeff. Don't know if the photos in it will help you out.

http://www.elderly.com/items/70U-2143.htm

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 13 Dec 2012 3:55 pm

Is the banjo for sale or only undergoing investigation? Does it sound good -- as banjos go?

Joseph Barcus wrote:they are really good for driving nails when you dont have a hammer

I like my Hitachi framing nailer for big nails, and my old Pentax camera for finish nails. Accordians work well for all types of nails

Lee Bartram · Post by **Lee Bartram** » 14 Dec 2012 5:17 am

I had a buddy that used to say that the best sound a banjo made was when it hit the bottom of a dumster!!

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 14 Dec 2012 8:08 am

Lee, Only when it hits the accordion!!! If it doesnt hit the sides, its considered perfect pitch!!!

Oh the women that have run when they found out I played both banjo and accordion!!!!!

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 14 Dec 2012 8:31 am

Sorry, I got off topic...

Does the Eagle banjo you have, have a resonator? The fact that you mentioned the yellow and blue rings would suggest that it does. There are two types of Gibson style banjos... resonator or open back... On top of that, there are two main types of tone rings, flathead and archtop. The flathead is your standard Scruggs style. The archtop, such as Ralph Stanley used, has a smaller raised ring about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in from the rim that essentially makes the head surface smaller thus providing a higher pitch. As far as the percussive properties are concerned. The banjo strings are still tuned to standard pitch.

There are also the Vega style banjos, think old Grandpa Jones/Stringbean style, which used a brass or steel tone "hoop" which was fitted onto the top of the wood rim... These were mainly open back banjos and pre date the Gibson Mastertones of the 20s and 30s that Earl Scruggs and Don Reno played.

The stew mac Eagles that I have seen had a Vega style hoop.

The photo that was shared earlier in this post is a Gibson style resonator or bluegrass type banjo. The open back is mainly the same, just without the resonator and the flange that it attaches to.

Most of the Eagle kits that I have seen are open backs, but there could have been resonator models. The photo above appears to be a banjo made from a later selection of Stew Mac parts. These can actually be very good banjos depending on the skill of the builder. You would be surprised how many Professionally built banjos use these same parts.

But, this is all speculation without seeing the actual photos of your actual banjo...

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 14 Dec 2012 8:36 am

Here is a link to the Stewart macdonald Eagle Banjo Kit Instructions PDF. This is similar to the eagles that I have seen, but this is a bit modernized. As a luthier, you could add or subtract features during construction. Color, inlays, etc... This manual dates to 2003.

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/a-banjo ... ilding.pdf

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 14 Dec 2012 8:37 am

Yes I just saw that your original post says resonator...

Mike Eisler · Post by **Mike Eisler** » 19 Dec 2012 11:21 am

Jeff:

You could always call Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, TN.
They are experts on vintage instruments. I don't recognize the brand myself.

Mike

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 21 Dec 2012 7:34 pm

Michael T. Hermsmeyer wrote:.. Only when it hits the accordion!!! ...

There still exists controversy over which was first in the dumpster, sounds like another version of "the chicken or the egg"

Hopefully it's worth what you paid for it

Does this help?

www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/a-banjobuildin ... ilding.pdf