Banjo Players... Come Out of the Closet !

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 22 Sep 2006 7:53 am

There seems to be a thread of animosity running through the Forum towards the banjo.
I've always thought the banjo and the steel guitar to be important constituents of country music.

So, come on folks, admit it. How many of us steelers play the banjo ?

....yes, I play the banjo.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Sep 2006 7:57 am

(This is gonna get ugly...)

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 22 Sep 2006 8:29 am

I personally would prefer a good banjo player to an out of tune fiddler any day.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 22 Sep 2006 8:39 am

Gibson RB-250---Proud to be here!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 22 Sep 2006 8:45 am

I am the owner of a Gibson RB100 Centennial that would be a champion with the proper upgrades. I bought it with the intention of playing banjo when I could no longer transport my steel, but never had the time to learn to play it other than the obligatory two or three banjo classics that I played on a country music show.

I would gladly "come out of the closet" if I had anything to offer the venue.

------------------
<img height=100 width=70 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Scan10095.jpg>
www.genejones.com

 [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 22 September 2006 at 12:39 PM.]

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 22 Sep 2006 8:48 am

Alan,all I can say is you are a brave man to mention the B word here,J,W. will surely have you black balled for committing a felony.

Lyle Bradford · Post by **Lyle Bradford** » 22 Sep 2006 9:04 am

Earl Scruggs Standard and love it as much as my 3 Emmons guitars. I would not consider myself a player tho plucking on it would be more like it. LOL>

John Jeffries · Post by **John Jeffries** » 22 Sep 2006 10:17 am

I have a Cox "Kentucky 5" and a '62 Gibson RB-100. Been playing in bluegrass bands and teaching bluegrass banjo now for 25 years or so....also have been playing and teaching dobro, guitar, mandolin, etc.....have been playing lead guitar, dobro, fiddle & steel in local country venues......steel is my "new" instrument - have only been at it less than a year, but have always loved it - now that I'm retired, I have the time to devote to learning this great instument. I love all bluegrass & country instruments...it doesn't matter what you play - if you enjoy sharing your music with others and make as many friends through music as I have over the years, then it's time well spent! I might add that I have found music to be a wonderful form of "therapy" both when playing with others, or just sitting down alone with an instrument. I believe that those of us who have the gift of music are truly blessed!

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 22 Sep 2006 10:24 am

'80s Gibson Granada, a pretty old mixed Stew-Mac + Mastertone parts banjo - pretty much an RB-75 - plus a Goldtone EBM electric banjo when I need to be loud.

This steel-banjo animosity sorta reminds me of a Harvard-Yale or Army-Navy turf-war rivalry. Don't look now, but they have a lot of similarities. I think most outsiders view them as the "ultimate-twang brothers".

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 22 Sep 2006 10:33 am

Present and accounted fur...The PIC below is a pre-pre-pre war Mastertone sportin a 30 year old capo

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 22 Sep 2006 10:52 am

Gold Tone OB-250, love it, gig it, I certainly hain't the best player. Attended the Midwest Banjo Camp this summer at MSU, had my mind blown by Bill Keith, Allan Munde, Butch Robins, etc.

cheers,
Drew

------------------

Drew Howard - website - Fessenden, Derby and Fender guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 22 Sep 2006 11:04 am

'Fraid I have to put my hand up too. Steel guitar is my first instrument, guitar second, dobro third and banjo fourth. I'm a sucker for the chromatic runs that Bobby Thompson played on the Area Code albums. How can anyone not enjoy that?

Jack Therrell · Post by **Jack Therrell** » 22 Sep 2006 11:04 am

Isn't the banjo just a mandolin with 4 strings missing?

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 22 Sep 2006 11:05 am

I seen a banjer once

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 22 Sep 2006 11:17 am

...keep on truckin'!

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 22 Sep 2006 11:21 am

I've always wondered, do you lose your teeth and THEN start playing the banjo or do you lose them as a result?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Sep 2006 11:31 am

I have an open back frailing banjo and mostly play clawhammer style. I also have a 6 stringer, tuned and played like a guitar that I occasionally use to record.

Those of you who have my West Soide Story CD can hear the 6 string banjo on the prologue and the songs "Blues" and "Cool." My pathetic attempt to play Scruggs style can be briefly heard on "I Feel pretty."

------------------
Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 22 Sep 2006 11:37 am

Me too...
I've got a mid seventies Alvarez Silver Belle.

------------------

Steve Stallings
The Songs

[This message was edited by Steve Stallings on 22 September 2006 at 01:24 PM.]

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 22 Sep 2006 11:44 am

1997 Scruggs Mastertone, it is a happy instrument. (For sale).

Larry Behm

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 22 Sep 2006 11:51 am

I used to play the 5 string; still listen to the Great Earl Scruggs, but gave my banjo to my oldest son. He's ten now and likes the banjo.

May GOD bless ya!

Terry

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 22 Sep 2006 11:52 am

I have a six string Goldtone that I use whenever a Broadway show calls for it and also in the studio for single note things and chords. I also have a 5 string that I haul out when a session calls for some banjo roll type blugrass stuff.

Next time you want to make fun of banjos just listen to some Eddie Peabody. Incredible virtuoso on the 4 string tenor banjo.

Used to work with a player named Skip Devol. Amazing player. [This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 22 September 2006 at 12:55 PM.]

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 22 Sep 2006 12:22 pm

1980 Liberty Quadrille. For some reason back in the 70s I played with a towel and swim goggles....

[This message was edited by Russ Tkac on 22 September 2006 at 03:33 PM.]

Robert Kazee · Post by **Robert Kazee** » 22 Sep 2006 1:56 pm

Tim Sergent is a great banjo player for those that havn't heard him.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Sep 2006 2:06 pm

Tim Sergent is a great banjo player for those that havn't heard him.

Yeah, well even I am a great banjo player for those who haven't heard me! The trouble is with those who have heard me!

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 22 Sep 2006 2:17 pm

I played a plectrum banjo tuned like a tenor in a hillbilly band when we did polkas in 1949. We were in Ashtabula OH & Frankie Yankovich (sp?) was hot in our dance playing area. The fiddle man said the plectrum was a little better because it had a longer scale (neck, made it sound better or easier to play??) I used to have some Columbia 78s of Bob Wills that used the tenor banjo for a rhythm instrument!