banjo

John Hobaugh · From: Farmington, NM, USA (deceased)

I have a 4 string KAY Banjo. I know, I know, Its not a steel, But just wondering if any of you steelers know what its worth. It is in its orignal hard case and in real good cond. I dont really want to sell it but dont know any other place I might get an idea of what its worth. If you guys can help it would sure be appreciated . Thanks JOHN

Mark Eaton · Posted 1 Nov 2005 2:24 pm

Try www.Banjohangout.org

You're right-you won't get much help here-many steel guys HATE banjo.

I can only take 'em in small doses myself.

I can't imagine a 4-string Kay being worth a whole lot, then what do I know? 5-string is much more popular, 4-string is more the province of old-timey, clawhammer, and perhaps some Dixieland jazz-all relatively obscure stuff.

Just for fun, I found one that sold last week on ebay for $152.50 in good shape.

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Mark

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 01 November 2005 at 02:30 PM.]

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Moved to Music from No Peddlers.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

Hello John,
Strike one - it's a four string, not a five string. Strike two, it says "Kay" on the headstock instead of Gibson, or Paramount, or some of the other "favored" brands.
Kays and Harmonys were student line instruments, American made, but not high end. They do not have much "collector" value. The last Kay 4 string that went through my shop sold for $125, and I had to put it on E-bay to find a buyer.
Good luck with it. Larry J.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

John You may have just made the biggest mistake of your life,never mention ANYTHING about the banjo on this site,I did and I have been chastised,criticized,pasteurized,homogenized,ostracized,and that was the nice guys,just wait untill J.W.,Bob,And Farris come after you.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

John, don't let these guys in here get to you. They like to sound tough; however, I'll bet my last nickel that if you asked any one of them if you could sit in with them and pick a few strings, not one would turn you down.

Music is music, no matter what instrument it is played on. Hell, one of these turkeys even called my steel guitar a Japanese plywood plank.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 01 November 2005 at 11:05 PM.]

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Les ,you are absolutly right,I love bickering with all the guys[even with the ones that are as nutty as I am]!!!!

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

John -- It's funny how a lot of the steelers (and I do mean a LOT) will bitch, moan and complain about how the steel guitar is marginalized and maligned, and then in the same breath, berate the banjo (one of only two truly AMERICAN instruments invented in this country). Folks can guess what that other instrument is.

Anyway, enough of that. I played 4-string banjo (plectrum C-G-B-D tuning) in a polka band when still living in Wisconsin, but don't own one currently. I personally have no use for a 5-string, but really dig the old-timey 4-string stuff, Dixieland, polka, etc. style. Like ukulele, it's just a happy, FUN instrument.

Do you know if yours is a plectrum or tenor? Plectrums have a longer neck, and are usually tuned to the above.

The tenor banjo has a shorter neck, and is traditionally tuned similar to a violin/fiddle or a mandolin in intervals, only a fifth lower. It's tuned in fifths starting with the C string as the lowest string: C G D A (sometimes Irish Tenor is tuned to what is considered an Irish tuning: G D A E).

Do you have any pics? Thanks.

TJW

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

John Hobaugh · From: Farmington, NM, USA (deceased)

Todd, If you will send me your e mail add. ill send you pics of the banjo. my e mail add is [jodaho2@msn.com] . I dont know any other way to get them to you.
John

Jennings Ward · From: Edgewater, Florida, R.I.P.

BANGJEROS AND THUNDERMUGS....THEY GO HAND IN HAND.....BAMA CHARLIE KNOWS....HE IS AN
EXPERT ON BOTH......
I DO NOT OBJECT TO THE BANJO...FACT.
I OBJECT TO THE WAY MOST PEOPLE TRY TO PLAY ONE. FACT.....
AND CHARLEY, LA. CHARLEY....DONT FANT,

I LOVED EDDY PEABODY.....HE KNEW HOW........

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

John told you so ,J.W. is allways the first to sneak up on you,Farris and Bob will be next,wait and see.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

"Turture"
as said by Spencer Tracy in Past and Mike!

"She ain't got much meat on her,
but what's dere is cherce!"

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

John told you so again,First J,W.,then Bob ,watch Farris will be along before long.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

J.W.,Got to go to Tenn.for 4 days,dont pull any of tricks while I'm gone,I'll find out when I get home Sunday.Be careful or you will be sorry!!!!!!!

John Hobaugh · From: Farmington, NM, USA (deceased)

Are any of you guys thats giving me a bad time , going to be at the convention in Mesa in Jan??? If so I want to meet you. OK???

Mark Eaton · Posted 3 Nov 2005 5:34 pm

Todd-maybe there's a reason Earl Scruggs plays the five string instead of four string.

To take one of the two truly American instruments and play it in a polka band-I think he'd get a kick out of that one!

I'm half Polish and I just don't know how that would go with my kielbasa...

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Mark

John Hobaugh · From: Farmington, NM, USA (deceased)

Please close. Donation on the way. Thanks

John

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

quote:
Todd-maybe there's a reason Earl Scruggs plays the five string instead of four string.

To take one of the two truly American instruments and play it in a polka band-I think he'd get a kick out of that one!

I'm half Polish and I just don't know how that would go with my kielbasa...

Actually, Mark, much better than you'd think! There's a tradition in Slovenian style polka bands for having banjo play a moving rhythm part that really works quite well. I'll try to figure out how to upload a clip from a CD I played on and try to convert it to MP3 to post. I realize it's not everyone's cup'o tea, though. I think one has to grow up around it to appreciate it.

When I was a kid growing up in rural Wisconsin, Friday nights were fish frys at local taverns, and there was ALWAYS a polka band with -- yep, a banjo player!

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Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6)

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

Banjo, 5 string, Flatiron Buckhorn. I am selling it back to the original owner so I can buy a SD10 Derby. Hows that for poetic justice? This is to take place tomorrow. Oops I mentioned banjo. Sorry Charles.
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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure

[This message was edited by Lyle Clary on 08 November 2005 at 03:16 PM.]

Jennings Ward · From: Edgewater, Florida, R.I.P.

THAT IS THE BEST USE I HAVE EVER HEARD FOR
A BANGJERO.... SELL THE DAM THING AND BUY A
GOOD STEELL;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
BOY YOU IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK......
DONT TELL LA CHARLEY......
JW,,, U PK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Lyle,It's sure nice to know we have a blacksmith on the forum,I know one old burro[I'm being nice J.W.,I didnt say ass.]that may need a shoeing,maybe he would'nt be so mean to banjo players if his 4 hooves did'nt ache all the time. And his two partners in crime[hateing banjo players is a felony]would only need two shoes each,but you may need to trim and polish their horns.send me an estimate ,Bela Fleck said he would pay the whole bill.

Andy Jones · From: Mississippi

John,the other posters are right.Your Kay banjo probably isn't worth very much unless it has a heavy brass tone ring.I don't know why steelers are so down on banjos.To me,any stringed instrument played by a good musician is fascinating.As a bluegrass banjo picker for 33 years,I can tell you one thing,my right hand is in really good condition for playing the steel.Now,if I can get my left hand,knees and feet to cooperate,I'll be in business!