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View Full Version : Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?



CletusTPossum
Apr-11-2016, 7:09pm
I'm a new banjo player. Been playing guitar for thirty years. I purchased a Fender FB-58 and after playing it for a few days, I'm wondering.
Does ha banjo have to be so darn heavy?

any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Mike Baker
Apr-11-2016, 7:25pm
Between the tone ring, the resonator, the thick maple rim, and all that metal hardware, basically, yes, a good banjo is heavy. But if this guy can handle it....


https://youtu.be/GXcRI0BdioE

CletusTPossum
Apr-11-2016, 7:54pm
I see. Poor kid is going to develop scoliosis...lol

Dan Hulse
Apr-11-2016, 9:56pm
An open back is a little lighter, but a wide strap really helps. None of my banjos is as heavy as my 5 string electric bass or a few telecasters I've owned for that matter!

darylcrisp
Apr-11-2016, 10:11pm
Cletus
i'm an openback player so keep that in mind. i highly prefer lighter weight banjos, and tend to find what i like in the 5.5 or 6 lb range.

the current ones i have are:

Bart Reiter A flat scale(shorter scale) maple pot/mahogany neck, brass tone ring, 5.5 lbs
Bart Reiter Special(26+" scale , maple pot/neck, brass tone ring, 5.9 lbs
due to arrive tomorrow, 1928 Vega pot(maple) with Little Wonder tone ring and a W Fauley neck(maple), 26" scale, 6 lbs

i've owned a Pisgah A scale with a dobson tone ring, cherry pot and boat heel neck, 5.3 lbs

the Pisgah A scale and Bart Reiter A flat balance nice due the shorter necks, and just feel great.

here is a Reiter A flat scale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQUnedo8m0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hdSMWe4UFM

Dave Hanson
Apr-12-2016, 2:05am
John Hartford played a banjo with a wooden tone ring to cut down on weight when he became very ill, he sounded pretty good, so actually no, they don't have to be that heavy.

Dave H

darylcrisp
Apr-13-2016, 12:26pm
Folks
I'd like to add a comment that the video's I listed above regarding the Reiter A flat scale is not me. That fellow is a fine person by the name of RW Jones. He has an exceptional smooth and fluid touch on a banjo and makes these tunes his own. I've invited RW to head over and join us here. Check out his playing at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR_eC8ll1Po
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0uRuOM8Cck&ebc=ANyPxKopNsKPUFyg9EMA5SLXCu U9J45Ysl2uP4gYDMg-HgLpbFKx9B8_GFhJbo3lbBvEbHjxhLKGvt9eUL56N01YM8rM4s cQrQ&nohtml5=False



and if you like his tune choices, research Dwight Diller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJdOdKMiITU&nohtml5=False

and I apologize to the OP if his question was directed more towards finding info on a resonator banjo-but knowing open backs offer lighter weight might be able to help you out anyway even if you are not interested in clawhammer style.
d

CletusTPossum
Apr-15-2016, 6:41am
Thanks for the info, guys!! I purchased the the super mega banjo strap and it solved the problem.
Now, to get busy learning!

CletusTPossum
Apr-15-2016, 7:04am
Cletus
i'm an openback player so keep that in mind. i highly prefer lighter weight banjos, and tend to find what i like in the 5.5 or 6 lb range.

the current ones i have are:

Bart Reiter A flat scale(shorter scale) maple pot/mahogany neck, brass tone ring, 5.5 lbs
Bart Reiter Special(26+" scale , maple pot/neck, brass tone ring, 5.9 lbs
due to arrive tomorrow, 1928 Vega pot(maple) with Little Wonder tone ring and a W Fauley neck(maple), 26" scale, 6 lbs

i've owned a Pisgah A scale with a dobson tone ring, cherry pot and boat heel neck, 5.3 lbs

the Pisgah A scale and Bart Reiter A flat balance nice due the shorter necks, and just feel great.

here is a Reiter A flat scale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQUnedo8m0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hdSMWe4UFM

Thanks for the info. I really like your playing style!!

pastorharry
Apr-25-2016, 3:36am
I play a '63 Gibson RB-100, simple brass tone hoop, much lighter than the RB-250 Mastertones that I've owned, and , personally I like the tone better, and it still cuts the mustard over two Martins, a Gibson Mandolin and Kay bass in my group.

Ivan Kelsall
Apr-30-2016, 1:00am
Hi Dave - A correction if i may. John Hartford's Deering ''Woodtone'' was designed for him well before he became very ill. JH had a standard Bluegrass style banjo complete with tone ring,but he wanted a banjo with a 'woodier', less bright tone which suited his music. If it was puerly a weight consideration,he could have gone all out for a top quality open back banjo. The JH Deering 'Grenadillo wood' tone ring banjo also had 24 frets on it. In fact,prior to changing over to a Deering banjo,JH had played a Stelling
'model T' banjo made for him in 1983, which also had a wooden tone ring to satisfy JH's desire for a deeper,woodier tone. That was shortly after John had been diagnosed with cancer,
Ivan

Mike Baker
May-06-2016, 4:47pm
http://blog.deeringbanjos.com/good-banjos-need-to-be-heavy/?utm_campaign=Weekly+Email+Newsletter+-+Customers&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_F2C1x46kf1XI9sYpROt5X5tsk8X_pWHEI9q02hSMbS34Bh7-_p3zo-h4bjw_2tWOxnyGGVcYik99nFkEMv178prrcCQ&_hsmi=29348171&utm_content=29348171&utm_source=hs_email&hsCtaTracking=eb42bbaa-0314-4d5e-90f8-338417718f25%7C4d10df30-2181-4645-9a55-caadaee6ab81