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Thread: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

  1. #1

    Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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

  2. #2

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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....


  3. #3

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    I see. Poor kid is going to develop scoliosis...lol

  4. #4

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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!

  5. #5

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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


  6. The Following User Says Thank You to darylcrisp For This Useful Post:

    Tobin 

  7. #6

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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

  8. #7

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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



    and if you like his tune choices, research Dwight Diller


    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

  9. #8

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    Thanks for the info, guys!! I purchased the the super mega banjo strap and it solved the problem.
    Now, to get busy learning!

  10. #9

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    Quote Originally Posted by darylcrisp View Post
    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

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

  11. #10

    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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.

  12. #11
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    Re: Does a good/great banjo have to be so heavy?

    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

  13. #12

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