1840s Boucher neck with gourd body - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-29T06:05:22Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/1840s-boucher-neck-with-gourd-body?feed=yes&xn_auth=noWhere is the evidence of this…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-12-11:2477478:Comment:1214522014-12-11T01:56:41.745ZJohn Cohenhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JohnCohen
<p>Where is the evidence of this? Also, what in your opinion qualifies as a stage instrument? Boucher banjos were not stage instruments.<br/> <br/> <cite>Dan'l said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/1840s-boucher-neck-with-gourd-body#2477478Comment121443"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p> some gourd banjos had factory necks or mimicked the necks of stage instruments.</p>
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<p>Where is the evidence of this? Also, what in your opinion qualifies as a stage instrument? Boucher banjos were not stage instruments.<br/> <br/> <cite>Dan'l said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/1840s-boucher-neck-with-gourd-body#2477478Comment121443"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p> some gourd banjos had factory necks or mimicked the necks of stage instruments.</p>
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</blockquote> 2) The million dollar questio…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-12-08:2477478:Comment:1214022014-12-08T05:45:05.442ZMark Weemshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/MarkKellyWeems
<p>2) The million dollar question!!<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Strumelia said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/1840s-boucher-neck-with-gourd-body?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A121232&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2477478Comment121232"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I'm interested in:</p>
<p>1) what the definition of a 'minstrel neck' is, and then also in 2) knowing what kind of neck would be expected on a gourd IF the gourd was indeed from the 1840-45…</p>
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<p>2) The million dollar question!!<br/> <br/> <cite>Strumelia said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/1840s-boucher-neck-with-gourd-body?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A121232&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2477478Comment121232"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I'm interested in:</p>
<p>1) what the definition of a 'minstrel neck' is, and then also in 2) knowing what kind of neck would be expected on a gourd IF the gourd was indeed from the 1840-45 period.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
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</blockquote> I'm interested in:
1) what th…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-12-08:2477478:Comment:1212322014-12-08T04:53:55.443ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>I'm interested in:</p>
<p>1) what the definition of a 'minstrel neck' is, and then also in 2) knowing what kind of neck would be expected on a gourd IF the gourd was indeed from the 1840-45 period.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I'm interested in:</p>
<p>1) what the definition of a 'minstrel neck' is, and then also in 2) knowing what kind of neck would be expected on a gourd IF the gourd was indeed from the 1840-45 period.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p> Ah, that explains it - thanks…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-12-07:2477478:Comment:1212292014-12-07T21:04:15.788ZEggerRidgeBoyhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/EggerRidgeBoy
<p>Ah, that explains it - thanks for the replies.</p>
<p>I had never seen nor read about a minstrel neck on a gourd body, which is why this banjo caught my attention. It seemed contrary to everything I knew about banjos of that period. Nor was I aware of any extant, U.S.-made gourd banjos from the era, which meant I was surprised this one wasn't better known.</p>
<p>I guess I should have known not to rely on the Met's description, simply because they probably don't give banjos the same kind…</p>
<p>Ah, that explains it - thanks for the replies.</p>
<p>I had never seen nor read about a minstrel neck on a gourd body, which is why this banjo caught my attention. It seemed contrary to everything I knew about banjos of that period. Nor was I aware of any extant, U.S.-made gourd banjos from the era, which meant I was surprised this one wasn't better known.</p>
<p>I guess I should have known not to rely on the Met's description, simply because they probably don't give banjos the same kind of detailed attention they do Old Master paintings. </p>
<p>I still wonder who put the gourd body on that neck, and if they thought it was an historically accurate re-creation of the instrument. I'll look for that 5 Stringer article.</p> I've heard from a number of s…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-12-07:2477478:Comment:1211342014-12-07T15:11:21.311ZJohn Cohenhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JohnCohen
I've heard from a number of sources that the gourd on this banjo is contemporary. The Met has their facts wrong, as they do with some of their other banjos. You can read a little commentary about this banjo in the current issue of the 5 Stringer. By all accounts a gourd body on a minstrel banjo is a historical anachronism.
I've heard from a number of sources that the gourd on this banjo is contemporary. The Met has their facts wrong, as they do with some of their other banjos. You can read a little commentary about this banjo in the current issue of the 5 Stringer. By all accounts a gourd body on a minstrel banjo is a historical anachronism. The earliest Boucher banjo th…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-12-04:2477478:Comment:1211032014-12-04T02:49:11.340ZMark Weemshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/MarkKellyWeems
<p>The earliest Boucher banjo that I am aware of was from 1845, so I would highly question an 1840 date. Often one sees "circa" on a date because there is no way of knowing. A common problem is that museums often don't consult the banjo researchers who are Boucher authorities like Greg Adams or Pete Ross. They just assign a circa date instead.</p>
<p>The earliest Boucher banjo that I am aware of was from 1845, so I would highly question an 1840 date. Often one sees "circa" on a date because there is no way of knowing. A common problem is that museums often don't consult the banjo researchers who are Boucher authorities like Greg Adams or Pete Ross. They just assign a circa date instead.</p>