Opinions on 11" pot and 26" scale from Eric Prust

[Steve Jeter]

 Morning.

 I have been in communication with Mr. Prust , and am about to  order a basic tackhead with  the mentioned specs.

 My choices of pot size it just from a comfort level. The pot on the Carver is only 9", too small I know , but darn comfortable for sitting cross legged playing. 99% of my playing is done with only me around , so projection is not as much a issue as me feeling  good holding the instrument.  I have a nice  D size guitar,, but when I play I end up picking a classical size Seagull.

 

So can you tell me what I will be missing out on not getting a 13" pot and getting a 11?

 Im sorry but Im so new at this , I dont even know ,, what I dont know.

THe minsterel strings I hated last wk,, I put them on ,,, just dropping the 3rd and adding a 1 string and love it.  I will learn

 

 Eric , also suggested a shorter scale. I have measured where I put the bridge on my current banjo ,,, and  it makes a 26" scale.  I cant really put bridge farther back ,, due to head size and the way it was made.

 So Im thinking 26 will be good.

 I you have any opinions or tips, of things Im overlooking , please if you will post them , or pm me.

 Thanks for your patience, in this question and all the others

 Respectfully

 Steve Jeter

[Steve Jeter]

Ha,, I saw Eric s normal scale is 26 1/4 so thats cool,    Still undecided on pot size

[Joel Hooks]

Steve, you've already got a suitable starter banjo.  Instead of buying another anachronism, keep practicing on the one you have.  

 

Whatever money you were planning to spend on the Purst, put in a jar and forget.  The when you what to buy another banjo or guitar, or whatever- put that money in the same jar and forget it.  Also, pocket change at the end of the day- that goes in the jar too.

 

Next thing you know, you can mail all of it to Jim Hartel for your dream banjo, then you will no longer be dissatisfied.

 

Good things come to those who wait.

 

Just a thought.

[Dave Culgan]

WTF?

[Steve Jeter]

 Joel, your savings idea is sensible.  I do think I would be well served now,, to get a banjo, where the pegs worked a bit better, and had a bit larger head. From everything Ive heard a Prust is a great inst. esp. for the price.  If I had Hartel money in my pocket right now,,, I dont know enough to know what I would want.  Spending  less than 250.00 I feel I can make a big stepup in banjos. 

 I dont blame my current inst. for any ineptitude, I do think the Prust would be a better way to spend my time learning. I will learn , I am loving this.

Thanks

 Steve

deuceswilde said:

Steve, you've already got a suitable starter banjo.  Instead of buying another anachronism, keep practicing on the one you have.  

 

Whatever money you were planning to spend on the Purst, put in a jar and forget.  The when you what to buy another banjo or guitar, or whatever- put that money in the same jar and forget it.  Also, pocket change at the end of the day- that goes in the jar too.

 

Next thing you know, you can mail all of it to Jim Hartel for your dream banjo, then you will no longer be dissatisfied.

 

Good things come to those who wait.

 

Just a thought.

[Joel Hooks]

Which part?

Ol' Dan Tucker said:

WTF?

[Dave Culgan]

Maybe its just me then, but referring to Eric Prust's banjos as "another anachronism" seems a bit presumptuous, or maybe even rude (considering he may read this list or be a member). Are you trying to take on the role of authenticity police around here? Dave Culgan.

[Joel Hooks]

He himself says that he builds "in the style of" 19th century banjos.

Steve is a member of a living history club, authenticity is the nam of the game.

How common are 11" banjos with short scales found in mid 19th century photos?

Has the interests of this group changed?  Is it no longer permtted to bring up issues of historical relevance?  


Purst makes banjos that many people like and are very reasonable in price.  They do not conform to standard mid 19th century construction.
construction.

Gibson mastertones are fine banjos as well.  

Ol' Dan Tucker said:

Maybe its just me then, but referring to Eric Prust's banjos as "another anachronism" seems a bit presumptuous, or maybe even rude (considering he may read this list or be a member). Are you trying to take on the role of authenticity police around here? Dave Culgan.

[Steve Jeter]

 Joel, your right about the living history, my level of authenticity may at this point be dictated by my wallet.

 My first priority right now,, is to really learn to play in the stroke style. My authenticity may have to suffer a while , in my most basic desire of being able to play well. For myself.    You know Im a instrument ho, but I think Ive found my true love w/ Minsterel Banjo

 Steve

deuceswilde said:

He himself says that he builds "in the style of" 19th century banjos.

Steve is a member of a living history club, authenticity is the nam of the game.

How common are 11" banjos with short scales found in mid 19th century photos?

Has the interests of this group changed?  Is it no longer permtted to bring up issues of historical relevance?  


Purst makes banjos that many people like and are very reasonable in price.  They do not conform to standard mid 19th century construction.
construction.

Gibson mastertones are fine banjos as well.  

Ol' Dan Tucker said:

Maybe its just me then, but referring to Eric Prust's banjos as "another anachronism" seems a bit presumptuous, or maybe even rude (considering he may read this list or be a member). Are you trying to take on the role of authenticity police around here? Dave Culgan.

[Moschella Banjos]

many bouchers are built with relative scales in the 26" range.

 

as far as i can tell the users of this site are as interested in repertoire as authenticity in instrument construction. after all, were'nt minstrel banjos fairly poor renderings of african banjos to begin with (and part of a living/evolving tradition at that)? i have seen 19th-century minstrel banjos in person that are engineered so fancifully and ridiculously that i'd have a hard time believing they were'nt anachronistic if i werent sure they were 150-years old. not that this should detract from anyones desire to own a reproduction if that's what they're into. its all a matter of personal preference, i suppose.

 

disclaimer: in general i don't believe in the concept of authenticity in any area of life, as context is, i feel, a much more powerful and real (though indeterminate) force. even the best copies are still fakes.

[John Masciale]

Jay, thanks for your comments.  I was thinking along the same lines, and going back to some of the original banjos I've seen at the EBC.

 

When I first started I bought a mountain banjo kit for $150, and built myself a small fretless banjo.  I started by taking Bob Flesher's books, and a couple of other resources, and proved to myself that I could learn this instrument.  As time has gone by, my instruments have improved (and hopefully my playing).  I am dreaming of getting an Ashborn, but with a daughter in college right now it is a dream.

 

A large part of the fun of all of this is learning to play, and learning to play in a historical context.  Research is also a lot of fun, looking into sheetmusic archives, etc.  I would encourage anybody to start playing, and would rather see people playing and enjoying the music, than not.  There is not enough of this going on these days.

 

At the same time, I think we have to be up front with the public, and how we represent the music, the instruments, and technique.  When playing in a public venue, I want to look and sound as authentic as I can. 

[Tim Twiss]

PS.... his authentic name is Prust, not Purst.

[Dave Culgan]

Steve, If you have reached a plateau in your playing that you think would be addressed by a new banjo then go for it. Whether you are playing for your pards around the campfire, or an audience, or just around the house. the music and sound are far more important than details that deviate from the standard approved civil war banjo (whatever that is). I think its the music, and the performance of  that repertoire, that count the most. Oh, and make sure you use gut strings only, but not varnished gut strings. Just kidding. BTW I'd be happy to have a Prust banjo in my band. Dave Culgan