Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

Go to Gettysburg for a mid-19th century jam session, get transported back in time with wet-plate photography. Standing, l-r: Chuck Krepley with the violin he built with his own two hands, Kyle Pretzl on bones, Cory Rosenberg with his Prust banjo; Seated, l-r: Greg Adams with his Hartel Ashborn repro, Jason Tailford with a Wunderlich tambo.

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Comment by Rob MacKillop on August 17, 2010 at 10:31am
Oh, Greg, you forgot to turn the banjo around for the photo. You'll just have to do it again...
Comment by Greg Adams on August 17, 2010 at 10:43am
You are correct Rob. I was so excited to sit for the photo that I forgot. Yet...I do have a strong ability at rationalizing my mistake and have thus decided that it is a picture that artfully and symbolically reflects my ambidextrousness in that I write left handed though I play banjo and other stringed instruments right-handed. Thus, the banjo's orientation in this photo is a reflection of my right-brainedness if I were to follow through with doing everything left-handed. How's that for rationalizing... :-) I was just happy to sit still for this photo. The last wet plate I stood for and I was nothing but a blur swaying in the breeze! For this shot, they clamped my head to a stand! Huzzah!
Comment by Rob MacKillop on August 17, 2010 at 11:27am
:-)
Comment by Trapdoor2 on August 17, 2010 at 1:39pm
It appears that Mr. Tambo has seen a blue Volkswagen and is about to notify you...abruptly. Mr. Bones appears to be about to remove a nice bit of sushi from Mr. Tambo's hat.

Very cool photo. Thanks for posting it!
Comment by Joel Hooks on August 17, 2010 at 8:43pm
As a left handed writer I don't believe that there is such a thing as playing a banjo, or any two handed instrument, "left handed." There are some folks that for whatever reason have chosen to play reverse banjos, yet they still manage to use both hands.

Never "fret," there are period photos with the banjo not held upside-down. I think that is is a excellent image, one to be proud of.

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