Jim Crow Polka

Comment by Bell Banjos on October 24, 2011 at 11:01am

Nice, Paul. Clean and danceable. Nice sound!! Do you have a skin head or (+shudder+) plastic? If it IS Elite, or Ren, I see you have 6 hooks - they must crank it down adequetly, the sound is VERY nice. Heck, all banjos sound good, but I have a thing for that 'springy' sound.

Comment by Paul Draper on October 24, 2011 at 11:06am

Thanks very much for your comment! I was hoping it wasn't too far off. Yes it's a -shudder- Ren head, but I have no regrets -- don't have to worry about climate change...

Comment by Bart McNeil on October 24, 2011 at 3:54pm

I would like to hear about your banjo.... Maker, wood, anything special. A really nice looking and sounding instrument. well played. I noticed you don't use a frailing scoop.

And as the oceans rise it will paddle your canoe without getting floppy and dull sounding.

Bart

Comment by Paul Draper on October 24, 2011 at 4:12pm

Thanks Bart. The banjo was made by James Hartel of Franklin NY, patterned after the Wm. Boucher banjos of the 1850's. It's all maple, with Renaissance head and nylgut strings, and ebony tailpiece. I try to play over the head to get the most sound out of it, but tend to migrate up the neck, but the action is pretty high so it's easy to play without scoop.

Comment by Ed Womack on October 26, 2011 at 7:54pm

Very nice! I subscribed to your YouTube channel and look forward to seeing/hearing more.

Comment by Paul Draper on October 27, 2011 at 7:59am

Thanks, Ed, for listening and subscribing. I'm (re)working a few tunes I used to play quite often and as they become listenable I'll post them.

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