All Discussions Tagged 'fretless' - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-28T08:53:43Zhttps://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=fretless&feed=yes&xn_auth=noseeking comments on primitive fretlesstag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2017-12-17:2477478:Topic:1695702017-12-17T12:40:03.244ZMark Ralstonhttps://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/MarkRalston
<p>I'd appreciate some comments on an old banjo that I bought on eBay. It's a small, primitive, hand-made fretless and I'm trying to estimate its age. Two possible clues that I'm researching:</p>
<p>a.) the pot is made from scarf-jointed wood, similar to grain measure construction. A previous owner went overboard in mounting a skin head and used so many tacks that the top of the pot is badly split. However, the tacks for the head appear to be more modern than the tacks for the scarf joint. …</p>
<p>I'd appreciate some comments on an old banjo that I bought on eBay. It's a small, primitive, hand-made fretless and I'm trying to estimate its age. Two possible clues that I'm researching:</p>
<p>a.) the pot is made from scarf-jointed wood, similar to grain measure construction. A previous owner went overboard in mounting a skin head and used so many tacks that the top of the pot is badly split. However, the tacks for the head appear to be more modern than the tacks for the scarf joint. I've posted comments on the tacks with the individual photos..... does anyone have an opinion whether or not the scarf joint tacks are "cut nails"? Possibly consistent with mid-19th century age?</p>
<p>b.) the banjo was painted a forest green color. Most of the paint has worn off, but the paint that remains is chalky, non-soluble in denatured alcohol, and slightly soluble in ammonia. I'm thinking this may be milk paint, which could make the age of the banjo mid-19th century. Does anyone have an opinion whether or not this is milk paint (see photos)?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your comments.</p>
<p><a href="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/photo/albums/primitive-nc-fretless" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM</a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3037123415?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3037123415?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p></p> New Membertag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2013-07-17:2477478:Topic:960942013-07-17T15:56:06.474ZRichard Saathoffhttps://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/RichardSaathoff
<p>New member here. I recently purchased a Terry Bell banjo kit and got it assembled. I've been a student of Antebellum, Civil War, African American History for years. Got my education in that sector years ago. Was a Civil War Reenactor for about 13 years.</p>
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<p>For music I've played guitar for about 5 years. I played banjo for a brief amount of time when I was 6-7. I was instructed in the Scruggs method. So at that age I could not get my right hand dexterity to work real well. So I…</p>
<p>New member here. I recently purchased a Terry Bell banjo kit and got it assembled. I've been a student of Antebellum, Civil War, African American History for years. Got my education in that sector years ago. Was a Civil War Reenactor for about 13 years.</p>
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<p>For music I've played guitar for about 5 years. I played banjo for a brief amount of time when I was 6-7. I was instructed in the Scruggs method. So at that age I could not get my right hand dexterity to work real well. So I got frustrated and that was the last of encouragement of playing music by the folks.</p>
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<p>Guitar I seemed to always use some of the techniques of learned in banjo with hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides etc. Getting back to banjo almost 40 years later seems pretty intuitive so far.</p>
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<p>Using the Boucher banjo I finally finished I am really enjoying fret-less. I don't read music and have always played by ear so for some reason fret-less it really grabbing me.</p>
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<p>Anyway Hi to all and I am sure I will be asking quesitons as time goes on. Already got my eye on some other Banjos Yikes!</p>
<p>In the mean time here are some pics of my first Minstrel Banjo kit build.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3037134618?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3037134618?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3037151663?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3037151663?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>