bell bucket banjo

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on September 9, 2012 at 8:07pm

I forgot about the Bucket Banjo...do you have a sound bite or video of someone playing it. would love to hear what that thing sounds like.

Comment by Bell Banjos on September 9, 2012 at 9:17pm

Hey Nick, I should have video-ed this banjo. It's the first bucket I've done at a decent length, 27" scale. You'd think it would sound something like a gourd but it doesn't. It sounds like any good open back minstrel banjo but with presence to the players' ears and a good volume for the listeners since the back acts as a resonator. But the sound is pure minstrel.

Comment by Dave Culgan on September 10, 2012 at 9:03am

That looks very interesting Terry, I think I know where this one is headed.

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on September 10, 2012 at 10:13am

Yeah that is a really cool looking instrument, Unique! What are those going for?

Comment by Bell Banjos on September 10, 2012 at 1:56pm

Nick, this is a Frankenstein banjo, historically. The peghead and brass star say 'late 1800's,' but everything else is antebellum. I think a few years ago a clawhammer player asked if I'd make one and this design stuck. You can see that the neck is wide and has the thru-the-neck 5th peg with the 'spike' dowel design of gourds. There is nothing different about the sound except that it projects better I believe and the strings and skin have more of a solid feel probably due to air pressure inside. You know, it's like playing clawhammer on a resonator - that feel. These go for 600. Sorry, this one doesn't come in a kit - there's too much complicated stuff involved in the "tone ring" inside. My kits are easy, and a bucket kit wouldn't be easy.

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on September 10, 2012 at 1:59pm

Ok Good to know. I think I might be putting in an order around November. What is the turnaround...6-8 weeks would work for me. I would have half up front for the order, then would have the rest by the time it is done. I forgot what you payment policy is...do you have lay away...Ha ha, just kidding.

Thanks Terry!

Comment by Bell Banjos on September 10, 2012 at 2:09pm

You're the customer. We'll do it your way.

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on September 11, 2012 at 10:26pm

Oh I'm sold, just gotta get the $$$.  It's very cool looking, and thanks for the sound critique.

Comment by Bell Banjos on September 11, 2012 at 10:47pm

Yes, Paul that's right about the holes. 2 holes 1 3/4" in a bucket are just right. Very clear, yet bassy, and loud.

Comment by Dave Culgan on September 25, 2012 at 11:49am

I got a chance to play the bucket banjo this past weekend at a performance. It really plays and sounds nice. I had been fooling around with it here and there over the weekend. I broke a string on my banjo but  since it was near the end of the day I didn't feel like hassling with changing a gut string. Renny, the owner, let me play his for the rest of the set. Great tone. And real sharp looking.

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