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ARCHIVED TOPIC: light weight banjos
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TWhobo - Posted-09/04/2018: 04:04:39
Hello
Any advice for a guy looking for a lighter weight banjo, I really love the sound of The Deering John Hartford but looking for something perhaps without that type of price tag. I also love the idea of a wooden tone ring. All thoughts and advice welcome!
Thanks very much
Tom
Craig_B - Posted-09/04/2018: 04:54:51
Stelling Afton Star
loggerhead - Posted-09/04/2018: 05:53:26
Just curious: do you like the idea of wooden tone ring because of the sound, because of the weight saving, or because of both? If it is only because of weight saving, I have a suggestion (which would be useless if you like the sound of the wooden ring).
teddy ruxpin - Posted-09/04/2018: 06:43:57
If you are not stuck to a wood tone ring; An old harmony reso-tone is the lightest thing you can get. I think they sound rather nice with a skin head and can be found at a very reasonable price (<100). If you do not like it get your money back on the resale and try something else.
but any of the cheap beginner banjos can be made to sound well with the proper set up. (ie. rogue or epiphone mb-100)
Just mho,
teddy
Badweld Banjo - Posted-09/04/2018: 06:57:07
I love my RK-25, has wooden tone ring. It only weighs 8 + lbs. They are only used ones for sale now.
jswkingsfield - Posted-09/04/2018: 07:33:19
Not much help on the price point for a new one, but in addition to what's been suggested, Nechville makes several wood ring models. The Nechville Zeus and Nechville Saturn are good choices for the bad back crowd, there are a couple used ones in the BHO Classifieds. Weigh around 8 pounds.
A Nechville Athena comes in around 6 pounds, I've handled a few. That model rarely pops up used.
For specs, see: nechville.com/allacoustics.php
revellfa - Posted-09/04/2018: 08:23:34
Some suggestions for great sounding lightweight banjos
Gibson Kalamazoo
Nechville
Carbon Fiber Tone Ring
Gibson Ball Bearing
Alum. pot Asian imports can sound better than they should with a good setup.
Debbiej - Posted-09/04/2018: 09:30:31
There is a turtle hill woody in the classified section, they're very good light weight banjos, it's a bit less than the John Hartford model. I bought a Companion woody banjo which sounds real good and is about 8 pounds, it's custom made and was around $1500.
Texaspaul - Posted-09/04/2018: 09:35:15
My Companion Custom âwoodieâ sounds terrific and is very well made. Bishline Patriot and Rob has some customization to lighten thevbanjoshis banjos. Older tone hoop Gibsonâs style 1, RB 150;or 100âs uncut. Deering White Lotus and Deering can customize their line up with Hartford ring.
You have lots of choices depending on the weight reduction needed and the tone you are looking for.
The Old Timer - Posted-09/04/2018: 10:28:09
The 1960s VEGA bluegrass banjos are all lighter than Mastertones.
If you spot an old Recording King model 50, they don't use a tone ring, but sound very good. If the beveled wood tip on the rim doesn't do it for you, you can easily add a Gibson type RB 100 brass bead ring.
At Thomas Pt Beach festival in Maine this weekend Marc Pruett (Balsam Range) showed me his customer Prucha banjo built without a full flat head tone ring. As Marc described it, it has something that looks like a smaller diameter tension hoop set on a shelf in the outside of the rim. Significantly lighter than a Mastertone. Also it had the coolest gold plating I've ever seen. Matte finished by blasting with walnut shells. Marc has played it for around a year, and there isn't one bit of wear showing on the armrest. Remarkable, and beautiful.
Wilson Banjos in S. Carolina also make great bluegrass banjos without tone rings. Dale Perry of Cardinal Tradition was playing one last time I saw him and it sounded GREAT.
There are lots of choices, but you have to go hunt them up.
Stuart Hughes - Posted-09/04/2018: 20:46:28
Carolina Banjo Company-Ryan Naveyâs banjo are the lightest thing Iâve ever picked up and just fantastic playing instruments. Wooden tone ring as well as other options. He has a unique design, and builds them without hooks, bolts etc.. Canât say enough positive things about his work..... and light!
Best
Stuart
Texican65 - Posted-09/04/2018: 22:08:51
Yes! Backing-up what âThe Old Timerâ said...those 1960âs Vegaâs are light as a feather...but can still hold their own professionally if set up right.
Iâve got a â63 Vega Scruggs model...and itâs killer. Tubaphone tonering capable of delivering all sorts of different tones you might be after, depending on your other set up preferences. I could pick this banjo up one armed and swing it in a circle....itâs so light. Check âem out.
Dow
Helix - Posted-09/05/2018: 05:11:23
The wooden tone ring or rim cap is certain to tell its limitations at the jam, that's where it all happens.
Builders have gone to rim caps to imitate what bronze can do on the same type of rim, usually laminated Maple with exotics like Grenadilla on top.
The benefits of light weight can get lost in the lack of sound produced. I do rim changes, so I have a little stack of mastercraft,Gold Tone, RK and other worthwhile attempts.
I use bamboo with a tone ring and get 5 pounds. 24 hooks and a heavier hardwood rim get 6.75 pounds whether with shoes or a tube banjo, the weight is the same, and they use the same tone ring. I have a shoe and plate for sale that weighs 8.2 pounds with the rez.
Changing the set up can give you a thumpier sound if that's what you are after.
The builders changing to making woodies have invested in bronze heavily, and with the same marginal rims, they are attempting to rescue the Zomboni from a cul de sac, it just ain't makin' ice to play on.
h - Posted-09/05/2018: 18:48:26
I purchased a used John Hartford a few months ago. A 2012 model, getting it used made the price fairly close to an ordinary US made "masterclone". Deering has been making them for a while and sometimes older models come up for sale at even lower prices. You can hear the volume on the last video I posted, it cut thru the stage mix good enough. Altho my Gibson does cut thru the sound of a band or jam a little better. But the 3 lb lighter weight of the Hartford is why I got it.
The hot weather I was playing in threw it out of adjustment by the next day. I had to loosen the head a bit to get back the sound I like. It sounds close to but not quite like a Mastertone.
rcwright - Posted-09/05/2018: 19:29:54
Yates LM-1, I love mine.
KDBanjo - Posted-09/05/2018: 20:54:29
Heartland Appalachia made by Robin Smith. Very nice lightweight banjo with a "woodie" tone.
revellfa - Posted-09/06/2018: 13:54:03
quote:
Originally posted by Texican65Yes! Backing-up what “The Old Timer” said...those 1960’s Vega’s are light as a feather...but can still hold their own professionally if set up right.
I’ve got a ‘63 Vega Scruggs model...and it’s killer. Tubaphone tonering capable of delivering all sorts of different tones you might be after, depending on your other set up preferences. I could pick this banjo up one armed and swing it in a circle....it’s so light. Check ‘em out.
Dow
My 1969 vega scruggs banjo fit this description to a t! Great banjo, full tone, lightweight, capable of any style.
Shop the Folk - Posted-09/06/2018: 14:38:10
I have a '60 Vega Folk Wonder w/resonator that sounds very good and it's light weight. (P.S. for sale) Paul
bango - Posted-09/09/2018: 16:24:29
I and my aging back are happy with our Bishline Cimarron woody. There was a little upcharge for the customization. With a Renaissance head at DrumDial 92, and a Z-bridge, it's right up there with my old Gibson arch top. Intonation and action are perfect.
Iderhobanjer23 - Posted-09/09/2018: 19:14:27
Totally depends on how light weight we're talking. Backpacking light weight? Travel banjo or old Harmony Bakelite. Lightweight as in helping your back after holding it for an hour at a jam session? Well you simply can't beat the tone or price tag of a prewar tone hoop conversion. Just trust me on that. I have one that will blow any flathead out of the jam in terms of total volume/cutting power. Might not have the tonal range or qualities of a tone ring banjo, but for "bluegrass" tone, it's great, and is five pounds less, coming in at about 7.5 lbs with mahogany neck. My maple neck conversion was about 9lbs.
TWhobo - Posted-09/10/2018: 04:02:35
Hi @loggerhead I do enjoy the sound of the wooden tone ring, I quite like a darker sounding banjo with a nice long noteas opposed to bright sound.
.quote:
Originally posted by loggerheadJust curious: do you like the idea of wooden tone ring because of the sound, because of the weight saving, or because of both? If it is only because of weight saving, I have a suggestion (which would be useless if you like the sound of the wooden ring).
mbuk06 - Posted-09/10/2018: 04:19:48
As Luke said, it depends what you mean by 'light weight'.
One of my favourite banjos to play has a single ply ash rim, no tone ring and weighs next to nothing. Remarkably it has a big, full tone and sounds wonderful. As I'm not a luthier I can't explain the construction/physics of that tone, or where the heck it comes from, but I do know that every person who has held that banjo has been in complete disbelief at how little it weighs.
bruce kunkel - Posted-09/14/2018: 12:35:35
Check out The Kunkel Banjo. Its an all wood banjo that weighs just over five pounds and sounds Great! kunkelbanjo.com
DrBillM - Posted-09/14/2018: 17:40:06
I had a Deering Maple Blossom that I put a Harold Greene wooden tone ring in and it was great! Great tone withe grenadillo wood and really light. I traded it to Geoff Hohwald and it is for sale at his Banjo Warehouse. Check the website.
DulcimerDave - Posted-09/15/2018: 11:55:58
If you donot need volume, check out the 2 lb wooden travel/practice banjos made by Backyard Music company
mikehalloran - Posted-09/16/2018: 11:24:49
Vintage ODE aluminum pot banjos with resonators will peel paint like a Stelling.
My bluegrass banjo was my â20s Tubaphone conversion with its pie plate resonator and flange pieces. Not half the weight of a Mastertone but it felt like that on my shoulder.
Vega 2-piece and 4-piece flanges are also lighter than the Gibson style one piece cast flange.
Recording King had a series of lightweight RB-100 style banjos but those have been discontinued for a few years now. Properly set up, they sounded pretty good. For that matter, an RB-100 is a good contender in the lightweight department.
saulsmanb - Posted-09/16/2018: 13:55:38
Another option you might consider if you currently have a banjo thatâs too heavy: get a Tony Pass thin skirt woody rim fitted to it. I picked up one from a BHO member and put it on a Deering Maple Blossom. I was quite happy with the results.
All the best.
Brian Saulsman
tstew - Posted-09/19/2018: 07:39:34
Check out Bishline's Facebook page about the Midnight Moon Rob just finished. 7.2 lbs, looks and sounds outstanding
FlyinEagle - Posted-09/19/2018: 08:18:59
Ken LeVan makes a banjo with aluminum hardware, tension hoop and all. It is crazy light!
germanKevin - Posted-10/15/2018: 03:37:44
Hey, i just want to share my experience with the deering white lotus. I was also looking for a light weight thing but the only ones i could try around here where the john hartford and the white lotus. I fell in love with the white lotus pretty sudden. It reacts way better to dynamics then anything i ever held in my hands. The hartford felt to me, like there was a tissue lying over it. Hard to explain, but the way the white lotus reacts to anything i did with it is just amazing. At the first rehearsal with the band( open air, in the park) i noticed, it is way more silent then my old fender fb59. It seemed to have almost no dephts. So i changed the head to a standard remo and not only it eliminated a weak spot around the high e, 14th fret, it put some bass into the sound. I will also try out some other bridges like the dotson or nechville. This is definitely not a banjo that cuts through a jam like a knife, but it is an incredible fun to play that thing. Playing chops you can really kick it like a metalhead. I don`t know if this would be a banjo i would bring to studio session, even if it sounds good. The tone qualities are, with the remo head, all good all over the fretboard. No dying highs or dead spots or anything. And it hardly gets out of tune. It`s a fun thing.
