early banjo makers

Carter's Price Guide to Antiques in Australasia is Registered Trademark of John Furphy Pty. With the group The Weavers, formed in 1948, Seeger took the banjo to the top of the popular music charts multiple times, though the orchestra arrangements on many of their recordings obscured it. Click the bar to view more details about the maker. Length 63 cm. Vega also made some of the early Bacon Professional banjos. The genre is part of the Americana or American roots music category, which includes elements of traditional folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. Magazine Article, Interview; Kate Spencer, A. E. Smith Banjos www.hatfieldbanjos.com Players tune the instrument by sliding the rings up or down to tighten or loosen the strings. Fretted instruments, such as guitars and mandolins, are generally easier to play in tune than unfretted instruments, such as violins, violas, and cellos. defunct listings were for old-time, open-back banjos and most of these were Mark Hickler Many White musicians learned to play banjo directly from African Americans. Uncle Dave Macon: "Take Me Back to My Old Carolina Home". Earl Scruggs and His Blue Grass Boys with Earl Scruggs on banjo: "Why Did You Wander". These builders may make other types as well. Blue Lake, CA USA 95525 You will have to see if Tran Du Ly has it, Chip passed away some years ago, great guy! Fairview, TN USA I am obsessed with banjo as a tool of reclamation for African American artists.. They share features that differentiate them from West African lutes, including a flat, fretless fingerboard, wooden friction tuning pegs, and the way the neck enters and attaches to the gourd body. Clarence Tom Ashley, Dock Boggs, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Buell Kazee, and other rural banjoists recorded in the 1920s using various techniques. Aurora, ON CAN L4G 3V5 Intrigued by what he witnessed and the banjo, in particular, the younger Seeger began learning to play. Minstrel shows featured music and comedy skits performed primarily by White men made up with burnt cork. Frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard of string instruments that divide the neck into fixed intervals. The banjo is a stringed instrument that is, or has been, prominent in American folk, country, bluegrass. More than period recreations, these are instruments you can comfortably bring any banjo repertoire to. thanks, George Lacona, NY USA 13083 This period in America played a pivotal role in the history of the Dixieland banjo by fostering technological advances to the instrument, which would allow it to be adopted by many musical genres and eventually jazz. Length 76 cm, A Windsor Premium No. In the 1830s, a man named Joel Walker Sweeny was one of the first minstrels to play the banjo on stage. Geared tuners and frets are not part of their skill set or among their usual tools of the trade. Members of BMG clubs played plucked stringed instruments in a variety of sizes and shapes. SC.nb("colin", "vancebanjos.com", "", "", ""); 1000 Corporate Grove Drive Afton, VA USA 22920 Hartel Banjos | Handmade Minstrel Banjo Replicas - Hudson Valley Sojourner 2, Birmingham, circa 1907, model number and date impressed to the top of the headstock, verso is an engraved plaque bearing 'Robert E Dorman'. +1 (570) 924-4080 Provenance: The Alex & Annette Hood Collection, NSW, An Italian mandolin with label 'Giov. In some historical records, "playing banya" or "playing banjo" may have referred to the dance ritual, not the musical instrument. Most banjos today are fretted, though some musicians play fretless. These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only. Players formed banjo orchestras out of these family members as well as related instruments like mandolin and guitar. This design was firmly ingrained in the New World, as evidenced by the following instruments found across time and distance: the strum strump observed in Jamaica in the late 1680s, the early gourd banjo in John Roses watercolor (sometimes called. 1870-Uncle Dave Macon born in Tennessee 1878-Henry Dobson produces 5 string with frets (made by Buckbee) 1880-1890 Fairbanks and Cole of Boston. E- 1134, circa 1950, George Formby plaque inlaid in mother-of-pearl to the headstock, 58 cm long, English ukulele banjo, by John Grey & Sons, model Dulcetta, serial no. Their 2010 album Genuine Negro Jig won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. The banjo featured prominently in records manufactured and sold in the first decades of the industry. They played in both the African-rooted downstroke style, now commonly called frailing or clawhammer, and the two- and three-finger up-picking guitar styles taught in the banjo tutors. sites.google.com. Banjo Mandolin early 20th century in original case. The banjo is frequently associated with folk, bluegrass and country music, and has also been used in . 167 Walley Road, Franklin NY 13775 607-330-4330 Website Gallery Hartel Banjos are individually handmade with the finest materials using dimensions from original banjos of the Minstrel Era. Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University Press, 2016. to answer this question you have to relate banjo manufacturing in both the USA and the From the cubby box of a JA Turner "Alvey" 5 string, how about this little collection, probably cost about six and thruppence ha'penny in Two top-of-the-line instruments from two top makers plying their trades across the pond. Bob Thornburg Gourd Banjo - Peghead Nation Often this book, at least at my writing this review in 2014, will go for $150-$400. James Hartel has been making and playing banjos on and off since 1973 when he made a banjo for his 2 year old daughter. +1 (800) 5-STRING Spike implies that the neck passes over or through the body of the instrument. Dubois, Laurent. Banjo - Wikipedia SC.nb("phopkins", "united.net", "", "", ""); A division of Gibson. Virginia Minstrels spawned many imitators, and the instrumentation and general format of the skits and music became somewhat standardized. Mesa, AZ USA 85201 With case. 112 Silverwood Drive 18124 Bull Rapids Road Starting in the 1840s, blackface minstrel performers began popularizing the banjo among middle-class Whites who purchased manufactured instruments and learned to play. A Mozart banjo, length 100 cm with hard case, stand and book, An antique five string banjo, John Grey & Sons, London, early 20th century, the brass rim and back cast with Eastern inspired decoration enamelled in red and black, with engraved mark to the armrest and metal label to the head, length 95 cm, Cuckoo vintage English four string banjo, late 19th early 20th century, 27 cm drumhead, 75 cm long, A vintage banjo mandolin, early 20th century, 61 cm long, English ukulele banjo, by John Grey & Sons, model George Formby, serial no. Length 56.5 cm, diameter of body 20 cm. Pete Ross Old Time Banjos Black musicians played the banjo to accompany singing and dancing, sometimes with percussion or hand clapping. The instrument may also have been part of a religious ceremony known as the banya prei. Sharing design elements with many similar West African instruments, the banjo developed in the Caribbean during the first century of the transatlantic slave trade. If you know of any builders not on this list, please let me know. Steve likes to use the banjo for old-time tunes and to accompany his vocals. 137 Utah Avenue Pete Ross Banjos | Baker Artist Portfolio www.cedarmtnbanjos.com Resonator vs. Open-back 1.2 2. 409 Benton Lane William Temlett's son, William Ernest, had started work in his father's factory in early boyhood but left at the age of thirty to form his own business. The Banjo's Early Days. Conway, Cecilia. 1865- Frank Converse Banjo primer published 1863-1897 James H. Buckbee Co., of New York largest maker. Home | Vintage Banjo Maker The Best Banjo Brands (Top Banjo Makers) - Strong Sounds Unlike the fiddle, which African Americans played far more commonly, the banjo was primarily a southern instrument. Patrick Heavner & Topher Stephens Although there are a small number of individual craft makers of banjos in Britain, there hasn't been a 'banjo factory' producing instruments in large numbers since the 1950s. +1 (828) 226-2286 By the end of the decade, other White solo banjo players in blackface became popular on the circus and variety show circuit. Gardner Minstrel Banjo - Ryan Bocook . In 1995, in Appomattox, his banjo shop was complete and his business Chanterelle Banjos was born. They also composed new songs on the banjo, often devising unique tunings for the instrument to achieve the desired tonalities. I reserve the right to remove a listing without notice if the maker's Web site goes offline or I am unable to get in touch with a builder within a reasonable amount of time. Mostly open-back models. Ltd. 2023 John Furphy Pty. Inclusion is at my sole discretion. Throughout the remainder of the century, banjo makers and music book publishers sought to increase sales among the burgeoning White middle class. www.sagamusic.com. As of June 2022, there are 56. Though there is little documentation, some may have picked up the instrument before the rise of, Musicians adapted various genres to the banjo, including, In the 1920s, record companies discovered and nurtured a market for Southern rural music. 309 Plus Park Boulevard The banjo is patterned after detail from "The Old Plantation" painting. SC.nb("lindsaylewellen", "gmail.com", "", "", ""); www.recordingking.com 5, circa 1920, maker and model number impressed to the head stock, the fingerboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl. www.cedarcreekluthiers.com Zubatho 9, 150 00 The images used in this list have been provided by their respective builders and are the copyrighted Early Version with Nickel Hardware and Full-Thickness Maple Rim. 3563 Highway 231 North www.stellingbanjo.com The ensemble included banjo, fiddle, tambourine, and bones, a percussion instrument made from animal rib or shin bones. I have worked with world renown banjo maker Kevin Enoch since 2004, collaborating on the design of his esteemed Dobson line, and creating much of the design and inlay on his most ornate banjos. Musicians adapted various genres to the banjo, including fiddle tunes, popular sentimental songs, ballads from the British Isles, and songs from the minstrel stage. A wide array of hardware is available, ask for anything you dont see here. North Port, FL USA 34290 Ltd. trading as CARTER'S Publications. , banjo manufacturers began installing frets on the instrument. The practice continued in various forms, including film, radio, and television, into the 1950s. 183 Cloverdale Dr. Buffalo Grove, IL USA 60089 Unknown Maker Tackhead Minstrel Banjo C. 1840s This is probably the earliest banjo in the collection, tackhead banjos predate the use of straining hooks and nuts to tighten the head although cheap versions were in trade catalogs well into the 1890s. PO Box 882, Elkins, West Virginia 26241 304-636-6710 Phone Hours; 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday and occasionally on Saturday; Banjos,Contact us. The banjo clock was developed at the beginning of the 19th Century by renowned clock maker Simon Willard in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The Desert Rose website is no longer reachable. 2022 Banjo Gathering Huber Jim Mills 5 string Banjo Rare Gold Plated Mahogany Powerhouse w Deluxe Archtop Case $6,500.00 USD - Used - Excellent Condition NEW Davis RB4 5 string Banjo Walnut with Hardshell Case NEW $3,999.00 USD - New Gibson RB-250 Banjo $3,000.00 USD - Used - Excellent Condition (412) 303-8461 Danny Moloney Urbana: Illini Books, 1994. Banjo Facts: A Selected History - Hamilton College Banjos like classic Paramounts, Vegas, Coles, and S.S. Stewarts serve as the standards by which the makers at Arthur E. Smith measure their work. 1922 West Banta Road SC.nb("info", "deeringbanjos.com", "", "", ""); Scott also heads the Recording King custom shop in Japan. This design was firmly ingrained in the New World, as evidenced by the following instruments found across time and distance: the strum strump observed in Jamaica in the late 1680s, the early gourd banjo in John Roses watercolor (sometimes called The Old Plantation) from South Carolina around 1785,and the banza collected in Haiti in 1841. Murph Gribble (banjo), Albert York (guitar), and John Lusk (fiddle): "Altamont" (1946). List of banjo players - Wikipedia Caraya 5 string banjo with Remo head made out of mahogany, the banjo is a plectrum-style instrument and has a closed-back design and and the mahogany body is complemented by a maple neck and a natural gloss finish. The strings are attached to the neck with leather or cloth rings. Home Privacy Policy About Me WebDesignBuild.biz Contact. Russell Springs, KY USA 42642 The Stedman 'Creole Bania': A Look at the World's Oldest Banjo - Blogger Farris Travel Banjo Company . No. His first banjos consisted of a banjo neck attached to a drum-like steam-bent wood hoop with two skin membranes, one stretched over the top and the other over the bottom of the hoop. The Carolina Chocolate Drops with Dom Flemons on banjo: "Country Girl" (2012), Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons, former members of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, continue to perform, explore, and tell the banjos story in live performances, recordings, writings, and interviews. Americas Instrument: The Banjo in the Nineteenth Century. A Quest to Return the Banjo to Its African Roots - Smithsonian Between 1893 and 1917, he made more than 500 recordings of ragtime songs, marches, and minstrel material. 44, Birmingham, circa 1920, 5 strings, 12 brackets, the headstock decorated with engraved stainless steel plating, 91 cm long, English zither banjo, by Windsor, model no. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, 2007. Banjo Roots and Branches. Chuck Lee Banjo Company, Inc. 112 Silverwood Drive Ovilla, TX USA 75154 +1 (972) 617-5576 www.chuckleebanjos.com Made in USA Clareen Banjos As might be expected from the location, the majority of the business is in 4-string banjos. Through the 1920s and early 1930s, the guitar gradually replaced the banjo in jazz ensembles. All Rights Reserved. Please contact us with any questions or inquiries. Most banjos today are fretted, though some musicians play fretless. The Dobson brothers, William A. Cole, H.C. Fairbanks, James Ashborn, and Vega built banjos or affixed their names to the banjos of others. The vast archives of 20th-century recordings of African American banjo players and Haitian banza players, recorded by John Werk III, Alan Lomax, and others for the Library of Congress and Smithsonian, capture what people who otherwise were relatively voiceless were singing, and therefore what they were saying and thinking about in different Known today as Banjo clocks, these elegant wall clocks are prized by collectors. It was tuned in fifths, like a mandolin or violin, and played by strumming with a plectrum, also known as a pick. Note that instruments made during the war by this renowned maker are rare. The banjo thimble, a precursor to the fingerpicks that are standard in bluegrass playing, increased the volume of banjo soloists performing in the downstroke style on stage. String bands primarily provided music for square dances and step dances in southern Appalachia. Home of the Rickard "Cyclone" 10:1 tuners. error? A listing of notable musicians who play the banjo as a major part of their output include: A [ edit] Derroll Adams Eddie Adcock David "Stringbean" Akeman Howard Alden Peter R. Arnott Clarence Ashley Scott Avett B [ edit] Etta Baker Danny Barker Danny Barnes Terry Baucom Riley Baugus Andru Bemis Carroll Best [1] Louis 'Lou' Black Ron Block University of Tennessee Press, 1995. The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. Soon, banjo making consumed much of his spare time and began to eat into his business time. Mandolin Cafe Classifieds Also see the SHS online store at www.shop-shs.comand the SHS main site at www.shsint.net. Portland, OR USA SC.nb("manbdawson", "frontier.com", "", "", ""); Founded by Lo Gordon, now in the hands of his son. www.hendricksbanjos.com What is the history of Banjo? - Musician Authority 137 Utah Avenue Today, the banjo can be heard in virtually every genre of music. In the book, historian Pete Ross concludes, All three banjos differ enough from African instruments while sharing some details specific to later banjos played and made by European Americans to place them at a point in the banjos history where it was no longer simply a relocated African instrument, but on its way to attaining the structure of the well-known antebellum nineteenth-century banjo.. S. S. Stewart produced his own line of banjos from 1878 until his death in 1898. He has published detailed research into the banjo rim construction. www.goldtone.com A Few Notes on the Genealogy of Vintage Banjo Manufacturers. Thomas Dartmouth Rice started the minstrel craze in 1828 with his song and dance Jump Jim Crow. Joel Walker Sweeney was the first minstrel performer to play the banjo. Scott Zimmerman A.A. Farland, celebrated banjo virtuoso of the late 19th and early 20th century, didn't care for those new-fangled tone rings banjo makers of his era were putting on their high-grade instruments -- he thought they sounded "too tinny!" He also abhorred spun-over metal rims like those on S.S. Stewart's banjos for the same reason. Pete is one of earliest contemporary makers of gourd banjos, making instruments that range from those of his own design to exact replicas of historic instruments. 245 Industrial Pkwy S. James Hartel has been making and playing banjos on and off since 1973 when he made a banjo for his 2 year old daughter. www.omebanjos.com No. made exclusively for Elderly Instruments and can be found on their website here. 1 - 7. The most technically advanced banjo of the early minstrel period. 3733 Kenora Drive SC.nb("danny", "sylvanbanjos.com", "", "", ""); The ultimate travel banjo by Sam Farris. 1881-Dobson patents a tone ring 1890s-Steel strings widely available: cheaper than gut 84 Womack Street +1 (931) 580-5742 I am obsessed with banjo as a tool of reclamation for African American artists., Our Native Daughters with Allison Russell on banjo: "Quasheba, Quasheba" (2020). Bloom's Banjos - The Home of the Hornbeam Special The Byrds with John Hartford on banjo: "I Am a Pilgrim" (1968). Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt left the Blue Grass Boys to form Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1948. Philadelphia was a centre of activity for banjo making in the early 1880's and it may be that he was one of the wood workers that cashed in on the banjo craze. Christian has been with Tommy since 2007 and has another shop in Memphis. No direct sales; through dealers only. In 1843, a troupe called Virginia Minstrels put on the first full-length minstrel show in a New York City theater. His eighth-note arpeggio patterns, called rolls, have been widely imitated. Ltd. trading as CARTER'S Publications. Spring Valley, CA USA 91977 SC.nb("prucha", "pruchabanjos.cz", "", "", ""); A lifelong guitarist, tinkerer and learner, I became interested in building open-back banjos while learning clawhammer-style banjo. Between 1893 and 1917, he made more than 500 recordings of, In the early twentieth century, manufacturers introduced the four-string, or tenor, banjo. Its loud, bright sound cut through jazz bands and dance orchestras, providing a solid rhythm. www.epiphone.com +81-090-9358-2965. Lon and Camille Decap, sons of Alos Decap who founded the firm in 1902. www.hussanddalton.com. They were instrumental in bringing bluegrass to a wider audience through television, radio, and live performances. +1 (615) 264-4959 In 1968, the Byrds brought it back home with their album. Many of the www.cbguitars.com Pete Seeger, son of musicologist Charles Seeger, first heard the 5-string banjo in 1936 at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in western North Carolina, organized by Bascom Lamar Lunsford. SC.nb("info", "cbguitars.com", "", "", ""); Mike Dawson, Luthier A basic banjo that just captures the tone and playability youre looking for is an option, as is a deep well of design options from historical sources. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1999. It was tuned in fifths, like a mandolin or violin, and played by strumming with a plectrum, also known as a pick. (828) 768-3488 The banjo is a stringed instrument that is, or has been, prominent in American folk, country, bluegrass, ragtime, and jazz music. www.wildwoodbanjos.com, The Banjo Loft She didnt learn to play that banjo until she was thirty, though, and by then, Jim had dug around enough in the history of American banjos to start making replicas of authentic minstrel banjos. 3 banjo with hardwood neck and nickel plated body, leatherette case. In the book Banjo Roots and Branches, historian Pete Ross concludes, All three banjos differ enough from African instruments while sharing some details specific to later banjos played and made by European Americans to place them at a point in the banjos history where it was no longer simply a relocated African instrument, but on its way to attaining the structure of the well-known antebellum nineteenth-century banjo.. A Reliance banjo hardwood neck with nickelplated and wood body in a wood case. Furthermore, he continues his research and fine tunes his banjos regularly so that they look and sound as much like the banjos of the early minstrel period as possible.