Open back or resonator banjo?

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Old-time 3 Fingerpicking Banjo

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For enthusiasts of fingerpicked oldtime banjo: share your favourite music, swap playing tips, post your tunes.

144 Members, Created 4/12/2011 -

Administrators: hobogal (owner)

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From Biehnbanjer on 3/7/2013 5:57:17 PM

I love Charlie Poole, snuffy, dock Boggs and others OT three finger style but it just doesn't sound right on my bluegrass banjo... What's a good setup and banjo for this style??

1 Comments
	gailg64 says: 3/8/2013 5:28:00 AM Yes, Charlie Poole, Snuffy & Dock played Gibson resonator banjos. Only Snuffy had a flathead though, so if you can pick like that you should be able to get his sound :-) Charlie Poole & Dock Boggs had mid-20s Mastertones with early archtop mastertone tone rings & both played without picks. You can still find those pots & conversions that preserve the original tone rings are occasionally available. Those banjos have a drier, more piercing sound that is actually closer to the tubaphone, whyte Laydie sound. You can muffle your flathead a bit with a small towel or sponge inslde the pot between the coordinator rods & head. Some old-time players will modify a modern flathead banjo for old-time playing by putting a thin piece of cloth or leather under the strings between the bridge and tailpiece. You might also switch to a calfskin head. For old-time picking I use a 20s ballbearing Gibson, a 20s RB-2 (with a plain tone hoop) & skin head, and a 1919 whyte laydie with a res. & a skin head.
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