Anyone who plays an OME banjo ( or anyone who knows what an OME is)

210 Members, Created 3/18/2011 -

Administrators: Unclelevi (owner)

Tanya & Chuck

From crsb on 6/20/2012 7:36:47 PM

I'm building a banjo and ordering some parts from Ome. I had the pleasure of talking to both Chuck and Tanya.  

Chuck and I were talking about how he came full circle on his banjo making.  His favorite music as he said is roots music.  He enjoys walking around festivals and seeing some of the small groups of players. He was one of the original folkies building long necks and all. 

He says Tanya is slowly taking over the business and it's in good hands with her, Rich, Gustavo and Jose.  

He's pretty happy with his Southern Cross holy grail Bluegrass banjo.  I think he had to build it to show that he could.  

He says he's not good but plays both up picking and claw hammer banjo styles.  I bet he's better than he thinks!

Chuck was talking about getting parts for me, a arm rest to be specific.  It sounds like they have all kinds of small shops that do work for them.  So sometimes there is quite a lead time as some can be pretty fickle.  Must be like trying to get something done in Wisconsin during deer season.

Tanya is very busy but as always takes the time to talk.  She's working on a new face book website.  She says check in there for what's new at Ome.  She says May is the time they catch up since it's their slow month.  

I was talking about inlay and asked her about Donna Stone.  She's the one who used to do commissioned work for Ome.  Her last project was the Rain Forest banjo and only a few were made.  She's very smart and is a professor out in the Bay area.  She started to work for Chuck sanding necks and became a very good pearl engraver and carver. 

Tanya says Chuck did all the design work for all their new banjos.  From tailpiece to tip of the head stock.

Tanya knows her stuff.  I was asking about brass hooks and was informed they were not a suitable material for the job.  Most are steel and plated.  They do have brass but they are much more expensive so to keep the cost down they don't use them on low end banjos.  I think she said the treat them so they can take the strain.  Somebody like Ed Britt might help me out here.

Anyways I just thought I'd pass it along.

Joe

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