That Granada sounds just perfect! Beautiful crisp clear tone with a nice round bass. That's the kind of tone we all strive for on our banjo's....well at least I do. Thanks for sharing. 👍
I only played chinese bg banjos in the first 5 years of playing and one night at a jam a guy give me a pick of his 1995 golden deluxe and i nearly fell of my seat it was amazing!!!
As a tenor banjo player, I’m always amazed how easily & comfortably 5-stringers talk about the decimation of 4-string banjo history & culture by the 5-string community. Over & over, I hear them say things like, “Yeah, we ripped the 4-string neck off this super rare perfect instrument and replaced it with a 5-string neck. Now it’s great.”
Any 5-string banjo player who comes across a 4-string of this quality will certainly keep the original 4-string neck and any other changed parts. With that, the banjo can be converted back to its original configuration with a small wrench and about a half hour of work, no woodwork or gluing required. The original 4-string neck of my Gibson PT-6 is displayed in my den and will be sold with the banjo (if I ever sell it). Absolutely no permanent change to the original pot is required to turn a 4-string into a 5-string - in fact, the only irreversible change that's usually made to these old Gibsons is installing a geared fifth string tuner to replace the friction pegs that were used throughout the prewar period. This requires reaming out the original neck to fit the larger barrel of the geared tuner. This has been done to most pre-war original five string necks. So it's actually harder to return most original 5-strings back to their factory configuration than it is to turn a 5-string conversion banjo back into its factory-original 4-string form. Now, if you want to talk about people who slice the top edge of the rim of their archtop Gibsons to install a modern flathead ring - that's a different discussion, and it affects 4-string and 5-string instruments equally.
Wow ... I know the same feeling about getting up In the morning . Folgers in my cup and a Gibson prewar in my lap! Notice I didn't say Granada .Maybe next year?
I bet I would make that Gibson Granada sound really nice in my old time 2 finger thumb lead style. I play in an old time 2 finger style and the prefer not wear picks. I also like to not hold my hand on the bridge I like the more mellow sound and tone.
That Granada sounds just perfect! Beautiful crisp clear tone with a nice round bass. That's the kind of tone we all strive for on our banjo's....well at least I do. Thanks for sharing. 👍
While taking a few lessons from Bill I got to hear that beautiful banjo up close and it does sound amazing
Billy McFuggin yeah its real loud, especially in his studio.
I only played chinese bg banjos in the first 5 years of playing and one night at a jam a guy give me a pick of his 1995 golden deluxe and i nearly fell of my seat it was amazing!!!
True banjo nerd: knows his banjo's serial number off by heart. I love it.
Iim very blessed to have Bill live a couple miles away and to have seen him play that banjo. This video doesnt do the tone justice.
Dream banjo!
As a tenor banjo player, I’m always amazed how easily & comfortably 5-stringers talk about the decimation of 4-string banjo history & culture by the 5-string community. Over & over, I hear them say things like, “Yeah, we ripped the 4-string neck off this super rare perfect instrument and replaced it with a 5-string neck. Now it’s great.”
Any 5-string banjo player who comes across a 4-string of this quality will certainly keep the original 4-string neck and any other changed parts. With that, the banjo can be converted back to its original configuration with a small wrench and about a half hour of work, no woodwork or gluing required. The original 4-string neck of my Gibson PT-6 is displayed in my den and will be sold with the banjo (if I ever sell it).
Absolutely no permanent change to the original pot is required to turn a 4-string into a 5-string - in fact, the only irreversible change that's usually made to these old Gibsons is installing a geared fifth string tuner to replace the friction pegs that were used throughout the prewar period. This requires reaming out the original neck to fit the larger barrel of the geared tuner. This has been done to most pre-war original five string necks. So it's actually harder to return most original 5-strings back to their factory configuration than it is to turn a 5-string conversion banjo back into its factory-original 4-string form.
Now, if you want to talk about people who slice the top edge of the rim of their archtop Gibsons to install a modern flathead ring - that's a different discussion, and it affects 4-string and 5-string instruments equally.
Great sound!
Wow ... I know the same feeling about getting up In the morning .
Folgers in my cup and a Gibson prewar in my lap!
Notice I didn't say Granada .Maybe next year?
That's one "Kickass" Banja!!! I'd have to play my Guitar really loud, just to keep up!!!🎶🎵🎶
Bill, who and or how did you get the ring certified to be authentic? Who looked at the ring and what did they look for?
Can I borrow it?lol Such a great sound. would love to just try one to see how they feel.
I bet I would make that Gibson Granada sound really nice in my old time 2 finger thumb lead style. I play in an old time 2 finger style and the prefer not wear picks. I also like to not hold my hand on the bridge I like the more mellow sound and tone.
Any info on Granada's made during 50's through to the 80's including custom build Granada models? They do exist.
maxwellfan55 no they don’t exist. Granada’s are 1925-37 1988-2006ish
These 29, 30 Gibsons sound way better than the later ones.
I'm looking for a good 5 string. I'm just learning but dont want to get piece of junk..I live in fl..any suggestions.tks
Ill give you twenty bucks and you pay for shipping.