1867 Dobson Minstrel Banjo!

[@shanejwolfe]

Amazing how these instruments survive and carry the music along, across generations. Sounds great.

[@landowar2162]

Personally I think the muted sound sounds lovely and gives it some personality!

[@simonolsen9995]

Thanks for sharing. If that banjo could tell stories... I imagine it would have a few.

[@guruandy2606]

Great looking and sounding for a banjo so old ... well demonstrated Clifton

[@stude1953]

I have one of those. A real treasure. 155 years old!

[@Nomadboatbuilding]

Super cool Clifton. I have one of the English made versions of that. Has a slotted peg head with a set of guitar tuners on it with a fifth string tunnel. My father in law got it used when he was a kid in 1930's London. One of the very few things he brought with him when he emigrated. Anyhow, it has a great sound and I love playing it.

[@jakeglanville6835]

Like the person who posted the above comment, I too have one of these " ...Dobsons, sort of copied in England..." as Clifton so eloquently puts it, with the 5th string tunnel. My guess is that the real thing made an immediate impression on English banjo makers like William Temlett Snr. (1841-1904) and he and others immediately set out to make their own versions, thereby creating the English Zither-Banjo. I imagine, however, that they were none too impressed with Dobson's top tensioning method with wood screws going into a wooden band, the climate of Victorian Britain with its industrial pollution, smog and damp being none too kind to anything made of wood, so they opted for metal instead (usually nickel-plated brass. I'd love to see a photograph if you're able to get in touch.
In the meantime a big Thank You to Clifton Hicks for this clip. Very interesting. Very informative, and of course lovely banjo playing as always.
Black Jake of Norwich, England.

[@Kodama666]

man that melody you played in the intro has me stuck trying to remember a song, and its not white house blues. what a lovely melody though

[@fallenishvalen9970]

I've always loved folk music and stuff but over the last month or two you and Noah Cline have really gotten me into the instrument. I've been playing guitar in open tunings forever so it really seems like an instrument just made for that style sonically. Been eyeing a steel string one at the guitar shop but I can't bear to part with any of my guitars to get it lol. Would love to try out a gut/nylon one though, I love the sound. I thank y'all for opening up my ears to this instrument beyond inside an ensemble

[@fallenishvalen9970]

I really love the picking styles you use, it's really unique. It has a very big sound while still being super accurate when the melodies are played.

[@mikeedwards2384]

Lovely old vintage banjo that's really neat and sounds great

[@DavidD6969]

Very nice looking peace there👍

[@Chiefqueef91]

I love the sound of this one

[@maxwellfan55]

I like that sound, sounds earthy and authentic, it's highly likely this was unfretted originally. It still sounds unfretted!

[@flamencoprof]

Greetings from New Zealand. Thanks for this informative post. What a wonderful musical tradition you have over there! There are many here who admire it.
I liked the location as well.

[@Mo11y666]

Ha ha I was so excited about this banjo I almost waved goodbye to it at the end of the video!

[@bearshield7138]

love it

[@MsTubbytube]

150 years old - amazing

[@Unus_Annus_]

Sounds like Chilly Winds

[@jeremyreagan9085]

Clifton I really enjoy the old ones like this one. Not cause they are high quality but because they are history and you will never see another actually like it. As I wrote I like the overhand style but I think as am older now I prefer a simple two finger style of a thumb and index finger. I believe the banjo was meant to play melody lines to be sung too. It sounds to me though!

[@jeremyreagan9085]

Clifton Hicks
To me at least this 1867 Dobson is not a "Tub" to me it sounds better then the present crop mostly. I love these historical examples they do not exist in large numbers and besides it is over 140 yaars old so imagine all those players who played it before you. :) And I agree finger picking of thumb and index finger is style I prefer myself.

[@adambutton7622]

Amazing

[@JohnyG29]

Hey there. For some reason this video isn't showing on your main list of videos. Might be why the view count is down on this one 😀

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Thanks, Johny. I had it set to "unlisted."

[@Wyatt4404]

I like the tubby sounding banjo, where didthe Cubbly come US made? I thought the carved fifth peg was a telltail cubley mark is a good copy on this banjo. Thanks for all your post playing is top shelf, hope to join soon

[@kenny6920]

Wild bill Jones is a good tune for this banjo

[@FlatfootJohnny]

Great looking banjo. I didn't realise that the English zither banjo pot construction originated with the Dobson.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I _think_ that's where it came from.

[@jakeglanville6835]

You are almost certainly right about the English zither-banjo.
BJ.

[@jakeglanville6835]

Hi there Flatfoot Johnny! I'm pretty sure you are right there. I believe one of the Dobsons (HC?) was over in England in 1868/9 and showed his banjo to English banjo makers in London, and very shortly afterwards W Temlett Snr took out his 1869 Patent for his 'suspended board' banjo which had a closed back.
All the Best,
Black Jake of Norwich, England.

[@DovidM]

Here is a link to a 1867 patent Dobson with a corroded tail piece that may be original. See pic #2 of 5: www.banjobuyer.com/banjo/37805 for a closeup of the tailpiece.
It would be interesting to see the original patent application to compare how the tailpiece was drawn.

[@PLINKER]

Hi Clifton, I have a Henry Dobson banjo to, however it is a fretless. Needs some work that I have not gotten around to as of yet.

[@-BriceW.Alms-]

I have always wanted one of those, I just cant afford it.

[@doctorboat7112]

fairbanks banjo made by vega company, also has stamp says "electric". know anything about em? have matching serial codes on pot and neck 33131. inherited from my great grandfather maybe 1970's or 1980's not sure at all.

[@PhatsGaming]

I need your help Identifying this banjo I purchased. It has the word Minstrel in cursive inlaid on the headstock. it has square and rectangle neck inlays that are rounded on the corners. Also has a wooden arm rest and its full size. email me if you can help thanks

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Mark send photos to [e-mail]

[@janheywood1932]

Hey Clifton :) ...Noticed your post. I found 1 of these years ago in Mt Vernon N.Y..Pretty identical except mine is fretless. If you'd like I can
e-mail you some pics. I believe I have the original pegs and it's got a pretty cool star tailpiece...

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Feel free to send them [e-mail] Yes, I think all these 1867 pat. ones were fretless originally.

[@itsobvious5835]

I guarantee somebody is looking for one of those....
I need to learn to 2 finger...

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Somebody was! And it's now making its way to him in the mail. This went to a master luthier and antique dealer in NC. Always thrilled to get things like this into good hands.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Basic Two-Finger Banjo Picking:
ua-cam.com/video/dVWW9kQcuz8/v-deo.html

[@fullgopherman7066]

What was that song?? You should do a lesson vid for it, its great!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

White House Blues (McKinley): ua-cam.com/video/eiNLK1J0B4g/v-deo.html

[@sampson623]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo similar to “Poor Howard/Greencorn” by Lead Belly, “Solid Gone”, and “Lonesome Road Blues” but I’m sure you knew this!
It’s part of the reason I love Folk Music. A lot of the melodies are similar and can interchange the lyrics. I remember a story on MudCat where a famous musician was quoted saying something like “I could sing one melody and use floating verses and not sing the same line once”

[@jacksondemarre8057]

Is this banjo for sale?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Sold a while back.