Inspiring! Back in the 1970's I wanted SO badly to build a banjo based on the Foxfire III plans, but I had no tools whatsoever to manage that. I'm putting my hand-tool woodworking shop back together, and this seems like a perfect project.
Somehow, when I hear banjo music, my mind always goes back to the movie Deliverance. Only nowadays, I don't get creeped out. Hat's off to anyone who can play one.
The cheap, ragged banjo and the funny player in Deliverance are definately not what you actually hear. That is the banjo of the pro mr. Eric Weissberg, playing an expensive, modern 5-string bluegrass banjo.
morbanjo Yes the instrument sounds much warmer than your traditional bluegrass style banjo but I meant the music. Is it in a modal tuning? I don't know much about banjo yet but it doesn't quite sound like bluegrass. It sounds to me like mountain music or folk of some kind. It has a bit of sadness to it. It's like bittersweet. Very nice and you play very well. I really dig your channel.
I photocopied the illustrations from that article many years ago: which of the specs did you use: Stanley Hicks or Sidney Meyers? Those guys in the Foxfire book really raved about housecat skins--I'd be very curious to hear what that sounds like and if it makes any difference.
Thank you for giving us such good music . Incredible sound of your fretless mountain with your old time playing. I try to reproduce it with my fretted one with metal string but the slide is missing a lot . Hope to ear other tunes from you .
I made a banjo using the foxfire book as well but I'm having a hell of a time with the friction pegs. I have trouble getting them all tuned correctly and holding it. any tips?
Yeah Seth, they can be troublsome sometimes. I went ahead and purchase a matched set violin peg shaver and reamer which makes the taper way more accurate. This is similar to the one I got. -peg-reels-shaver-and-peg-hole-reamer-/281599640368?hash=item4190a58330:g:ID
That link might not work. Try this. www.ebay.com/itm/violin-pegs-tools-3-4-4-4-violin-pegs-reels-shaver-and-pegs-hole-reamer-/282366101328?hash=item41be54c750:g:8rgAA
Well at least you can PLAY the dang thing!! That makes all the difference. I read the FIRST "Foxfire" book, but not the rest. Guess I'll have to. Nicely done!! Do those friction pegs go out of tuning fast?
+nutmegger1957 Sorry for the very late reply. After you get the friction pegs dialed in they hold tuning pretty well. It's just getting the small increments that can be a little difficult.
Hello morbanjo: I just got a fretless mountain banjo (Frank Proffett style). Regrading where second fret should be; I have noticed that when I place my finger in a position on the first string to get an E note (using an electronic tuner the see the E note) that I have to move my finger slightly back from where the first string position was to get a true E note on the 4th string. It that just the way it is or is the bridge no placed correctly? Help.
Sounds like the bridge is too far forward on the bass side. I usually place the bridge to be slightly cocked back on the bass side, much how an acoustic guitar’s bridge is positioned to allow compensation for the thicker bass strings to note true.
+thekrookedcowboy That's a little Brazilian made student model classical guitar, about 22" scale, that I 'd recently done some repairs on. It's still out in my shop somewhere if you're interested (plays great and less than $100)
3 years later and it's still one of the most beautiful tunes I've heard...
Thanks! I like this one a lot too!
the gold standard of julianne johnson old time banjo videos available on youtube currently. that rhythm man! its infectious.
Inspiring! Back in the 1970's I wanted SO badly to build a banjo based on the Foxfire III plans, but I had no tools whatsoever to manage that. I'm putting my hand-tool woodworking shop back together, and this seems like a perfect project.
Great tone with that salad bowl ..Thanks for the tune ...
guy wolff Thanks Guy! I enjoy your playing (and pottery) too.
Lovely playing. And wonderful construction. Keeping the tradition alive.
chance encounter Thank you!
Fretless banjos are just too damn cool!
I could feel that music in my soul!!! So good!!! Thanks for posting! :)
Thanks!
Man I just finished this chapter in Foxfire 3! So cool to get to hear it too!! Thank you so much!
Wow.. what a lovely tone
Outstanding!!!! craftsmanship and SOUND!!! love it!!!!!
sounds great!
Very cool, nice little tune also. Love the tone !
Love the old timey sound you get. Really nice playing too.
This is a really good video, thank you. Playing is outstanding!
You DaMan! Love the simplicity and wonderful tone of the mountain banjo. Sooo nice!!!!
Great tone! Perfect balance of twang with a slight bit of warm undertones. Thanks for sharing!!
Love your vids and banjos ! Cheers they sound great.
It's beautiful. Great sound and looks, and it's got all the time care and skill you put into it!
Just love your playing on this and other items - brings a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat. Keep it up man!
+Ian Duncan Thanks Ian!
Love it.
Nice banjo. Foxfire should still be capturing the folk life. Enjoyed the tune. Would like to hear Sandy river belle on fretless.
utbanker Thanks! Might do that on my next fretless.
Wow, wonderful, you play so smooth, very nice!
Loved it, sounds awesome 👍
very nice, thank you
Great to hear this
That's a great sounding instrument.
Awesome!
Somehow, when I hear banjo music, my mind always goes back to the movie Deliverance. Only nowadays, I don't get creeped out. Hat's off to anyone who can play one.
The cheap, ragged banjo and the funny player in Deliverance are definately not what you actually hear. That is the banjo of the pro mr. Eric Weissberg, playing an expensive, modern 5-string bluegrass banjo.
Nice!
Want one
Sounds amazing.
If I didn't see it, I'd have thought that the concept of a fretless banjo was damn near impossible. It sounds good too, and surprisingly loud.
Fox Fuzzbox He plays it great too. I love the mountainy sound. Just a little dark.
Paul L Sun don't shine down deep in them pines
Thanks Paul and Tanner. Yeah, a much darker sound, that I like,compared to a resonator back banjo with steel strings
morbanjo Yes the instrument sounds much warmer than your traditional bluegrass style banjo but I meant the music. Is it in a modal tuning? I don't know much about banjo yet but it doesn't quite sound like bluegrass. It sounds to me like mountain music or folk of some kind. It has a bit of sadness to it. It's like bittersweet. Very nice and you play very well. I really dig your channel.
Thanks Cj12sings!
I photocopied the illustrations from that article many years ago: which of the specs did you use: Stanley Hicks or Sidney Meyers? Those guys in the Foxfire book really raved about housecat skins--I'd be very curious to hear what that sounds like and if it makes any difference.
Thank you for giving us such good music . Incredible sound of your fretless mountain with your old time playing. I try to reproduce it with my fretted one with metal string but the slide is missing a lot . Hope to ear other tunes from you .
Thanks Mickael.
Good playing man.
This is good, I like the sound of Julianne Johnson played a lot more 'straight' than I know it.
+Ryan Johnson Thanks! A fretless banjo encourages me to keep stuff simple.
That old piece of wood Has a good tone
I made a banjo using the foxfire book as well but I'm having a hell of a time with the friction pegs. I have trouble getting them all tuned correctly and holding it. any tips?
Yeah Seth, they can be troublsome sometimes. I went ahead and purchase a matched set violin peg shaver and reamer which makes the taper way more accurate. This is similar to the one I got.
-peg-reels-shaver-and-peg-hole-reamer-/281599640368?hash=item4190a58330:g:ID
That link might not work. Try this.
www.ebay.com/itm/violin-pegs-tools-3-4-4-4-violin-pegs-reels-shaver-and-pegs-hole-reamer-/282366101328?hash=item41be54c750:g:8rgAA
Well at least you can PLAY the dang thing!! That makes all the difference. I read the FIRST "Foxfire" book, but not the rest. Guess I'll have to. Nicely done!! Do those friction pegs go out of tuning fast?
+nutmegger1957 Sorry for the very late reply. After you get the friction pegs dialed in they hold tuning pretty well. It's just getting the small increments that can be a little difficult.
A fretless banjo is same thing as a minstrel banjo, right?
How did you attach the strings at the bottom?
Wow..beautiful sound! Can you make me the same one? Lmk, thank you!
I hope to play like you someday...
Hello morbanjo: I just got a fretless mountain banjo (Frank Proffett style). Regrading where second fret should be; I have noticed that when I place my finger in a position on the first string to get an E note (using an electronic tuner the see the E note) that I have to move my finger slightly back from where the first string position was to get a true E note on the 4th string. It that just the way it is or is the bridge no placed correctly? Help.
Sounds like the bridge is too far forward on the bass side. I usually place the bridge to be slightly cocked back on the bass side, much how an acoustic guitar’s bridge is positioned to allow compensation for the thicker bass strings to note true.
make me one
Do you sell your banjos?
whats that little guitar in the background ?
+thekrookedcowboy That's a little Brazilian made student model classical guitar, about 22" scale, that I 'd recently done some repairs on. It's still out in my shop somewhere if you're interested (plays great and less than $100)
+morbanjo Hey Shawn, I just checked out some of your videos. Really wonderful playng and singing!
+morbanjo make a video with the guitar, where r u located?
+thekrookedcowboy OK, I'll do a demo on it later today. I'm in West Virginia near the Maryland border.
im in canada west of toronto
Nice!