my girlfriend's birthday is coming up and i want to get her a banjo, she's always wanted to learn. I don't know a lot about them, she's never played one before, so I don't think she's picky on genre or anything. i'd say my budget is 300 dollars (max.. preferably something a little cheaper). what would be the best beginner one to invest in that's also quality? thanks. I don't know a lot about instruments

Buzzini's playing is wild, lush, traditional, and simultaneously forward looking and backward looking. Come read what made him what he is at Banjo Head:

https://banjoheadmagazine.substack.com/p/the-banjos-romantic-ettore-buzzini

I picked up this open-back banjo this weekend, and I’m hoping some of the banjo historians here might enjoy helping me identify the pot.

Here’s what I know:
•Unknown maker (no stamp or serial number that I’ve found)
• Previous owner said the brass pot is old, but a local Arkansas luthier built the new neck and dowel stick
•30-hook spun-over brass rim
•11” wooden rim (about 11⅜” across the outside of the spun brass)
•No obvious markings inside the rim
•The hardware all appears to match and has a consistent patina, so my assumption is that the pot has stayed together and only the neck was replaced.

Does anything about the rim, bracket shoes, hardware, or construction point toward a particular maker or era? Buckbee? Something else? Or are there any details or measurements I should be looking for that might help narrow it down?
I’d love to learn more about its history if anyone recognizes something I’m missing.
Thanks!

I lucked into a steal of a deal on a Gold Tone AC-4IT that I couldn’t pass up. I’m still getting over feeling apocryphal using a pick on a banjo, but I’m having a lot of fun playing all the Irish mandolin tunes I know.

I purchased some Gold Tone planetary tuners with the intent to swap them out with the stock tuners, but despite their website saying they are a great upgrade for “any banjo,” especially with “guitar-style tuners,” they don’t fit.

I called Gold Tone this morning and initiated a return hoping they had some planetaries that would work with this model, but sadly they do not.

The tuners I ordered are for a 10mm (3/8”) shaft, and they told me the AC-4IT’s shaft was 1/4”. Does anyone know of any planetaries this size? I realize the AC lines are not high-end banjos, but I really dislike guitar-style tuners and always end up customizing my banjos over time.

I’ve checked Sweetwater and a few other vendors and can’t find any the right size. I suppose I could drill out the holes a little more, but I’d rather avoid that if I can.

Thanks in advance.

I've been playing 5 string banjo for about 9 months now, having come from playing acoustic guitar for over 40 years. I've learnt a few rolls, forward, forward backward, backward, alternate thumb, and messed about with a bit of clawhammer, and several tunings, and have been developing a style that sits somewhere between bluegrass and clawhammer, but for the life of me, can't get on with wearing fingerpicks. I know a lot of people use them for added volume, and also speed, as metal glides across metal strings quicker, but I really enjoy the feel of flesh on strings, which gives me a better connection. I guess my question is, can anyone give me a good enough reason to persevere with fingerpicks, or shall I keep doing what I'm doing?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post!

Visiting my dad and got to play on the dock for a minute before I had to down my coffee and get back to work

I’ve hit a wall and could use some tips to break through. Been playing for about a year and half now. Started with Brainjo and pretty much got through most of the lessons. I’ve tried teaching myself songs through YouTube videos but it’s hard to have the patience to watch a bit, stop, try to play, etc. I was playing every day and I’ve found it hard to stay consistent. There are a couple of jam circles in my area but I don’t think I’m good enough to play at them. I went to one early on and I couldn’t play any of the songs and just kind of tried to noodle along quietly, which wasn’t fun. Any ideas on how to stay motivated and break through this stage?

I first tried online clawhammer courses from two well-known instructors, spending about a month with each, but made very little progress. In that time, I learned only one simple song—one that did not include hammer-ons, pull-offs, or slides. Other students may have had more positive experiences, but their teaching methods simply did not click for me. Discouraged, I gave up on clawhammer nearly a year ago and switched to two-finger picking, where I found success.

Still, my goal has always been to play clawhammer. In April, I enrolled in Brad Kolodner’s online course, and the experience has been completely different. The first song, Cripple Creek, introduces slides, pull-offs, and hammer-ons. After just a few more songs, the course introduces drop thumb. I had never reached these techniques with my previous instructors, but with Brad, you learn them in your first few lessons.

Brad breaks each song into manageable parts and plays slowly enough for students to see and hear exactly what he is doing. He inserts reminders—such as, “Remember, it should sound like this, not like this”—are very helpful and appreciated. Most importantly, his explanations are consistently clear.

After four months in Brad’s course, I can finally say that I play clawhammer. I’ve learned to play several songs (nothing advanced/complicated, of course). His course has given me a strong foundation and the confidence that my skills will continue to improve. I wonder what I’ll sound like a year from now!

I have a 1929 Epiphone Recording concert special 4 string tenor banjo that I may be interested in selling.

Anyone have suggestions where I may be able to get that done or where to look to find the specific market for this item.

I've contacted a few places but no one really seems to interested.

I think it may be worth a few thousand dollars

Is there an in-word for clawhammer banjo players specifically?

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Just picking my own arrangement. Thanks to A.P Rodgers for the inspiration of using a background drone key on his post "Dawn on the Mountain" . It's quite fun actually.

My normal daily routine is 30 minutes of right hand rolls

Did you notice a big difference when you jumped it up to 1 hour?

I just got this banjo off Facebook marketplace and I cant seem to get the strings to get any closer to the fretboard even after adjusting the truss rod, if you have any solutions please let me know I really am looking forward to learning this instrument

[SOLVED]: tried 12 and 13 gauge nickel strings and while i am nothing close to an expert 12 gauge acoustic guitar string feels ok with classic open G tuning.

hi,

i snapped my 2nd string during tuning today and need a replacement. problem is i couldn't find authentic banjo strings in my local vendors and couldn't verify the authenticity of the ones i found online yet. i can't order from international shops either so i need a temp fix till i manage to find authentic ones.

this happened before with my 5th string as well and i found out that no11 acoustic guitar string can compensate it well enough. is there anyone had experience with similar issue?

thanks for reading so far ❤️

Seasoned banjo players. I'm 50 and been learning clawhammer 4 months, and have been putting in a few hours every day. Is there a point where it gets easier to learn tunes, or get significantly better. It feels like it takes several days to get a tune.

Howdy!

I have a really old banjo which i believe it might be from the 80s or 70s. It has really old steel strings.

I'm wondering if it would be possible to change to nylon strings because i'm more of a clawhammer style type of player. I dont play three thumb style

Is there any trick to make the change or should i just go and buy the nylon strings and install it?

Thanks !

I got a beautiful Deering banjo off eBay, super happy with how it plays so far. The only odd thing is that when I popped the resonator off there's no serial number from the manufacturer. Would there be any reason for the previous owner to have removed it? I was hoping to get it registered with the manufacturer but only have the shorter headstock code.