Traditional Banjo Setup & Maintenance - Clifton Hicks

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  • Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
  • Join us on Patreon 👉 / cliftonhicks
    I've taught banjo setup for over twenty years; during that time my understanding of musical instrument organology has developed considerably. In this discussion I delve more deeply into the subject than I have in previous videos, examining in detail the use and maintenance of friction pegs, tying gut strings, different types of bridges and tailpieces--their histories, strengths, and weaknesses--different approaches to banjo head material and tensioning, etc.
    00:47 place the bridge
    01:13 check the intonation
    02:01 tie nylon strings
    02:24 place strings in nut slots
    03:00 nylon strings vs steel strings
    03:36 more on tying nylon strings
    04:40 melt the ends of nylon or gut strings
    05:14 tie the thumb string
    05:26 tailpiece discussion
    09:07 bridge discussion
    13:09 banjo head discussion
    16:04 clean the banjo
    18:04 maintain friction pegs
    19:14 tie gut strings
    20:28 using friction pegs
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Комментарии • 39

  • @rogersnyder3776
    @rogersnyder3776 5 месяцев назад +2

    This is very helpful thank you! I also recently found out that we are related through the Hicks family in Girard (Eire) Pa. Small world! Thanks for all you do with the old time banjo! I love it!

  • @chrismlastname
    @chrismlastname 6 месяцев назад +20

    The most underrated instrument, i bought my first banjo almost 2 years ago after hearing you play ruby ridge and now i have a dozen old banjos, thank you for preserving history and cheers from ontario Canada 🇨🇦

  • @Thebloodybanjo
    @Thebloodybanjo 6 месяцев назад +5

    I put a Clifton Essex bridge (your recommendation) onto my recording king (with nylon strings)…wow!!! It made the banjo 10x better…the sound was better in every way (louder too). I emailed Clifford Essex and he said ‘bridges, the magic wands of banjos’! 😂😂😂 best £13 I ever spent.

  • @_roughsawn_3990
    @_roughsawn_3990 6 месяцев назад +5

    You, Leroy, grandpa and string have been my biggest inspiration.

  • @5150show
    @5150show 6 месяцев назад +3

    Super cool

  • @invrl
    @invrl 6 месяцев назад +3

    Thanks for the video, Clifton! I always have such joy watching your instructional videos since not many know the ins and outs of older, more traditional, banjos!

  • @rogermcadams8806
    @rogermcadams8806 6 месяцев назад +2

    Thanks Clifton! Just got into these traditional banjos recently and yes will be grabbing a J. Hooks for my 1897 Special Thoroughbred ( yep wearing a ebony capped 3 leg with nylon ). Wish you had touched on bridge height also this one is 5/8 and it's my understanding that the old Stewart bridges were 1/2. I have a old B&D also with the original Rogers calfskin head in good condition. Really like the sound. Anyway keep the videos coming!

  • @bearshield7138
    @bearshield7138 6 месяцев назад +2

    I have learned so much from you
    I have delighted in spending most of the day, yesterday and today in the back yard, working on a kerfing plane.
    My second attempt at resewing an oak board has definitely, going better than the first try. I had over a 1/2 inch of runout over 20 inches of run. I am not quite done with my second try, but it looks like I will have much less than an 1/8 of an inch over a similar length.
    I am getting better at both sharpening and using my hand planes, but I still need more practice at putting my 9-inch bench plane back to gather and getting it to work. I bought it at a garage sale and restored it. I also have several other small hand planes to retore or to use for parts.
    I thank you for all your help and encouragement. Soon I hope to start on my first dulcimer. After a few of those I hope to grow into building banjos and violins.

  • @zachb8012
    @zachb8012 6 месяцев назад +1

    You'll figure it out pretty quickly, huh? I didn't wind up cursing every time I changed my strings for well over a year. Never once have I tied a string in, brought it up to tension and had the knot slip the second I cut the tag off the tailpiece. No need to keep another set of the same strings around just in case you make a mistake. No sir.

  • @muttandjeff5213
    @muttandjeff5213 6 месяцев назад +2

    Thanks as always Clif! Is this video from your Banjo Course?

    • @CliftonHicksbanjo
      @CliftonHicksbanjo  6 месяцев назад +3

      Yes. Full course available at BanjoHeritage.com

  • @jivprod9871
    @jivprod9871 6 месяцев назад +2

    I have to say that a week ago, i wanted to quit everything to play banjo on an open field. I had a feeling that was the only way to be finally free. I'm a new suscriber, but i'm sure you must have touch my soul. I can't quite my life but you gave me a touch of freedom. Clifton Hicks, you were my hero for a minute. No jokes. Thank's you so much and i'm sure your strings don't care, they know you love them.

  • @Philharmonica-7445
    @Philharmonica-7445 5 месяцев назад +1

    My grandaddy made his own banjo! Carved the neck and everything! I love good banjo music! It's in my blood! I play blues harp myself! I'm working on a more country Bluegrass style!👍🙏🏼🇺🇸❤

  • @Philharmonica-7445
    @Philharmonica-7445 5 месяцев назад

    I donno man! I kinda love that "twang"! But I get what you're saying!👍🙏🏼🇺🇸❤

  • @Philharmonica-7445
    @Philharmonica-7445 5 месяцев назад

    I think my grandaddy actually used "cat gut" strings! 👍🙏🏼🇺🇸❤

  • @Randomedude.
    @Randomedude. 6 месяцев назад +2

    Enter funny comment here

  • @thomasmihaly1033
    @thomasmihaly1033 6 месяцев назад

    I enjoy listening. I don't play 😮

  • @Moorandmist
    @Moorandmist 26 дней назад

    Can you make a banjo head from deerskin? I've been offered local wild fallow deerskin and I wondered if it would work?

    • @CliftonHicksbanjo
      @CliftonHicksbanjo  25 дней назад +1

      Yes. I used whitetail deer skin for my first few builds. It is indistinguishable from goat skin.

  • @zacharytaylor3054
    @zacharytaylor3054 5 месяцев назад

    Question for you man:
    I remember you had a black powder boar hunting rifle. Are those legal for hunting deer? And hypothetically speaking, would that also apply to flintlock pistols? Lol.. Also, great playing. I learned 2 finger thumb lead from you many years ago.

    • @CliftonHicksbanjo
      @CliftonHicksbanjo  5 месяцев назад

      Yeah, "primitive" deer season opens early, and that means archery, muzzleloaders, flitnlocks, caplocks, I think they'll even let you hunt with spears.

  • @jeffandthings77
    @jeffandthings77 6 месяцев назад

    Love your playing, and your tips. I am curious, as one without the cash for an antique banjo-can you rig up a Goodtime with nylon and fix it up like you talk about? I've come to hate the overly bright sound of the steel on the Goodtime, but am nervous to change things up-especially buying Nylon online and such.

  • @jeffhutton8324
    @jeffhutton8324 5 месяцев назад

    But, that was autumn corn, it's only now spring? this guy has powah... fingerpower on the one side, frettin on the other. Everyone is doing it in real life anyhow. No wonder it touches the soul. Take it out of context and bring it back, it'll be a hit. Dope... Clifton does it right enough for me.

  • @michaelbaker602
    @michaelbaker602 6 месяцев назад

    I would agree that most 19th century banjos should only be strung with nylon strings; however, Bob Smakula holds that the majority of A.C. Fairbanks banjos he’s dealt with were able to handle steel.

  • @havoc6441
    @havoc6441 6 месяцев назад

    Beautiful instrument. Can you please play undone in sorrow by Ola Belle Reed on your you tube channel. Thank you.

  • @MuddygutSailingAndOutdoors
    @MuddygutSailingAndOutdoors 5 месяцев назад

    Hi I’m fairly new to banjo so this is probably a dumb question, you mention at around 1:05 that the bridge should be slightly angled, what is the reason for that, and what does it do.

  • @AGuyThatMakesStuff
    @AGuyThatMakesStuff 6 месяцев назад

    I fell in love with the banjo and folk music thanks to you.

  • @peterdrabble8996
    @peterdrabble8996 5 месяцев назад

    Mint ❤

  • @Mamlishways
    @Mamlishways 6 месяцев назад

    Thanks kindly for the good info!

  • @itsobvious5835
    @itsobvious5835 6 месяцев назад

    That's a lot of information. Thanks

  • @charleswatson7154
    @charleswatson7154 6 месяцев назад

    What about coating a goatskinhead with linseed oil?

    • @slicksnewonenow
      @slicksnewonenow 6 месяцев назад

      Not to answer for Clifton, but I'd imagine that the solvent would dry up the skin....

  • @colehyden2879
    @colehyden2879 5 месяцев назад

    Mr hicks I know this isn’t relevant to what this video is about but I have gotten into the habit of picking with a singular thumb how do break this habit

    • @CliftonHicksbanjo
      @CliftonHicksbanjo  5 месяцев назад +1

      You mean you only pick with your lone thumb?

    • @colehyden2879
      @colehyden2879 5 месяцев назад

      @@CliftonHicksbanjo yes sir

    • @colehyden2879
      @colehyden2879 5 месяцев назад

      I’m able to play over hand pretty well but when I go to two finger pick I find my self using just my thumb which I know isn’t the proper way to play.

    • @CliftonHicksbanjo
      @CliftonHicksbanjo  5 месяцев назад +1

      @colehyden2879 well there's no proper way but it's a lot easier if you use trigger finger also. Have you watched my "Two Finger Banjo for the Complete Beginner" video? Let your thumb pick everything on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings, but your trigger picks everything on the 1st and 2nd strings.

    • @colehyden2879
      @colehyden2879 5 месяцев назад +1

      No sir I have not watched that video I really appreciate the help thank you.