Hi Jim Thanks to your content I’m back on the banjo learning new skills. Transitioned from a upgraded Duke banjo to a Gold tone OB-3 that I purchased a year ago. But no real progress learning until I stumbled on to your channel. Thanks for the lessons you have put up, they are great.
I just got a beginner banjo kit from washburn about a month ago and as far as I can tell it works great. Can't wait to add some more to start a collection.
YES!!! That's an incredible collection Jim and thank you for sharing. I tell you, that RK 85 and 35 I think sound the best of the resonator models (I do love the Stelling too though!). Of all the open back models you have, I love them all! One of these days I will figure out how to play clawhammer, but until then, I will be content with what I have (famous last words) :)
I bought an RK-R35 several years back after watching a video of you playing yours. It's a great banjo. My father keeps it at his house now and picks it some when he has time. I currently have a Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star and a Goldtone open back CB100.
Something in the tone of the Ramsey Minstrel reminds me of the West African kora. Some of the deeper notes anyway. Nice rundown of your banjos. Thanks!
I have 1 my dad gave it to me it's a Gibson epiphone masterbuilt not for sure how old but I enjoy trying to learn love your videos I've learned a lot thank you for sharing I keep watching take care God Bless
Hi Jim. After watching your videos I saved up and waited a long time for RK75 to be available. I love it! I help organize amateur bluegrass jams in Sweden and whenever I come across banjo players they always refer to your videos from where they got the basics down. Keep rockin it 🤙🪕
Really happy to see this post, as I always wonder which banjos you play ! I started roughly a year ago using your videos and progressed from a cheap Kmise to a Gold Tone OB 250, just about got 3 tunes in my head ;-) thanks to you Jim.
Jim: I acquired my RK R35 as a result of watching this channel. I enjoy it tremendously. I added Cheat-A-Keys. I use it for claw hammer and Scruggs. I like your approach and this channel more than any of its type. Maybe some day we can pick a tune or two. Peace .
Hey Jim! Really enjoyed seeing all your banjers! I only have one. It's a Washburn B 16. I've done a couple mods on it. A Bridges by Bart lightweight mystery wood bridge, Gold Tone Terminator tailpiece, and a Zero Glide nut. Unfortunately, I haven't had it out of the case for awhile due to a ouchgodammititis problem with my right hand. Getting better so hope to get back at it soon. Thanks for sharing your collection and all you do!
3 banjos, 1 - Goldtone CC-50, 2 - Deering Goodtime Americana in open C, 3 - a Custom Bluegrass by Hugh Hunter, and a custom Appalachian dulcimer also by Hugh. Love them all but a wee bit partial to the two custom instruments.
@@JimPankey Yep, my first one was a Rogue b30, I was just going for something a little nicer looking when I got the Ibanez. Wish I had gone to a better one, but oh well haha.
@@elisabethemory Rogue b30 and Ibanez b200. The Ibanez is pretty but it doesn't have a lot of the important parts that make a good banjo. It's basically a cheap one with vines on it that add an extra $300😂
@@MasonCroneMusic Cool!! Dude, don't be so hard on your banjo, you may be able to tell that it's "a cheap" one because you're the one playing it, but in all of your videos it sounds pretty dang good to me!
y;all got one nice selection, I got me a RK.75 . didn't realize how much it weighed. now all I got to do is learn how to play it. I know ,practice & practice, & more practice. I'm gonna do the best I can, thanks to U Jim....
Oh wow Jim, what a collection!!! I love the one that was Ralph Stanley's! My two banjos are the last one you showed, the RK - 35 and my dad has a Gibson RB 250 that I play quite frequently. Nice collection! I really enjoyed watching! God bless
I've got six. Three from the sixties: Gariepy Type I open back, Gariepy plectrum converted with a Hickler 5-string fretless neck, and a Christy longneck. The other three are newer: Hickler Standard Frailer open back with an internal resonator, Goldtone "Doc Green" 12" open back, and Goldtone banjolele. I've had as many as 15 at one time, but, for now, I'm cured of banjo acquisition disease.
Thanks for sharing your collection with us, Jim! How many banjos do I have? Currently, zero. Maybe I'll take lessons 1st and then save up for one! If I ever do, I'll ask you for a recommendation!
Some very cool banjos you have there - I currently have 3 - a Deering Goodtime, Gold Tone AC-1 (great for camping) and a 1979 Ode Model C. I definitely feel the B.A.S. coming on, need a Recording King, Stelling, Huber...
Hi Jim .subscriber from Dublin Ireland. I have Two banjos. Can not play either of them . But love the banjo.First one is a 1922 Vega style M Tenor short neck & the second is a 1972 Fender Allegro 5 string made in California
A nice Crawford banjo would round that collection out very nicely;-) Good to hear Ken Miller's name in there - if you happen to be in touch with Ken and Virginia be sure to be pass on my love and good wishes, they're lovely folks and I miss them. Cheers mate, that was fun. Oh, the Stella was my favourite; did you say it belongs to your Mum? Does she play too?
I have 4 banjos. One is a Vega 5-string Eddie Peabody model. As everybody knows, Eddie was a four string plectrum player so I've always thought it was interesting that they made a 5-string model with his name on it.
I have the RK-Elite 76 (After watching tons of your videos and comparison videos) and i love the sound of your RK-Elite 85 as a maple complement to it. I'm pretty good at keeping my banjo acquisition desires in check though, so it might be a few years.
That was a definite “eye- opener”. I only thought you had the RK R35 . Ps love the shirt Jim. Limited specialty shirts here in UK Keep up the good work and stay healthy 👍😎🪕
I have more than I need, more than I can play, but it’s fun hunting them down! Fender Concert Tone Deluxe; 3- Fender Artists; 2- Fender Allegros; Ode style E; 2- Baldwin style B; 1930 TB-4 conversion; 1931 Studio King conversion to a RK style 5; Huber “Banger”; Scruggs/ Gower replica; Siminoff RB-12 copy; RB-10 copy; Woody rim parts banjo; 3- parts banjos. All 5 string, bluegrass banjos. (Too many banjos; not enough time; not enough talent!)
That RK 85 Elite is a canon! The dobro killer! The Stelling gospel has an awesome sound, but the RK 35 is what convinced me to buy my first RK! Thanks Jim, see you this evening on Tik-Tok!
Brilliant Jim 👌👌 one can never own or look at enough banjos 😁 I have 10 banjos myself Vega stelling Gibson Granada Gibson tb4 Fairfield Davidson Clifford Essex paragon paramount Ozark fender all great banjos I find it hard to let go of any of them 🤣🤣
Jim; You do have a few banjos in your collection and they all have their own personality. One bright and sharp, another mellow and quiet. With your collection do you find that the character of the instrument inspires you to explore / play different music styles and genres, and that you would select one over another because of the mood that it projects?
Very nice collection Jim thank you let me say for learning banjo videos your my hero always a like and hit my bell just in case you throw in another video your awesome 👍
I bought a tiny little picolo banjo on a whim too, just over $100 on Amazon (so nowhere near as nice as yours), and darned if the little thing doesn't play pretty well! Stays in tune, intonates very well. It stays in my office for a quick tune when I'm trying to puzzle out work stuff. The only problem is my fat fingers and those narrow frets.
Hi Jim. Enjoying your videos. I have senrtimental favorites, Alvarez Silverbelle bought from Gruhns’ after my Deering Maple Blossom was stolen. I was prepared to spend big bucks there but the Alavarez sounded the best… Heartland Custom, Sullivan Greenbriar Archtop, Hawthorn Top Tension, Gold Tone Missing Link (C tuning), Nechville Custom (tuned to Eb) from Noam Pickelny, Gibson Black Jack. Trying the different construction technologies. Now looking for a Stelling Red Fox. My favorite is the one I’m playing at the.time. A Stelling will round out my quest. Thanks for your interesting videos!
I have a Gold Tone 17 fret Irish tenor with Flange and a Recording King RK-T36-BR 19 fret tenor banjo. The Gold Tone is nice, but I love my Recording King. I tend to prefer mahogany over maple. Both for resonator and neck. I also have a Madison open back (RK-OT25-BR) that I am adapting a RK-T36 neck I bought as parts and putting on an no-knot tailpiece as an experiment. GAS is real but treatable 🤣
Jim, I appreciate your videos a lot! In my case, banjo acquisition syndrome has collided with ukulele acquisition syndrome; I have a guitar, a ukulele, a banjo and a banjolele. I recently tried to buy a lyre, but it looks like the deal fell through and now I'm building a small zither. I'm surprised at how much difference in timbre there is between similar-looking banjos. I expected them to sound somewhat different based on back versus backless, head type, string materials and overall size, but each of your instruments sounded like a completely different kind of instrument.
Have 5 total older harmony that was my uncles, Franciscan first one that I started that was actually also my uncles RK 20, Epiphone MB 250,and RK Elite 75
Hi Jim, Hope this finds you well, You are such a great teacher and I thank you from the bottom of my heart . I'm learning at snail's pace, but never the less advancing thanks to you. My daughter Olivia who is 9 years old gets a kick out of your sayings (she's heard them a lot.) She's learning the guitar and often quotes you to me " Straight back chair " "get off the Reclyner" "do that a bunch". We love it all here in Aus. Just a quick question Why was the 5th string put on a banjo short. Did someone just cock it up and make head too small and say oh well stiff shit I'll just put it here.?.Anyway look after yourself and keep up the great work that you are doing. Keep them coming. cheers Wayne and Olivia.
Interesting collection and makes that are probably not sold over here in Oz . Not being a profesional player wonder what the differences are apart from being open back or resonator. I have what is possibly a beginners one but seems to play and look the part. It is an Oakridge probably made in Korea. It weighs a ton. I currently am up to lesson 3 and those banjo rolls can become quite hypnotic. Even the Dog will just sit at my feet while I try and play.
Love the video! My banjo is the cheapest I could find on eBay, but at least my wife will let me play now without screwing her face up! Any advice on what is a nice sounding, not too expensive beginner instrument?
Hey Jim, great collection. I appreciate your endorsement of RK banjos. I picked up an RK-OT25 and it is very nice to play! What the heck is it with something stuffed behind the head on open backs? I see it everywhere and do it as well as it makes for a great sound. Hope your summer is going well.
No Nechville anymore? I had a early 80's Fender Leo at last here, but never really liked it, so it went back down the road after owning it for around 5 years. I am actually banjo-less right now and looking for another one. the banjo I really actually kinda miss is my old Fender FB58 Deluxe that I had back in the Banjo Lounge days. -Cheapbanjoman
Hey man! Yeah, sold the Nechville. Torrin Daniels wound up with it, so at least I know where it wound up. (Unless he sold it…). A lot of good choices these days, but the latest Recording King RK35 is a beast for around $1000. I sure do miss the simplicity of the Lounge days.
@@JimPankey I will have to check around and see if there are any dealers for them near me. Yeah, I miss the Lounge days too!! you taught me quite a lot and you probably didn't even know it. I like what you have done here with this youtube channel though! -CBM
Jim, I see a lot of blog post that suggest a person not use a bluegrass banjo and consider getting a 12 inch rim size, shorter scale length , wider nut banjo to better play Clawhammer banjo What is your opinion about using a bluegrass banjo for playing Clawhammer style?
Jim, i recently was given an old "Framus" banjo from the 1960s. Condition is pretty good. Any info on framus or any general thoughts? Any idea roughly what it might be worth? Joe
I don't know a lot about them, but the ones I have seen have been well made, but always a little different than anything else. You'll have to poke around online to find a value based on the model.
I have only been playing/learning for 19 days and I already want a better banjo! My Recording King Dirty 30s 05 sounds great but there’s no armrest so I am getting sore and bruised from practicing. Hard to spend much time with each session.
@ I watched that video but I don’t understand how you cut off the bits (I can’t remember what they are called) so the armrest can sit down on the banjo head. But I can try! It would help.
@@cindysmith2231 cut them any way you can. I used a Dremel with a cutting blade on one, and just cut the other with some brute force and stout angle cutters.
@@JimPankey I ordered a lovely maple wood armrest from the Acoustic Shoppe, it arrived today and went on easily and holy smokes what a difference it makes. Looks great too.
I own 6 banjos. I own a Ilda-231, a Goldtone CC-50RP, an Epiphone MB-250, an Elger( which is basically an Epiphone EB-98), a Recording King dirty thirties and a banjo that I think it’s an S.S. Steward. The last one doesn’t have any markings on it. No name, no serial number. It has a 20 hole tone ring in it and tuner’s on it similar to Gibson banjos made back in the 60’s and early 70’s. Of all my banjos, this,”Generic “, banjo is the best sounding banjo I’ve ever owned and played. It’s tone and playability is hard to beat.
I have the ot25 I'm trying to learn on , sure sounds a lot better when you play it. Thanks so much for your videos I also have a deering Good time My is collection growing and I can't play lick.lol
Thanks for the tour Jim!
Thanks for coming along!
I'll like every video this man posts.
Thanks 😊
Best video yet. Loved it. thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
YAY! Thanks for sharing, all beautiful banjos! 🪕
Glad you like them!
Hi Jim, I’ve got 2 banjos, 2 guitars, 2 mandolins and one ukulele.
I can now play a decent tune on the banjo thanks to you. 👍
That's great!
Nice tour, Jim. Thanks so much. - Tim
Thanks for watching 😀
Jim
You never cease to amaze !
Thank you
☺️
Hi Jim
Thanks to your content I’m back on the banjo learning new skills. Transitioned from a upgraded Duke banjo to a Gold tone OB-3 that I purchased a year ago. But no real progress learning until I stumbled on to your channel. Thanks for the lessons you have put up, they are great.
Thanks for letting me help you learn!
So cool!! I'm definitely a fan! You are very talented Jim
Thanks ☺️
Awesome brother! BAS here is approximately 10!
😊
Nice collection. I'll take the Stelling if you want to get shed of it.
Doubt it'll ever be one that I'd get rid of. :)
Awesome. Been waiting to see them. You have an awesome collection
Awesome thank you!
I just got a beginner banjo kit from washburn about a month ago and as far as I can tell it works great. Can't wait to add some more to start a collection.
Keep me posted on your collection!
Thanks for sharing. I have one. 1888 Luscomb.
Very cool! I've got an 1880 Dobson that I totally forgot to include. I'll post a video of it soon.
YES!!! That's an incredible collection Jim and thank you for sharing. I tell you, that RK 85 and 35 I think sound the best of the resonator models (I do love the Stelling too though!). Of all the open back models you have, I love them all! One of these days I will figure out how to play clawhammer, but until then, I will be content with what I have (famous last words) :)
Thanks. You can totally learn clawhammer.
Great collection of nice banjos Jim...
Thanks 😊
I bought an RK-R35 several years back after watching a video of you playing yours. It's a great banjo. My father keeps it at his house now and picks it some when he has time. I currently have a Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star and a Goldtone open back CB100.
Very cool!
Something in the tone of the Ramsey Minstrel reminds me of the West African kora. Some of the deeper notes anyway. Nice rundown of your banjos. Thanks!
Thanks for listening
Really enjoyed seeing and hearing all the different kinds of banjos you've got (I have a collection of 1, at the moment). Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching 😀
I have 1 my dad gave it to me it's a Gibson epiphone masterbuilt not for sure how old but I enjoy trying to learn love your videos I've learned a lot thank you for sharing I keep watching take care God Bless
Thanks for watching 😀
Nice collection! Fun watching, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Nice Jim! I remember your Price Knight. Really cool banjo 😎
Love my Price! Good to see you here!
Thanks Jim. In have two.
Unless you want more, you should probably keep them in separate rooms. 😂
@@JimPankey That could happen later. Right now I am an unskilled beginner;
ruclips.net/video/83MmqjlhNbE/видео.html
Hi Jim. After watching your videos I saved up and waited a long time for RK75 to be available. I love it! I help organize amateur bluegrass jams in Sweden and whenever I come across banjo players they always refer to your videos from where they got the basics down. Keep rockin it 🤙🪕
Tjena David! Vart i Sverige brukar jammen vara haha? 😊
Reckon a Jim Pankey banjo workshop would be attended in Sweden???
Jim Pankey. I’m sure it would!
@@davidcarlstedt79 We should figure out how to make that happen.
Really happy to see this post, as I always wonder which banjos you play ! I started roughly a year ago using your videos and progressed from a cheap Kmise to a Gold Tone OB 250, just about got 3 tunes in my head ;-) thanks to you Jim.
Thanks for watching... I need to add a video to cover the new banjo.........
Jim: I acquired my RK R35 as a result of watching this channel. I enjoy it tremendously. I added Cheat-A-Keys. I use it for claw hammer and Scruggs. I like your approach and this channel more than any of its type. Maybe some day we can pick a tune or two. Peace .
Thanks for watching!
I got my first instrument in may, a banjo. I'm going through a lot of videos, including yours. I'm learning a lot.
That's awesome! Thanks for letting me help.
I want a piccolo now
Right??
Hey Jim! Really enjoyed seeing all your banjers! I only have one. It's a Washburn B 16. I've done a couple mods on it. A Bridges by Bart lightweight mystery wood bridge, Gold Tone Terminator tailpiece, and a Zero Glide nut. Unfortunately, I haven't had it out of the case for awhile due to a ouchgodammititis problem with my right hand. Getting better so hope to get back at it soon. Thanks for sharing your collection and all you do!
Thanks for watching! Hope you can get back to picking soon!
I loved your tour video
Thanks 😊
3 banjos, 1 - Goldtone CC-50, 2 - Deering Goodtime Americana in open C, 3 - a Custom Bluegrass by Hugh Hunter, and a custom Appalachian dulcimer also by Hugh. Love them all but a wee bit partial to the two custom instruments.
Great collection!
Nice collection Jim I'm lagging behind I only have a deering good time and a ashbury electric oh yeah and a banjolele
That’s a great start 🥹
Great collection. Thanks.
Thanks for watching 😊
Nice video, those small ones were really cool. I currently only have two banjos, I'll have more someday hopefully 😂
Oh.. you have two? They'll multiply for sure.
@@JimPankey Yep, my first one was a Rogue b30, I was just going for something a little nicer looking when I got the Ibanez. Wish I had gone to a better one, but oh well haha.
@@MasonCroneMusic Which two do you have Mason? The one you use on your channel Is so pretty!
@@elisabethemory Rogue b30 and Ibanez b200. The Ibanez is pretty but it doesn't have a lot of the important parts that make a good banjo. It's basically a cheap one with vines on it that add an extra $300😂
@@MasonCroneMusic Cool!! Dude, don't be so hard on your banjo, you may be able to tell that it's "a cheap" one because you're the one playing it, but in all of your videos it sounds pretty dang good to me!
y;all got one nice selection, I got me a RK.75 . didn't realize how much it weighed. now all I got to do is learn how to play it. I know ,practice & practice, & more practice. I'm gonna do the best I can, thanks to U Jim....
You can do it!
Oh wow Jim, what a collection!!! I love the one that was Ralph Stanley's! My two banjos are the last one you showed, the RK - 35 and my dad has a Gibson RB 250 that I play quite frequently. Nice collection! I really enjoyed watching! God bless
Thanks for watching!
I've got six. Three from the sixties: Gariepy Type I open back, Gariepy plectrum converted with a Hickler 5-string fretless neck, and a Christy longneck. The other three are newer: Hickler Standard Frailer open back with an internal resonator, Goldtone "Doc Green" 12" open back, and Goldtone banjolele. I've had as many as 15 at one time, but, for now, I'm cured of banjo acquisition disease.
Never heard of BAS being cured. LOL
I have a Deering Rustic Wreath, a Pisgah Dobson Rambler Special and Recording King Dirty Thirties openback.
Awesome!
Thanks for sharing your collection with us, Jim! How many banjos do I have? Currently, zero. Maybe I'll take lessons 1st and then save up for one! If I ever do, I'll ask you for a recommendation!
I think I have 12 banjos... I try not to count them...
Some very cool banjos you have there - I currently have 3 - a Deering Goodtime, Gold Tone AC-1 (great for camping) and a 1979 Ode Model C. I definitely feel the B.A.S. coming on, need a Recording King, Stelling, Huber...
That’s a great list you’ve started 😀
I love the sound of your First Recording King you were playing sounded awesome
Thank you kindly!
Love your banjos I have 3 so for thinks for the good lessons
Thanks
Hi Jim .subscriber from Dublin Ireland. I have Two banjos. Can not play either of them . But love the banjo.First one is a 1922 Vega style M Tenor short neck & the second is a 1972 Fender Allegro 5 string made in California
I can probably help you learn the 5 string... check out my beginner videos
A nice Crawford banjo would round that collection out very nicely;-) Good to hear Ken Miller's name in there - if you happen to be in touch with Ken and Virginia be sure to be pass on my love and good wishes, they're lovely folks and I miss them. Cheers mate, that was fun. Oh, the Stella was my favourite; did you say it belongs to your Mum? Does she play too?
Hey! Hopefully a Crawford will be amongst these soon!
I’ll say hi to K&V when I see them again.
Nope… mom never learned to play.
Wow you had a lot of tuning to do in one day to show all of these!
Getting everything out, tuned, put away…. did take a little bit. 🤪
Hey Jim thanks for sharing 👍God's blessings to u.
You bet
Hey Jim , great video , it’s hard to tell the true sound of a banjo on video , but that RK Elite 85 sounds the best to my ear on video
Thanks 😊
I have 4 banjos. One is a Vega 5-string Eddie Peabody model. As everybody knows, Eddie was a four string plectrum player so I've always thought it was interesting that they made a 5-string model with his name on it.
Very cool! Would love to see the Eddie Peabody.
@@JimPankey This is the only video I have for now, but I'll try to make a better one soon: ruclips.net/video/VsnwU7GYRaA/видео.html
I have the RK-Elite 76 (After watching tons of your videos and comparison videos) and i love the sound of your RK-Elite 85 as a maple complement to it. I'm pretty good at keeping my banjo acquisition desires in check though, so it might be a few years.
Most of mine were collected over several decades…. No rush, but when something comes along that I want at a price I like, I try to act on it.
I got 2 banjos my last is an OB 250 gold tone and I love it
If you have 2 they're sure to multiply!
Got 3 now
Hey Jim, thanks for all those free lessons from 2017
My pleasure!
Your understanding of patience...is pure Joy
That was a definite “eye- opener”. I only thought you had the RK R35
.
Ps love the shirt Jim.
Limited specialty shirts here in UK
Keep up the good work and stay healthy 👍😎🪕
I only use the 35 in part of my videos. Most of the time I’m playing the M5
Great to see all the banjos! I find myself acquiring more and more. It really is a sickness. :)
It is!
I have more than I need, more than I can play, but it’s fun hunting them down!
Fender Concert Tone Deluxe; 3- Fender Artists; 2- Fender Allegros; Ode style E; 2- Baldwin style B; 1930 TB-4 conversion; 1931 Studio King conversion to a RK style 5; Huber “Banger”; Scruggs/ Gower replica; Siminoff RB-12 copy; RB-10 copy; Woody rim parts banjo; 3- parts banjos. All 5 string, bluegrass banjos. (Too many banjos; not enough time; not enough talent!)
Very Awesome!
That RK 85 Elite is a canon! The dobro killer! The Stelling gospel has an awesome sound, but the RK 35 is what convinced me to buy my first RK! Thanks Jim, see you this evening on Tik-Tok!
Thanks 😊
holy smokes that sure is a wonderful collection. much respect
Thanks 😊
Brilliant Jim 👌👌 one can never own or look at enough banjos 😁 I have 10 banjos myself Vega stelling Gibson Granada Gibson tb4 Fairfield Davidson Clifford Essex paragon paramount Ozark fender all great banjos I find it hard to let go of any of them 🤣🤣
I honestly regret selling every banjo I've ever sold.
Jim; You do have a few banjos in your collection and they all have their own personality. One bright and sharp, another mellow and quiet. With your collection do you find that the character of the instrument inspires you to explore / play different music styles and genres, and that you would select one over another because of the mood that it projects?
Each kinda fits a particular sound or style that I'm looking for...
Hi Jim....I have a White Lotus from Deering.....it is the only banjo I have
It starts with one. 😜
Very nice collection Jim thank you let me say for learning banjo videos your my hero always a like and hit my bell just in case you throw in another video your awesome 👍
I appreciate that!
I bought a tiny little picolo banjo on a whim too, just over $100 on Amazon (so nowhere near as nice as yours), and darned if the little thing doesn't play pretty well! Stays in tune, intonates very well. It stays in my office for a quick tune when I'm trying to puzzle out work stuff. The only problem is my fat fingers and those narrow frets.
Tiny banjo... big hands... I totally get it!
I loved listening to these - looking to buy one of those Recording Kings someday. Also I love the Goose game scissor holder😂
Glad you liked it!
I play an RK-35 also. Interesting to see your collection. My first banjo was an Oscar Schmidt OM5, recommended by someone on an online forum.
Thanks for watching!
Hi Jim. Enjoying your videos. I have senrtimental favorites, Alvarez Silverbelle bought from Gruhns’ after my Deering Maple Blossom was stolen. I was prepared to spend big bucks there but the Alavarez sounded the best… Heartland Custom, Sullivan Greenbriar Archtop, Hawthorn Top Tension, Gold Tone Missing Link (C tuning), Nechville Custom (tuned to Eb) from Noam Pickelny, Gibson Black Jack. Trying the different construction technologies. Now looking for a Stelling Red Fox. My favorite is the one I’m playing at the.time. A Stelling will round out my quest. Thanks for your interesting videos!
My first better banjo was an Alvarez Silver Belle I got in 1978
I have a Gold Tone 17 fret Irish tenor with Flange and a Recording King RK-T36-BR 19 fret tenor banjo. The Gold Tone is nice, but I love my Recording King. I tend to prefer mahogany over maple. Both for resonator and neck. I also have a Madison open back (RK-OT25-BR) that I am adapting a RK-T36 neck I bought as parts and putting on an no-knot tailpiece as an experiment. GAS is real but treatable 🤣
Thanks for sharing!
@@JimPankey and thank you for showing us and letting us hear your banjos 🪕
I love it ! I make banjos to!
That's awesome!
good to see a banjo collection free of deering or goldtone or gibson
although I play on various deerings and goldtone myself, RK is on my wish list
I’ve had Gibsons and a Deering in the past. Never owned a Goldtone.
Love it !!
😊
Well that was a fun video ... thanks
Thanks for watching 😀
AWSOME!
I'm a drummer and only have two banjos
Well one being a cheers six sting haha.
Still finding my footing.
Loved this video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Jim, I appreciate your videos a lot! In my case, banjo acquisition syndrome has collided with ukulele acquisition syndrome; I have a guitar, a ukulele, a banjo and a banjolele. I recently tried to buy a lyre, but it looks like the deal fell through and now I'm building a small zither.
I'm surprised at how much difference in timbre there is between similar-looking banjos. I expected them to sound somewhat different based on back versus backless, head type, string materials and overall size, but each of your instruments sounded like a completely different kind of instrument.
Thanks for watching. Sounds like you’ve got a good case of acquisition syndrome. 😀
Price knight and Gospel sound awesome
Thanks
Awesome collection.😁 I only have one banjo but it seems to be enough.🙃
It starts with one... :)
@@JimPankey Yeah I get it. I have a lovely handmade open back but lust after some of the resonator banjo's with bluegrass in mind.😆
Have 5 total older harmony that was my uncles, Franciscan first one that I started that was actually also my uncles RK 20, Epiphone MB 250,and RK Elite 75
That's a great collection!
Hi Jim, Hope this finds you well, You are such a great teacher and I thank you from the bottom of my heart . I'm learning at snail's pace, but never the less advancing thanks to you. My daughter Olivia who is 9 years old gets a kick out of your sayings (she's heard them a lot.) She's learning the guitar and often quotes you to me " Straight back chair " "get off the Reclyner" "do that a bunch". We love it all here in Aus. Just a quick question Why was the 5th string put on a banjo short. Did someone just cock it up and make head too small and say oh well stiff shit I'll just put it here.?.Anyway look after yourself and keep up the great work that you are doing. Keep them coming. cheers Wayne and Olivia.
😊
The short string is what makes it fun! It’s also one of the original characteristics of the banjo.
Jim , I’m surprised you don’t have some ultra modern, carbon fiber, electric model banjo, if there is such an instrument.
No carbon fiber, but I've owned electrics in the past
I started out a year and a half ago with a meh quality banjo and this Christmas I’m finally going to get my 2nd!
New banjo day is always the best day!
@@JimPankey It arrived yesterday but I have to wait until Christmas :D Yay for Christmas! Ugh for waiting :(
Interesting collection and makes that are probably not sold over here in Oz .
Not being a profesional player wonder what the differences are apart from being open back or resonator.
I have what is possibly a beginners one but seems to play and look the part.
It is an Oakridge probably made in Korea.
It weighs a ton.
I currently am up to lesson 3 and those banjo rolls can become quite hypnotic.
Even the Dog will just sit at my feet while I try and play.
Well, the Price and Stelling are not available anywhere these days. The RK stuff is possibly available.
Ralph's old Stelling Archtop 😍👍
Yep!!
Oh to own one of your banjos. Dream on. Paul from lincolnsire england
Plenty of good banjos in the world. I bet you’ll find something awesome!
I’m sorry did you say Ralph Stanley??!!!???!!!?!???!!!?????!???!!!????? That’s awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup… I have a video about it.
TRULY ENJOYED THIS. THANK YOU.👍👍🤗
Love the video! My banjo is the cheapest I could find on eBay, but at least my wife will let me play now without screwing her face up!
Any advice on what is a nice sounding, not too expensive beginner instrument?
Check out Recording King Dirty 30s
Hey Jim, great collection. I appreciate your endorsement of RK banjos. I picked up an RK-OT25 and it is very nice to play! What the heck is it with something stuffed behind the head on open backs? I see it everywhere and do it as well as it makes for a great sound. Hope your summer is going well.
The stuffing is just a way to alter the tone or to eliminate overtones
Wow! Lots of banjos, lots of money right Jim.
Obviously spent some money getting to this point, but it’s spread out since the 70s
@@JimPankey Great looking banjos.
I love that price banjo
Me too
No Nechville anymore? I had a early 80's Fender Leo at last here, but never really liked it, so it went back down the road after owning it for around 5 years. I am actually banjo-less right now and looking for another one. the banjo I really actually kinda miss is my old Fender FB58 Deluxe that I had back in the Banjo Lounge days. -Cheapbanjoman
Hey man! Yeah, sold the Nechville. Torrin Daniels wound up with it, so at least I know where it wound up. (Unless he sold it…).
A lot of good choices these days, but the latest Recording King RK35 is a beast for around $1000.
I sure do miss the simplicity of the Lounge days.
@@JimPankey I will have to check around and see if there are any dealers for them near me. Yeah, I miss the Lounge days too!! you taught me quite a lot and you probably didn't even know it. I like what you have done here with this youtube channel though! -CBM
Jim, I see a lot of blog post that suggest a person not use a bluegrass banjo and consider getting a 12 inch rim size, shorter scale length , wider nut banjo to better play Clawhammer banjo
What is your opinion about using a bluegrass banjo for playing Clawhammer style?
You can use whichever banjo you want. A lot of older players used resonator banjos for clawhammer.
Hey Jim. Thanks for the tour. What was a melody that you played on Price Knight? Would you make make a tutorial video on this?
It’s Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow. Might make a decent tutorial… I’ll think on it.
Lol… looks like I thought of it a while back: ruclips.net/video/Ub0iy6mEyPg/видео.html
@@JimPankey I appreciate that
Jim, i recently was given an old "Framus" banjo from the 1960s. Condition is pretty good. Any info on framus or any general thoughts? Any idea roughly what it might be worth?
Joe
I don't know a lot about them, but the ones I have seen have been well made, but always a little different than anything else. You'll have to poke around online to find a value based on the model.
I have only been playing/learning for 19 days and I already want a better banjo! My Recording King Dirty 30s 05 sounds great but there’s no armrest so I am getting sore and bruised from practicing. Hard to spend much time with each session.
I showed a video of me adding an armrest to the 05. It’s easy, and not expensive.
@ I watched that video but I don’t understand how you cut off the bits (I can’t remember what they are called) so the armrest can sit down on the banjo head. But I can try! It would help.
@@cindysmith2231 cut them any way you can. I used a Dremel with a cutting blade on one, and just cut the other with some brute force and stout angle cutters.
@@JimPankey thanks Jim, I bet my husband can get them cut off.
@@JimPankey I ordered a lovely maple wood armrest from the Acoustic Shoppe, it arrived today and went on easily and holy smokes what a difference it makes. Looks great too.
I own 6 banjos. I own a Ilda-231, a Goldtone CC-50RP, an Epiphone MB-250, an Elger( which is basically an Epiphone EB-98), a Recording King dirty thirties and a banjo that I think it’s an S.S. Steward. The last one doesn’t have any markings on it. No name, no serial number. It has a 20 hole tone ring in it and tuner’s on it similar to Gibson banjos made back in the 60’s and early 70’s. Of all my banjos, this,”Generic “, banjo is the best sounding banjo I’ve ever owned and played. It’s tone and playability is hard to beat.
Sometimes the generic ones are the most surprising
Jim, what do you use to keep your banjos clean and the wood looking fresh?
I don't do anything. The metal parts are tarnished on just about everything I own.
I have a fender concert model banjo. It sounds really good but is too heavy. 11 pds. What is a good banjo not too heavy. Tone ring makes it heavy.
Good bluegrass banjos are typically heavy. There are a few builders that make some lighter ones.
Thanks for the "tour," Jim.
Any time!
I only have four banjos, but eleven guitars.
He who dies with the most toys wins
Sound like a good plan!
Jim could you do a reveiw of the updated Recording King Songster banjo.
I could.... if I had one....
What’s up with the goose with the scissors in it’s beak?
He's dangerous...
I wish I had a 12" woody :D
It’s a burden. 🤣🥸
Is the ot25 G tuned
I had it in Double C
I have the ot25 I'm trying to learn on , sure sounds a lot better when you play it. Thanks so much for your videos I also have a deering Good time My is collection growing and I can't play lick.lol
Can you please recommend a good case for a resonator type of banjo? I have a RKH-05.
There are a lot of good cases on the market. Get something with an arched top. I like Guardian Cases, but there are a lot of good choices.