Most banjo players are fascinated
by 19th century, gut-string, fretless, old-time banjos.
These wonderful instruments represent the immediate precursor to
the modern 5 string banjo. Unfortunately, prices are high for these vintage
banjos and most true gut-string banjos have fretless necks which are a
real challenge to play.
Several of our customers have asked us to
convert low priced, open-back, fretted banjos to gut string with great
success. This began as an experiment here in our shop and has turned into
a popular job that we do on a routine basis. If you have ever attempted
to play a fretless banjo, the intonation, tonal and playability advantages
of a fretted banjo are plain to see.
The open-back Deering Goodtime Banjo
is ideal for this conversion since it has a wood tone ring and is reasonably
priced. We re-cut the nut and install a tall bone 5th string nut
to get adequate open-string height on the 5th string. We restring with
nylon strings and setup at action appropriate for gut strings. My best
results are with Savarez Alliance Red Classical strings for the 1st through
4th strings. A D’Addario “Requito” 1st string is light enough to tune up
to the high G on the 5th string. Classical strings have a lot of
stretch and the banjo takes 2 or 3 days for the strings to fully stretch
in and hold pitch well. Classical guitar players are used to the
stretchy characteristic of nylon strings.
The Gut String conversion is prefect for
players looking for a classic 19th century tone for fingerstyle who require
tuning and intonation that one expects in a modern banjo. Also great
for Clawhammer styling and I like it for finger-style Bluegrass music.
The volume is 1/3 of my Deering Golden Era so my family loves it since
I can quietly plunk away on it without “noise” complaints !
Price: $459 Can/US dollars; includes new
Deering Goodtime open back banjo, full warranty, with conversion, restring
and setup. Plus one set spare strings.
Cases and or padded gig bags available
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