Re: 60's Vega SS-5 Folklore long-neck banjo

The cello banjo is one of the Gold Tone reissues.  Mainly it's just for at home
closet picking.  I like instruments tuned in 5ths and play irish and american 
fiddle tunes and some classical.

I'm primarily a bluegrass banjo player and my Huber 5 strings are the best,
well behaved banjos for playing shows.

My oldest is a early 20's Weymann 19 fret tenor, oldest 5 is a 1926 TB-3
conversion to 5 atring.

Colin <[email protected]> wrote:
> Sounds like quite a collection, Tim! I've never seen a cello banjo irl.
> What kind of musical situations do you use it for?
> 
> In addition to my Gibson longneck, I have another cheapo longneck
> (probably Harmony) with a plastic pot that I keep hanging on the wall of
> my classroom. (I'm a high school English teacher.) I have a banjo uke
> from Slingerland, and two 100-year old 5-strings that were probably
> mail-order banjos: one strung with steel, the other nylon. And a very
> old tenor that needs a new head.
> 
> Isn't it fun to have the right banjo for the job?
> 
> Which is the one you play the most, Tim?
> 
> On 2026-01-16, Tim Rhodes <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Have not seen in active posts in most usenet groups for a while...
>>
>> I have several banjos include some unique, like a 4 string cello banjo, a 
>> missing link baritone, an electric banjo and many 5 strings and tenors.
>> I don't have a long neck and it should be in my collection.  For low
>> tuning, I dod have one RB-250 with heavier gauge strings tuned down to E.
>>
>> Colin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> I know this is an old post, but I can't pass up a chance to talk about
>>> the Gibson RB-175. 
>>> 
>>> I bought mine used in 1995 at Different Strummer at
>>> the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. It has been in my
>>> collection ever since, great for any old time styles and of course for
>>> Seeger-style folk accompaniment--very versatile.  It has required very
>>> little upkeep over the years, a real workhorse.
>>> 
>>> (Incidentally, this is my first usenet post ever!)
>>> Colin.
>>> 
>>> On 2020-09-07, Robert Skaff <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> I bought one brand new in 1966. The catalogue price was $205.00 Plays
>>>>  very nice but I still use my Pete Seger for shows.
>>>>> Hal-
>>>>> I have a Gibson RB-175 that I got new in 1963 and I like the way it
>>>>> plays and sounds, always have. I have a plastic head on it and use
>>>>> medium gauge (bronze wound 4th) strings. It was my main player for a
>>>>> lot of yrs. It has a little solid brass tone ring. Incidentally, the
>>>>> neck is straight on it to this day. I recommend it. The Vega basic
>>>>> model long neck is very similar. I think the Gibson looks and sounds
>>>>> better IMO. I hope this helps you in your choice.
>>>>> Dave
>>>>> "banjowine" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:
>>>>> <[email protected]>...
>>>>> > Hi:
>>>>> > Thanks for the response.
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > This banjo was made by Vega before they sold
>>>>> > to Martin. Since the seller lives about 4,000 miles
>>>>> > from me, I wanted to see what other people
>>>>> > thought. My other choices are a Gibson RB-175,
>>>>> > or an Baldwin-Ode (with resonator). I am looking
>>>>> > for a long neck so I can sing along again (somewhere
>>>>> > along the way over the past 40 years
>>>>> > my voice has gotten lower!!). I play clawhammer
>>>>> > and "folky" style. I also like a more
>>>>> > plunky, old timey sound rather than the "bluegrass"
>>>>> > high pitched tone. Can any one help? Or does
>>>>> > anyone have something like this for sale or know of
>>>>> > one?
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Thanks,
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Hal
>>
>> -- 
>>

-- 

-- 
Tim Rhodes