Thread: Banjos

I recently received my grandfather's banjos, and I am interested in getting them fixed up/restored and trying to learn how to use them (I play the guitar, so I am hoping some things translate easily/quickly).

Anyway, these were his banjos from somewhere around the 1940's-50's (though probably made a bit earlier than that I'd say). Dad had them in a cupboard, and they are not in awesome shape. I think structurally they are OK, but the skins(?) are torn and they could do with a re-varnish I think. The frets look OK to me. I have no idea of the action as neither are strung. There are two - one is quite short and seems to be an 8 string version (there are 8 tuning pegs - perhaps it is like a 12 string guitar version of a banjo?). The other seems to be normal size, and takes 4 strings.

Not sure if it matters, but the brand is English: they are both Windsor "Whirle"s.

I guess my question is, does anyone have experience with banjos and do you think a luthier would be a good person to go see about getting them fixed up? I ask because our town has a luthier, though I think he focusses mostly on guitars from what I've seen.

Obviously I am not a banjo expert, but if I could get these working and playing I'd like to learn to use them.

Thanks for any help.

James.

Actually, a quick look around the inter webs leads me to believe the shorter one with 8 strings is what is known as a "Mandolin Banjo", being some weird hybrid mix of a banjo and a mandolin.

Learning to play this thing could be more difficult than I first imagined...

James.

The shorter 8 string is certainly a mandolin banjo.

Without a photo, I would imagine the 4 string is a tenor banjo which was standard for trad jazz bands.

I have a short neck tenor banjo, Irish style. It uses thicker strings for the Irish drop tuning.

You know what they say, a gentleman is someone who can play a banjo but doesn't...

Here's some info on the Windsor banjo company of Birmingham, UK

Windsor Banjos

Gareth

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I recently received my grandfather's banjos, and I am interested in getting them fixed up/restored and trying to learn how to use them (I play the guitar, so I am hoping some things translate easily/quickly).

Anyway, these were his banjos from somewhere around the 1940's-50's (though probably made a bit earlier than that I'd say). Dad had them in a cupboard, and they are not in awesome shape. I think structurally they are OK, but the skins(?) are torn and they could do with a re-varnish I think. The frets look OK to me. I have no idea of the action as neither are strung. There are two - one is quite short and seems to be an 8 string version (there are 8 tuning pegs - perhaps it is like a 12 string guitar version of a banjo?). The other seems to be normal size, and takes 4 strings.

Not sure if it matters, but the brand is English: they are both Windsor "Whirle"s.

I guess my question is, does anyone have experience with banjos and do you think a luthier would be a good person to go see about getting them fixed up? I ask because our town has a luthier, though I think he focusses mostly on guitars from what I've seen.

Obviously I am not a banjo expert, but if I could get these working and playing I'd like to learn to use them.

Thanks for any help.

James.

It's tough to tell much without seeing pictures. There's not much cheap about banjos, and getting one in tough shape reconditioned might be tough if there's more to it than just cleaning it up and replacing the head and bridge.

The one that's not a mando-banjo, how many strings, and is the back open or does it have a resonator on it (more or less a "lid" covering the back)?

I wouldn't take a banjo to a luthier unless they say they're comfortable working on them and setting them up. They're miles different in construction and setup vs. guitars. I'm sure there is someone in australia who specializes in working on or setting up banjos - that will require packing and mailing, which is a pain in the butt and I guess has some risk - much risk if you don't have a case.

Since it looks like you're close to brisbane, I'd look on the internet for a dealer in banjos, resonators and acoustic guitars there (a bluegrass themed type of place if there is anything) - it's probably preferable to shipping.

You can go to banjohangout (google it) and ask an open question there about places to get a banjo worked on near brisbane.

I'll try to take some pictures later. Yes, both have a resonator, but that wooden piece comes off with a couple of screws.

Again, not an expert but by the looks of it to me the skins need replacing but the frets seem in good condition (maybe my grandad used nylon stringss?? doubt it...).

I need to recheck (it is very early in the am and I'm off to work) but I seem to recall a Taylor in the name, which reads as though it dates them to the early 1900s.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys.

James.

Be interested in seeing pictures. There were a TON of makers in the early 1900s, and I'm not sure it's likely that we'd ever be able to find all of them.

the resonator always (on a modern mastertone style banjo) comes off with screws, just off of the flange.

There was a much more recent maker called Rich and Taylor that made banjos probably 20 years ago now or a little more. They are decent banjos (Greg Rich used to be a Gibson employee, maybe in charge of something there and Mark Taylor is the son of a Dobro player named Tut Taylor. I only know that because I'm still holding some of Mark Taylor's work that is so bad I'll never be able to get rid of it. Greg rich went on to brand banjos in china called "recording king").

Banjos, btw, aren't too hard on frets. The strings are pretty slack compared to a guitar, and the finger pressure needed is less.

Ah, OK excellent re the frets.

At least one of the luthiers in town has done some banjo restores, plus there's another guy down in Brisbane with a restoration picture of almost the same mandolin banjo as my grandad's on his website. So hopefully I'll be covered - just a matter of the cost and what might be wrong with them besides what I've spotted.

I'm not really interested in restoring them to pristine as new condition - just working condition if possible. I'm happy for them to show the passage of time and use my grandad gave them. If they can be played, I'll learn both (sounds like I'll need to learn the mandolin and the banjo). If not, I'll keep them as a family heirloom, maybe display them somewhere.

James.

It's nice to have them I'm sure, hope you are able to get them up & running,,,,

Oh yeah, I know Jim. Never knew he got into banjos. Thanks.

I took the banjos to the luthier this morning. He thought they were in pretty good shape and shouldn't take a lot of work to get them into playing condition. The hardest part would be trying to get parts for something that old, particularly given the makers are no longer around. Anyway, all sounds promising and not as expensive as I'd feared so that's good.

James.