Tenor banjo question, intonation and where to rest wrist

[fearfaoin]

Would be nice to know if your problem may have had something to do with the nut too.

My banjo had other problems too (including
that the centerline was off) but I know the
nut was one of the things Rob worked on.

Incidentally, I had a different luthier work
on it just after I bought it several years ago,
and he had only minimal success just from
working on the nut and making a "compensated"
bridge. So it may depend on the skill of your
repair shop.

[s1m0n]

Do let us know what it says.

Meanwhile, here's a pic of Barney McKenna:



He's playing his Clifford Essex Paragon, not a Framus but also an archtop banjo.


Rob

It could simply be foreshortening, but are you sure that's a 19 fret banjo? It looks more like a 17 to my eyes. And assuming that the leftmost coloured fret is 12, I see five more to the rim.

[fearfaoin]

It could simply be foreshortening, but are you sure that's a 19 fret banjo? It looks more like a 17 to my eyes. And assuming that the leftmost coloured fret is 12, I see five more to the rim.

It looks like the same as the one in this pic, which
has 7 frets past what looks like the 12th fret.


Though, I did find some pics of McKenna using a
17 fret, for whatever that's worth.

[brewerpaul]

If you contact the bridge or head with your picking hand, you will mute the banjo. This certainly isn't going to give you that snappy Irish tone we all know and love.

Your right hand should float above the bridge without touching. Watch this clip of the great Marcus Moloney playing and note how his arm only contacts the arm-rest.
Rob

Whoa! His triplets are insane. So tight and crisp.

[Rob Sharer]

Yah, I miss Marcus' music. We were housemates for a time in Ennis, and played many's the wild night in Cruise's. He's a force of nature on the banjo - unstoppable.



Rob