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I glued my endpin back into my Eastman with rubber cement. So far so good.

Just got a modern day bowlback from Carlo Mazzaccaro. He sent along a Galli Medium (0.70 mm) pick. I really like it.

I went. Had a great time. Didn't know any of the music, but next year I'll be ready. Fortunately I had my bodhran with me. :-)

I can't remember where I saw the video other than it was somewhere on YouTube. I don't think the one above is it. Probably doesn't matter much. I do like my standard tuned mandolin banjos, especially...

I have trouble with clawhammer, but find Scruggs relatively easy. I suspect most people fall into one or the other camp. I've tried Scruggs style on 4-string instruments and don't care for the...

I have two mando banjos. It's my main instrument for now. I also took 5-string banjo lessons for two years before going to mando two years ago. I think I have the best of both worlds.

I think the larger instruments tend to have greater sustain. I had an octave mando for awhile. Beautiful sound and sustain, but the fret spacing was larger than I wanted to deal with (still learning...

Goldtone actually makes the larger version. It sounds better IMHO than their mando banjo. I've heard a number of mando banjos on YouTube. Some sound tinny. I have two that I really like: a Gibson JR...

I have two mando banjos - Gibson Jr and Vega Little Wonder. These are now my main instruments. The Gibson is a little brighter and good for chords that cut through the dark. Generally I prefer the...

Thanks for clearing that up.

I have a Gibson Jr mandolin banjo. There's a "signature" (really just script) on the underside of the skin head which says J?? B Rogers Jr (probably Jos B Rogers Jr). Below that in caps and smaller...

It says J??? B Rogers Jr inside the skin. Can't find any references.

Good reminder about the bridge. I think I'll stuff a hanky or two under the strings at that point.

It turns out I had one all along and didn't realize it. It's my Gibson Jr mandolin banjo. By rotating it a bit, I can fit it into my 22" back pack (from eBags) with no bulge. In other words, I can...

I began with one of these. Still have it. List price is about $200, so $99 is a good deal. It's good enough to get you going and won't discourage you from continuing with the mandolin. Previously I...

I saw on YouTube someone who tuned his mandolin banjo down an octave. It sounded good. Has anyone tried this and if so, what strings? I didn't get an answer from the person who posted on YouTube.

It can be played quietly. No need to tone it down. Volume is (should be) a function of how deeply you press into the strings. If you're whacking the strings you're playing it wrong. I don't know what...

Good info. Thanks. I hadn't had to worry about strings yet.

I've got a Gibson Jr that I bought over a year ago on eBay from someone who bought it from Jake. If I'm not mistaken it's the one Jake has on his website. I love it!!!!! I've been taking mando...

I've been taking mandolin lessons for the last year and a half. I recently found myself prepping something with two brass players (T sax and baritone horn) for our community band Christmas party (I...

I've posted this elsewhere, but might as well mention it here too since my goal was to find a playable carry-on size mando. I discovered that my mandolin banjo does the job. It's a bit more than 22",...

I suddenly found a use for my mando-banjo (or manjo?) - it makes a great jazz banjo. I like it better than the tenor banjo because it's pitched higher. I tried it yesterday with two friends who were...

I had been trying to sell my mandolin banjo for the last 7 months without success. I brought it home on Saturday and discovered it fits inside my 22" carry-on backpack, Whoopee!
~ Al

I spent a whole lot of time trying to tune my Ohana teardrop in fifths. I bought two sets of Aquila 30u strings, but kept snapping the high E. I also tried 20# fishing line and it either snapped or...

What mode of travel is important here. To me it means flying in a commercial airliner. US airlines are required to let you board with an instrument if it can fit in the overhead compartment. Last...

MY original thought was to make an inexpensive travel mandolin (I have an expensive Travolin on order, but the idea of retuning a uke was intriguing). I have a Stoneman, but the sound is very weak. I...