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Thread: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

  1. #76
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    Notice that video is from 2015. I am now wondering if that was the last time he had one?
    A 2012 Omega just turned up at the Denver Folklore Center for $6500 (which seems like more than the new ones that hit the market this past summer):

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/178887#178887
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  2. #77
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    That one sold already.

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  4. #78

    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    A 2012 Omega just turned up at the Denver Folklore Center for $6500 (which seems like more than the new ones that hit the market this past summer):

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/178887#178887
    Carved heel. Big upgrade. But even without that the new ones are close to $6k and several years out.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  6. #79
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    I purchased the one at Denver folklore. Here are some photos below...
    If you have the opportunity to purchase an Ome Omega, I recommend you do so and don’t look back. Ome got everything right on this banjo...
    Dem
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  7. #80
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    P.S. The Music Emporium has a couple Omegas on order that should be available by next August.

  8. #81

    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Quote Originally Posted by Demetrius View Post
    P.S. The Music Emporium has a couple Omegas on order that should be available by next August.
    Add at least 6 months on that timeline. I’m still waiting on something from this past summer. The engraving is done by Glen Carson, so the necks are sent to him which adds to the timeline.

    If you see something for sale now, buy it.
    Last edited by Mandobar; Nov-29-2021 at 7:39am.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  9. #82
    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Those look like Glenn Carson inlays. He does the best job. I have a Fielding banjo that Glenn did in the inlay work on. I have one he is making for me now from a banjo Will Fielding started before he died. It is sycamore. It's a long story but lets just say it started thirty years ago.

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  11. #83
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Quote Originally Posted by Demetrius View Post
    I purchased the one at Denver folklore. Here are some photos below...
    If you have the opportunity to purchase an Ome Omega, I recommend you do so and don’t look back. Ome got everything right on this banjo...
    Dem
    And believe it or not these pictures do not fully do it justice. It just might be the most beautiful instrument I’ve ever owned...

  12. #84

    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Glen Carson does the engraved inlays for OME.

    There are only a handful of people doing engraved inlays: Will Seeders, Pharis Romero, Kevin Enoch, Bob Anderson, Glen (who may have taught a lot of the others or at least shared his knowledge) and Greg Galbraith from Buckeye Banjos (I may have missed a few others). Kevin Enoch makes some amazing banjos, but his wait list is out over 5 years.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  13. #85
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    The Music Emporium has a walnut one and a maple one on order. Mando bar is right though, there’s no telling how long those will take.

  14. #86

    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Someone needs to buy this one: https://www.pisgahbanjos.com/product/banjo-2002/

    Patrick and his crew make great banjos, and they are very social as well as civic "conscious". The entire shop is solar powered, and they are very involved in forest repopulation, among other things.

    If Yvon Chouinard (the founder of Patagonia) played banjo, he'd play a Pisgah. A custom order from Pisgah is at least a 12 month wait. There are virtually none available at any of their dealers.

    Who knew. Banjos, better than Bitcoin.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  15. #87
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    I started playing old time banjo and fiddle back in the 1970s when there were very few modern banjo shops and most of the players I knew played old/vintage banjos. You can still get a great sounding old time banjo, Vega, Orpheum, Stewart and the like for a reasonable and if properly set up you can get the sound you want. I know the modern makers mentioned throughout this thread are excellent. When I play old time banjo I pick up my favorite Fairbanks Senator with a skin head or my earlier Fairbanks & Cole shorter scale. In any case, that is another alternative, from that other golden era of instrument building.
    Jim

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  16. #88
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    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    I, like Jim have played vintage banjos. Sold the Tubaphone decades ago as it was too heavy. Sounded Great, but too heavy. Still have and play my 1890 Washburn tho. Would love to get one of the modern 12" pot 25" scale, but don't play enough banjo these days to justify it. Actually not long ago sold a 12" Vega tubaphone with a modern 25" scale neck. Again sounded great, but too heavy.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  17. #89

    Default Re: Open Back / Old Time Banjos - Comparisons to Mando Builders

    Great instruments inspire you to play. I hadn’t touched a banjo in a while but bought a nice Pisgah Possum off Reverb last week. Strung with nylons, hide head. Light and very plucky. I’m kind of liking the nylon strings. They are the new sets designed in conjunction with Aquila.

    And yes, the Omegas are great, radiused fretboards and all. But that tone ring weighs a ton.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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