Re: New(old) Mandolin banjo
Looks good anyway, Poul. Perhaps it's a poor instrument, but if you search old discussions on the Cafe, you'll find that many, perhaps most, of the people here don't like the sound of banjo mandolins (also called banjolins and mandolin-banjos). They tend to have an aggressive, unsubtle sound. I use mine for some 19th Century American poplar songs, and for ragtime and early blues. You could experiment with those types of music, or else sell the banjo mandolin to someone who likes it. If I took mine to a Celtic or bluegrass session, I'd sit near the door, and be ready for a quick exit.
Last edited by Ranald; Nov-06-2021 at 10:33am.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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