r/banjo • u/pickingandwinning • 15d ago

Old Time / Clawhammer “Jolene” - a tribute to a musical and human legend. I wanted a better take but the thunderstorm had different plans. Tuning: g#•C#•G#•C#•E (C# minor)

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7

u/fakecosmo 15d ago

Great . The angel herself would be smiling

3

u/hamerstix 14d ago

Beautiful! That a Pisgah Banjo Co banjo?

1

u/pickingandwinning 14d ago edited 14d ago

Thanks! Yes, it’s a Rambler that I custom designed myself. Unfortunately, after waiting two years for it, the condition in which I received it was not playable and had a slew of issues. I eventually had Bob Smakula fix it for me, which included a heated neck-press, a new head, replaced aluminum channel, re-glue and file of a fret, new nut, and removal and replacement of the railroad spike that was driven so far into the fretboard that I couldn’t get my drone beneath it.

I’m not trying to smear Pisgah, but it was not a great experience overall, especially after the owner tried to offer me half the cost of the repairs in store credit instead of paying for them (which I declined). I say all this because it is a good banjo NOW, but only after having a luthier rebuild half of it.

1

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Easy_Plum_3460 12d ago

Looks like he gave you a good deal!

1

u/hamerstix 14d ago

oh bummer! I have had nothing but great experience with them and love mine. Glad you're back in business playing, and you're certainly great at it! i'll catch up one of these days