Tackhead Gourd Banjo

[Maestro]

I recently got a tackhead gourd banjo from Bob Thornburg from California and it's fast becoming the instrument I'm most likely to pick up and play any time of day! I love it! I used it this morning to accompany my wife singing "Were You There?" and another soloist singing "There Is A Balm in Gilead" during communion in church and it was absolutely gorgeous! Bob does a great job building these gourds and is a great guy to deal with!

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

Beautiful and absolutely historically correct. I like it! :thumbsup:

 

[RickD]

Can you do a short clip playing it??I`d love to hear it

 

[chance]

Really cool!!

 

[Maestro]

Can you do a short clip playing it??I`d love to hear it

I know it's really pathetic (I work for a huge I/T company)... but I've never recorded anything digitally... I'll check into it though and try to post a clip. It's strung with gut strings and it's got a really deep mellow tone. I haven't gotten the hang of "clawhammer" or "frailing" (old-time) style yet so I finger pick it (kinda like "Scruggs" style). It's fretless too, so that lends an extra challenge to it.

 

[jbwilliams3]

That’s the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long while.

I love the sound of the clawhammer. My dad played both, and I loved the organic sound of the old style. I bet that instrument is a real pleasure to play and to hear.

 

[RickD]

Thank you.I shall wait and hope

 

[Capt. Fred]

Yeah, figure out how to post a recording. That would be way cool. Maybe just a video with a youtube link?

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

That is pretty cool looking. What does the backside look like? Is the instrument very fagile?

 

[atki]

Here is a YouTube video of a guy playing a Bob Thornburg gourd banjo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrAqr4TDAU8

wb

 

[Maestro]

I really like that YouTube of Cluck Old Hen! :thumbsup: (I've got to get the hang of that old-time clawhammer / frailing...)

I asked Bob to build it with a heavier gourd so it could stand the rigors of camping but it would definitely crack if dropped.

Here's some more pics of it:

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Beautiful! I've never seen anything like it. GW

 

[atki]

I hat to be tacky, no wait, I forgot, I like tacky. So, ballpark, what do these banjo's cost. Is the maker in Bishop CA?

WB

 

[Maestro]

Yes, here's his website:
Sierra View Acoustic Instruments (Bob Thornburg)

Here's another well-respected maker (his prices are generally higher):
Jeff Menzies

 

[BillinOregon]

Weaselbreath: Thanks for that Youtube clip. That feller can pick, and the tone of the gourd banjo is really mellow. Never heard anything quite like it. Kapellmeister, you are next!

 

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, thanks for the video! :thumbsup: Very cool sound.

 

[hawk]

:thumbsup: i like it!

 

[rkmeyer]

They sure look like fun and sound terrific, I just wish I could play but am not musically inclined at all. Tin ear ya know. :haha:
Dusty :wink: