Banjo pegs, other such things!
Them Banjo Pickers, poker-faced mugs,
Never do smile, just play Scruggs
- Mason Williams -
You guys are way over my head with this stuff. I guess I've been lucky to have owned banjos that I like. When I joined The Bros4 there was a Gibson banjo in Dick Foley's closet (not a long-neck - probably a RB-???) I played it for a while but - man - that thing was heavy! Never really cared for the sound, as I prefer a mellower (woody?) sound. That Gibson had a bright, almost biting sound. Probably good for bluegrass.
I never owned an Ome, but when I lived in Colorado I did have the opportunity to meet Chuck Ogsbury and tour his factory in Boulder. It was actually his daughter who gave the tour and it was fascinating to see some of the really high-end Omes (and as I recall, another brand he put out under the name "Ode".) But for some reason I was never attracted to his instruments.
I also had the opportunity to get the VIP tour of the Deering factory with Greg Deering. As a long-time Vega owner (bought my first Vega plectrum from a lady here in Medford for $150) I've always loved the sound of a Vega. And Greg has endeavored to recapture the magic of the brand in his current Vega models. He's done a lot of research on tone rings, particularly, and takes great pride in the quality of his metallurgy.
Josh Fuller and I are proud co-owners of a Deering Vega #2. No resonator - standard length neck - very fun to play. Ordered it with the Kavanjo head and I'm having fun electrifying my sound. Ever heard a banjo turned up to 10? With delay? Scary!
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