robmacneil - Posted - 02/08/2016:  11:58:51

For those of you who also play tenor banjo, you'll be interested to know that BanjoHangout just (as of today) created a forum for 4-string tenor banjo players who play Irish Traditional Music and related styles.  Over time it should mature and develop some topics that may interest some of my friends here.

banjohangout.org/pages/forum/

Edited by - robmacneil on 02/08/2016 12:00:27

joven - Posted - 02/11/2016:  09:34:10

yes
it is a good place for discussing/learning
Just got a style M Vega banjo set up for irish. I have been resisting to tune the tenor to IT but this Vega sounds great! even with the original friction tuners and animal sking head.

TSSN - Posted - 02/11/2016:  10:23:33

Yep.  Got one here too.  I have a 1928 Oriole that belonged to my uncle.  I'll have to go over and have a look.  Thanks!

kimmattis123 - Posted - 02/14/2016:  11:26:26

I also have a Vega style M.  I've had it for about 15 years.  A buddy of mind had  a music shop in town and he had  two in stock.  A  Gibson Trapdoor and the Vega.  I always wanted a Vega so I got it.  It had the org. skin head, but about 5 yrs ago I went to play it and the head was tearing around the rim.  I sent it down to Bob Smakula in Elkins, WV and he installed a new fiberskin head.  [ BOB specializes in older dowel stick banjos and has a web site.]   I like the fiberskin a lot.  It has the org. no know tailpeice- i was thinking about changing this out.[ but I haven't yet]  I had it tuned Irish [G/D/a/e] but i could never get the sound i wanted with the 19 fret neck.  So I read where Gerry O'Connor uses standard tuning [C/G/d/a] so i tried that  with slightly heaver strings - it sounds better.  I tried Patek tuinings also- check his web site for playing bluergrass on a 4 string. 

phiddlepicker - Posted - 02/15/2016:  15:16:28

Wo0t!

I have a 30s Orpheum and a Gold Tone. Glad to hear this news.

TSSN - Posted - 02/24/2016:  04:24:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by phiddlepicker

 

Wo0t!

I have a 30s Orpheum and a Gold Tone. Glad to hear this news.

---

How do you like the Gold Tone? 

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/03/2016:  02:36:20

quote:

---

Originally posted by TSSN

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by phiddlepicker

 

Wo0t!

I have a 30s Orpheum and a Gold Tone. Glad to hear this news.

---

How do you like the Gold Tone? 

---

It's a well built banjo and plays easily up and down the neck. It's a good playing instrument and consistent. The tone is not as nice as my Orpheum, but it's close. The Orpheum is really hard to beat though. I got it from Bernunzio Uptown Music. I also haven't tweaked the setup on the Gold Tone at all.

It's really not a big difference, but it's like the difference between 2 nice mandolins....Both good but one has that certain "woody" sound that you look for that is just a little bit more genuine and makes you think...Awww yeeeaaah.

TSSN - Posted - 03/11/2016:  04:10:31

I hear you phiddlepicker.  The Oriole is all I have in the tenor banjo department, so it gets all the love right now.  I've had it out a lot, with St. Pat's just around the corner.  I especially like "Harvest Home" and "Boys of Blue Hill" on the TB.

kimmattis123 - Posted - 04/24/2016:  13:01:36

opps already answered

Edited by - kimmattis123 on 04/24/2016 13:03:38