To Frank Nordberg (again, off topic) Frank
I don't have enough info to give a full opinion on your banjo. Whether it was an expensive one or not, the length of the vibrating string (from nut to bridge) and your phrase 'Tuning it to standard tenor banjo tuning (C, G, D A)turned out to be a *very* bad idea' doesn't say how it turned out. Was the arm warped, what guage of string you used, etc. But Jon Freeman is correct in that the length of the arm and number of frets are more likely to give you a clue. The one you subsequently described (20 frets) sound more like a 'short-armed tenor' which would be more suitable for playing Irish style i.e. tuned down to GDAE. In regard to your other query re Irish/New Orleans banjos, I take it you are only talking about the difference in lengths? If so, I wouldn't say that they sre different instruments as the Orleans tenor can be tuned down to Irish although the reverse might not be feasible. One of my banjos is a 24 fret, 23.5 inch string length on which I play Irish Trad. But I have to say that it concentrates both my mind and the tendons of my left hand! Gerry McCartney http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
