My Banjo, A Pisgah Dobson Rambler (A Review of Sorts)

[@greasy465]

Best review I've ever seen, and I love your playing style as well. Fantastic !

[@fireinthemeadow311]

I've fallen in love with wooden tone rings - yet I still don't quite understand whether I'm being sold a gimmick - if there is just another hoop of wood inside, does it really make a difference when the pot itself is such a large part of the instrument and also wood? This probably sounds like a stupid question but I understand how the metal rings add sustain - I don't understand the effect of the wooden ones - just know I like the sound.

[@Griphos]

Just found this video after asking what banjo you’re playing in a different video. Thanks for answering in that thread. I think what I like about yours is that sustain. Coming from guitar, I'm used to that, and it makes the banjo sound more melodic, I think. And I love how it sounds over the scoop! But I'm not a singer like you, and so just play instrumental tunes and like that warmer, mellower tone over the scoop, and that I can move back and forth to change that.

[@MichaelVondung]

Thanks for the review! Could you please share what the size of the nut is? Pisgah's page for this model doesn't include this info, either.

[@georgesnyder5337]

How do you feel about the neck thickness vs the Deering Goodtime. I am playing a Goodtime and looking for an upgrade. I don't have the biggest hands and have seen people comment on the neck thickness.

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

@@georgesnyder5337 my hands are pretty small over all. The Goodtime felt average. The Dobson is wider, but has more space between the strings that allows easier drop thumb. The Vega that I have is thinner, feels real nice but a bit more of a challenge for me. Hope that helps

[@brittain522]

I love that banjo! Also like your playing style, you have a very nice touch! Thanks for the video!

[@markwright6045]

Awesome, you sound so much better. Good teamwork you and your banjo, M.W.

[@F_later]

Top review ! Thnx.

[@codynashoba9065]

Cool sounding banjo. And great shirt! I'd like to find one. Thanks for all the great and helpful videos. I'm just learning on my new resonator banjo.

[@leeperkins6443]

I had intended to get the model you are reviewing here. I hear great things about it in various places. However, the only model I could find online (without waiting several months) was the Pisgah Wonder. Not sure how it compares but it is is a wonderful instrument. I'm also lucky enough to have been able to visit Patrick's workshop as he is in Fairview NC, which is adjacent to Asheville, NC where I live. He and the folks who work with him are terrific folks; super nice and friendly and I had a nice tour of the workshop. I highly recommend the Pisgah banjos.

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Lee Perkins I’m jealous, I’d love to visit Patrick’s shop, but I’m afraid I’d end up buying yet another banjo - it’s an addiction! I bought this one without testing it - only from hearing videos online. But if you can test drive your banjo, you can’t go wrong.

[@leeperkins6443]

@@StevePlaysBanjo I actually bought mine 'like new' from someone in Knoxville, TN. Coincidence that I live near PBCO. Meant to add before. Your videos are greatly appreciated.

[@maxwellfan55]

Nice honest review. The best open back I ever heard was played by Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings on The Revelator, the song was My First Lover. How d'you get a banjo to sound as good as that?

[@honusail]

Sounded great to me!

[@Banjobaer66]

Great Sound and great playing. I play a Bishline Okie, its very close to yours. :)

[@nikterlingua9408]

Day 1, bought a Pisgah Dobson Rambler w/TKL case from a friend for $600. been watching your vids for a few months I play a little guitar ( not a small one , just not playing a bunch ) I play and have played upright bass a bit in some bands, but never banjo.Tried it out yesterday and I was able to git the basic rythm down thanks to your vids. You really are a good teacher. Day 2, got off work early and was able after a few hours to play that noodle you did in H2PCB part 3 This Dobson Rambler IMO makes it easy to learn I think. but how would I know Ive never played another, and probably won't. Question: mine has same kind of bridge skin and has a no Knott tail piece, I was thinking of going with a different bridge - a goat skin or calf- and hawk tail tailpiece. What are your thoughts on it?

[@The314moses]

I have the same banjo. I love it.

[@SharieFry]

Not sure this is the place to ask a question but--started learning scruggs style,now trying clawhammer as I think it would be nicer to sing to. My question is. If I use my thumb on the 3rd and 4th string instead of picking finger is that ok? It is easier for me to do that but not sure if that will cause problems down the road

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Sharon Fry I suppose the answer is: it depends. Clawhammer is really all about economy of motion. It’s also all about maintaining rhythm. You can certainly make beautiful music with different techniques, but you might end up cheating yourself if you don’t learn the proper technique first. Fortunately, the proper technique is incredibly accessible. Very generally speaking, you use your middle fingernail for every quarter note - whether you’re striking or strumming. And it’s always in a downward motion - using your fingernail like a guitar pick strumming down. The thumb is then used to break those quarter notes in half, again plucking downward - regardless of what sting. So the answer to your question is that you use both, depending on if it’s the quarter-note or eighth-note in between. (Much simpler to show than describe, so you may prefer to watch my how-to vids 😊)

[@SharieFry]

@@StevePlaysBanjo Thanks for your response. I have been watching your videos. I realize the count is supposed to be 12and34and but you say it is breaking the quarter notes in half, so do you mean the and is an eighth note? I'm so used to doing rolls where there are 4 beats or eight in a measure and I feel like I'm only doing 3 or 6 in clawhammer. I guess I need to see it in tab. I played along with some recordings and managed to keep time in clawhammer but I wasn't really sure why.

[@SharieFry]

@@StevePlaysBanjo I know why I could play along with the recordings I just made sure that I always used that picking strike as the downbeat and it worked. Is that it?

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

If it’s easier to count: 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and... With your middle nail, strike the first string on the number. With your thumb, pull off the 5th string on the “and.” That’s the essence of clawhammer. Heh, I really should just make a video demonstrating it. 😄

[@SharieFry]

@@StevePlaysBanjo That makes sense to me, however, before I found your site, I had watched a different one and on it it said to do the way I described, no wonder I was having trouble. Thank you so much. Yes, a video would be great. Oh, I have a Deering Goodtime. I love the sound of your banjo. It looks like it's a bigger one, not sure I'd want such a large one.

[@gravedoja]

The fretboard looks wider than on my banjo, do the widths vary? I'm a beginner and find that I mute strings when playing notes.

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

The fretboard is a bit wider. Kinda like a classical guitar, it helps me with my clumsy drop thumb technique. My Vega Senator has a thinner neck and seems more well suited to delicate playing styles. 🙂

[@MitchMb14]

I'm looking to upgrade from my Deering Goodtime too. This is a strong candidate. Only tone ring banjo I've heard that the treble doesn't sound harsh to me. Wish it had position markers though. Some guy talking about the Brainjo banjo said upgrading caused him to improve his playing. Did you find that to be true?

[@josephmichelotti6230]

Save your money. Get a gold tone

[@erinworley1601]

What scale length is yours? Standard or the 25.5?

[@jeetray11]

don't think you mentioned an important parameter of a banjo. the pot size. looks 12" to me. I am in market for a banjo very similar to this. I tried a chuck lee whose tone ring looked exactly like yours. guess it was a Dobson tone ring. That things sounded amazing.

[@johnschillo4452]

love it

[@cavolpert]

Sweet sounding banjo

[@SteveSmith-wx8kc]

Is the neck length 25.5" or standard length?

[@dog3579]

Great banjo, Steve. What strings (type, gauge) do you have on it? I find your videos really valuable for learning. Thanks for your effort!

[@brianm1908]

Thanks for the review, Steve! That Dobson ring sounds sweet. Do you revisit your Deering Senator sometimes? I have a dozen or so open back banjos and would put my Senator in the top three. You've got your drop thumb very smooth! Good work on all your tutorials! Much appreciated.

[@rodp7803]

stuffing the banjo changes the tone drastically

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Yep! It’s not for everyone. The only time I do it now is if I’m using a pick-up for amplification to cut back on feedback when playing with a loud band.

[@rodp7803]

Good to know that it can help with feed back! I only play over the neck now, I find that it gives me a more desirable tone for old time music, I'm playing a bluegrass banjo though (Leo). It gives me a surprisingly great tone for old time music.

[@rodp7803]

I fell in love with Lucas Poole's tone, so that is what i try to emulate

[@gutbucket260]

Just picked up a Rickard Maple Ridge banjo with a Dobson tone ring. Sweet sounding tone and it can be used in a group setting. Dobson rings seem to becoming more popular lately. I have a very early made banjo made by Paul Heavener before he started the Pigsah company. No tone ring but still sounds nice. Your Rambler has that cool old mountain sound. Cheers.

[@D28wt]

Funny, I just asked 'the question' on a different video. Disregard.. I suspected it was a Pisgah, which is probably where I'll end up!

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Hah! Yeah, I got three different people asking about it just this afternoon, so I figured I should make a video. Good luck with your banjo purchase! 👍

[@marcsirkin8398]

Bought my Pisgah Dobson with walnut pot and persimmon fretboard about one year ago. Love it.

[@AWESOME295]

You know about Alip ba ta?,a very talented finger style guitarist on KZbin °`

[@mikehopper1674]

What strings do you use?

[@hikrose]

What was the song(s) you were doing?

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Those were just random snippets and exercises played randomly. Although those could be songs. 😊

[@mrkbdt45]

10K+ views. 134 likes. I'm 135! Thank you Steve! -Smoove

[@brianpriest3638]

That heel is actually called a Dobson heel. Nice banjo!

[@TheJudge442]

You own a tubaphone bro!!

[@jordankay5159]

TheJudge442 it’s a Dobson doughnut style tone ring