My review of my two Pisgah Banjos.

[@raypearson1504]

Great job! You never cease to amaze me.

[@drm9889]

Thanks so much a wonderful comparison and answered many of my questions.

[@porternesbitt]

No problem! Glad I could help.

[@davidcudlip6587]

Dobson rings have a mellow sweet tone. I'm rebuilding a 1924 Vega banjo with a Tubaphone ring. They have a low growly tone. You can never have enough banjos.

[@muttandjeff5213]

Outstanding! Great playing and reviews!

[@seberry1]

Very impressive. The custom Pisgah sounds the best to me. A few questions: What do you like about the Dobson tone ring? Does the radial bridge change how the instrument stays in tune? Have you experimented with lowered tunings? (I like CGCFCD on the guitar and would like to experiment with a similar tuning on the banjo.) Do you have a preferred heavy gauge string brand? Do you find that the heavy strings cause pain around the tips of your fingers? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks again!

[@porternesbitt]

Hey! Sorry for the late response I'm just getting back to KZbin. The Dobson ring projects very clearly and has a bell like tone on the top end, and a deep bass sound on the low. The radial bridge helps with intonation and keeps the strings in tune with the frets so that the notes dont sound sharp or flat. I have experimented with lower tuning and it works great with most old time songs. Not optimal if your playing in a band though. As for string gauge, it's all about what you like best. Unlike a stiffer and more projecting feel and sound, so heavier gauge strings are best for me. Lighter gauge is a bit easier to play on wont hurt your fingers when you first start. I moved to heavy gauge once I began to develop more callouses on my fingers. Hope this helps, and sorry again for the late response.

[@seberry1]

@@porternesbitt Thanks, I have a Pisgah Possum. Would you tell me where you got your radial bridge? I would definitely like to try it, since I am experimenting with bridge placement to fine tune intonation issues, particularly with the second string. I do a significant amount of playing with the instrument tuned down to a C-minor +sus4 tuning.

[@seberry1]

I see that Pisgah has a bridge called the Mulheron that comes in three heights. I don't know if that is the one you're talking about or whether you used your radial bridge, in part, to adjust your string clearance over the frets.

[@porternesbitt]

@@seberry1 I got mine from elderly instruments. There are three different ones. Light, medium and heavy. Mine is a medium. Don't know about the mulheron bridge but I'm sure it would be great. Lmk how it goes whichever way you decide.

[@Fluff467]

ALL WELL AND GOOD ....LISTEN TO MY FAVORITE FIDDLE CLAWHAMMER TUNE...NAIL THAT CATFISH TO A TREE....OR WALK ALONG JOHN TO KANSAS....TRY THEM....OK TEXAS JEFF

[@porternesbitt]

Walk along John is a really good one. I might to that one soon.

[@rogersnyder3776]

Nice review for great banjos! A few side notes... Butternut is a cousin to walnut. It's similar in density. I would that it sound similar to walnut. I like the shelf in the background. Do you work at a sawmill? The shelf looks like it's made from lumber upgrade cutoffs! lol love it!

[@porternesbitt]

Thanks for the input. I do actually do some work at a sawmill.

[@rogersnyder3776]

@@porternesbitt The sawmill business has been good to me. I've bought and and sold hardwood logs for 41 years and counting! Keep those tunes coming... you have a God given gift and your are using it well! Thank you!

[@TheTroyallen23]

Are both banjos 12 inch rims?

[@blainechappell5383]

Have you had the opportunity to play an original Dobson with his original Silver Bell patent Tone ring? They’re pretty sweet. (Don’t use steel strings though)

[@porternesbitt]

I haven't. I would love to at some point though.

[@blainechappell5383]

@@porternesbitt of you're interested in getting one, there's a guy named Kyle VanMeter who has quite a few, and often has 2-3 available for sale at a rally good price.

[@Timothydlol]

What's the second banjo called? Great playing

[@porternesbitt]

The second banjo is based on a Dobson banjo with a Dobson ring. It has a skin head and the wood is curly maple.

[@Dravenbm1pu]

Are these 12inch with short scales?

[@porternesbitt]

Hey they are 12" but not short scale.

[@gregoryware7636]

Hi Porter Great video! Are those banjo's your playing left handed configuration?

[@porternesbitt]

Haha I was waiting for this comment! They are right hand banjos but the camera makes it look like they are left handed when you reverse the lens.

[@johnschillo4452]

walnut can be very figured

[@tadhyde3400]

Are they both 12 inch pots?

[@porternesbitt]

Yes they are.

[@grantnapier99]

left handed

[@seberry1]

Very impressive. The custom Pisgah sounds the best to me. A few questions: What do you like about the Dobson tone ring? Does the radial bridge change how the instrument stays in tune? Have you experimented with lowered tunings? (I like CGCFCD on the guitar and would like to experiment with a similar tuning on the banjo.) Do you have a preferred heavy gauge string brand? Do you find that the heavy strings cause pain around the tips of your fingers? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks again!

[@seberry1]

Very impressive. The custom Pisgah sounds the best to me. A few questions: What do you like about the Dobson tone ring? Does the radial bridge change how the instrument stays in tune? Have you experimented with lowered tunings? (I like CGCFCD on the guitar and would like to experiment with a similar tuning on the banjo.) Do you have a preferred heavy gauge string brand? Do you find that the heavy strings cause pain around the tips of your fingers? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks again!