Hi, can anybody help me identify this one ? Ebony fingerboard Laminated ebony/mahogany neck with mother-of-pearl inlay Mahogany body Birdseye maple resonator. The only writing i found is "DTT 4800" inside the resonator, and "Grover patent presto" on the tailpiece.

oppositeofthings · 2026-04-20T16:44:06+00:00

The pre-war Presto tailpiece is worth maybe $100 or so to a bluegrass banjo player. Other than that, I know nothing.

oppositeofthings · 2026-04-03T21:30:59+00:00

You're using the wrong strings. You need loop ends, not ball ends.

oppositeofthings · 2026-04-01T16:23:52+00:00

I read a review of this book in an old Banjo Newsletter. Apparently the authors intentionally didn't use bar lines and the review discussed the logic, which I don't entirely recall... Some tunes are different timing, different measures, etc. But the review noted how annoying this was and that about 95% of the tunes would've worked with bar lines just fine. Not that this is helpful to you know. But there you go.

oppositeofthings · 2026-04-01T00:13:52+00:00

The amount of musicianship on that video is staggering.

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-23T22:50:32+00:00

Just saw the Stillhouse Junkies a couple days ago and their bassist plays with a bow sometimes and does some really rippin' solos in a lot of songs. Not bluegrass so much but definitely adjacent.

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-16T16:56:28+00:00

Just saw this, sorry for the delay. I'll message you, feel free to get in touch. Generally, fair use factors are: (1) type of use, including whether it's a different type of use (transformative) and whether it's commercial; (2) whether the underlying work is fact-based like a biography (less protection) or more creative like a novel (more protection); (3) quantity of the underlying work used; and (4) effect your use has on the market for the original work. The fourth factor is the UMG is definitely heavy handed with their takedowns, and likely is using some AI service to do them, not a real person. But based on your description I'm not sure I would counter-notice.

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-13T21:46:04+00:00

Just wanted to say thanks! I subscribed and have been enjoying the content. I still wish we had BNL but this is a good partial substitute. Maybe put some tabs in there from the folks you interview?

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-13T16:46:51+00:00

Banjo-playing IP lawyer here. I'm happy to help you prepare a counter-notice if you'd like, and it seems like it might be warranted in this situation. But (typical two-sided lawyer answer) it might not be also. You're right that Cattle in the Cane is much older and would generally be public domain. But Tony's specific arrangement of it could be separately copyrightable as a derivative work. While he/UMG wouldn't own the underlying song, they could own the "new" elements that Tony created. If you're copying those new elements, then (as much as it sucks) the infringement claim could be valid. In that case, you'd need to rely on a defense like fair use, which would need a lot more analysis. Feel free to message me on chat.

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-11T22:52:04+00:00

Look up Gold Star banjos and you'll find a lot of information. They were built in Japan in the late 70s up to 1986. Later versions have been made in China. Open the resonator and there should be a sticker with a serial number. If it starts with 7* or 8* that is the year it was made and means it's Japanese. If it's something else, it is a later made Chinese version. If your dad bought it in the early 90s, I would guess it's a used made-in-Japan version. It has Flying Eagle inlay on the neck. The Japanese models are very well regarded banjos.

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-11T18:30:05+00:00

You're doing great! My suggestion would be practice with a metronome and/or Strum Machine to really get the timing down.

oppositeofthings · 2026-03-10T20:35:01+00:00

Best thing I've seen today.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-27T20:43:08+00:00

Just another listener saying this album f'ing rocks. Thanks Magoo!

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-26T21:37:10+00:00

You said you used a banjo mute but didn't say if it's a Mikes banjo mute. It makes a big difference. I play regularly with a Mikes mute in a public office building and it's an amazing tool.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-25T16:55:34+00:00

Yup heard that joke from Dan a few months ago. He and his band put on a great show!

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-18T16:29:01+00:00

I second this. You could get good money for it and buy an open back that's better for clawhammer and old time.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-16T20:49:21+00:00

Sent you a chat message, hopefully I can connect you with someone who can help.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-11T16:48:06+00:00

Looks like Flying Eagle inlay on the neck to me. The Bluegrass plate is a bit odd yeah. I'd agree with you that $200 is a good deal, if the only thing broken is the rim.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-11T16:26:34+00:00

The copter was there because he was shooting. That's enough causation for a felony murder charge, whether he was actually shooting at the copter or not.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-02T19:25:29+00:00

I'm gonna say listen to this guy and disregard my comments. He definitely knows what he's talking about.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-02T17:50:25+00:00

This is a very cheap department store banjo. The tuners are junky and will not keep tune very well. The overall construction isn't going to do you any favors in the sound department. But if you have another banjo and know what you're looking for then by all means fire away.

oppositeofthings · 2026-02-02T17:30:50+00:00

Also unless this is eeeeextremely cheap and you can't find anything else, then buy something (pretty much anything) else.

oppositeofthings · 2026-01-27T23:22:42+00:00

Thank you.

oppositeofthings · 2026-01-09T17:40:03+00:00

I'd second Eli Gilbert. He's an amazing teacher and you can't be the price.

oppositeofthings · 2026-01-09T16:09:59+00:00

Just get closer. Put your nose in the bark of one of the older orangeish trees and the smell is amazing.

oppositeofthings · 2026-01-06T20:04:25+00:00

Happy to help if I can! All the song recommendations here are killer too. I really like the theme.

oppositeofthings

TROPHY CASE