For those who are interested in string instruments, here's some information on my ten favorite instruments.
Stelling Staghorn - SN#2284 - Built in 1982
- I ordered this directly from Stelling with a "top tension" option. It's got great tone and is the only bluegrass banjo I've ever needed. This instrument can be heard on Brenn Hill's "Trail through Yesterday" and "Call You Cowboy" albums. It's strung with a standard set of medium strings.
Bart Reiter Special - SN#414 - Built in1990
- I found this instrument at Acoustic Music in Salt Lake City. When I picked it up an original melody came to me almost as if it had been waiting for me inside the instrument. That tune is still one of my favorite originals. After that happened, what else could I do but buy it! It's been my main ax since then and is the only banjo I used on our "Live at the Junction" CD. It's now my "C" instrument and I keep it in "open C" tuning (gCGCE) most of the time. I use a custom gauged set of strings to accommodate the "open C" tuning: (first to fifth) 9.5-11-14-24w-10.
Vega (Deering) Long Neck - SN#091174019656 - Built in September of 2001
- Purchased from Intermountain Guitar And Banjo in Salt Lake City, this "Pete Seeger" long neck banjo has become my "G" instrument. I use it for "G", "G minor" and "Sawmill" tunings. I find I use the open neck a lot more than most "long neck" players. The extra frets (found on long neck banjos) drop these tunings right into my vocal range. I use a custom gauged set of strings on this instrument: (first to fifth)10-11.5-14-22w-11.5. The heavier fifth string is used to accommodate a special spike setup I use to capo the fifth string.
S. S. Stewart Banjerine - SN#9459 - Built between 1890 &1894
- Another instrument purchased from Acoustic Music in Salt Lake, it was originally brought to Montana by a Methodist preacher around 1900. I've strung this instrument with Nylgut Strings (nylon) and tune it to C. This is essentially the same as G tuning capoed up five frets on a "regular" banjo. I love the music box quality of this instrument and particularly like to use it when performing my repertoire of Mormon pioneer folk songs. I like the idea of using an instrument built in the 1800s on songs written around the same time period.
Richlieu Lyte Ladie - SN#201903 - Built in February of 1982
- This instrument was given me by my dear friend and student, Una Wickes. Una is in her mid nineties and plays plectrum, bluegrass and clawhammer styles! Although originally a "bluegrass banjo" I found it had a "Whyte Ladie" tone ring. I removed the resonator, replaced the head, and then strung it with Nylgut strings. It's now my "gut" banjo! I keep it in "G" tunings and especially enjoy playing clawhammer and ragtime (three finger) tunes on it.
(Schwab, Nugget, Taylor, Flatiron, Flatiron)
Schwab 5 String Electric Mandolin - #024- Built in April of 1983
- I was fortunate to find this used Schwab five-string at Intermountain Guitar & Banjo. It has a red 'strat' style body (as opposed to a 'tele'), a highly figured curly maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard. I customized it by replacing the original humbucker with two Seymour Duncan humbuckers set up with single-coil splits. I'm running direct to the PA from a Digitech 2101 processor. I use a custom gauged set of GHS Boomers on this instrument: (first to fifth) 9.5-12-22w-32w-42w
Nugget A5 - SN#86 - Built in 1984
- Built by Mike Kemnitzer, this is a cannon! One of the loudest mandolins I've heard. It's my acoustic (jam) mandolin. I also use it when playing classical mandolin with guitarist Dan McKay. I use medium gauge strings on this mandolin (11 through 40).
Taylor Model #GAMC Limited Edition Grand Auditorium - Built in August of 1995
- Purchased through NuSound Music (now the Musician's Pro Outlet), this was the prototype for the Grand Auditorium line which came into production a year later. This small bodied instrument mics very well and doesn't require a change in microphone settings when switching between it and my banjos.
Flatiron Custom F5 Artist - SN#84100010 (signed by Steve Carlson) - Built in 1984
- Both my mandolins were built in '84! This instrument came to me through an anonymous donation from a local collector who wanted me have an "F" model mandolin to go with my Nugget. It is "X" braced and has some of the prettiest wood I've seen on an instrument. It is my "studio and stage" mandolin as it has an incredible sound when close mic'd. It can be heard on the Brenn Hill "Trail Through Yesterday" album. I used medium gauge strings on this mandolin as well (11 through 40).
Flatiron 3MW Octave Mandolin - SN#9206579 - Built in 1992
- Another instrument purchased from Intermountain Guitar & Banjo. I've customized this instrument for a low tuning by stringing it with extra heavy strings: (first to fourth) 13-22w-34w-46w. It's tuned a step and a half low (C#-F#-B-E) so with a capo on the third fret it's tuned an octave below a mandolin.
