MY LITTLE WALDO

[frettedstrings]

About a month ago, I posted that I bought what I thought was a late 19th Century Gut String Open Back Banjo. It has WALDO stamped on the dowel stick, inside the pot. Waldo Mfg. Co. manufactured Banjos for the Barrows Music Co., between 1894 and 1902. I have the guys at banjohandout.com looking over the pics. Like most of you, when it comes to GUILD GUITARS, the guys at Banjo Hangout know BANJOS. Here are some pics of my little WALDO.

 

[killdeer43]

I like it a lot.
Can you find replacement strings very easily?

I'd love to drop my clawhammer on it! :wink:

Joe

 

[idealassets]

Cool! Perhaps you will become a music instrument historian of some sort.

Is you East River Folk group having a jam on Dec 10? I actually may be able to make it, and will email you a few days ahead. If I can make it, I will play on my Guild JF65-12.

I would also be very interested in seeing your Guild F212 and case. Do you play it at the folk society? My F312 may have the incorrect case. Its an old Guild case, but looks the wrong size to me.

Thank you,
Craig

 

[killdeer43]

I would also be very interested in seeing your Guild F212 and case. Do you play it at the folk society? My F312 may have the incorrect case. Its an old Guild case, but looks the wrong size to me.
Craig

He might tell you about the old Guild case he sold me not too long ago for my F112-6. With a little piece of foam padding, it's a perfect fit. :wink:

Joe

 

[frettedstrings]

I like it a lot.
Can you find replacement strings very easily?

I'd love to drop my clawhammer on it! :wink:

Joe

@Joe....

True 'GUT' Strings might be hard to find (and they are not highly recommended, because they used to fray quite a bit), but Aquila String Company makes NYLGUT (Nylon/Gut) Strings. I had a pair of these installed.

-Frettedstrings

 

[killdeer43]

I'd love to hear how it sounds.
*You won't get very many members here who will say that. :lol:

Thanks,
Joe

 

[frettedstrings]

I'd love to hear how it sounds.
*You won't get very many members here who will say that. :lol:

Thanks,
Joe

@Joe....... 'Waldo' definitely sounds different than the bright 5 String Bluegrass Banjo sound that you are used too. More like 'Plunkity, Plunkity, Plunk ! But if 'Waldo' is really over 100 years old, he's sound good for his age. I have to learn 'Clawhammer' or 'Frailing'. Earl Scruggs was not play'in his 3 finger method yet, in the late 1800's...Lol ! Gotta learn some 'old timey' songs. Lumber Camp Songs, etc.

Check out these videos, by Bob Marr. His open back banjo dated back to the 1860's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NEsnkbFssc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4_O56jovNo&feature=related

-frettedstrings

 

[killdeer43]

Good links, Tim.
I started out in the early 70s with Pete Seeger's book and a Gibson RB170, open-back.
Wish I still had it! :wink:

Thanks,
Joe

 

[frettedstrings]

Good links, Tim.
I started out in the early 70s with Pete Seeger's book and a Gibson RB170, open-back.
Wish I still had it! :wink:

Thanks,
Joe

@Joe,

I was the dumb dumb, back in the early 1980's, for trading in my 'Chicago' 5 String Banjo and a Crestwood Classical Guitar, all in order to buy a cheapy 6 String Acoustic. Even with the two, I had to wait a few more weeks to save up the balance, in order to take the guitar home.

-frettedstrings

 

[AlohaJoe]

Congratulations on a real find, Tim. Vintage instruments are wonderful and yours looks to be in great shape for its age. We like to joke about banjos, but it's meant in fun.

 

[killdeer43]

:lol: :lol:
I love good works of art!

Looky here Pa, the dogs done treed a banjo player!

Joe

 

[frettedstrings]

That's Ok, guys....this little open back banjo will be a real challenge to learn to play. I am starting out with the 'Two Finger Thumb Lead" Method, of Old Timey Banjo. Trying to learn "Simple Gifts", a Quaker Tune, written by Joseph Bracket, in 1844. 'Hammer Ons', 'Pull Offs', and 'Slides' , Oh My !!!

-frettedstrings

 

[frettedstrings]

I would also be very interested in seeing your Guild F212 and case. Do you play it at the folk society? My F312 may have the incorrect case. Its an old Guild case, but looks the wrong size to me.
Craig

He might tell you about the old Guild case he sold me not too long ago for my F112-6. With a little piece of foam padding, it's a perfect fit. :wink:

Joe

@Idealassets.....Both of my F212 and D35 (Zoe and Olivia) and my open Back Banjo (Waldo) rest in cases made by Guardian. http://www.guardiancases.com/cg010.html. Your F312 would probably fit into the same Dreadnought case that my guitar fit into. The website will have the dimensions. I'll have my F212 with me that evening at East River Folk, when you come to grace us all with a few tunes on your JF65-12. Its always good to have another GUILD in the house.

@Joe.....Is that the same case that I sold you, in the picture....Wow, that looks real nice with you F112. Glad to have given her a good home.

-frettedstrings

 

[killdeer43]

@Joe.....Is that the same case that I sold you, in the picture....Wow, that looks real nice with you F112. Glad to have given her a good home.

-frettedstrings

It is indeed the very same case.
I take care of my cases because I ask a lot of them. :wink:

Joe

 

[tjmangum]

Very neat. I love old banjos. Thanks for sharing.
T

 

[Thunderface]

Love the Waldo!

 

[kevin the bass man]

Life was pretty hard for the pioneers, but every once in a while someone would break out a banjo and make it a little harder.

:wink:

cool old banjo. looks to be in pretty good shape given the age. I've never heard of Waldo, but then again, I have no clue about banjos

 

[frettedstrings]

A about a month ago, I purchased what I believe is a WALDO Open Back Banjo. The instrument needed to be put back together and I had Nylgut Strings installed, so I've only had the banjo in my possession, since Saturday. (Pictures posted earlier in this post).

I have found that my little 'Waldo' was made mostly by the J.B. Schall Co., of Chicago and was made sometime in the 1890s. J.B. Schall (1878-1907) was a Chicago banjo maker who made many Schall-marked banjos and banjos marked with the names of noted performers and teachers. Schall also made many unmarked banjos and sold parts to other makers. Some banjos marked Waldo, a performer whose banjos have been reported to have been made by the Burroughs Company located in Saginaw, MI, appear to have been made by Schall, or at least using Schall parts.

With a 10" head / pot, this makes this a parlor or ladies' banjo. The tailpiece, a 'cammed-no-knot, is a desireable item and quite collectable. I paid $100, but I was told that on eBay, sold as is, I could get between $25...