Tater Patch - 6-String Fretless Banjo (Clawhammer)

[NooGods]

Bravo indeed!

[stigandr5]

I get drawn to this video on a regular basis. That banjo is inspirational. Are the decorations on the fretboard inlays? If so, what are they made of?

[HunterRobertson]

Yeah, quite a banjo! The inlays are mother of pearl, most have a little varnish over them as the entire finger board was varnished, so they look a little more yellow than you'd expect.

[xSNOWYJOEx]

Bravo sir!! You are amazingly clean considering your speed and how close to one another the strings are on that amazing banjo. keep it up brooo

[HunterRobertson]

@xSNOWYJOEx  Thanks!

[nightfrailer]

Is it ok that watching this is a little demoralizing for a new player? Damn that is fast and hard and cool as hell.

[HunterRobertson]

Well jeez, I don't mean to get anyone down! But don't worry, that's a lot of playing over the years. The great thing is that if you keep at it there's always something to get better at - never a dull moment.

[nightfrailer]

@HunterRobertson No, not down. Just practicing ten times as hard to be able to let loose like that someday Completely inspirational. And now I want to build a fretless banjo...

[HunterRobertson]

@nightfrailer Good! A fretless sounds like a good idea, they're a whole new world.

[PeluMaad]

Whoa!

[MrNick2D]

I'm guessing you play flamenco/rumba style guitar as well, am I right?

[HunterRobertson]

No, not at all. My father used that roll and various older banjo players did something like it as well.

[EOsborne318]

Your right hand technique is wild, man! I've never seen anyone beat a banjo to death like that.

[HunterRobertson]

That poor banjo didn't know what it was getting itself into...

[biokid23]

That is amazing....

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks for watching.

[BEERIOUS]

whooo, that is one furious tater patch.

[HunterRobertson]

They're hell when riled.

[MrJrondeau]

again played flawlessly ,I bet you Mr. Viner would be proud. That banjo hits all the different ranges. I am inspired .....

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks. I wonder what Viner would have thought of it, I doubt it's what he had in mind for the banjo... Still, a great banjo!

[MrJrondeau]

perfect... 

[lestalkmorebasss]

Nice. Yes, everyone, apparently banjo can be "sick!"... damn. whew.

[datsyhoehoe]

Wow! That's just nuts! Is that a cat -gut string banjo with 6- strings? Never heard or saw anything like it. Well played too! They should use that tune for a prison movie cover or something!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks! The strings are Nylgut, I don't know about the head... likely calf but you never can tell. And yeah, 6 strings. Like a normal 5-string but with an extra bass string. They were common in England (as well as 7-strings) around the 1880s.

[oldcremona]

Kick ass!

[HunterRobertson]

Ha! Thanks Carl! Always a pleasure to see those treasures you're unearthing too.

[HillbillyWayne88]

Man i love to have one of them banjo i have a old old 5 string banjo

[stigandr5]

That instrument's a real beaut! Do you find the fingerboard a bit crowded with the extra string?

[HunterRobertson]

Yeah it's a sweetheart of a banjo.

It was made as a 7-string, so plenty of room (as a 7-string it would be crowded though for my fingers). It does take some getting used to the extra width for the right hand, but it can be beaten into submission.

[FancyGapClawhammer]

Everything is perfect. Your brushes simply amazed me, being in the middle of everything else.

It was great.

5 stars

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks alot. Your playing is coming along nicely, keep it up.

[guywolff]

There is a great version of this played by Dan Gardella and Ray Allden that I think you wouyld enjoy .. This is wonderful .. Al the best , Guy

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Guy. Have you heard Charlie Lowe playing it?

[guywolff]

Dan's youtube name is heydiddledan if you had any trouble finding his clip of this tune .Ray wa a great friend of Dans and Ray has left the world this last year . He will be missed !! .(mike Seeger as well . What a year . )

Ive played this tune for years with Dan and his comming off the one beat reminded me of what you are doing here . I think you both would have fun playing this together..

[HunterRobertson]

Oh yeah, nice playing indeed.

[mtexter]

awesome, man! Good to hear you.

[Wishuey]

Beautifully done! What`s the story on the banjo?

[Wishuey]

Oops; should have paid closer attention; found the bumph on your website.

[Tadek59]

Thanks for share boogpatton

Fantastic performance and excellent sound !

Great job !

5*****

[HunterRobertson]

Thank you very much!

[bilbo60]

Nice playing, and I love that banjo

[HunterRobertson]

Hey Bill, nice to hear from you, been a while. It's a sweet banjo alright.

[darius97]

fucking badass

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Darius!

[SharineONeill]

Hi, just wonderful! Congratulations to you! 5 huge glittering stars and Love and Light from Austria - Sharine

Thanks to Boog for sharing!

Have a Happy New Year!

[songpoemguy]

grate banjo sound!!! thanks to boog that sent this to me check out jim reeves and joni james singing danny boy its a fake duet i put together check out the song you silly doggie by david dubowski

[6K6R]

Nice playing 5****

Claude

[boogpatton]

Good one Hunter! And here I was thinkin' just the other day, "I wonder if anyone ever made a 6-string banjo :)

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Boog. Yeah, there are some wild ones out there, even some with multiple thumb strings.

[boogpatton]

Sent you a video response ... sort of along the lines of "different" banjo stuff :) You're a clawhammer madman my friend!

[HunterRobertson]

I think that fits the "different banjo" category nicely!

[boogpatton]

LOL :)

[BrunoEspo]

holy moly!!

[PeterDoughty]

Hunter, you play that thing like you stole it!!!! Awesome banjo, awesome playing, awesome concept!!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Peter! That extra string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. It can be hard to come up with information about them because of all the banjitar stuff that you get when you search online for 6-string banjos, but look for Chuck Levy, Jimmy McCown and Dan Knowles here on YouTube for more 5+1-string playing.

[Demoman1980]

That's a fucking amazing sound you got going there bro,what's the deal with the banjo did you make it yourself ? I have never seen a 6 string banjo before,is the short drone string the bass rather than the usual high string drone on a 5 string ? Anyway whatever it is sounds amazing. 5 stars !

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks a lot! It's an old banjo, I guess from the late 1800s. It has the usual high "5th" drone string but it has an extra bass string (actually, it was made as a 7 string and would have had two extra bass strings. I've only got 6 on it though.) Follow the link over on the side for more information and pictures.

[ledalki]

the banjo looks very pretty!!!

[HunterRobertson]

Why thank you! It is a nice banjo.

[billfalco01]

Hey always like stoppin your place

really cool banjo

[YoppyKyabetsu]

I love that low G growl. My next build will be a six string.

[HunterRobertson]

But out of what Yopp?! A ham tin? A fish bowl? Can't wait to see!

[teethi13]

this tune really growls

[r810s]

Crazy man!! This is great. I love the sound of it.

Thought mostly a guitar picker myself I have a weakness for odd instruments. I have a 5-string banjo, a 6-string guitjo, an 8-string mandobanjo, an ordinary mandolin and a 6-string mandolin guitar, and they all have something special to offer.

This one is really great. Where have you managed to lay you hands on that one?

[banjoman1234]

awsome! love the new banjo

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Jeff. Nice 'Old Stillhouse' you've got up.

Hunter

[banjoman1234]

Thanks!

[billyshake]

Damn, you're talented!  I can only imagine the sheer joy of what it must feel like to play like that.

[billyshake]

I really dig the deep sound of that banjo -- so the sixth string is a deeper bass string, yeah?

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Billy. Yeah, the extra string is tuned 7 frets down from the 4th string. The whole instrument is tuned way down from a normal banjo, so the bass would already be pretty deep, that extra low string is just the icing on the cake.

[FlatfootJohnny]

fantastic! Ive got an old 1800s fretless six string currently in bits. Cant wait to get it fixed. How have you tuned it? I love that bass.

John

[HunterRobertson]

You got to me before I put up the info on the video! It's over there on the right now, with a link to pictures and some more information on the banjo.

I'd love to see your 6-string when you put it back together.