Mitchell Vandyke playing 1949 Gibson 5-String Banjo (some Stanley style and some Reno Style)

Be sure to watch this video all the way through. Mitch does some good stuff on the last tune.

This is my 1949 Gibson 5-String Banjo (with a 60's bowtie "fly-swatter" neck) being played by Mitchell Vandyke. Mitchell has filled in for Dr. Ralph Stanley and can play most any style.

The bottom of this banjo is from a 1949 Gibson but I do not know which model. I've been told it looks like a RB-100 but this banjo has a heavy tone ring which, I'm pretty sure, the 100's didn't have. The man I purchased it from said he "traded-up" to the "fly-swatter" neck sometime in the 60's.....he thought this was upgrading the banjo.

Once I got this banjo home I took it apart, cleaned it up, put it back together, and then tried to set it up to the best of my very limited ability. Once it was playable I was immediately floored by it's punch.......to me it has the sound of the old flatheads. I made an appointment and took it to Snuffy Smith (yeah, the Snuffy Smith who services Earl Scruggs' banjo and Tony Rice's guitar). He put a new head and bridge (Crowe Spacing) on it and gave it an overall set up......he definitely knows what he's doing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gibson
• String
• Banjo
• Bluegrass
• Snuffy
• Smith
• Ralph
• Stanley
• Don
• Reno
• Mitchell
• Vandyke

[blugras32]

Yeah.....he's picking with Dr. Ralph Stanley full time now though.

[charliepc56]

What ever the year or model that banjo is, it sure has that sound that is most often found on a pre-war Gibson Mastertone Flathead.. I'm sure it's a keeper.. It would be if it was mine.. Great video, and Mitchell is a master of tone himself. The best!!

[Downsouthdipper]

Didn't mitchell work down at big rock united supply?

[Downsouthdipper]

The first tune sounded like some yonder mountain string band..

[vcp430]

So has he filled in for Steve Sparkman?

[JHelmet]

Would you ever consider selling this banjo?..

[ohmyboho]

great picki man.  great sounding jo as well.

[nasty5oh]

Man that is a sweet sounding banjo.

[banjofive2000]

1st is Old Joe Clark, then Clinch Mt backstep, and last sounds like "when you & I were young" None no better then Ralph & Reno. Great playing

[suuzzee5]

Well, that's just about the best banjo pickin I ever heard! Awesome description also. Thanks for this outstanding upload! Suze