Randy, I really like the old Dobson's . Have restored many of them from ebay buys. I spent a couple years doing nothing ,but, working on banjos form the late 1880's to the turn of the century. An early Fairbanks was my favorite , but , had a soft spot for the Dobsons and Buckbee's . Simple instruments , but what a greay sound.

Bill Peterson from Council Bluffs Iowa made my banjo Lisa. He is a guitar/mandolin builder and an old friend. He's good at it. Not much to making a banjo tho huh? Make a neck and assemble the pot... : )... My banjo isn't as fancy as the pic makes it look. No binding, no veneer on the pot....just a working model really. With the fiberskyne head and bridge position it doesn't have the tone that is popular these days but it suits me nicely. For that matter my playing style isn't the popular style nowadays either....& the popular style is very very beautiful playing...& that's alright with me also...I too old to change!

You have a gift for describing sound with words Lisa. I believe it was you who coined the "high silvery" term to describe a dulcimer with desirable noter playing characteristics right? You're right about the Orpheum...it sucked.... : )...

Randy I too like the shape of those old Dobson pegheads- nice rounded, non-fussy. Who made your newer banjo with the same inlays?

I had an Orpheum #1 briefly, and I too disliked the tone...it was too cloying and smooth/aloof sounding to my ears, without any hollowness or crackly intimate texture to the tone...know what i mean?

I do still have that banjo Lisa! Unfortunately it's in pieces in a box wore out....needs lots of work. I got it in 1978. It was my first good banjo but needed a lot of work to make it playable even then. It's a Dobson brand banjo, made around the turn of the 20th century and has a real sweet tone. It was my main player for about 15 years. I'd like to make it playable again one of these days. Then I played a 1891 entry level Stewart for about 5 years, Bill has it now, then a fancy Orpheum. I grew to hate the tone of the Orpheum but it actually sounded good when someone else was playing it!....go figure. When I had my present banjo made about 15 years ago I had him copy the neck, inlays and peghead of the old Dobson b/c I liked that banjo so much.

Guys on the BB team started calling me Hawk and then everyone in high school called me that and my brothers & old friends still do. I can't believe that little kid in the picture is 35 or 36 years old now!

Well now we know your real nickname, right Hawk?

It must be fun to play with your kids. While you're busy playing music there's no time for arguing, is there?

I love this picture! Hey Cutie Pie Randy- do you still have that banjer?

2 outa 3 sure beats my 1 outa 3 Val! Altho in baseball a .333 average will make you some money!... : )....

That's neat!

He does still play Mandy. I have 3 kids & I put them all thru the same grind... : )... He is the one that took a long term interest.

Here we are playing a show a couple years ago.

What a wonderful picture this is Randy!! Does Lil Billy still play?