Ambidextrous Banjo by John Sloan (1960s)
Added 2020-10-04 12:00:02 +0000 UTCJohn Sloan was an English-born machinist who built a number of unique banjos after emigrating to the United States after WW2. This example utilized two "tunnels" through the neck, allowing it to be played either right- or left-handed. Ambidextrous banjos are exceedingly rare. It's also an archtop, making it a very loud banjo.
https://www.chron.com/news/article/Magnolia-residents-are-strumming-along-1631549.php "Sloan, 81, has been playing banjos since he was 12, and crafting them since he was in his mid-30s. One of his most unique models is a banjo that collapses. 'The neck folds down into the middle, and then it folds again into the back of the banjo,' Sloan said. 'They become half the size.'"
Comments
Stephan, I did recently sell that one. Occasionally a Sloan banjo turns up for sale online somewhere, but I've never seen another ambidextrous model like this. The company is still in business, it might be worth reaching out to them: https://www.sloanbanjos.com/
Clifton Hicks
2021-01-03 15:47:30 +0000 UTCSorry, I accidentally hit the "enter-button" while correcting the text above. I hope you understand the meaning so far.
Stephan Ensthaler
2021-01-03 10:49:55 +0000 UTCSorry, I'll try that again: Hi Cliff. I want to ask wether or not you have sold that ambidextrous banjo made by Joh Sloan. I'm a left-handed guy who learned to play the Banjo right-handed, as I did on the guitar previously. After one and a half Jear of practicing I got stuck a little. Now I'm interested to know wether that is because of my lame right hand or not. I tried playing 4-String stringed vice versa, but since I play clawhammer style (and nowadays I'm learning your 2-finger-technique) I really need the 5th string for my thumb to find out.o really find that out I need more practice than that experience (or try out a left-handed banjo in my favorite shop for just an hour or so). But for this experiment I don't want to buy a regular left-handed banjo just to probably find out that this play style don't suits me after a while. That really makes the ambidextrous banjo the perfect one for my needs. If I ever surrender with my efforts playing left-handed I can always come back to my former right-hand style. So if you haven't sold it already please tell me the price of the banjo. I live in Germany, but if this is a problem to you, you can sell it to my sister. She lives in Las Vegas / Nevada, so she can do the financial transaction. If you've laready sold it please let me know when you ever get your hands on such an abidextrous one again. Best regards and a happy new year, Stephn
Stephan Ensthaler
2021-01-03 10:48:23 +0000 UTCHi Cliff.
Stephan Ensthaler
2021-01-03 10:33:01 +0000 UTCHi Cliff
David Merry
2020-10-18 11:40:29 +0000 UTCI've always heard it called a "tunneled neck," but "stealth neck" sounds good too.
Clifton Hicks
2020-10-04 18:56:59 +0000 UTCI'm sure I've heard that type of neck called a stealth neck, Not seen an ambidextrous one before. I think they can be prone to 5th string breakage. Jedson made a model, and some others too. I think the banjo playing comunity is strangely hooked on the 'in the way' 5th peg as I don't understand why the 'stealth' neck hasn't been more widely adopted. I guess it just aint proper!
leo zinovieff
2020-10-04 14:07:23 +0000 UTCYeah, thatβs the right thing to do.... π
Cindy Barrett Gilchrist
2020-10-04 12:37:30 +0000 UTCThis would be tempting to keep as a loud, steel-stringer for busking or stage performance; however, since it can be played left-handed, it really should belong to a left-handed player.
Clifton Hicks
2020-10-04 12:13:42 +0000 UTCSweeeet banjo, Clifton, gee I was gonna say you should keep it! Itβs too cool! Love that hardware.
Cindy Barrett Gilchrist
2020-10-04 12:10:38 +0000 UTC
