S.S. Stewart "Thoroughbred" Banjo (early 1890s)
Added 2020-09-12 02:22:45 +0000 UTCIn 1872, Sam Stewart was a seventeen-year-old violin student and heir to a family fortune worth several million dollars. However, upon hearing banjo music for the first time (at a minstrel show in Philadelphia), Stewart became obsessed with the instrument, and had soon hired none other than George Dobson to teach him the secrets of the art. By 1878 he was performing regularly, and billing himself as 'The Artistic Banjoist.'
"Until his premature death on 6 April 1898, Stewart remained a commercial and public relations giant. His multifaceted career illustrates how an instrument once marginalized because of its association with the lower classes became iconic of American culture at all levels, and in particular of middle-class pretensions to gentility." - Gura & Bollman, America's Instrument (UNC Press, 1999).
Comments
I always do business with Bob Smakula in West Virginia. He has a good selection of vintage banjo parts here: https://www.smakula.com/vbp.html
Clifton Hicks
2020-12-12 19:35:45 +0000 UTCOOPs... 2 replacement bracket nuts that look like the ones on this SS Stewart. Any Ideas who may have some?
Bill Roebuck
2020-12-12 18:47:09 +0000 UTCHi Clifton, I need 2 replacement nu
Bill Roebuck
2020-12-12 18:44:52 +0000 UTCBill, that's "Bound to Ride" from the Stanley Brothers. I haven't yet done a lesson/tab on it, but she's on the list!
Clifton Hicks
2020-09-16 16:46:33 +0000 UTCClif what was the name of the opening song you played? Did you ever do a full tutorial?
William Riley
2020-09-16 02:33:02 +0000 UTChttps://www.ebay.com/itm/383560464794
Charlie VanTassel
2020-09-15 01:21:14 +0000 UTCToo bad the book is out of print
Ira Mandelker
2020-09-14 15:08:55 +0000 UTCIt sounds damn good, and plays well. I think the best sounding Stewart I ever played was actually the "Universal Favorite" I featured a few months ago.
Clifton Hicks
2020-09-12 20:43:15 +0000 UTCExcellent video! A great mix of history education and wonderful traditional banjo playing style.
Al Neale
2020-09-12 13:51:12 +0000 UTCrye whiskey. devils waltz. jack o diamonds. drunken hiccups.
s_ou_b
2020-09-12 11:37:58 +0000 UTCGorgeous, love that carved heel. So cool! I wonder if Sam himself worked on or played this banjer?
Cindy Barrett Gilchrist
2020-09-12 11:36:41 +0000 UTCWhat's the waltz you play?
Russ Chandler
2020-09-12 10:06:04 +0000 UTCThat sure is a sweet-looking banjo. How does it sound?
Richard Hunt
2020-09-12 03:41:16 +0000 UTCBeautiful instrument
Curtis Smolen
2020-09-12 03:01:30 +0000 UTCThat is one hell of a instrument.
Nick Conner
2020-09-12 02:57:51 +0000 UTCThat heal carving is perfect. Beautiful banjo. Someone is very lucky!
Seth
2020-09-12 02:54:20 +0000 UTC
