1890s Mystery Banjo

This YouTube video features Clifton Hicks playing "Old Coon Dog" (Turkey Buzzard) on an 1880s Cubley banjo. The description highlights the banjo's cheap nature, unusual features contributing to an interesting sound, and the rich character developed over 140 years of use. The video also promotes various platforms for accessing exclusive content, courses, merchandise, and music by Clifton Hicks, including Patreon, Banjo Heritage, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, and PayPal.

This video showcases a 1964 Vega "Ranger" resonator banjo, highlighting its Boston, Massachusetts origin and its similarity to the "Folk Ranger" open-back model. Notable upgrades include nickel-plated geared tuners and a Kershner reproduction tailpiece. The description emphasizes various platforms where viewers can find tablature, exclusive content, merchandise, music streaming, and donation options, primarily through Patreon and the Banjo Heritage platform. It aims to connect with banjo enthusiasts and potential patrons interested in the instrument and its associated resources.

This video features James Hartel playing his new Hartel minstrel banjo, serial number 76. The description indicates this is the first time playing the instrument, suggesting an unboxing, initial impressions, or a basic demonstration of its sound. Given the title and description, the content likely focuses on the banjo itself and the experience of playing it.

This video appears to showcase an early handmade gourd banjo. While the title mentions 'Early Gourd Banjo handmade by', there is no further description. Based solely on the provided information, the video's content is about the construction and display of a musical instrument, specifically a banjo crafted from a gourd. There is no indication of any firearms-related content within the provided data.

This video features a performance of the 1929 song "Old Rub Alcohol Blues" by Dock Boggs, played on an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo. The musician, Clifton Hicks, learned the song from the original recording and notes its similarity to works by John Lee Hooker and Blind Lemon Jefferson. The description also highlights various ways to support the artist and access his music and learning materials, including Patreon, his website, and streaming platforms.

This video delves into the history and craftsmanship of J.B. Schall's "Waldo" banjos from the early 1900s. It details Schall's career as a banjo maker in Chicago, his collaboration with James Waldo and the Waldo Manufacturing Company, and the distinctive features of these instruments. The description also touches upon Schall's passing in 1907, highlighting his dedication to his craft.

This video is a banjo performance of a song titled 'Ballad of Kyle Rittenhouse' by Clifton Hicks. The description provides links to the artist's Patreon, merch store, PayPal, Venmo, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, SubscribeStar, and YouTube channel memberships. It also includes a list of hashtags related to various music genres and the subject matter of the song. The song's title and hashtags directly reference Kyle Rittenhouse and related themes.

This video features Clifton Hicks performing 'Cold Blows the Wind' on a 5-string banjo using the clawhammer technique. The performance is set against a stark, black-and-white woodland backdrop, with the artist adopting a historical frontier persona. The song's narrative unfolds through somber vocals, detailing a lover's mourning at a grave and a spectral warning from the deceased.

This video features Clifton Hicks performing 'Ballad of Bloody Bill Anderson' on a banjo, detailing the historical figure's violent exploits. The performance highlights advanced clawhammer banjo techniques and deep knowledge of American folk music and Civil War lore. The song's narrative covers Anderson's arrival, a fierce battle, his death, and the grim aftermath, including the display of his head and pistols marked with his kills.

Clifton Hicks performs the traditional folk song 'Moonshiner' on a 5-string banjo using a clawhammer technique. The song details a life dedicated to moonshining, sustained by whiskey and beer over twenty-one years. The performance features an instrumental introduction before the vocal verses begin.