Bela Fleck's Rickenbacker Banjo

philhowes · Post by **philhowes** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:22 am

I read an interesting interview of Bela Fleck in the Toronto Star where he talks about his cool Electric Rickenbacker banjo.

Check it out.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:27 am

Q:You've gone from one banjo on The Flecktones self-titled 1990 debut, to playing a different instrument on almost every track of this new record. Why?

A: When we made the first record, I just played my main banjo, which is an antique banjo from the 1930s. It's still the one I'd keep if I had to give everything else up, but I have a lot of cool banjos now. I couldn't actually give you a number, there's a room stuffed with banjos, but probably somewhere between 20 and 30. One of the cool ones I have is a Rickenbacker electric banjo that was made in the '60s. It kind of sounds like George Harrison's guitar. It's a Rickenbacker guitar in a banjo shape with a banjo neck. It's really fun.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:20 am

Ummmm...Bantar?

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:38 am

Yes. Another example of a musician that loves his work and the sound of an instrument, but is not completely versed with its features.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:18 am

I've always wondered what an all-Rickenbacker Bluegrass set-up (electric) would sound like...

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:23 am

Probably a lot like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a3uPZ97AXU

philhowes · Post by **philhowes** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:37 am

Ha!

At first I thought they were just bashing away and then began to watch and realized they were actually playing. They were pretty good!

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:31 am

John, that was David when he was younger..

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:21 pm

Sorry to veer slightly, but... I got to see Fleck and crew at the historic Tampa Theatre a few months back. I love their music but had never invested the time to get into it, other than the Cosmic Hippo CD. The show was musically probably the best I have ever seen. They all did things I would not have thought possible. And after the show, they greet everyone and take pictures and chat. What a great group.

vito · Post by **vito** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:20 am

I've seen them close to a dozen times, and IMHO, they are in a class by themselves.