Deering Calico
Canadian Picker
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! I would like to hear from
anyone who has (or has played) a Deering Calico. An opportunity to
purchase one at a good price has come my way, but I have never played
nor heard one so I would love any info. on how they play, sound (yeah I
know a subjective thing!) and any other info. good, bad or indifferent.
I am familiar with other Deering products, but I would like to know how
this one stands out in the banjo world.
I am a strictly straight ahead 'grass player so that would be it's role
if I indeed purchase it. Again, any info at all on these would be much
appreciated. (PS I love the way the look!)
Thanx gang!
Bob Giffen
you would be hard pressed to find a better banjo for bluegrass pickin'. I'm
sure to catch some flak for that statement, (from people who don't own a
Calico) but the Calico is one of Deering's top quality professional banjos.
It holds its own on any stage with Gibsons, Stellings, Rich & Taylors, OMEs,
and many more. Stelling's banjos tend to have a little brighter tone and
are a bit louder, but I just like the way the Calico sounds as well as the
way it plays. The neck just feels right in my hand. Of course, setup can
also have a big effect on how the instrument sounds and plays.
I've had my Calico for about 8 years now. It's a great instrument, & I
wouldn't trade it for any other banjo I've played. And I've played a lot of
very fine banjos both before and after I got my Calico. It has a great
sound to it and is perfect for good 3 finger style bluegrass pickin', which
is my favorite style. The neck feels a little thinner than most banjos, and
fits the hand just right. It makes it easy to play and manipulate the
strings on the fretboard when you don't have to stretch the fingers as far.
The resonator is not as thick as many other instruments. But maybe that's
what helps make it sound so good.
And the high quality birds-eye maple they use for the neck and the resonator
make it look like a work of art. I too love the way they look. It may not
look like Earl's banjo, but I'll bet it would sound just as good -- as long
as Earl is pickin' it. ;-)
Don't hesitate any longer, go for it! You'll be glad you did. If you don't
believe me, you can do a search on google.com under groups for "deering
calico" and see what others have had to say about the Calico in the past.
I've never heard of anybody who regretted getting a Calico!
Good Luck!
Bob Giffen
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"Canadian Picker" <replyt...@group.com> wrote in message
news:3DE807...@group.com...
wygyg
the calico can hold its own with any gibby or stelling....i have owned
multiple mastertones...and a stelling or two (love those)....
being short scaled....they seem to like the compensated bridges....
so i would go with a snuffy smith, crowe spaced....11/16
compensated....magic on that banjo...
or the sosobee bridge....
write if i can help on set up....i have done bunches of the deerings.....
roger (seemingly the only damn banjo teacher in central illinois)
"Bob Giffen" <nos...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:eCYF9.55050$wc2.2...@news2.east.cox.net...
Nancy Mumford
either.. i bought mine site unseen (and un-played) and used from elderly
music over the internet.. although they did play it for me over the phone..
hahaha.. it just "sounded" like what i wanted from a banjo and it is. the
two things i like the most is the nice bright sound and the thinner neck
although it is barely noticable.. and i had kyle smith (highly recommend
him!) set mine up this summer, he put a new bridge on it (sosbee) and
switched to medium strings..so he got some nice bass tone coming out of it,
but the clear highs are still there.. and yep.. she's a beauty! :).. now if
my playin' would just do her justice!! hahaha..
nancy
Canadian Picker <replyt...@group.com> wrote in message
news:3DE807...@group.com...
Bill Hays
shallower-than-normal resonator with tapered walls (making it somewhat
louder than, for instance, the Deering Maple Blossom, which otherwise has
the same sound-producing components), brilliant highs and a nice deep
growl from the fourth string, clear all the way up the neck. All in all a
great banjo that will hold its own with any of the other fine banjos out
there (Stelling, Gibson, etc. -- I preferred my Calico to a maple Stelling
enough that I eventually sold the Stelling). After that, it's a matter of
personal taste. It generally sells used for less than the other high-end
banjos it competes with, making it an excellent value.
B.
In article <3DE807...@group.com>, Canadian Picker
Bill
It was sweet and a total delight to play.
For my money... grab the one you are considering if the price is to
your liking.. Consider having it "Kyled", HE does NOT dispense
bull***T, just superb tune ups. You won't be sorry (unless he sits on
it) .....
At a particular picking party last summer, I enjoyed Nancy's Calico
for a large part of the evening. I seem to recall her having to beg or
perhaps threaten to get it back when she was tired of eating and ready
to pick some more. I prefer the tone of it over any Stelling I"ve
played.
Billl, VA
wygyg
the d'addario light phospher wounds .....09. 11. 13. 20. 09......the calico
can make the most of the phospher strings....brings the brightness
out......they don't last as long as the nickle ones, but the response is
wonderful.....deering should set their stock machines up with those.
it should be killer on your set up.....
roger (seemingly the only damn banjo teacher in central illinois)
"Nancy Mumford" <nmum...@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rE5G9.332102$r7.57...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
Denzon
Deering Sierra. I am considering these two at used prices, they will be a move
up from the entry level Fender that I have learned on. I have no experience
with Deering .
Thanks very much
Zippy the Pinhead
you will not find one that plays or sounds better. Especially for the
price.
My opinion. Not affiliated in any way with Deering Banjo Company -- in
fact, since I got my Sierra used, I'm techically not even a customer.
"Denzon" <den...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20021203081912...@mb-ml.aol.com...
Tyler Gingrich
news:asifn...@enews3.newsguy.com:
> You will find many banjos that are more beautiful than a Deering
> Sierra, but you will not find one that plays or sounds better.
> Especially for the price.
>
I have a Calico and it's very sweet sounding and beautiful. I have
also played a number of sierras and while not as pretty they sound
really nice.
When you consider the price difference between a Sierra and a Calico,
I'd have to say the Sierra is a "better" value.
I'd recommend a 2nd-hand Sierra now and later on you can resell it
and move up to something "fancier" (Deering, Gibson, Sullivan, Huber,
Osborne, etc).
Tyler Gingrich
Columbus, Ohio
Bill Hays
well made and good banjos. As you're probably aware, they decline in price
in the order you listed them (i.e., the Calico is the most expensive) on
both the new and used markets.
Aside from the cosmetics (which lend to the price differentials), there
are also differences in sound among them. The Calico and Maple Blossom are
both all-maple banjos (incl. the neck) with exactly the same
sound-producing components, with the exception of the resonators. The
Calico's resonator is shallower and has tapered sidewalls, which lends to
both volume and tone (i.e., the Calico is louder and a little brighter
than the Maple Blossom).
The Sierra has the same rim, ring and resonator as the Calico and Maple
Blossom, but it has a mahogany neck as compared to the maple neck on the
other two (in this regard it's the same as the Deluxe and the Black
Diamond in the Deering line). A mahogany neck makes for a little mellower
sound -- less brightness. Some folks prefer that, some don't.
The best value among them is the Sierra. If you can find one on the used
market (meaning you have to do without the Deering warranty available only
to the original buyer) that's in good condition, it's probably going to be
the best deal going for a pro-level banjo. You only forego the cosmetics
(inlays, binding, etc.) which don't contribute an iota to the sound.
B.
In article <20021203081912...@mb-ml.aol.com>, den...@aol.com
Denzon
Denson Sexton
Lake Martin,Alabama