Ome 6-String Guitar Banjo

This instrument is an open back 12" pot banjo with a guitar neck attached in order to enable guitar players to play the banjo. Although Deering and Goldtone have made such instruments for some time, this is the first such instrument made by OME, although Ome owner Charles Ogsbury is hoping to expand production if there proves to be a market.
The heart of this instrument is the body or "pot". It features a 3/4" 3 ply maple rim formed into a 12" body. Most professional bluegrass banjos are 11"; therefore the bass frequencies on this instrument are enhanced (they tend to be rather weak on most banjos). A brass "silverspun" tone ring sits atop the rim, although the banjo can be ordered with a less substantial tone ring. The head is mylar covered with a white textured spray. The instrument features a special heavy duty bridge and tailpiece designed for the heavy pull of six strings. The tension hoop and brackets are all first rate, possibly made by 5-Star. The neck is attached to the body with two nickel plated coordinator rods. The rim has a single strip of tortoise plastic as binding.
The neck is two piece mahogany and is very gracefully carved, with an especially graceful heel and handstop or "volute". The headstock is larger than most banjos to accomodate 6 strings, but retains a basically "banjo" shape. The fretboard is ebody and features 22 jumbo frets. Inlay consists of pearl dots on the fretboard and an abalone star and crescent moon on the headstock. The nut is bone. Tuners are black bodied Schallers and the wooden parts of the banjo (except for the fretboard) are protected with several coats of hand applied tung oil. Although a very minimal finish, it is tastefully done. The recommended strings are "extra light".
The instrument can be had with either a traditional black hard shell case or a deluxe hemp and leather "gig-bag" type case. I chose the gig bag because it was so neat and I could haul it on my back while carrying my guitar cases.

I have found that the tone of this banjo is very unique and specialized. It is especially effective for fingerpicked ragtime, giving such songs a very "period" feel. I also use it when playing contra dances to liven up the fiddle tunes used for the dances. I play half the dance with a guitar and then pick up the banjo and continue the dance tune. The penetrating trebles really pick up the tune. I usually fingerpick the Celtic tunes and flat-pick the old time American tunes. The "silverspun" tone rings imparts a mellow, echoey or reverby quality to the tone. The same banjo with other Ome tone rings will vary.
I would describe the tone as bright but mellow, favoring treble over bass frequencies. It really reminds me of an archtop guitar in response. It's really quite different than a guitar, a good sound "option" for several types of traditional music.

The instrument is extremely well made, as are all of Ome products; very high end. I bought the instrument from Charles Ogsbury himself at a fiddle convention and he adjusted the neck to my specs on the spot. I have had to do very little sith it since. The instrument can be fitted with a "flushfit" resonator to give it added volume.

I have no doubts that this instrument is estremely well made and durable. My only concern is the tung oil finish, which is very minimal. If it wears too quickly I will probably apply several coats of "poly wipe-on" finish on top of the tung oil. Tung oil needs to be refreshed with new oil every year or so,

Charles Ogsbury, from whom I purchased this istrument, was very friendly and helpful, setting this thing up just as I wanted. He's been in business a long time, founding both the Ode company (which he sold to Gretsch) and Ome. His products are beautiful, with some of the most ornately crafted instruments possible. He makes his banjos with a small crew in Colorada

I have been playing 40 years (since age 10), playing traditional old time fiddle tunes, Celtic, ragtime, blues, etc; both fingerpicked and flatpicked. I play a Larrivee OM-09, handmade Brazilian rosewood OM, a Mike Ramsey open back 12" five-string banjo, a Martin D-41, and Taylor 410R which is being replaced with a Bourgeois JR-A.
I think this guitar banjo serves a useful purpose in my arsenal, giving me an entirely different sound than my guitars and providing a different texture than my 5 string because I play an entirely different style on it. It's not my main axe, but it sure it noticed when I pick it up. I think that it is well worth replacing and I like its mellowness over the harshness of the Deering and Goldtone. It's a good instrument.