Re: Another Banjo Review...6 string

On 30/12/2010 11:18 AM, Pt wrote:
On Dec 29, 5:13 pm, Stephen<calder...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 30/12/2010 6:16 AM, Pt wrote:





I have been playing guitar, bass and keys for over 30 years but never
touched a banjo till recently.
I am presently playing in a modern country band with a female singer.
Several of the songs we do have banjos in them.
Not bluegrass style but more like rhythmic plucking between the beats.
I tried to recreate the sound with a guitar but it just is not a
banjo.
After much research I choose the SX six string banjo because it has a
long scale neck (26.5 inches) that will allow me to use light gauge
strings and still have good tension on them.
I always set my guitars and basses up to my liking but this was
something entirely new to me.
This is a true banjo complete with a tone ring, resonator and all the
adjustments other banjos have.
It took awhile for me to figure it all out.
This is not a guitar.
I played it at our next rehearsal and everyone loved it.
Only problem was, even though it is loud acoustically, it is not loud
enough to be played on stage with electric instruments and drums.
So I decided to make it an electric/acoustic banjo.
I needed a pickup system and a preamp.
I had good luck with Artec preamps in the past and picked one up that
has 3 band EQ, volume, low battery led and a chromatic tuner.
It takes a 9 volt battery.
Installed it on the flat wood on the back.
Next came a pickup.
Most piezo pickups are stick-ons that stick to the inner head but they
have a hollow sound and are prone to feedback.
I did not want a magnetic pickup or a microphone.
I almost went with the Fishman Rare Earth but opted for an LR Baggs
that has the piezos built in to a maple bridge.
Because they are not mounted directly on the drum head they are not
prone to feedback or hollow sounds.
Easy installation.
I also put an output jack in the aluminum pot near the end pin, if
there was one.
I have the banjo set up very nice with low action and Elixir extra
light acoustic strings (10's).
It plays like a dream and sounds even better.
I play it through an acoustic amp or through the PA.
I tried using a few effect pedals but I'm not ready for that yet.
I love the sound of the banjo and prefer it to sound like a banjo.
The quality of the SX 6 string banjo is acceptable and it has a ton of
adjustments.
I am happy with the way my banjo looks, sounds and plays.
Total investment was about $350 and many hours of work.
Definitely worth several times that price.
Some people have complained about the string spacing being too close.
Replace the saddle and cut the string slots the way you like them.
This is the most adjustable instrument I have seen.
If you are not happy with the adjustments change them.
It has a very nice neck with good fret work.
With a little ingenuity and determination you can make almost any good
instrument fabulous.
Decide what you want to do and dig in to it.

Pt

Six strings? Sounds like too many for a banjo. How do you tune it?

--
Stephen
Ballina, NSW-

It tunes like a guitar.
They have been around for a long time.

Pt


I can understand the concept. Why learn a whole new tuning and fingerings and be stuck with just five strings.

Not really a banjo though. A hybrid. Great to get a sound "something like" but with two bass strings it can't sound the same.

--
Stephen
Ballina, NSW
.

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