Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on March 6, 2019 at 11:16am

Hi Nate and welcome.

All what you said sounds good, I'll let those that know better comment on the electrics.

Pictured here are two banjos I built/converted with wooden tops, both cedar, they are thin so that they act like a banjo head. The small one is a current project. You could mount a piezo p/u in the back, now that's cheap.

In the banjo link you posted, I did not read it all, but the guy mentioned looking for lots of sustain. Just keep in mind that if you are considering playing a  5 string bluegrass type banjo the notes are normally quick an short, an over sustaining instrument may sound muddy or messy. Just a thought.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Nate on March 6, 2019 at 3:23pm

Thanks Taff. Good looking banjos. If love to hear them!

I'm actually really into sustain. I don't play bluegrass style. So I hope mine has sustain, too. :)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 7, 2019 at 12:28pm

If'your using a top similar to what a banjo uses, I would recommend a low output humbucker. If your using a solid type thick material top I would go with something in the medium output humbucker.

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Permalink Reply by François on March 9, 2019 at 11:32am

Years ago I built an electric canjo and used a piezo disk glued under the top. This gives probably the most natural sound as it picks-up the vibration from the drum. Wiring wise, I put a volume knob on it and that's it.

The volume is wired in a regular fashion.

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Permalink Reply by François on March 10, 2019 at 10:44am

I got thinking about this last night and I'm wondering if banjo strings would work well with a magnetic pickup?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 11, 2019 at 7:05am

EMG makes a humbucker for Banjo's. Stewmac has them.

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Permalink Reply by Nate on March 13, 2019 at 2:46am

Thanks guys. I'll look for a medium output humbucker then.

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