I would like to build a cigar box banjo for my next build. I’ve seen people place small tambourines with a skin head and bells removed inside the box in the same place you would put a reso cone. But what style pickup should be use. I’ve have bad luck trying to use a piezo in my banjo and banjolele but it sounds like crap.
Any suggestions

Views: 77

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Jeremy, try adding a preamp to the pick up either on board or as  pedal. If you mounted one in a small box {pedal style] you could use it with your other banjos.

I have built a number of wood top banjos and the sound of these is a bit more forgiving  with a cheap piezo than the sharper sound of a plastic or velum head. 

I have just mounted a piezo pickup {expensive over $200] it used two transducers one under each leg of the bridge. They were mounted to the head using thick double-sided [1.5mm] tape. Sounded not too bad, but you'll never get microphone quality without a microphone Ha ha.

Here's a Banjo Mandolin conversion I did.

Taff

Thanks for the advice, a pre amp pedal is not something i thought of. I may try a wood top banjo now instead, I like idea of that.

That banjo/mandolin looks really nice! A CB-mandolin is something I’ve always been interested in building. I don’t know how to play one and would like to learn. I’ve heard there are many issues with the soundboard crushing from high string tension. Did you have any issue with that?

Hi Jeremy, here are some pic's of the style of banjo I build.

The tin one [only photo I have] has a cross brace in the bridge area.

The wood top banjo has a thin tone wood Cedar top so I brace it with an X bracing pattern. I think I over braced it, but you don't know until you try.

The last one is a full box cbg style 5 stringer and has one cross brace. It is made of pine fencing and some pallet wood for the top. All are acoustic and the sound [except for the tin one] is like that of an open back frailing/clawhammer style 5 string banjo.

 

Taff

wow Taffy .,.,I really like that last one.,, its on my to do list.,,.

I recently saw a post where Wishnevsky puts the piezo on the rim/hoop of his banjo's., Shane recommended adding a pre-amp., I have heard banjo players say don't put the piezo on the head, as it will feedback and sound like crap.,

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
15 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
15 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
16 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
17 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
17 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
19 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
19 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
21 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->