Dean 6 String Banjo Review & Demo // Guitjo // Ganjo // Banjitar // Review and Mods
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- čas přidán 21. 04. 2020
- #Ganjo #Banjitar #Gitjo #DeanGuitar #6StringBanjo #BanjoReview #DeanBackwoodsBanjo #DeanBackwoods
Dean Backwoods 6 String Banjo review and mods. In this video I discuss the Dean Banjo 6 String Guitar Banjo mods and upgrades. I explain how I installed a Piezo pickup and changed the strings to upgrade the Dean 6 string banjo. Visit My Website: ChristopherMichaelWorship.com
Get it here: amzn.to/3FrXoDq
I review and explain some mods I performed on my Dean Backwoods 6 String Banjo // Guitjo // Ganjo // Banjitar. All statements are my opinion and should not be taking as fact.
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Items Used in the Video:
Dean Backwoods 6 String Banjo. Get it here: amzn.to/3FrXoDq
Not So Slinky Strings: amzn.to/3yKfhLi
Piezo Pickup: amzn.to/3cTpuJh
Strap Locks: amzn.to/2VZGxCs
Banjo Head (11"): amzn.to/2KFWNU5
Banjo Bridge: amzn.to/3cNMg5k
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For a guitar player looking for that banjo sound. With its familiar guitar tuning, this hybrid 6-string banjo requires no learning curve from guitarists. Fitted with an 11 in. Remo head, Grover tuners, 25 in. scale length, and 1-3/4 in. nut width, you'll be a-pickin' and a-grinnin' with the Dean Backwoods 6 Banjo in no time!
Dean Backwoods Banjo Features:
Body:
Body Material: Mahogany
Top Material: Remo Head 11 in. Clear
Guitar Finish: Classic Black
Top Contour: Flat Top
Binding: None
Orientation: Right Handed
Neck:
Neck Shape: C
Construction: Bolt-On Neck
Neck Material: Mahogany
Fretboard Material: Rosewood
Inlays: Pearl Dot
Scale Length: 25-1/2 in. (648 mm)
Frets: 21
Fretboard Radius: 16 in. (406 mm)
Nut: Polymer (Plastic) (OEM)
Nut Width: 1-11/16 in. (43 mm)
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Other:
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Bridge: Banjo Graphite
Tuners: Sealed Die-Cast
Knobs: Dome Black Chrome
Strings: Olympia (.010-.052)
Country of Origin: China
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Flesh Pot Music (Christopher Ellis) is a channel focusing on music, praise, worship and instruments located in the Nashville TN region. I am a Christian Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Ganjo and Acoustic Guitar player for 25 years. For more information on about reviews or collaborations please contact me at FleshPotMusic@gmail.com - Jak na to + styl
Visit my Website at ChristopherMichaelWorship.com/
The cool thing about the Banjitar is that you can use a Guitar capo.
Christopher Michael Music Why not use Thomastik Infeld KF110 Flatwound Strings on the Banjitar? The cool thing about Flatwounds is that they won't scratch your frets & they feature a Wound B String (14w) which is acting as a transitional String between the Bass & Treble Strings.
Keep on Rocking & #StayHealthy.
The Banjitar is actually louder in Volume than a Guitar because the Banjo body is acting like a really loud amplifier. That allowed Guitar players to compete with those blaring Brass horns in Big Bands.
You made it sound a lot better...
Because the Scale Length is the same as a Guitar you could use the same gauge strings that match the Telecaster so that it feels the same.
13:52 If you wanted to do soloing on a Banjitar, the 3 bottom strings would have to be the same pitch & gauge as they are on the Guitar. I use Nickel Wound Electric Guitar strings cause they're identical in material to Banjo Strings (Ball end Banjo Strings exist too cause they facilitate installation especially on terminator tailpieces).
ZZSounds Link to Dean Backwoods Ganjo: www.zzounds.com/a--3970857/item--DNEBW6E (Easy Payment Plan)
There are many things you can do with a Banjitar depending on what song you wannna do. Banjitars are usually shipped with Electric Guitar strings to get a "True Banjo Sound" because they're the same material as Banjo Strings (Nickel Plated Steel).
With a set of 12 Gauge Strings on it (including wounds) you can tune to Eb Standard & do Darmon Meader's arrangment of Silent Night. Unlike the 5 String Banjo, the Ganjo can play in any Key without re-tuning, & you can even use your Guitar capo too.
Gold Tone also makes 7 String Banjitars which have the Low E String doubled up with another High E String to create this special "Double Octave Drone" plus the body is a little bit Larger to help the lower pitches sound more Banjoey and less Toyish.
You probally forgot to mention this in the video. The Banjitar was originally used in a Jazz setting because back in the 1920s and 30s before we had Guitar amps, we had Banjitars. They're tuned & played like the Guitars, but they sound like Banjos & are also much louder in volume than Guitars which is great because if you were in a Jazz setting, you'd have Horn players around you, and a String section behind you. These Banjitars are still made today because they're a fantastic way of remembering what Jazz music sounded like before we had amps.
The top 4 Strings of a Regular tuned Banjitar are the same as a Plectrum Banjo in Chicago tuning (the 4th String on the Banjitar in Standard Tuning, is exactally the same as a Normal Banjo) the manual said "If you replace the 2 lowest strings with another High E & .007 A4, you can emulate a Tenor Banjo sound".
So with those Lower Wound Strings it does sound very much like a Telecaster which could be ideal for if you're in an Unplugged setting. Scale length is the same as a Guitar, so you can use any 6 String Acoustic or Electric Guitar String set, which is what makes it super versatile. If you want a set of strings that are super easy to bend, 10s could work, or I could go thinner like to 7s.
If you wanna go with Full Nashville Tuning, the Octave Strings from the D'addario Exrta Light Acoustic 12 String Set will work. The High G is only an 8 & you'll end up with a neutral tone that's similar to a Tenor Banjo since it's only a whole step below the High A of a Tenor Banjo.
The Dean Gran Sports Headstock draws my attention.
The 6 String Banjo is great at handling those lower pitches from the Wound strings because what they usually do is make the body a tad bit bigger than a 5 String Banjo body.
A set of D'addario NYXL 8 Gauge (Ultra Light) Electric Guitar strings feel nice and buttery, they're great for covering alot of songs (Stand Up from Harriet arranged by Mac Huff sounds great this way with 8s on it so let's hear it in a new video) , & also give you that Early Jazz vibe which you might recognize from the most famous Guitarist who played Banjitar named Johnny St. Cyr along w/ famous Trumpeter & Vocalist Lois Armstrong. Banjitars exist because back in the days of early Jazz music before Guitar amps were invented, Guitarists picked up the 6 String Banjo (Tuned like a Guitar) & it allowed them to be heard over other instruments in really large ensemble settings.
Did you know Danny Barker played Banjitar as a Guitarist in a Jazz setting? These instruments were used in Jazz settings because back in the days before we had amps, these instruments made it easier to compete with the horns. Of course regular gauge Guitar Strings (11s, 10s, etc) are required if you wanna play Danny Barker's music on a Banjitar.
A lot of Banjo companies who build Banjitars recommend using 11s (or thinner) because it'll allow the Head to vibrate more freely.
Very unique Hybrid Instrument. String Gauges please? I know the Two E Strings are the same Gauge (12), you can always substitute the Plain Steel High D with the Wound 32 to further reach the Lowest pitch of a 5 String Banjo at D3.
The other cool advantage of the 6 String Banjo is that it's fully Chromatic. Unlike the 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key without re-tuning, and you can even use a Guitar capo too. You can also tune the instrument down a Half step to Eb Standard to facilitate playing in Flat Keys, & w/ the 3 Wound Bass Strings (all 6 strings tuned down a Half step) you can emulate the Clavinet in Superstition by Stevie Wonder.
Very good point! They are very versatile instruments indeed. Thanks for watching
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic I prefer using Thomastik KF110 Flatwound Strings because they don't squeak when you move your hand up & down the strings which makes them great for recording.
Christopher Michael Music Let's hear what happens if you have the instrument tuned down a Half step cause 12s are optimized for lower tunings (as it says on the Package).
What they do rather cleverly w/ these 6 String Banjos is make the Rim a tad bit deeper so that the lower notes from the Wound Strings (when installed) resonate better.
10:43 Correction: the only additional Strings you'll need is a 16 for the A & for the E String you'll another 12 (same as the 1st one, and also another 12 for the D String but tuned down a whole step).
12:16 Again you can use any type of string you like. The Nickel Wound Strings are the same Material as Banjo Strings. Usually with a Banjo String set the 4th String is Wound in Nickel Plated Steel.
There's just a whole variety of 6 String Acoustic & Electric Guitar Steel String Sets you can use on a Banjitar to get a wide array of sounds, & it's going to depend on what song you're doing, so for the Ernieball 12s Not Even Slinky with the 3 Wound Strings or even so a set of 10s they seem appropriate for the "James Bond theme" and lots of Surf Rock hits. If you wish, you can sometime try a set of D'addario Nashville Tuned Electric Guitar Strings for a true 5 String Banjo Sound & range, because for 2 reasons 1) Electric Guitar Strings are identical to Banjo Strings as far as Material goes (Nickel Played Steel), & 2) in the Nshville Tuned String set the Low E String is a whole step above the D String on a 5 String Banjo, & the High G String is the same as the 5 String Banjo (it's also a whole step below the Top A string of a Tenor Banjo, you can also replace the B with an Octave4Plus .006 High B being step above the Tenor Banjo top A String).
I forgot to add in the video I also leveled and crowed the frets.
Nowadays Dean leaves the frets on the Banjitar leveled & crowed.
Christopher Michael Music This instrument was originally used in Jazz Music:czcams.com/video/XTexovqZjO4/video.html & that's because in the 1920s and 30s before we had Guitar amplifiers, we had Banjitars which made it easier to compete with those loud blaring horns.
To my ears, the sound of the Banjitar is a little bit Darker than a 5 String Banjo (even in Nashville Tuning) because the body is a bit larger. Banjitar bodies are supposed to be at least 11 & 15/16 inches or else they'd sound like toys when you get down to the lower strings.
You could always use 10s for Fingerstyle picking & a Smoother feel.
You can always make the 24 Gauge String a Nickel Wound one cause it's not as much tension as a Plain String.
Christopher Michael Music When I first played the Dean Banjitar at Guitar Center, the Low Strings allowed me to play this piece:czcams.com/video/DVdnZogSYdo/video.html w/ Tremolo Picking very much like a Mandolin, & that piece is the Theme from Schindler's List by John Williams (played on the Banjitar).
11:00 Use any set of Acoustic (or Electric) Guitar Steel Strings that you like cause it's very flexible this way.
Since Sean Connery died recently, I thought let's hear the James Bond Theme played on the Banjitar. For that song a set of 10s (or even lighter like Dunlap 7s/Ultra Lights) seem appropriate for that song because it emulates the Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe played famously by Vic Flick but because of the Banjo Body you're going to get that Banjo Twang Mixed in with it.
Christopher Michael Music Django Reinhardt plays Banjitar.
Turns out the Strings were actually Olympia Strings, D'addario strings have color coded ball ends which really makes it easier to see which is which.
Since the Lowest String on a 5 String Banjo is a Wound String at D3, go with the Wound 32 as the D String next time because it never hurts to have that pitch.
Turns out the Low Wound Strings sound perfect for Keith Urban stuff, Taylor Swift stuff, & even Johnny Cash & even Jazz.
very true....
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic Note here Not Even Slinky = Heavy Gauge. Ernie Ball uses sepecial names for String Sets so Super Slinky is Super Light, Regular Slinky is Regular Light, Power Slinky = Medium (Slash uses those Strings) etc.
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic Why not use a set of Thomastik KF110 Flatwound Strings on the 6 String Banjo? They'll mellow out the sound & save the frets from scratches. They're under half as much tension as regular Strings so they're slinky & smooth.
Not Even Slinky = Heavy Gauge Strings, Ernie Ball uses really special names for their Electric Guitar Strings. So for example Mamoth Slinky is the same as Extra Heavy Gauge.
Hi 😀
thanks for the video.
What kind of tuning are you using ?
I'm an absolute beginner on a banjitar and right I'm experimenting with strings of a twelve string guitar.
I heard #scottgrove saying similar things about putting on half the set of a 12 string guitar, but I'm struggling with the tuning.
i've tried the normal guitar tuning (EADGBE) but I've got a feeling that's not right, I doesn't sound very well.
hope to hear from you,
I use standard or Nashville tuning but I found the head to be a huge factor in sound. When I changed my head I reduced the inevitable "wuulff" sound the lower gauge strings produce. I have another video on my page about my current string choice that may help as well.
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic thanks for your answer!
Christopher Michael Music Since the Nickel Wound Low E, A & D Strings are the exact same material as the Lowest String from a 5 String Banjo set, you'll be sure to get a good Banjoey sounding Low end that's ideal for alot of music, but the most popular Genre of Music the Banjitar is known for is Ragtime:czcams.com/video/tvRJDUrnCjk/video.html & also Dixieland Jazz because in the 1920s and 30s before we had amplification, Guitarists used Banjitars (and Resonator Guitars aka Dobros too) to compete with the Horns. The Guitar/Banjitar arrangement of Maple Leaf rag is in the Key of A but to match the original recording tune the Banjitar down a half step to Eb Standard which will make flat keys easier.
@UC7c2NZ2YW626nWUQMkYhL2w
You can also use Dunlap 7-38s (Ultra Lights) for a James Bond vibe because the James Bond theme is one of many songs to use a Banjitar (RIP Sean Connery). Electric Guitar Strings will give you a true Banjo sound cause they're identical in material to Banjo Strings (Nickel Plated Steel), & they're also flexible, so they're very melodic. This guy:www.vintageinstruments.com/museum/prmntgitbnjohrpfulpage.html is a Paramount Banjitar, & some of them have a Wooden Drum head rather than an Animal Skin (nowadays Plastic) one which is why they're called a "Banjitar harp".
Christopher Michael Music The Nickel Wound Low E A & D Strings from the Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Set (aka Heavy Gauge Set) may give you a nice Banjoey Low end, but listen to this Cello Banjitar:czcams.com/video/PTN1Xl7SyZE/video.html the larger body really makes a difference on the Low end sounding more Banjoey & less Toyish. The Strings on the Cello Banjo are made out of Nylon (just like a Classical Guitar) so they're easier to press down. Banjitars are supposed to have bigger bodies than 5 String Banjos or else they'll sound like toys when you get down to the Low E String.
I use Nickel Wound Electric Guitar strings on a Banjitar, which have that classic Banjo sound because they're identical in material to Banjo Strings. While the Banjitar does facilitate playing in every key w/o re-tuning & allowing you to use a capo (as well as lowering the tuning by a half step to facilitate playing in flat keys) it also has a 4 String cousin the Plectrum Banjo:czcams.com/video/u_GGHB0TSII/video.html.
Gold tone makes this guy:czcams.com/video/o9OEdxUr2aE/video.html which is Mandolin Pitched cause it's tuned an Octave higher than a Normal Guitar, & it has 6 Pairs of Strings to give you a "True Mandolin Sound". The 3 Treble pairs are in Unison, & the 3 Bass pairs are in Octaves which balance out the Low & High Ends plus the body is larger to help the lower pitches resonate better (it's a Mandola body in fact). If you re-string a Vangoa Mini Banjitar with Aquila 145C High E Tuning Guitalele Strings (Scale Length is the same as a Guitalele) you have a so called "Melody Banjitar" which is a 6 String Mandolin Pitched Banjo tuned like a Guitar an Octave Higher making it sound like a "Melody Banjo" which is a 4 String version of the Mandolin Banjo:czcams.com/video/ZLYB7ZsQFPw/video.html. So here's the Vangoa Baby Alto Banjitar:www.amazon.com/Vangoa-String-Sapele-Beginners-Pick-up/dp/B07XGL92C8 which is so adorable, & your High E Tuning Guitalele Strings:www.stringsbymail.com/aquila-guilele-strings-145c-high-e-tuning-full-set-of-6-strings-18526.html to create the "Melody Banjitar" aka Soprano Banjitar/Mando-Banjitar. These Strings are made out of Nylon (Wound Strings are Stranded Nylon Wound in Silver Plated Copper) & they're not going to be under alot of tension which makes them easier to press down, plus it includes a piezo pickup that attaches to the back & all the good stuff (including a set of Spare Strings your Dean Banjitar might like, & they're probably about 10.5s which do have a special feel to them).
@UC7c2NZ2YW626nWUQMkYhL2w
These Strings are fantastic for lower tunings & Eb Tuning (Especially with the Wound Strings) is a good one to try cause it makes the Banjitar sound more powerful, plus you might be able to sing those higher notes more easily.
This instrument makes it easier to play in every key (especially in a Jazz setting), because Horn players like to play in Flat Keys.
Those Low Pitched Wound Strings on a Banjitar also seem appropriate for Church Hymns cause you can easily suppourt the congregation.
In order for the regular Low E A and D Strings to sound good the body would have to be a bit bigger and (or) thicker than a 5 String Banjo body.
It had a clear head on it when I bought it but it sounded like crap
@@RockStarOscarStern634 .. that is exactly what it had on it.... But all of these sounds are subjective to The Listener and player... But for $30 it is certainly worth a try to get the sound you want
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic In the video you said it was actually a Black Banjo head not a clear one, a Clear head will give you a neutral kind of sound.
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic A Clear head might be ideal for if you're playing Gospel songs (along with a set of D'addario NYXL 8 Gauge Electric Guitar Strings tuned E2-E4 such as Stand up arranged by Mac Huff from Harriet which is my favorite song to sing & strum) cause it can blend in with the Piano.
@@ChristopherMichaelMusic The head you're using is a White 11 in Banjo head & it's plastic coated in a White protective paint.
It never hurts to try this set of NYXL 11-56 Medium Top Extra Heavy Bottom Strings, which are a Balanced Tension String Set Optimized for D Standard Tuning:www.daddario.com/products/guitar/electric-guitar/nyxl/nyxl1156-nickel-wound-medium-top-extra-heavy-bottom-11-56/. D Standard Tuning has many advantages, it makes the Strings easier to bend, you get more Banjoey & powerful low end, & those higher notes are a bit easier on the Voice. It's not just Metal Guys that do down tuning, Singer-songwriters do it too.
String Gauges please?
Start with 11 gauge electric guitar strings.
@@clawhammer704 Or how about 10 Gauge Strings if you want something easier to press down. You can also use Flatwound Guitar Strings (10s for example) to mellow out the Sound of the 6 String Banjo.