Banjitar "BB Mod"...GoldTone GT500
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- This is a brief description of a modification to my GoldTone Banjitar. More videos and follow ups will be posted soon. This mod is incredible and great for so many styles of Banjo! Thanks for watching.
- Krátké a kreslené filmy
This is the best informative banjitar video to date, I am on the fence between traditional 5 or 6 string, my favorite vendors seem to be out of stock on 5's until spring so now I am looking at 6 strings again... your video now has me thinking 6 as I am a guitar player :-) Thank you for sharing and showing the alternate tunings this was very helpful
I've done this to a Banjitar once when I made the big jump from 5 to 6 String Banjo & after a lot of playing I finally had on the Low E String. What's really cool about the 6 String Banjo is that unlike a 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key without retuning & you can even use a regular Guitar capo too.
Yes, we've all done it.
I did this in ‘92 (and that is why you did not see it on the internet or CZcams). Also did it on an acoustic guitar AND on an electric (but used a sliding 5th string capo there - that mod I did in ‘88). Anyway, was not going to post until you said “give credit where credit is due…” on which I laughed. You are welcome for the “SJ” mod Brian! You sound great and as a reminder, original thoughts/ideas are very rare with this many people on the planet. Be well.
This type of music isn’t on my radar but this instrument modification is genius. Salute
That’s the coolest thang I’ve seen in awhile. Sounds great in the fingers of the Brewer master.
I’ve toured the Gold Tone factory in Florida and they are dedicated and good folks. They build awesome banjos; I’ve owned the B 350 plus and a Bela’ Fleck model.
I bought an ES Banjitar. looks great and played great until the tailpiece flew off in the middle of the night. Never had that happen to any string instrument before, and always keep the room at an even temperature.The suggested improved tailpiece seems impossible to get hold off, Goldtone told me how to fix it but I'm no technician and most Luthiers and shops wont take me on with a fix because it is classed as specialist. . Eagle Music in Huddersfield are willing to have a look at it so I can get it fixed I will be able to trade it in for something more reliable.
The Quality matched against the price does not match up in my opinion but it is good to hear what you have said about the company. Makes me feel like I've just been unlucky.
That's some excellent playing man, very inspiring.
Great video, glad I came across this!
The zero-fret on the Gold Tone instruments make this modified stringing especially easy to pull off, you won’t have to change out the nut.
I am getting my GT-750 tomorrow. The information was helpful. I will be looking into this. I did not know about spikes.
Hey thanks man, this is a great idea. And your playing is inspiring!
Brian Brewer The Banjitar is actually related to a Plectrum Banjo (and the Tenor too) because they don't have a Short String, & they're played with a Pick.
I love the modifications you made, I'm originally a bass player, learned guitar and now learning banjo, I bought both a 5 string and a 6 string this week, they are both fascinatingly unique. I'm torn because I love this idea and it really makes the 6 string Banjo shine, but I also really love those low E string notes on the Banjo
If you get rid of the spikes & tune the 6th Treble to E4 (just like the High E) then you can use your Guitar capo. These instruments were used in Jazz because before we had amps in the 1920s & 30s, we had Banjitars.
@UClb42in-OW7FU8yE5mrexPQ
That mod allows you to keep the drone string ring while going lower than a 5 String Banjo can go & that's kinda like a Wane Rogers thing. If you get a Wane Rogers 7 String Banjitar, you'll be amazed by how the Low E is doubled with another High E.
Happy Safe New Year & #StayHealthy
Wane Rogers is the guy who wanted the best of both worlds too, so he created a 7 String Banjitar (WR-7). Aside from the Low E doubled up with another High E, the body is an Inch bigger in diameter than a 5 String Banjo body (it's 12 Inches rather than 11) which allows the lower pitches resonate better. Fun fact lots of Vega Banjos with an extended range from the 1920s and 30s achieved more Bass response for those thicker strings by having a larger 12 in or 11 & 15/16 in body. There's this guy which is an 8 String Banjo w/ a range of almost 5 Octaves:czcams.com/video/SLOb_gbqDUs/video.html
@UClb42in-OW7FU8yE5mrexPQ
The reasons why I use regular Guitar Strings on it is because those low notes will compete with my singing. Unlike the 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key without re-tuning, and you can even use your Guitar capo with it too.
4:47 So that's with the High E String, in the place where the Low E would normally be.
Yes it is.
@@brianbrewer7 We have this guy:czcams.com/video/kWaCUC0f5TU/video.html that you might like & it's a 7 String Banjitar. The Unique thing about a 7 String Banjitar is that the Low E String is doubled up with another High E String to give you a Punchy Double Octave Drone, & that idea was from:czcams.com/video/bNGoNo80ebk/video.html the DanJo which is a 5 String Banjo that has the Drone String doubled up with another Bass String tuned 2 Octaves lower to create more punch. One of the other instruments:czcams.com/video/uSIK-iprR7M/video.html is the Dueling Guitars 6.5 String Electric Guitar that has a Drone String w/ a sliding capo, plus you can change that High G String out to a Low B String from a 7 String Set for Jazz, Metal, you name it.
@@brianbrewer7 What Guitar players usually do to simulate the 5 String Banjo Drone String on a Guitar/Banjitar is using the Nashville Number System (a friend of mine named Nick Culbertson has Musical instrument apps that have it such as Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, you name it that are going to be re-released soon). In the Nashville Number System the Chords (in whatever key you're playing in) are fingered in a way to include Droning notes that help the Chords work together.
@@brianbrewer7 The Banjitar normally doesn't have a Short Drone String exactally like its cousin, the Plectrum Banjo:goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/cc-plectrum. The Plectrum Banjo doesn't have a Drone String because as 5 String Banjo players started got into playing Jazz, they found it inconvenient to have the Drone String ringing away out of key because horn players like to play in flat keys, so they took the 5th String of the Banjo to create the 1st "Plectrum Banjo" so that they were able to play in Flat keys. Other musicians wanted to play the Banjo but have it tuned like the instruments they normally played, so Orchestral String players and Mandolin players got Tenor Banjos (Mandolin Banjos, etc) which you can really hear over those horns. Guitarists got Banjitars when they got into playing Jazz, & they're louder in Volume than Parlor Guitars at that time because the Banjo body acted like a really loud amplifier (Resonator Guitars & their Resonator cone were also a good fit, as well as Archtop Guitars w/ their carved top and back) & that allowed Guitarists to be heard more easily over the Horns. Tuba skinny came to my mind:czcams.com/video/kmaHbB4jfQw/video.html when I think of the Banjitar.
@@brianbrewer7 One of the songs I've learned to play on the Banjitar was:czcams.com/video/eeuhXwvb3V8/video.html the James Bond theme which is known for that Iconic Riff (RIP Sean Connery).
I've been considering doing this with a banjitar, you've convinced me that it's a wonderful idea! my idea is to use a spike capo on the fifth fret to get the high g and tune gGDGBd
Interesting string changes to get that true banjo 5 string sound! Are you playing thru an acoustic guitar amp? Great concept and video
@@kathhart3200 The advantage of a Banjitar in regular Tuning is that unlike a 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key without re-tuning, & you can even use your guitar capo too.
Actually to get a true 5 String Banjo sound on 6 Strings I'd restring it with Nashville tuning Strings.
@@kathhart3200 It's an Acoustic amp
Dizzle without an R, what's really neat about a Banjitar is that unlike the 5 String Banjo you can play in every key without retuning it, & you can use a regular Guitar capo too.
Nice. It actually sounds more like a banjo with that drone string on top.
Yeah replacing the Low E with another High E makes it sound closer to a 5 String Banjo that has another Low String so you can play lower than you've played before, but unlike the 5 String Banjo you can play in every key without re-tuning, & you can even use your Guitar capo too. The Gold Tone 7 String Banjo has the Low E Doubled up with another High E which allows you to retain that Guitar Tuning (E2-E4) & the High Drone sound.
Or more like the Original 6 String Banjo, which is really 5 String Banjo but with an extra Bass String to extend the Low End.
@@RockStarOscarStern634 I would say a good banjo player can play in any key already without retuning if they have fifth string spikes.
@@UTBanjo Some 5 String Banjos have a Full Length Drone String so you can just use your Guitar capo.
@@RockStarOscarStern634 I have seen a few, but none of mine do!
Chicken picking sound great on it. I taken a dean six string banjo and done a similar thing. Do clawhammer banjo on it...it can get to be pretty driving that way. Iv taken the high E string and tuned down to a D though and use banjo Nickle strings.
1:09 Jazzy Chords
I want to know more about those railroad spikes your putting on the frets.
Some great ideas but what are the string gauges especially the high 6th string.
Sounds great Brian.Have you tried putting it in open G with the high capo 6 string to see if You can obtain a true bluegrass sound with 3 octave Gs ringing out?
Hey I own this thing, it plays wonderfully, and this mod sounds wonderful. What did you change the trapeze tailpiece to? I dislike the factory one. I actually swapped the bridge out for a modified arch-top bridge, it gave it more sustain, a bit less banjo tone, but made it perfect for gypsy jazz, which is what I play. Thanks!
@UClb42in-OW7FU8yE5mrexPQ
E Major sounds kinda like a Lower Pitched version of a 5 String Banjo called a Long Neck Banjo. D Major is very similar to a Lower Pitched 5 String Banjo tuned a Fourth or Fifth down from G Major called a Bari-Banjo.
@UClb42in-OW7FU8yE5mrexPQ
Alternatively there's also a 7 String Banjitar:goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/wr-7 which has the 6'th Low E doubled with another High E to give you the Chromatic Drone. What's neat about a Banjitar is that unlike the 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key w/o re-tuning, & you can even use your Guitar capo too. You can even tune the Banjitar down a half step to Eb Standard if you can't sing high enough.
What string gauges do you use, including the high sixth string?
It appears the High 6'th String is exactally the same as the 1'st one.
Mediums
Did you have to change the bridge and nut?
Hi----Great demo. Is that the GT-500 model? If not, what model is it---? AND did you mod the pickup in any way? I just got the AC-6+ and through an amp it does not sound as bright and lively as yours in the demo.....
Anyway; what model? Any mods??
Thanks--Gary
@UClb42in-OW7FU8yE5mrexPQ
Here's a 7 String Banjitar:goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/wr-7 which gives you the best of Both worlds (Going lower than a 5 String Banjo, & retaining that High Drone). What's neat about the Banjitar is that it's fully Chromatic. Unlike the 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key without re-tuning, & you can use a regular Guitar capo too.
What Gage strings are you using are they electric or acoustic.What Brand .That mod sound fantastic but I bet you could make a can jo sound amazing.
Acoustic 6 string Banjo strings, mediums
@@brianbrewer7 The 6 String Banjo seems ideal for kids that already play Guitar but want to play the Banjo as a 2nd instrument. Kids understand that the 6 String Banjo is easier to play than a 5 String Banjo in many ways cause 1) it's tuned like a Guitar, & 2) it's fully Chromati cause unlike the 5 String Banjo you can play in every key without retuning, & you can even use your Guitar capo too. There's alot of songs you can play on the Banjitar in Eb Standard Tuning like Silent Night arranged by Darmon Meader which seams like a good one to record during this time where we can't go out on stage. There's also a Goldtone 7 String Banjo which is essentally a 6 String Banjo that has the Low E Doubled with another High E so that way you have the best of both worlds while retaining that Low E.
@@brianbrewer7 Haven't you tried this 7 String Banjitar:czcams.com/video/kWaCUC0f5TU/video.html yet? It gives you the best of both worlds (5 String Banjo Drone ring, & the Guitar Tuning) because the Low E String is actually Doubled up with another High E String which gives you that Octave Done.
My old antoria is strung with the high E A and D strings and normal G B and E
from a very light 12 string set. sounds lovely .i tried a high G nice but piercing. the only wound string is low E.
Currently assembling a real mongrel...stagg 6 string banjo....261/2 scale on these things....im making a wood soundboard for it...just to see if it works .
it sounded awful with its original banjo head....nothing like my antoria which is a delight to play. Wondering if the longer scale on stagg should be tuned down to C....time will tell
Marc Shaw Actually the High G it's full throated & it sounds just like a 5 String Banjo High G. What you'll get with a High G is if you strum really fast, it sounds like a Vihuela which is good for Mariachi. What you can do is take Nashville Tuning, & replace the B String with a .006 High B to get a brighter sound. Now because the Scale Length is longer, dropping the Whole Tuning down a Major Third to C will work which means your High G is now an Eb, & the High B at .006 becomes the new High G.
Actually the Stag can be tuned to E Standard as long as you use Ultra Light Strings (Dunlap 7s) which were used famously by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
Hi Marc Shaw, the High G string is the same as the 5 String Banjo & it's not that piercing it's also a step below the High A String of a Tenor Banjo. With the longer scale Nashville Tuning down a Major third (even with really light Strings) might prevent them from breaking.
I still don’t understand rr spikes on neck
A 6 String Banjo is tuned like a Guitar (E2-E4) & it actually eliminates the need for spikes (or a Drone String Capo) on the Drone String making much much easier to play in every key. The big advantage of this tuning is that it's Fully Chromatic. Unlike the 5 String Banjo you can play in every key without re-tuning, & you can even use your Guitar capo too.
Try Nashville tuning.
Here's a Banjitar with 7 Strings:czcams.com/video/kWaCUC0f5TU/video.html which gives you the best of both worlds because the Low E String is Doubled up with another High E String that gives you that special 15th (Two Octaves) Drone & a much fuller sound.
This guy:czcams.com/video/mCTgEgrXG8s/video.html the 5 String Guitjo would've been seen in the "Transition Period from Banjo to Guitar" when Guitars started to replace Banjos & Mandolins in a Jazz setting.
kissing88 Actually used this Re-Entrant Guitar Tuning (The 2 E Strings are in unison) on a Guitalele so it turns out this was done on a Guitalele:czcams.com/video/QUu6vwbGFsQ/video.html
5:01 Of course you can still go lower than a 5 String Banjo can go.
What you've done is not at all unusual. It's a standard use of the 6-string banjo. Many people have done that over the years, including myself. You've reinvented a standard tuning.
But you have to admit, he's done it mighty fine. The man can play!