Im still having trouble hearing myself in sessions playing my resonator banjo. Im assured its plenty loud enough to other musicians and that increasing the volume isnt perhaps the best option. So - Open Back banjos. Ive never really played one but i presume you can hear more clearly your own playing but is the volume perceived by other musicinas greatly diminished as a result?
"Re: Open Back Banjos
I find it best to sit opposite yourself as the banjo projects the sound straight out,...
by karlybyrne "
This is getting bizarre, why didn't you suggest using a hearing aid?
Anyway, I use an openback and I don't think it's the answer. If you banjo is too silent there is something wrong with it and you should have it checked or perhaps the others are ripping their instruments and playing too loud. I think you should first ask you playmates what they think then, perhaps you should sit somewhere else?
I know whats going on. The other musicians at ur session myabe dont like the banjo and say its loud enough without being able to hear it, or else they just cudn't give a f**k and only want to hear each other playing. I had the exact same problem with a resonator gold tone. Some people were honest and said they couldn't hear it over their loud guitar playing, while others would say "it's grand" or some such comment, just for the sake of it.
Anyway, i got a new open back vega and, in the same environment as before, i can hear it a lot clearer.
My advice is to follow ur own heart (and ears). If u cant hear it, it must not be projecting an awful lot of sound in any direction, so get it fixed. Good luck
Can you not hear yourself at all? Or isn’t your banjo loud enough to drown out everyone else?
Some instruments, like the mandolin, and apparently your banjo, project out, not up, so they’re louder than one realises.
Of course, it’s no fun if you can’t hear yourself.
But a banjo with a resonator should be louder than an open-back banjo, that’s what the resonator’s for. It could be something else – do you need new strings? Are you sitting next to the box player?
Sometimes I can barely hear myself on the fiddle when I’m playing well – it’s when I screw up that I can hear my playing all too clearly! So maybe you’re just blending in a little too perfectly.
My Vega Whyte Laydie's open backed but the dealer fitted a resonator at my request. To be honest I've been playing without it recently and much prefer it........less pounds on the old legs also. What make /model are you playing Newty ?
Its a short scale gold tone. When I hear other people play my banjo it seems plenty loud enough. I just feel that most of the volume i create goes out and away from me and i have to work very hard to generate a little extra volume which tends to be quite tireing.
I removed my resonators from my banjos in order to hear myself better. Also, because they project less without the resonator, you will have fewer complaints from your session mates. And the banjo weighs less and is easier to manage without the resonator.
O come on risto, its easy. The statement was blatantly obvious and simple. The resonator throws the sound away from the player. People elsewhere in the sesh may well be hearing the banjo more clearly as a result. I simply wondered if an open back may allow me to hear my own playing more clearly.
I play old-time music on an open back 5-string banjo solo but find its loudest when not pulled back against my gut or against a sweater. Either will muffle it. Increasing head tension carefully may help your sound project better by giving it a crisper, more cutting sound. -Good luck with it-
Newty, is the construction of your banjo such that you can take the resonator off and play without? Many resonator banjos let you do this. That way you could compare.
I find my clarreen sounds better with the reso off as I can here it more, flipping resonators are a waste of space and they make them look uglier too and I find it makes them sound boxy
Open Back Banjos
Open Back Banjos
Im still having trouble hearing myself in sessions playing my resonator banjo. Im assured its plenty loud enough to other musicians and that increasing the volume isnt perhaps the best option. So - Open Back banjos. Ive never really played one but i presume you can hear more clearly your own playing but is the volume perceived by other musicinas greatly diminished as a result?
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by Newty
Re: Open Back Banjos
I find it best to sit opposite yourself as the banjo projects the sound straight out, so you should hear it much better from there.
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by fap
Re: Open Back Banjos
Fantastic. But may be a problem with logistics I fear!!
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by Newty
Re: Open Back Banjos
"Re: Open Back Banjos
I find it best to sit opposite yourself as the banjo projects the sound straight out,...
by karlybyrne "
This is getting bizarre, why didn't you suggest using a hearing aid?
Anyway, I use an openback and I don't think it's the answer. If you banjo is too silent there is something wrong with it and you should have it checked or perhaps the others are ripping their instruments and playing too loud. I think you should first ask you playmates what they think then, perhaps you should sit somewhere else?
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by Risto
Re: Open Back Banjos
Ok then -
I suggest using a hearing aid.
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: Open Back Banjos
I know whats going on. The other musicians at ur session myabe dont like the banjo and say its loud enough without being able to hear it, or else they just cudn't give a f**k and only want to hear each other playing. I had the exact same problem with a resonator gold tone. Some people were honest and said they couldn't hear it over their loud guitar playing, while others would say "it's grand" or some such comment, just for the sake of it.
Anyway, i got a new open back vega and, in the same environment as before, i can hear it a lot clearer.
My advice is to follow ur own heart (and ears). If u cant hear it, it must not be projecting an awful lot of sound in any direction, so get it fixed. Good luck
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by copo24
Re: Open Back Banjos
Can you not hear yourself at all? Or isn’t your banjo loud enough to drown out everyone else?
Some instruments, like the mandolin, and apparently your banjo, project out, not up, so they’re louder than one realises.
Of course, it’s no fun if you can’t hear yourself.
But a banjo with a resonator should be louder than an open-back banjo, that’s what the resonator’s for. It could be something else – do you need new strings? Are you sitting next to the box player?
Sometimes I can barely hear myself on the fiddle when I’m playing well – it’s when I screw up that I can hear my playing all too clearly! So maybe you’re just blending in a little too perfectly.
# Posted on December 28th 2006 by fidkid
Re: Open Back Banjos
My Vega Whyte Laydie's open backed but the dealer fitted a resonator at my request. To be honest I've been playing without it recently and much prefer it........less pounds on the old legs also. What make /model are you playing Newty ?
# Posted on December 29th 2006 by Strathfoyle
Re: Open Back Banjos
Its a short scale gold tone. When I hear other people play my banjo it seems plenty loud enough. I just feel that most of the volume i create goes out and away from me and i have to work very hard to generate a little extra volume which tends to be quite tireing.
# Posted on December 29th 2006 by Newty
Re: Open Back Banjos
Also, it has a flat head tone ring. Maybe an arch top would cut through a bit better.
# Posted on December 29th 2006 by Newty
Re: Open Back Banjos
I removed my resonators from my banjos in order to hear myself better. Also, because they project less without the resonator, you will have fewer complaints from your session mates. And the banjo weighs less and is easier to manage without the resonator.
# Posted on December 29th 2006 by mandomac2
Re: Open Back Banjos
"But a banjo with a resonator should be louder than an open-back banjo, that’s what the resonator’s for."
Yes, and they normally are. This is the first time I read the opposite. But there are banjos and banjos...and more banjos.
# Posted on December 30th 2006 by Risto
Re: Open Back Banjos
O come on risto, its easy. The statement was blatantly obvious and simple. The resonator throws the sound away from the player. People elsewhere in the sesh may well be hearing the banjo more clearly as a result. I simply wondered if an open back may allow me to hear my own playing more clearly.
# Posted on December 30th 2006 by Newty
Re: Open Back Banjos
I play old-time music on an open back 5-string banjo solo but find its loudest when not pulled back against my gut or against a sweater. Either will muffle it. Increasing head tension carefully may help your sound project better by giving it a crisper, more cutting sound. -Good luck with it-
# Posted on December 31st 2006 by pubpersona
Re: Open Back Banjos
Newty, is the construction of your banjo such that you can take the resonator off and play without? Many resonator banjos let you do this. That way you could compare.
# Posted on December 31st 2006 by Risto
Re: Open Back Banjos
Yes it comes off but the flange would cut into your legs. Also, the tone changes completely.
# Posted on December 31st 2006 by Newty
Re: Open Back Banjos
I find my clarreen sounds better with the reso off as I can here it more, flipping resonators are a waste of space and they make them look uglier too and I find it makes them sound boxy
# Posted on December 31st 2006 by Ripthecalico