Grego’s thread re travel banjos and the volume issue reminded me of a recent discovery that I thought I really should share, although most of you are probably aware of this.
When practising at home I used to have to remove the resonator and stuff a towel in the back of the banjo in order to get it to a volume level acceptable to my beloved and the new addition. I always thought that there must be an easier way to do this rather than having to take the banjo apart and stuff it.
Anyway when my recent banjo was being shipped, I was ordering all sorts of bits and pieces to be included in the package. One of the items was a mute. I didn’t quite know exactly what this was but I thought it might be what I was looking for and low and behold it was. It is a small rubber item that fits directly over the bridge and reduces the volume dramatically. It was the answer to my problem and only cost a few dollars. Now when practising at home, I simply clip the mute on and hey presto, very very quiet banjo that won’t disturb the neighbours. I got it from OME Banjos.
Now I know some of you will be asking couldn’t this come as a more permanent fitting as part of the manufacturing process, but that’s just being silly now isn’t it.
well, i never thought this was a problem - or a mystery ........... i generally supply mutes (not necessarily that type but one that i make myself based on a 1920's design - it's a semi-permanent fitting that slides to & fro) with tenor banjos. i almost make it a mandatory accessory when supplying a beginner's outfit .......... when not in use as mute, it can act as a tone regulator (similar to the wolf tone regulator sometimes used on fiddles). this was all standard practice in the 1920s'and i often find old ones in the bottoms of vintage banjo cases.
Michty me, I wish I'd known this. I used to remove the resonator, and stick a sponge or something in as Conrad described. For a while I had a rubber stubby holder (non-Australians, don't ask) with a shoelace either side, poking out from under the ring, so I could leave the resonator on and pull it into position either way.This unlikely apparatus lasted for far longer than it should have.
Yes Andy I have had those type of mutes on some of my older banjos, but not on the modern ones I have had. I like the type of mute I described, because I simply clip it on and off when required.
i almost always play at sessions with the mute in the "halfway" position - it seems to stop the fiddlers/fluters glaring at me all night. i only remove it altoghether when the accordion + pipes count rises to 6 (which amounts to an act of war in itself .... ). as i've always maintained, the only person who doesn't know how loud a banjo is ..... is the person sitting behind it .........
You’ve got a point there Andy. We only have the one sesh over here and the other two melody instruments are fiddle and whistle. I have asked them if the banjo was too loud and they didn’t think so. I’ll record the sesh this week and see what I think meself.
It sounds like a sliding mute may be worth having but one question, doesn’t it affect the tone of the banjo when it is put on, even if it is slid down right against the tailpiece?
well - plenty of solutions for solving the volume problem of the tenor banjo but what about the volume problem of the mandolin - like the lack of it. i get drowned out so much I can hardly hear my own mando. Any suggestions? I have thought of a small battery amp under the table but would welcome the views of the ethnic trads
billabey, my answer to the mandolin volume problem was to move to the banjo. This was the primary reason I changed over, but I've found that I enjoy playing the banjo more for several other reasons as well.
I thought about getting one of those "paint can" amp/speaker combinations for the mando, but in the end I decided thought it would be a bit unnatural, and maybe controversial as well.
If you get the sliding mute (either the elton style that screws on over the strings or the Richelieu one that rolls over the strings) the volume is not affected in the rear position and the tone remains about the same. You have to roll them up to the bridge to get the muting action.
Muted banjos are sort of an oxymoron as they sound terrible in my opinion. The slight change in tone that a mute imposes is lost in the auditory morass of a session, anyway, so use one if you tend to offend or learn to play softly.
oops. didn't think it would take long for someone to take the amp bait.
i have thought of changing to banjo, grego, any recommendations? The thing is I like the sound of the mandolin and the feel of playing the double strings. Is there an instrument such as a double stringed banjo? - and would you allow it in your session, breandon?
No banjo recommendations, billabbey, since I haven't really got myself sorted out. I'm using a cheap model that I will upgrade as soon as I can find something I can afford and like.
I have come to prefer the feel of playing single strings, but that may come from being a long-time guitar player before playing the mandolin. Although the seventh-fret stretches are a bit challenging, I much rather the spaciousness of the banjo fretboard over the mandolin.
Billabbey, maybe you should check out a banjolin - basically a banjo shaped mandolin with tone ring and head etc. They will give you the volume you are looking for with the double string feel.
Take care if you buy one that it is of good quality and holds its tuning....
Thanks for the suggestion nick b. i did not know there was such an instrument. tomorrow i start searching for one. i am a long time guitar player also grego but gradually i am leaving my guitar at home and just taking the mando as i learn more tunes. i love it.
but- a banjolin? - em - yes. thanks
I've been taking tenor banjo lesson for about three months. My instructor tells me the most commonly used mute for tenors is a large mallet.
He then says something like, "present company excepted, I think."
SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Grego’s thread re travel banjos and the volume issue reminded me of a recent discovery that I thought I really should share, although most of you are probably aware of this.
When practising at home I used to have to remove the resonator and stuff a towel in the back of the banjo in order to get it to a volume level acceptable to my beloved and the new addition. I always thought that there must be an easier way to do this rather than having to take the banjo apart and stuff it.
Anyway when my recent banjo was being shipped, I was ordering all sorts of bits and pieces to be included in the package. One of the items was a mute. I didn’t quite know exactly what this was but I thought it might be what I was looking for and low and behold it was. It is a small rubber item that fits directly over the bridge and reduces the volume dramatically. It was the answer to my problem and only cost a few dollars. Now when practising at home, I simply clip the mute on and hey presto, very very quiet banjo that won’t disturb the neighbours. I got it from OME Banjos.
Now I know some of you will be asking couldn’t this come as a more permanent fitting as part of the manufacturing process, but that’s just being silly now isn’t it.
Regards
Conrad
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by darnoc
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
well, i never thought this was a problem - or a mystery ........... i generally supply mutes (not necessarily that type but one that i make myself based on a 1920's design - it's a semi-permanent fitting that slides to & fro) with tenor banjos. i almost make it a mandatory accessory when supplying a beginner's outfit .......... when not in use as mute, it can act as a tone regulator (similar to the wolf tone regulator sometimes used on fiddles). this was all standard practice in the 1920s'and i often find old ones in the bottoms of vintage banjo cases.
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by teetotaller
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Michty me, I wish I'd known this. I used to remove the resonator, and stick a sponge or something in as Conrad described. For a while I had a rubber stubby holder (non-Australians, don't ask) with a shoelace either side, poking out from under the ring, so I could leave the resonator on and pull it into position either way.This unlikely apparatus lasted for far longer than it should have.
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Bren
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Please, would some Australian ask Bren what a rubber stubby-holder is?
Thanks
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by grego
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Yes Andy I have had those type of mutes on some of my older banjos, but not on the modern ones I have had. I like the type of mute I described, because I simply clip it on and off when required.
Conrad
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by darnoc
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
i almost always play at sessions with the mute in the "halfway" position - it seems to stop the fiddlers/fluters glaring at me all night. i only remove it altoghether when the accordion + pipes count rises to 6 (which amounts to an act of war in itself .... ). as i've always maintained, the only person who doesn't know how loud a banjo is ..... is the person sitting behind it .........
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by teetotaller
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Conrad, now your wife can't tell you to "Go stuff it!" when you pick up the banjo to play. "Go mute it!" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Andee
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
You’ve got a point there Andy. We only have the one sesh over here and the other two melody instruments are fiddle and whistle. I have asked them if the banjo was too loud and they didn’t think so. I’ll record the sesh this week and see what I think meself.
It sounds like a sliding mute may be worth having but one question, doesn’t it affect the tone of the banjo when it is put on, even if it is slid down right against the tailpiece?
Conrad
p.s. I still have a lovely OME tenor for sale
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by darnoc
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
well - plenty of solutions for solving the volume problem of the tenor banjo but what about the volume problem of the mandolin - like the lack of it. i get drowned out so much I can hardly hear my own mando. Any suggestions? I have thought of a small battery amp under the table but would welcome the views of the ethnic trads
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by billabbey
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
billabey, my answer to the mandolin volume problem was to move to the banjo. This was the primary reason I changed over, but I've found that I enjoy playing the banjo more for several other reasons as well.
I thought about getting one of those "paint can" amp/speaker combinations for the mando, but in the end I decided thought it would be a bit unnatural, and maybe controversial as well.
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by grego
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
If you get the sliding mute (either the elton style that screws on over the strings or the Richelieu one that rolls over the strings) the volume is not affected in the rear position and the tone remains about the same. You have to roll them up to the bridge to get the muting action.
Muted banjos are sort of an oxymoron as they sound terrible in my opinion. The slight change in tone that a mute imposes is lost in the auditory morass of a session, anyway, so use one if you tend to offend or learn to play softly.
Mike Keyes
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by mikeyes
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
You needn't think you can bring amplifiers into our session!!
On the tenor banjo theme - I wonder if other musicians requested it would banjo manufacturers supply a permanent mute on the banjo??
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by breandan
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
oops. didn't think it would take long for someone to take the amp bait.
i have thought of changing to banjo, grego, any recommendations? The thing is I like the sound of the mandolin and the feel of playing the double strings. Is there an instrument such as a double stringed banjo? - and would you allow it in your session, breandon?
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by billabbey
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
No banjo recommendations, billabbey, since I haven't really got myself sorted out. I'm using a cheap model that I will upgrade as soon as I can find something I can afford and like.
I have come to prefer the feel of playing single strings, but that may come from being a long-time guitar player before playing the mandolin. Although the seventh-fret stretches are a bit challenging, I much rather the spaciousness of the banjo fretboard over the mandolin.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by grego
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Billabbey, maybe you should check out a banjolin - basically a banjo shaped mandolin with tone ring and head etc. They will give you the volume you are looking for with the double string feel.
Take care if you buy one that it is of good quality and holds its tuning....
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by nick b
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
Thanks for the suggestion nick b. i did not know there was such an instrument. tomorrow i start searching for one. i am a long time guitar player also grego but gradually i am leaving my guitar at home and just taking the mando as i learn more tunes. i love it.
but- a banjolin? - em - yes. thanks
# Posted on June 10th 2004 by billabbey
Re: SOLVED THE VOLUME PROBLEM OF THE TENOR BANJO
I've been taking tenor banjo lesson for about three months. My instructor tells me the most commonly used mute for tenors is a large mallet.
He then says something like, "present company excepted, I think."
# Posted on August 14th 2009 by fheflin