I know that the 17 fret v 19 fret has been thrashed out on here before, but....Since it seems to be widely accepted that 19 fret banjos sound generally better than 17 fret (although I've played on quite a few exceptions). The logic being that the extra scale length gives better tone and more oomph. If that's the case, does it not follow that a plectrum banjo, of a similar make to a 17 or 19 fret will sound better based on scale length and string length? I must admit that I generally prefer 17 fret over 19. I've never played a plectrum.
You could tune a plectrum that way, but the scale length might be rather prohibitive to playing tunes. So while it might sound better, it might be very difficult to play. I think the 19 might be the right compromise between playability and tone.
Bouzoukis with 26" scale tune to GDAE so a plectrum banjo ought to. The strings would be very light compared to a tenor and I'm not sure how clearly triple notes and quadruplets would sound. The lower strings would probably sound thin which may not be what you'd want for ITM - think of the triplets on bottom A and B in the opeining bars of something like "lads of Laoise" - you need a bit of clout there.
The fingering for fiddle tunes on the very long scale would be a challenge for most people with average hand/finger size
you could use "guitar" fingering - ie moving your hand up and down between 1st and 7th frets and using mainly 1st to 3rd fingers - but it's not as easy as using fiddle or cello fingering on a tenor.
I've seen an old GIbson mastertone plectrum banjo played in the GDAE tuning at a session but I couldn't hear it. Perhaps that tells you something.
I know that the extra length of a plectrum compromises the `playability` of melody playing, making it obviously less suited to irish and GDAE etc. One advantage of 17 fret over 19 is that on vintage instruments, a 17 fret can handle thicker guage strings with less risk to the neck, and that has implications for tone, string tension, and playability. I just thought that the debate on 17 v19 fret seemed sewn up in favour of the 19 fret, but I'm not so sure. If scale length was so important, longer banjos should sound better than shorter ones...hence the plectrum. (i've two vintage banjos, 19 fret light guage strings, 17 fret, heavy strings).
I picked up an old John Grey plectrum banjo last year for $50 and have it tuned GDAE and it is hard to play faster tunes on but then I'm no banjo player. If kids can learn to manage a 19 fret, a big handed person like me could learn to manage a 22 fret for tunes. The A and E strings on mine sound great but the lower 2 never sound quite right. Must be the set up because they are plectrum banjo strings.
17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
I know that the 17 fret v 19 fret has been thrashed out on here before, but....Since it seems to be widely accepted that 19 fret banjos sound generally better than 17 fret (although I've played on quite a few exceptions). The logic being that the extra scale length gives better tone and more oomph. If that's the case, does it not follow that a plectrum banjo, of a similar make to a 17 or 19 fret will sound better based on scale length and string length? I must admit that I generally prefer 17 fret over 19. I've never played a plectrum.
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by gilezzznik
Re: 17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
can you actually tune a plectrum to G D A E?
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by camwebby
Re: 17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
You could tune a plectrum that way, but the scale length might be rather prohibitive to playing tunes. So while it might sound better, it might be very difficult to play. I think the 19 might be the right compromise between playability and tone.
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Reverend
Re: 17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
Bouzoukis with 26" scale tune to GDAE so a plectrum banjo ought to. The strings would be very light compared to a tenor and I'm not sure how clearly triple notes and quadruplets would sound. The lower strings would probably sound thin which may not be what you'd want for ITM - think of the triplets on bottom A and B in the opeining bars of something like "lads of Laoise" - you need a bit of clout there.
The fingering for fiddle tunes on the very long scale would be a challenge for most people with average hand/finger size
you could use "guitar" fingering - ie moving your hand up and down between 1st and 7th frets and using mainly 1st to 3rd fingers - but it's not as easy as using fiddle or cello fingering on a tenor.
I've seen an old GIbson mastertone plectrum banjo played in the GDAE tuning at a session but I couldn't hear it. Perhaps that tells you something.
# Posted on February 1st 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: 17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
A plectrum banjo has 22 frets.
http://www.folk-banjo.com/instruments/plectrum-banjo/index.html
# Posted on February 2nd 2008 by houlberg
Re: 17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
I know that the extra length of a plectrum compromises the `playability` of melody playing, making it obviously less suited to irish and GDAE etc. One advantage of 17 fret over 19 is that on vintage instruments, a 17 fret can handle thicker guage strings with less risk to the neck, and that has implications for tone, string tension, and playability. I just thought that the debate on 17 v19 fret seemed sewn up in favour of the 19 fret, but I'm not so sure. If scale length was so important, longer banjos should sound better than shorter ones...hence the plectrum. (i've two vintage banjos, 19 fret light guage strings, 17 fret, heavy strings).
# Posted on February 2nd 2008 by gilezzznik
Re: 17 fret v 19 fret v plectrum?
I picked up an old John Grey plectrum banjo last year for $50 and have it tuned GDAE and it is hard to play faster tunes on but then I'm no banjo player. If kids can learn to manage a 19 fret, a big handed person like me could learn to manage a 22 fret for tunes. The A and E strings on mine sound great but the lower 2 never sound quite right. Must be the set up because they are plectrum banjo strings.
# Posted on July 30th 2008 by cabers