Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Who says they are better sounding?
It all depends on what you would like your banjo to sound . Playing banjos in all kind of lengths, from cello to melody banjo, but mainly tenor, I haven't noticed a difference due to the scale or neck length. One of my tenors, a Gibson with a 23" scale, was fitted with a shorter neck, for easier fingering, and there isn't any difference in tonal quality. And my B&D 17 fret short neck tenor's got a beautiful tone though not the same volume due to a different tone system.
I would say it rather depends on the make and quality of the banjo, the strings used and, most important, the setting up of the instrument.
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Well, increasing the vibrating length of the string will increase the sustain, but banjos eat sustain, so you might not notice it. A longer neck with the same string gauge will increase the tension in the strings, which would tend to improve the clarity of tone and help with the articulation of the attack when the string is plucked, but again subtleties can get lost in a banjo. A higher gauge string on the shorter neck might effectively make up for the differences.
I've never heard a banjo-mandolin that could justify its own existence. I'm not saying decent ones don't exist; I've just never met one. They come from an era of instrument evolution when wild and crazy ideas were the norm. Natural selection explains their rarity today.
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
RonP, I used to breed Parakeetities & kept an African Grey Parotiti one time, but I've never ever heard of that rare species - the Pararoti!
South American is it?
As it is obviously quite rare, I'd say it must be worth a lot more than just 'Three Tenors'!
Could it be that the latin name is in fact 'Banjovious Pararoti' & that it gets it's name from it's distinctive call, which is very reminiscent of a Banjo being Garotted!
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Aye, I'm just back from Tom's - Ballycastle session.
Played tonight with Deirdre Mulholland on Piano (Daughter of the late Mary Mulholland!) & young Johnny Murphy on Fiddle, plus Paul McAuley our local Bodhran player/maker!
Nice quiet night with bar not too crowded.
I'm just tucking into a Cheese 'n Chip - well, it saves me eating a breakfast!!
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Eh, want to try counting those stars again 'Bribe'! Or perhaps you were just thinking of: Doeheads or Dipheads or Dooheads or Dewheads or Dimheads,......................................................
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Bribanjo,
I'm not sure if you are talking plectrum (25.5" or 648 mm) vs. 19 fret tenor (23" or 584 mm) but as a general rule the longer the scale, the more conplex the tone. The reason for this is two fold, the neck has a great influence on the sound because it is an important filter that adds tonal qualities (the type of wood is important too), the scale length often dictates the placement of the bridge on the head (the closer to the tailpiece the brighter the sound), and there are probably more overtones available with a longer scale. All right, that's three reasons, but...
Banjos of any scale length can sound very good depending on the quality of the instrument and the setup. A lousy banjo will sound better with a good setup but it is still a lousy banjo. As an aside, most mandolin banjos are not the best construction.
Currently I play a 17 fret Vega that has a wonderful dynamic range, a great tone, and is easy to play. It sound different from my 19 fret Vega but it is not inferior, just different as banjos tend to be. The setup includes a skin head and an experimental Red Henry (of mandolin bridge fame) bridge.
The neck's effect on tone is true of a wide variety of instruments so I am not surprised you notice a difference. Personally I think that the 19 fret banjo is about the practical limit of scale if you want to play the typical Irish style. The longer scale length is too hard to get all of the diddleys in at any decent tempo.
Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
jup I'd like to see that one answered as well...
# Posted on September 23rd 2005 by Gorgash
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
I thought you were telling one of those "I say, I say, I say" jokes, Bri.
# Posted on September 23rd 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Who says they are better sounding?
It all depends on what you would like your banjo to sound . Playing banjos in all kind of lengths, from cello to melody banjo, but mainly tenor, I haven't noticed a difference due to the scale or neck length. One of my tenors, a Gibson with a 23" scale, was fitted with a shorter neck, for easier fingering, and there isn't any difference in tonal quality. And my B&D 17 fret short neck tenor's got a beautiful tone though not the same volume due to a different tone system.
I would say it rather depends on the make and quality of the banjo, the strings used and, most important, the setting up of the instrument.
# Posted on September 23rd 2005 by Hannah S.
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Why do banjo-mandolins have such an odd tone colour? I've had a couple and it is difficult to get a pleasant sound. But geez they are loud.
# Posted on September 23rd 2005 by McMandolin
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Well, increasing the vibrating length of the string will increase the sustain, but banjos eat sustain, so you might not notice it. A longer neck with the same string gauge will increase the tension in the strings, which would tend to improve the clarity of tone and help with the articulation of the attack when the string is plucked, but again subtleties can get lost in a banjo. A higher gauge string on the shorter neck might effectively make up for the differences.
I've never heard a banjo-mandolin that could justify its own existence. I'm not saying decent ones don't exist; I've just never met one. They come from an era of instrument evolution when wild and crazy ideas were the norm. Natural selection explains their rarity today.
# Posted on September 23rd 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
I thought this thread might have been about Pararoti and "The Three Tenors" - I couldn't imagine why the length of their necks were being discussed.
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
RonP, I used to breed Parakeetities & kept an African Grey Parotiti one time, but I've never ever heard of that rare species - the Pararoti!
South American is it?
As it is obviously quite rare, I'd say it must be worth a lot more than just 'Three Tenors'!
Could it be that the latin name is in fact 'Banjovious Pararoti' & that it gets it's name from it's distinctive call, which is very reminiscent of a Banjo being Garotted!
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
I meant "Pavaroti" of course (is there just one "t" in his name?).
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
No, two - Pavarotit!
Well, after all, it's far too late to be sensible!
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
You're up awfie late Dick - you been out playing? We're just back from a ceilidh dance ourselves - not playing, but dancing.
Anyway, as Zebedee said............
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ................
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Aye, I'm just back from Tom's - Ballycastle session.
Played tonight with Deirdre Mulholland on Piano (Daughter of the late Mary Mulholland!) & young Johnny Murphy on Fiddle, plus Paul McAuley our local Bodhran player/maker!
Nice quiet night with bar not too crowded.
I'm just tucking into a Cheese 'n Chip - well, it saves me eating a breakfast!!
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Eh, want to try counting those stars again 'Bribe'! Or perhaps you were just thinking of: Doeheads or Dipheads or Dooheads or Dewheads or Dimheads,......................................................
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Why do long neck tenors sound better than short neck 19F tenors
Bribanjo,
I'm not sure if you are talking plectrum (25.5" or 648 mm) vs. 19 fret tenor (23" or 584 mm) but as a general rule the longer the scale, the more conplex the tone. The reason for this is two fold, the neck has a great influence on the sound because it is an important filter that adds tonal qualities (the type of wood is important too), the scale length often dictates the placement of the bridge on the head (the closer to the tailpiece the brighter the sound), and there are probably more overtones available with a longer scale. All right, that's three reasons, but...
Banjos of any scale length can sound very good depending on the quality of the instrument and the setup. A lousy banjo will sound better with a good setup but it is still a lousy banjo. As an aside, most mandolin banjos are not the best construction.
Currently I play a 17 fret Vega that has a wonderful dynamic range, a great tone, and is easy to play. It sound different from my 19 fret Vega but it is not inferior, just different as banjos tend to be. The setup includes a skin head and an experimental Red Henry (of mandolin bridge fame) bridge.
The neck's effect on tone is true of a wide variety of instruments so I am not surprised you notice a difference. Personally I think that the 19 fret banjo is about the practical limit of scale if you want to play the typical Irish style. The longer scale length is too hard to get all of the diddleys in at any decent tempo.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com/aug05/righthand.html
# Posted on September 26th 2005 by mikeyes