I'm toying with the idea of re attempting the tenor banjo and was after some advice. What is the difference? I appreciate that one is generally 17 and the other 19 frets but how does this affect the playing of the instrument? Are the frets marginally bigger (do forgive me if this is a bleeding stupid question.)? if not, is it simply that your arm is slightly more extended when playing a standard scale banjo? As I say, forgive me if these questions seem daft. I played a Tom Cussen Short Scale for a wee while. I ordered it simply because, as a mandolin player, I thought I would find the shorter scale easier. Any clues? Cheers.
It's all about intervals. The notes are OK, if the intervals between are correct, the beat is ok if the intervals between are correct. The frets are probably the same size but the intervals between are farther on a longer scale neck.
As far as melody goes and making the transition from mandolin, you probably made the right choice. The long scale ones are for backing a dance bands with 4note chords. I have huge hands (most orchestra teacher tell me I couldn't play fiddle if my hand position weren't so lousy) and I have a problem playing (melody) on a long scale neck. I do OK if I capo it at 19.5 INCHES (vs frets) from the bridge, but this is not my WMD of choice.
Hey, I play a long scale neck & for years now I have a capo on the first fret. It's a lovely brass job which was made specially for me by an instrument maker who used to live in West Berlin, but last I heard he was in Australia, or was it New Zealand?
Anyway, I find having the capo there just shortens the neck enough for comfort - & improves the action. - worth a try........
Personally, I always thought the longer necked instruments sounded better, but I have no idea why there should be any
difference?
It has to do with the relative tension ( stiffness) of the string vs the note To get the same pitch you need to tune the longer string up tighter. That makes it more responsive. Also moves the membrane more efficiently.
Speak to Andy Perkins in Faversham he has a good idea on 17 fret tenors you can get a real nice one like alex's in the albert in whitton actually its a clareen, however the setup has to be spot on like string guages, skin tension, the action height, intonation, etc as i find if you get any one of these wrong its far more detrimental to the playability than a 19 fret which are usually a little more forgiving however the physics of a 19 fret make them a little more ringy which is why some banjo players sacrifice an awkward bitch to play for a good sound Tommy from the popes has many banjos but i have seen him play a long neck tenor which is slightly more like the length of a bouzouki neck but has a lovely lively ringy tone which is why some people avoid 17 frets as they have more plunk than twang ......you dig ?
ptarmigan...
i use that technique meself.....
i think its great, cause for me it kills that tinny plink plink sound i hate, that gives thebanjo a bad name and ruffles it up more giving it an older sound bassy.
although i dont play banjo that much anymore...hmmm
I have been playing a 19 fret banjo for about 5 years before I acquired a 17 fret Vega. I love the shorter neck, which makes the banjo easier to play, especially at speed. It is a little more sensitive to tune, tho. But all in all, unless you need the greater volume generally experienced with the long neck, I say go with the short neck if you find one you like.
If you use the cello or guitar fingering (they are the same) then the difference between a 17 fret and and 19 fret banjo is a lot less when it comes to playing single string Irish style banjo. I play a 17 fret Vega Little Wonder because I love the sound and it fits well in the session. That being said, I have several other banjos that are 19 fret and find that they fit in well especially if there is a concert in the works.
Properly setup, a good 17 fret banjo will be just as loud and a just as complex sounding as a 19 fret one. The difference then becomes a matter of taste and comfort. For those of you playing a fiddle style fingering the 17 fret is much easier to play and much more familiar. Your choice should come down to personal preference in the long run. String tension, sound, volume, and playability are all functions of setup and not the scale length. The longer neck does make some difference in sound but so does the head, tailpiece, bridge, and strings. (In that order <G>)
I too play a 17 fret Little Wonder, as of very recently and I can't recommend a short neck, or indeed a Little Wonder, more highly. They are lovely little banjoes to play and can often be picked up reasonably cheaply It's the best musical purchase I've ever made.
Banjos: Short or Standard?
Banjos: Short or Standard?
I'm toying with the idea of re attempting the tenor banjo and was after some advice. What is the difference? I appreciate that one is generally 17 and the other 19 frets but how does this affect the playing of the instrument? Are the frets marginally bigger (do forgive me if this is a bleeding stupid question.)? if not, is it simply that your arm is slightly more extended when playing a standard scale banjo? As I say, forgive me if these questions seem daft. I played a Tom Cussen Short Scale for a wee while. I ordered it simply because, as a mandolin player, I thought I would find the shorter scale easier. Any clues? Cheers.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by tommy_wintle
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
Oh. and i only got rid of it cos i needed the ££££! It wasn't because I didn't like it, or owt.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by tommy_wintle
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
It's all about intervals. The notes are OK, if the intervals between are correct, the beat is ok if the intervals between are correct. The frets are probably the same size but the intervals between are farther on a longer scale neck.
As far as melody goes and making the transition from mandolin, you probably made the right choice. The long scale ones are for backing a dance bands with 4note chords. I have huge hands (most orchestra teacher tell me I couldn't play fiddle if my hand position weren't so lousy) and I have a problem playing (melody) on a long scale neck. I do OK if I capo it at 19.5 INCHES (vs frets) from the bridge, but this is not my WMD of choice.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
Hey, I play a long scale neck & for years now I have a capo on the first fret. It's a lovely brass job which was made specially for me by an instrument maker who used to live in West Berlin, but last I heard he was in Australia, or was it New Zealand?
Anyway, I find having the capo there just shortens the neck enough for comfort - & improves the action. - worth a try........
Personally, I always thought the longer necked instruments sounded better, but I have no idea why there should be any
difference?
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
It has to do with the relative tension ( stiffness) of the string vs the note To get the same pitch you need to tune the longer string up tighter. That makes it more responsive. Also moves the membrane more efficiently.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
Speak to Andy Perkins in Faversham he has a good idea on 17 fret tenors you can get a real nice one like alex's in the albert in whitton actually its a clareen, however the setup has to be spot on like string guages, skin tension, the action height, intonation, etc as i find if you get any one of these wrong its far more detrimental to the playability than a 19 fret which are usually a little more forgiving however the physics of a 19 fret make them a little more ringy which is why some banjo players sacrifice an awkward bitch to play for a good sound Tommy from the popes has many banjos but i have seen him play a long neck tenor which is slightly more like the length of a bouzouki neck but has a lovely lively ringy tone which is why some people avoid 17 frets as they have more plunk than twang ......you dig
?
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ripthecalico
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
ptarmigan...
i use that technique meself.....
i think its great, cause for me it kills that tinny plink plink sound i hate, that gives thebanjo a bad name and ruffles it up more giving it an older sound bassy.
although i dont play banjo that much anymore...hmmm
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
I have been playing a 19 fret banjo for about 5 years before I acquired a 17 fret Vega. I love the shorter neck, which makes the banjo easier to play, especially at speed. It is a little more sensitive to tune, tho. But all in all, unless you need the greater volume generally experienced with the long neck, I say go with the short neck if you find one you like.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by jmcdaniel
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
If you use the cello or guitar fingering (they are the same) then the difference between a 17 fret and and 19 fret banjo is a lot less when it comes to playing single string Irish style banjo. I play a 17 fret Vega Little Wonder because I love the sound and it fits well in the session. That being said, I have several other banjos that are 19 fret and find that they fit in well especially if there is a concert in the works.
Properly setup, a good 17 fret banjo will be just as loud and a just as complex sounding as a 19 fret one. The difference then becomes a matter of taste and comfort. For those of you playing a fiddle style fingering the 17 fret is much easier to play and much more familiar. Your choice should come down to personal preference in the long run. String tension, sound, volume, and playability are all functions of setup and not the scale length. The longer neck does make some difference in sound but so does the head, tailpiece, bridge, and strings. (In that order <G>)
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com/oct05/interview.html
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by mikeyes
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
I too play a 17 fret Little Wonder, as of very recently and I can't recommend a short neck, or indeed a Little Wonder, more highly. They are lovely little banjoes to play and can often be picked up reasonably cheaply It's the best musical purchase I've ever made.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by sechan
Re: Banjos: Short or Standard?
vegas rock, or should that be plunk!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by nick b