Nathanial Baker
Aug-21-2004, 9:09pm
what's a good brand of banjo-mandolin? do they make any with a fifth string? if so, what are the brands? a banjo-mandolin is a mandolin with a banjo head. knowledgable replies are greatly appreciated.
Nathanial Baker
8ch(pl)
Aug-22-2004, 6:28am
There is a small 5 string which is about the size of a mandolin banjo. it is a Pony banjo, There is also a 5 string piccolo banjo, about the same size. Both are listed in catalogues by S.S. Stewart. They do not relate to mandolin tuning.
The better makes of mandolin banjos are Vega (or Fairbanks),Gibson, Paramount, Weymann,Orpheum,and Bacon, among others. There are also a nujmber of British ones that are good players, they have a distinctive manufacture with athe head in a flat metal ring that is screwed to the top of the pot. the pot is a round mandolin like box.
Vega made them with both 8 strings and the much rarer 4 string version. The better ones are those with a tone-ring. The Style K Vega for instance, does not have a tone ring. The Little Wonder has a simple tone ring and there are Vega Mandolin banjos that have both the Tu-ba-phone and the Whyte Layde tone rings.
You will get more volume from a banjo with a resonator, but mandolin banjos that are open back have enough volume. Some Weymanns have a press on resonator that can be removed in a second if the player wished.
These instruments are popular for some types of music. I have a cheap one that is a bit hard to play. It has a chunky neck, Vegas have a slim elegant neck.
I would like to find a 4 string Vega with either a tone ring for a reasonable price. However I am not in the position financially just at the moment.
Just my thoughts, but there have been previous posts on this subject with memeber replies casting negative sentiments toward the mandolin-banjo. I would advise you to play several and listen to them being played. There are a number of them out there so shop around.
I like to use mine for a bit of irish music, or for songs that need a banjo sound, like Big Rock Candy Mountain. I have a strong singing voice so it doesn't overpower.
I also use Silk and Steel strings. A local Luthier told me that bronze wound strings on a banjo are not suited and sound tinny.
Hope this info is of use to you.