Members rbomb Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Please talk me out of getting this. http://www.rondomusic.com/bj630gvs.html I know nothing about banjos and what to look for in quality/craftsmanship. I think it would be cool to add a banjo to an acoustic jam with my friends, but am I just wasting my money with a $120.00 6 string banjo. I currently own a $99.00
Members Samilyn Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 A banjo can be cool, especially if you hang around with some bluegrass pickers. I don't know diddly about banjos, but also think $120 is not too much to spend to have some fun. Easy to spend that in one evening on a mediocre dinner and show and the banjo will last longer.
Members daklander Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Well, for the money, Rondo has some decent electric guitars. I'm not sure about their acoustic stuff. Keep in mind that 6 stringer is not going to sound like a "real" banjo but will be close.
Members Stackabones Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Don't waste your money! Save up for something cool. Banjitar is just bad breeding.
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Don't waste your money! Save up for something cool. Banjitar is just bad breeding. Django Rheinhardt started out on a 6-string banjo!
Members JerseyGuy Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Hey, why not? Learning right hand techniques on a 5 string banjo is not a simple thing and you'll drive anyone within earshot nuts until you get it right, because lousy banjo technique is very unattractive. I taught myself a little in college until my roommates threatened to kill or maim me if I didn't stop, If you can get a banjo sound without having to do that, go for it. Also, get a mute -- one kind slides onto the banjo bridge, the other is two pieces of metal that clamp onto the strings behind the bridge and you can slide it around to vary the muting effect. It makes practicing tolerable to others and allows you to vary the amount of twang in the sound. Here's a thread from another forum that talks about mutes: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13381 Good luck.
Members daklander Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 So...my 4-string tenor banjos, my 8-string mando-banjo, my 4-string banjoleles and my friend's bass-banjo and guit-jo aren't "real" banjos, but my 5-string is? They're ALL "real banjos" by the fact that their bodies are, essentially, drums... :poke: Django Rheinhardt started out on a 6-string banjo! I didn't say the 6 string was not a banjo, but it's not going to sound like a 5 string and many people buy the 6 string to get that 5 string sound and it ain't going to be there. Looked to me like the OP thought it might. I had a 6 stringer and a good friend still has one. Same holds true for your 4 stringer, the the manjo or any of the others as to the sound. The closest will be a strummed 4 string compared to a strummed 5 string with the drone muted. Oh, I do know if a person works hard enough at it, they can get something fairly close to a 5 string, using a 6 string but there is still no way to get the drone working right.
Members guitarist21 Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Don't waste your money! Save up for something cool. Banjitar is just bad breeding. +1 Totally agree. Better to spend the money on a more conventional banjo format such as five-string or tenor. That way when you go to a jam or something and you forgot your banjo you can borrow some other guy's. Or at least have the satisfaction of learning a new instrument. Ellen
Members jd-drafter Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 or just modify an old beater guitar into a guit-jo... like my daddy did... 8^) i like it- alot-
Members jerime Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 I hate to say it but that thing looks pretty damn cool. I have a cheap SX bass and I have no complaints. I've heard the SX gypsy guitars are nice for the price also.
Members Stackabones Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 I've heard the SX gypsy guitars are nice for the price also. I've heard so many mixed reviews, but most have been of the "save your money" type. Too much work to get them playing well -- set up and all that. After you spend all the dough to get the thing set up right, you're out all the money you saved by trying to get a deal. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about getting a deal -- but if you have to do a ton of aftermarket work on it ... pass! On the other hand, I've heard wonderful reviews about the case that comes with SX gypsy jazz box!
Members whit townsend Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 Banjitar is just bad breeding If your gonna play banjo spend $200 more & get a decent starter 5 string openback. Gold Tone CC100, Saga SS10, or Derring Goodtime.
Members MattSkibaIsGOD Posted November 28, 2007 Members Posted November 28, 2007 I wish I could talk you out of it, but all my experiences with Rondo Music have been fantastic.
Members Picker Posted November 29, 2007 Members Posted November 29, 2007 I personlly am more drawn to a 5 string banjo -- guess I"m sorta traditional that way... However, the Resonator guitar looks interesting... Wonder if they are any good.
Members bigou Posted November 29, 2007 Members Posted November 29, 2007 I've heard so many mixed reviews, but most have been of the "save your money" type. Too much work to get them playing well -- set up and all that. After you spend all the dough to get the thing set up right, you're out all the money you saved by trying to get a deal. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about getting a deal -- but if you have to do a ton of aftermarket work on it ... pass! On the other hand, I've heard wonderful reviews about the case that comes with SX gypsy jazz box! I bought one and resold it a couple of weeks after. Like Stackabones said to much work to get the job done. The case IS really good
Members rbomb Posted November 30, 2007 Author Members Posted November 30, 2007 Thanks for the input. I just don't have the time or the initiative to learn new instrument. I read a post that it would not sound like a 5 string, is that just a tunning in issue or because they are the 2 completely different instruments? All i am looking for is a banjo "sound", not to replace a real banjo.
Members totamus Posted November 30, 2007 Members Posted November 30, 2007 Get a 5 string. They are remarkable similar to a guitar to play (left hand). only difference is the high E string is dropped to a D. The drone string is never (well very seldom) fretted. So all of the chords on a banjo are close versions of the same vhord on a guitar - only the high e string position changes. Right hand techniques is rough at first, but nor as hard as yu might think. Give it a try!
Members guitarist21 Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks for the input. I just don't have the time or the initiative to learn new instrument. I read a post that it would not sound like a 5 string, is that just a tunning in issue or because they are the 2 completely different instruments? All i am looking for is a banjo "sound", not to replace a real banjo. Okay. Here's my explanation FWIW. Each string will individually sound like a banjo. But when you strum it, or heck even when you pick it, it won't sound the same as a 5 string because the intervals on a five string are different. Does that make sense? It doesn't sound like a five string because it doesn't have the same strings or the same technique. Ellen
Members jerime Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 I think he means tone wise does it sound like a banjo. Short answer is yes. If you turned your back and someone played a note on a 5 string and then a note on a 6 are you going to be able to tell the difference. I don't think so, at least not the average Joe.
Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 On the other hand, I've heard wonderful reviews about the case that comes with SX gypsy jazz box! Yeah. What's the word on those rondo gypsy guitars? That looks like a nice case that comes with it.
Members Bernie P. Posted December 2, 2007 Members Posted December 2, 2007 So long as you're half-way decent at fingerpicking learning the 5 string is not that difficult.I got started on one a few months ago and feel I'm making very good progress for the amount of practice time I have and really enjoying it.Here's a link to banjo reviews- http://www.banjohangout.org/w/reviews/browse/m/c/v/1 The folks there can help with any questions you have.Good luck!
Members jerime Posted December 4, 2007 Members Posted December 4, 2007 Has anyone jumped on the 6 string SX banjo yet? Just wondering because if I hear they are decent I might pick one up for fun.
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