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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Bass banjo.


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/284969

Razrandle - Posted - 05/16/2014:  06:25:00


Here's my bass banjo so far.






Jonnycake White - Posted - 05/16/2014:  07:10:39


Looks pretty good so far.  Dimensions?


mike gregory - Posted - 05/16/2014:  07:41:11


Someone once wrote that "A thing of Beauty id a Joy forever."

They may have been prophesying your banjo.

grm405 - Posted - 05/16/2014:  07:42:01


Nice looking, but it will be interesting to see how much bass you actually get out of it.  



Keep in mind that all acoustic bass instruments use a tuned Helmholtz resonator to invert the back wave of the vibrating head (top) and put it in phase with the sound from the front.  Otherwise the two out of phase signals simple cancel and you get very little and irregular bass.  The same as a loudspeaker trying to operate in a free-air mode.  These only work (sort of) if they are mounted on a large panel or have a very large diaphragm.



I have seen photos of bass banjos from the early 20th century.  These had VERY large heads.  I don't think they worked very well and were more of a gimmick (ie. for use in a banjo orchestra).



You can always put a pickup on it though and use it like an electric bass.



Gerry


Razrandle - Posted - 05/16/2014:  11:58:48


Some more photos.





tomberghan - Posted - 05/16/2014:  23:52:41


Looks GREAT Steve! I am anxious to hear it!  I'm sure glad you went fretless!  Should sound great!  What brand strings are those? What is the string core?  Best Regards, Tom


tomberghan - Posted - 05/17/2014:  14:40:08


Steve, I'm thinking you used the hardware (flesh hoop, bolts, et cetera) and a Mylar head from a 14 inch snare drum - correct?  Should work well and looks very clean. 


Razrandle - Posted - 05/17/2014:  15:19:14


Sorry Tom I have been out all day. The head is 13" and yes it was a drum originally. I have been to a speciality drum shop today to get a new skin. It's made by D-Addario and Evans. It's supposed to be a balanced contact head which is supposed to make it easier to tighten evenly.
From bridge to nut is 34" . It is Ash and Walnut and sounded ok with the initial set up. I have it in bits again now, so I can finish the build. I have to screw the back plate?(the wood across the back of the rim). Fix the nut in position, tension the skin and restoring it.
The tailpiece was a late change because I couldn't find any strings long enough but I really like the look. The bracket part is bolted on using three small bolts,then the string holding part just hooks on and the strings can be left in place, for any adjustment.
I have kept the piece of hoop that I cut out for the strings and will glue it back onto the hoop. The banjo comes in at 46"/13"/4".
It is intended as a 60th birthday present for the bass player in our band.As for sound, I will post one when it is finished and someone who is right handed and has more fingers than me can play it.
My costs so far are 25pounds for the skin, strings and tailpiece. One pound for the scrap wood which it is made from.

swspyder - Posted - 05/17/2014:  17:36:36


Nice,interesting project.It's a nice thing you're doing for a friend.Make sure you make further posts.


Razrandle - Posted - 05/17/2014:  22:57:11


I will post more. I took photos right from the start. The guy who's banjo it will be is a professional photographer. So I intend to do an album for him as well. That will give him a laugh as well as a banjo.
Does anyone know of a gig bag big enough for this banjo.?

Razrandle - Posted - 05/17/2014:  23:02:20


Tom the strings are 96-39s.

Yanni - Posted - 05/18/2014:  01:13:34


Love that tailpiece Steve :)  Looking great altogether to be honest.  Mine is coming along nicely.  I will post some new pictures soon, hopefully.  Your bass player will be a lucky man!



Ian


tomberghan - Posted - 05/18/2014:  03:37:15


So, you will have a resonator  on the back? (a plate you said?)  That is a good idea but I suggest that you add some sort of spacers  leaving a small air gap.  If you seal the pot closed from the back the volume will be reduced (in my experience).  So, leaving a gap is like have a "ported speaker" cabinet.  I find that you will improve the lower frequency response by having the resonator plate on the back, but that it should not be sealed tightly. Make the gap roughly a quarter inch.  Here are some photos of the concept: banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=4897


Razrandle - Posted - 05/18/2014:  04:23:57


Sorry Tom I have mislead you I meant the bar that is in the first picture, I just didn't know what to call .
E

Razrandle - Posted - 05/18/2014:  07:43:39


Thanks Ian.

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