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Are you sure you want it to 'break-down'?
That basically requires a set-up each time you do that, then play...
Maybe just think in terms of compact/lightweight.
Short scale banjos can be fun and easy.
Also, knowing your budget can help people advise.
Edited by - Bruce Berry Banjos on 10/05/2024 15:20:50
No Deering affiliation, but got a Goodtime Jr. for my young son to play. I use it frequently to mess around on. Surprisingly good sound, compact and high quality. Standard tuning, too. Kind of pricey, but worth it.
deeringbanjos.com/products/goo...-jr-banjo
Edited by - GeeBeeThreefinger on 10/05/2024 16:30:25
quote:
Originally posted by GeeBeeThreefingerNo Deering affiliation, but got a Goodtime Jr. for my young son to play. I use it frequently to mess around on. Surprisingly good sound, compact and high quality. Standard tuning, too. Kind of pricey, but worth it.
deeringbanjos.com/products/goo...-jr-banjo
There is a used one in the classifieds: https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/106438
quote:
Originally posted by GeeBeeThreefingerNo Deering affiliation, but got a Goodtime Jr. for my young son to play. I use it frequently to mess around on. Surprisingly good sound, compact and high quality. Standard tuning, too. Kind of pricey, but worth it.
deeringbanjos.com/products/goo...-jr-banjo
Good banjo, put nylon strings on it for going to sea.
quote:
Originally posted by kathrynfI am interested in purchasing an open-back travel banjo for an upcoming sailing trip that will be tight quarters. I have seen a few online that are collapsible but have no idea what to look for. Any advice?
I am a sailor too, so here is my experience with sailing and banjos:
First thing to consider, it is always remarkable humid on sailboats, so don't bring an expensive banjo! The wood might suffer.
Have a heavy padded gigbag to store the banjo. When sailing hard and the vessel is heeling, things slide around in the cabin.
I have used tranjo banjos for sailing, they use a different construction for the body and have a compact size.
quote:
Originally posted by kathrynfI am interested in purchasing an open-back travel banjo for an upcoming sailing trip that will be tight quarters. I have seen a few online that are collapsible but have no idea what to look for. Any advice?
I've only seen the $2900 Sloan Jo2Go and the $1200 Farris Tranjo. Plus one or two used Tranjos for under $800.
For a sailing trip, my advice would be to spend as little as you can because besides wanting a banjo that doesn't take up much space I believe you want one you don't mind exposing to the salt air or even possibly getting splashed.
Between the two I mentioned, I'd go with the Tranjo. It sounds good enough.
But what I actually did in your situation exactly two years ago for a short October cruise on a schooner sailing out of Rockland, Maine, was to buy a full sized used Rover RB35 for around $300 shipped. Its head is under 11 inches and its resonator seems a bit smaller than typical. In a gig bag, it was compact enough. During the day, it was on our bed. At night, I think it was standing in a corner. Had I not won the eBay auction for it I was going to buy either a Gold Tone AC-1 or RK Dirty Thirties open back for under $300. I also brought a guitar in a gig bag.
If your situation is similar (meaning space in your cabin is only a concern during the day when you're not there) my advice is to determine whether a folding banjo is absolutely necessary. If it isn't, then go with an inexpensive full sized open back that might prove to be compact enough.
Good luck.
This is all such great advice. I am now rethinking the collapsible option...a cheap banjo seems to be the way to go. We pick up our boat in Tortola, BVI. I haven't ever tried to fly with a banjo and am worried about being able to actually bring it on. I haven't consulted the forum threads yet but my guess is that there is advice about how to make sure the airline allows you to take a banjo in the cabin!
What fun! We were guests on a tri-maran cruise out of Tortola 20 years ago. For one of our host's planned events, I bought a new inexpensive guitar, put it in a hard case and checked it. It arrived fine.
Do search the threads here. I believe you're supposed to be able to bring an instrument on board and put it in the overhead. You might have to treat that as your 1 carry-on, not your "personal item."
I know of people who in fact take the neck off, put the disassembled banjo in their carry-on and put tools in their checked bag. But that does require the ability to reassemble a banjo and get the action right.
Good luck whatever you decide.