Short neck banjos, or parlor banjos, are more beginner-friendly.
The Difference Between Short Neck and Long Neck Banjos If you’re sure that you or someone you’re buying it for is serious about pursuing the banjo, then I’d recommend getting a high-quality instrument from the start. Maybe even be loud and clear enough to use in live gigs. But the more you pay, the better the chances that the banjo will serve intermediate players too. Even though there are various cheap banjos on the market that perfectly suitable for beginners, ask yourself how much are you willing to sacrifice in terms of quality? How Much Should You Pay?Īs it is with any other instrument, at one point or another you have to factor in the price. Is it made of a good material? Is it rugged? Its mere presence might indicate better acoustics but not all tone rings are equal. Last but not least, always check to see the quality of the tone ring. If you hear that, know that it’s a sign of poor tuning and string height adjustment. No string should have a buzzing or rattling sound when plucked. You should also start strumming or plucking the strings. There should be no uncomfortable pain while trying to make contact with the frets. Reading reviews is one thing, but how can you tell if what you see on paper translates into the real world? Here are a couple of things to check for.Ĭheck the action of the strings. Models that come with this feature are also less likely to fall out of tune. This is why it’s better to go for geared tuning when possible. However, it still keeps the strings in tune a lot better and it’s generally cheaper too. It may be difficult to use at first if it’s of poor quality. They feature worn-gear and buttons on the sides of the headstock. Geared banjo pegs are more similar to what you see on guitars.
They’re a lot easier to maintain and deal with than tapered pegs but they’re not more precise either. They feature a screw at the bottom which allows you to adjust the tension. In contrast, champion pegs rely on a mechanical clamping action. The cool thing about these pegs is the wide range of materials used, including bone.
No matter how much lube you use or abrasive substances you add. It doesn’t exactly stand the test of time. The concept relies on the peg and hole matching perfectly and making contact on the sides to keep the peg in place, and the string in tune. Tapered friction pegs resemble a violin tuning peg. They are either tapered or champion pegs. Many models use simple friction tuners, and it can be a challenge to tune them to the accuracy you need. Tuning a banjo can be similar to tuning a violin.