[Dixielandjazz] Deering Banjitars

[Steve Barbone]

Dear Larry:

If you want to hear a master 6 stringer, scroll down to the two 6-string
banjo downloads (FREE) at: http://www.woodpecker.com/audio/mp3.html

or for some freestyle pickin on a 6 String Deering Banjitar using plenty of
low notes, try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQV4fG-7y1Q

Not OKOM, but you get a good idea of what the 6 string Banjitar can sound
like. I'm not sure what kind of strings they are using.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS: On clarinet I'm using a V12 2 and 1/2 reed with my 5JB and get A above
high A. I do need a 3 and 1/2 to get C above high C, but can't work with a 3
and 1/2 for very long before my aging chops give out. <grin> Kenny Davern
who got that double high C with ease used a #4 with a 5JB but then, he had
monster chops and lots of playing hours.



> Larry Walton at larrys.bands at charter.net wrote:

> I suppose that anything is possible and I have never played on one of these
> but I found the six string banjo with a guitar neck to be muddy sounding.
> So far as the extra light strings go they are a lot easier to play but don't
> do a lot for tone.  They work out OK for guitar and I have used them (silk
> and steel) extensively when I was playing guitar and with new students but
> so far as tone production goes they lack something.
> 
> I think it's like a reed on a clarinet.  A two or 2 1/2 is OK for a rank
> beginner but if the kid wants to play in the upper register and have any
> sound he needs at least a 3.  Then there is the mouthpiece factor that might
> change the equation.  Maybe this instrument through it's engineering changes
> the equation but I doubt it.
> 
> I think strings on a guitar could be compared to those reeds.  The light
> weight ones for beginners and occasional players but I don't think pros use
> them as being too wimpy.  The best acoustic player I ever played with used a
> pretty heavy string and they were pretty far off of the fingerboard but this
> guy had chops.
> 
> Even though anything is possible I really doubt the advertising copy on this
> one and I think the line about the light weight strings flies a red flag but
> beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
> Larry
> STL
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Steve Barbone"

>> Deering Corp, has this to say about their current banjitars. (snipped)