The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Banjo pickup wanted
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Banjo pickup wanted
steve takacs


From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 6:39 am    
Reply with quote

Banjo pickup wanted as our band wants me to throw in several numbers that require banjo. I have an Ibanez Artist here which would need a reasonably priced pickup to be shipped to the USA . Thx, Steve Takacs
View user's profile Send private message

Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 7:45 am    
Reply with quote

But wouldn't that make it even louder?
View user's profile Send private message

steve takacs


From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 8:55 am    
Reply with quote

Anyone named Earnest Bovine need not reply. What a mean guy. Steve t
View user's profile Send private message

Tony Boadle

 

From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 2:37 pm    
Reply with quote

Hey Steve,
In case it's of any interest to you, I went down the same road a few years ago....picking banjer in a very loud Irish trad/country/bluegrass crossover band.
I tried a pile of pick-ups, from cheap to very expensive, and none of them worked well. Any time I got near loud enough, feedback would kick in.
I eventually solved the problem by taping a budget vocal mic. to the rods in the banjo. (AEG Blue Shadow or something like that name) Then I ran that through a budget (again!) volume booster pedal, and finally through a (you guessed it, budget) graphic equaliser unit.
Sounds like a lot of hassle, but it's really not.I mounted the two pedals side by side and clip them to my microphone stand, at waist level. I can then adjust volume and EQ to suit the gig.
Trust me, it works really well, if you're interested I can dig out the product names of all three items I used.
Cheers, Tony in Ireland
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Ball


From:
North Carolina High Country
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 4:52 pm    
Reply with quote

I've used Shure SM 57 replacement elements mounted to the coordinator rods successfully. Keeps the tone of the banjo and it's very compact.

Dave
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lyle Dent


From:
Little Rock ,Arkansas
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 6:30 pm     Banjo pickup
Reply with quote

Steve, I use a K & K pickup, Just run it through your steel rig. I do use a SGBB and V8 which helps the tone immensely! I tried several including the SM 57 route and feedback is always a problem.
_________________
Rittenberry Prestige SD-12,Mullen G2 SD-12 ,Mullen PRP S-12 BMI S-12 V8 octal, BJS Bars, LiveSteelStrings,Steelers Choice Seat.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Paul Hirschmann

 

From:
Milwaukie, OR, USA
Post  Posted 30 May 2017 7:02 pm     banjo pickup
Reply with quote

the best pickup to put on a banjo is at least a f-150
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 31 May 2017 2:58 am    
Reply with quote

Steve..You may want to try placing a dampening agent such as light foam inside the resonator to reduce the overtones which are the cause of much of the feed back.
View user's profile Send private message

Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 31 May 2017 8:18 am    
Reply with quote

Years ago I placed a DeArmond contact pickup on the face of my banjo and got a good sound.
It was held in place by a large rubber band.
Does anybody remember those?
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Robert Murphy


From:
West Virginia
Post  Posted 31 May 2017 11:45 am    
Reply with quote

PM sent.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lee Warren


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 31 May 2017 4:01 pm    
Reply with quote

Paul Hirshmann ... Laughing

Steve: I have an old Barcus Berry dobro pick up, if you think that might work.
Lee
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Michael Brebes

 

From:
Northridge CA
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2017 6:58 am    
Reply with quote

http://kavanjo.com/the-kavanjo-banjo-pickup/products
_________________
Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso

Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Doug Jones


From:
Oregon & Florida
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2017 4:18 pm    
Reply with quote

FWIW: years ago the late Portland steel guitarist Eric West came up with a non-feedback solution. If I recall (and maybe Paul Hirshmann might remember) Eric used an acoustic guitar sound hole pickup placed in the resonator under the bridge and secured in place by cramming an old Tee shirt inside, too. It gave a surprisingly good sound when amplified, yet rather dull and thuddy when played acoustically.
View user's profile Send private message

Michael Brebes

 

From:
Northridge CA
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2017 2:27 pm    
Reply with quote

The Kavanjo pickup/head assembly, which I mentioned previously, is used by Keith Urban and Taylor Swift. It should work for your situation.
_________________
Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso

Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Ian Worley


From:
Sacramento, CA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2017 1:16 am    
Reply with quote

you should call these guys, they will probably pick up the banjo for free, no feedback

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

George Seymour


From:
Notown, Vermont, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2017 2:00 am     Re: Banjo pickup wanted
Reply with quote

steve takacs wrote:
Banjo pickup wanted as our band wants me to throw in several numbers that require banjo. I have an Ibanez Artist here which would need a reasonably priced pickup to be shipped to the USA . Thx, Steve Takacs


I have what you need, I'll PM the details
_________________
Old Emmons D-10's & Wrap Resound 65, Standel amps!
Old Gibson Mastertones
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Alexander

 

From:
Mead, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2017 7:59 pm    
Reply with quote

PM sent.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

steve takacs


From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
Post  Posted 13 Jun 2017 2:07 am     Thanks, Guys
Reply with quote

I want to thank all of you members who took the time to help me solve this banjo amplification problem. I have plenty to work with now. Time to hit the streets of Beijing to see what I can find. Stevet
View user's profile Send private message

Rich Upright


From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2017 3:12 pm     Re: banjo pickup
Reply with quote

Paul Hirshmann wrote:
the best pickup to put on a banjo is at least a f-150


HAHAHAHA!!
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP