Banjo Stompbox????????

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 5 Apr 2005 5:04 am

Is there such a thing as a stomp pedal for electric guitar, that simulates a banjo sound? Bob

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Apr 2005 6:12 am

I sure hope not!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 5 Apr 2005 6:25 am

Hey Bob, I wish there was something like that but I don't think there is. The best thing I've seen is the Roland Guitar Synthesizer which has a very good banjo sound on it. Unfortunately, they're not cheap and require another pickup to be adherred to the top of your guitar. I don't know if the Line 6 guitars have a banjo sound or not. I tried one out for a little while at Guitar Center and it had a pretty good acoustic resonator (Dobro) sound.....Have a good 'un..JH in Va.

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 5 Apr 2005 6:40 am

Yep, the Line 6 Variax series guitars have a banjo sound. I have the 500 series electric that has one banjo tone. I think it is amazingly convincing, however - it's still tuned like a guitar.

The 700 series Acoustic model has at least one banjo sound, but also has some electronic pitch shifting to allow you to change the tuning electronically. I don't know how good that is...

Line 6 is supposed to come out with the "Workbench" in a few months that would allow this kind of altered tuning, even on the 500 series electric model, like I have.

I love my Variax in my little studio. With it and the POD XT, I have many different textures of sounds that I can lay in tracks. And after 70 takes - it even sounds like I can play guitar too!

Good luck,

David Spires

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Steel Guitarist for Jo Dee Messina: Carter D-10 8&7 / MSA Classic D-10 8&5; Line 6 Pod XT; Jagwire Artist Series Strings; Walker Professional Players' Chair; Peterson VS-II Tuner; Goodrich Matchbro & LDR Pedal; and BJS Bars

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 5 Apr 2005 6:50 am

Good one Erv!!{lol} I guess ive finally lost the last of my marbles. Anyhow, it seems like there is everything out there but that. Dave , tell that foxy Jo Dee that I luv her!!( and her great band too}. Bob

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 5 Apr 2005 9:21 am

Hey David, do you know the difference in the Line 6 guitars? I saw two different prices at Guitar Center. One was $499 and the other was $799. Do you know if the difference would be in the guitar or the electronics. Funny thing, the salesman didn't know.......JH in Va.

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Apr 2005 1:19 pm

$300.00

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 6 Apr 2005 1:31 am

I thought the Banjo IS a stompbox itself...

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martin abend Pedal-Steel in Germany
s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 | GiMa squareneck

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 6 Apr 2005 5:51 am

Jerry,

The $500 is the new Variax 300, which has all the same presets and electronics as mine - the $700 Variax 500.

So, the 300 is a cheaper guitar, but it also doesn't come with a gig bag (actually the one for my 500 is the nicest gig bag I have ever had), and the footswitch is different.

The guitar can either run on batteries, or plug into the power supply. On the 500 and 700 the power supply has a 1/4" out to run to your amp, and an XLR out that you can run to the board - so for the acoustic sounds, you can switch them to the PA, instead of to your amp. The 300 does not have this XLR option/switch - you would have to run it to your amp.

One other thing I read... The 500 info says something like that it responds 100% faithfully to the modeled guitars when turning the tone and volume knobs on the guitar. I don't see that in the 300's info, so I guess it is possible that the electonics are not 100% the same as the 500.

Sorry for the long answer, but I have seen good posts on Line 6's forum about the 300, and you might be better off to read some of those, and see what you think.

Hope that helps a little,

David Spires
- no, I don't work for Line 6; I just love electronic gear! -

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 6 Apr 2005 11:20 am

Thanks David, I appreciate the info...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Michael McGee · Post by **Michael McGee** » 6 Apr 2005 1:43 pm

Bob, certain individuals (who shall remain nameless for fear of banjo retribution by b0b) have been known to cut off the rounded end of a wooden broomstick the same length as a steel bar and use that device (occasionally and sparingly!).

YMMV

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 7 Apr 2005 7:16 am

This is going to sound silly (as do so many things I say), but I stumbled on a technique that makes a PSG sound at least something like a b@njo.

I use a small terricloth wash cloth to wipe down my strings after I play. It's folded twice, so it 1/4 size whan laying flat. If I lay the folded wash cloth across my strings at about mid-neck and then play, the PSG has a surprisingly b@njo-like tonality. Try it.

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | MSA U12 | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 7 Apr 2005 1:46 pm

Is there a stompbox that makes a banjo sound like a guitar? This sounds like a better idea to me!
Erv

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 7 Apr 2005 3:33 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Is there a stompbox that makes a banjo sound like a guitar? This sounds like a better idea to me!
Erv<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Buck Trent did a decent job of making his sound like a tele and steel. Of course he put a slab of wood under the head, a steel guitar pickup, and a few string benders on it.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 7 Apr 2005 5:49 pm

HowardR,

We know you are out there. We also know you have pictures of these unique devices.

Show us one!

Terry

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 10 Apr 2005 4:13 am

GEEEEEEEEEEEz, fellas i didnt realize this post would draw so much artillery fire. Seems to me there is banjo sounds all over the country songs of these times.(Keith Urban) D. Bentley) and many others. Anyway im sorta wonderin how these guys sell all those millions of CD s with those awful bajo sounds on them?? There must be a method to this madness huh?

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 10 Apr 2005 5:33 am

I've never done it but a friend of mine used a Boss Acoustic Simulator in the studio with a Telecaster and manipulated it to make it sound quite banjo-ey. Worth a try, anyway. They can be had for peanuts.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 10 Apr 2005 5:40 am

Oddly enough, I played a singing where a lady had a keyboard with a banjo sound programmed into it. I really never found a banjo to sound good on slow songs but really fit well on fast tunes. A steel does sound good on slow and fast tunes, but then I am a steel player so I may be a little prejudice.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 10 Apr 2005 9:50 am

the Line 6 Variax series guitars have a banjo sound. I have the 500 series electric that has one banjo tone.

Oddly enough, that's one sound that I've never used in my Variax.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 10 Apr 2005 11:10 am

The problem I see with banjo simulators, and six-string banjos for that matter;
It's more than a matter of tonal qualities. The picking patterns are easily as intregal a component of the banjo's sound as the tone. Hand Tony Rice a six-string banjo, and he will not sound like Earl Scruggs.
-John

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www.ottawajazz.com [This message was edited by John Steele on 11 April 2005 at 10:32 PM.]

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 11 Apr 2005 6:54 am

Thankyou for your info Keith, Im gonna try one of those and see how it works for me. I play lead guitar in a local country cover band, alot of the new songs these days have banjo all over them . Im just looking to maybe add some banjo vibe to some of the songs without making too much fuss. Your advice sonds good and I thank you again. Bob