Bass banjo
| Bass banjo |
|---|
| English: Bass banjo |
| classification |
|
Chordophone plucked instrument |
| range |
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| Related instruments |
| * Banjo * electric bass |
A number of different musical instruments are known as bass banjo . The first commercially produced bass banjo was the 5-string cellobanjo , with a tuning one octave below that of the 5-string banjo . A 4-string cellobanjo followed later, with a CGDA tuning in the same pitch range as the cello or mandoloncello , as well as upright versions with an EADG tuning. More recently, bass banjos with a tuning in the bass register (‚E-ADG) have been developed for a horizontal playing position.
Cellobanjos
5-string cellobanjo
The 5-string cellobanjo was brought to market by SS Stewart in 1889 and was originally equipped with gut strings ; the frame was 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep and 16 inches (40.6 cm) in diameter. In advertisements, the terms “bass banjo” and “cello banjo” were used for the same instrument.
Other banjo builders produced similar instruments: AC Fairbanks, a banjo with a frame diameter of 12 to 3/8 inches (31.4 cm) and a length of 29 to 1/2 inches (74.93 cm), and AA Farland, an instrument with a frame diameter 12 to 1/2 inches (31.75 cm) and a length of 28 to 1/2 inches (72.39 cm). Currently (as of 2008) Gold Tone is the only known manufacturer of a cellobanjo.
4-string cellobanjo
In 1919 Gibson began producing a 4-string cellobanjo with the type designation CB-4 . Other manufacturers of 4-string bass banjos were, among others, Bacon & Day. For this instrument, too, Gold Tone is currently (as of 2008) the only known manufacturer.
Bass banjos
Gibson bass banjo
Gibson built a "bass banjo" between 1930 and 1933. It was a 4-string instrument that was played upright like a double bass; the mandrel had been replaced by a stand device; the mood was' E-'ADG like Gibson's Mandobass.
Bassjo
The bassjo , also referred to as the banjo bass in an article in Bassplayer Magazine about Les Claypool , was first built by the guitar maker Dan Maloney . Claypool had asked Maloney a few years ago to construct a guitar with the body of a banjo and the neck of an electric bass ("a banjo body and a bass neck", "Les Does More" , page 43).
A bassjo can be heard on Claypool's 2006 album "Of Whales and Woe" in the song "Iowan Gal" .
Gold Tone Bass Banjo
Gold Tone sells a commercially available version of the bass banjo. It has a scale length of 32 inches (81.3 cm) and a frame diameter of 13 inches (33 cm).
Heftone Upright
An unusual bass banjo is the heftone bass, which combines a large (22 inch / 55.9 cm) shell with a vertical spindle to create an upright bass banjo.
Illustrations
AC Fairbanks "Whyte Laydie No. 2 “5-string cellobanjo around 1903, S / N 22924
1902 AA Farland 5-string cellobanjo
5-string cellobanjo and a banjeaurine from SS Stewart
Gold Tone 4-String Cello Banjo
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.forgottenwisdom.com/banjoorchestra/music.html
- ↑ http://www.billsbanjos.com/Laydie.htm
- ↑ http://www.billsbanjos.com/Farland.htm
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from April 17, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b http://www.siminoff.net/pages/gibson_banjo_chrono.html
- ↑ http://musicaviva.com/instruments/gallery/display.html?serienr=8809
- ↑ http://www.banjobuyer.com/banjo/4402
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from July 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ http://www.drbanjo.com/photoalbums/odd_ends/large-Bilds/L-03-bass.html ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Fox, Brian. "Les Does More" . Bass Player 8/2006: 40-50.
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original dated May 12, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ http://www.heftone.com/bass
