Stringbean45 - Posted - 05/26/2012:  13:59:34

Hi All,

I recently bought a Long Neck Banjo off a Hangout member, and did a search here on the hangout to find out how to tune it.  I got it all tuned up, and really loved the sound of it.

  After going over the banjo very well, I noticed some very strange things about the number of frets, and length of the fretboard.  They are not the same specs as a long neck banjo.  I did some research on the internet, and banjohangout, and the long neck banjos have 25 frets, and vary a little in the length of the fretboard, but most of them over 30 inches long.  The one I got has the standard 22 frets, like on a regular 5 string banjo, and the fretboard is only 23 1/2 inches long, nut to last fret.

Edited by - Stringbean45 on 05/26/2012 14:01:39

TonyS - Posted - 05/26/2012:  14:09:34

...let's ask the gang in the Longneck Banjo Group on BHO...

TonyS - Posted - 05/26/2012:  14:09:38

...let's ask the gang in the Longneck Banjo Group on BHO...

uncle.fogey - Posted - 05/26/2012:  14:15:47

The normal longneck banjo has a 32" scale and 25 frets. The fingerboard is about 24 3/4" long M/L

grm405 - Posted - 05/26/2012:  14:18:22

Long necks do not have a 30+" fretboard, they have a 32" (or so) SCALE which would give a fretboard length (to the end of the wood) of around 23" if it only had 22 frets.   Measure the length from the front of the nut to the 12th fret and double it to get the scale of your banjo.  Your neck length sounds typical, but with only 22 frets that would place the bridge pretty close to the tone ring.

Gerry

Edited by - grm405 on 05/26/2012 14:19:40

Stringbean45 - Posted - 05/26/2012:  14:39:41

Ok, just remeasured the fretboard, and from the front of the nut to the 12 fret is 16 1/2 inches.  From the front of the nut to the last fret number 22, is 23 5/8 inches.

My terms may not be correct, but that is the correct measurements, and the bridge is close to the tension hoop,  2 7/8 inches form middle of the bridge, to tension hoop.  It has an old "No Nott" tailpiece, or it would probably touch a regular tailpiece.

Don

mikehalloran - Posted - 05/26/2012:  20:59:49

Show us pictures. If this was based on a 11 13/16" Vega or a 12" pot, this would be correct (the regular neck was 28" scale but 20 frets).

Stringbean45 - Posted - 05/26/2012:  21:58:47

Hey Mike,

I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow, and post them on here.

It has a standard 11 inch pot on it.

Don

coelhoe - Posted - 05/27/2012:  08:48:22

I have seen over the years that some, not-so-well-informed players, will call a normal 5-string a "long-neck" to distinguish it from a tenor neck. It is also a common usage on eBay.

Be curious to see what this one looks like.

Stringbean45 - Posted - 05/27/2012:  09:11:15

Hi again,

Yes, I have seen people call a regular 5 string banjo a long neck too, but this one really is, just not as long as a true long neck.

Here are the pictures of it.  If anyone out there in banjoland built it, or knows anything about this banjo, please let me know.

Thanks,

Don

Edited by - Stringbean45 on 05/27/2012 09:15:50

jduke - Posted - 05/27/2012:  10:20:37

The neck length and the scale length of an instrument are independent of one another.  The scale length determines the exact location of each fret, and the bridge must be placed accurately, whether it’s a floating bridge like a banjo or a fixed bridge like on a guitar.  The length of the neck can be longer or shorter without affecting the scale length, but it will affect the number of frets on the fingerboard.

The bridge on your banjo looks to be set back farther on the head than most would consider optimum.  It appears that the scale length of your banjo is more or less normal for a long neck, but the neck itself is shorter, therefore not leaving room for the three extra frets of a usual long neck banjo.  If the builder had added another few inches to the length of the neck, they would have had room for the additional frets and the bridge would be moved up more towards the center of the head.

How does it play? How does it sound?  That's what counts.

Jeff

Stringbean45 - Posted - 05/27/2012:  11:40:32

Like I said in the original post, I love the sound of it.

Still trying to get use to the longer space between the frets when doing slides.  This is the first Long Neck banjo I have played, and don't know if the 25 fret long necks would have the same length between the frets or not, but I don't think they would.

It doesn't have side dot markers, or dot inlays in the fingerboard for the 5 upper frets, and the added length from you, makes it more difficult telling where you are on the neck.  I plan to remedy that soon.

I've just never seen a neck set up like this one, and wondered if anyone else has, and if anyone had any more information on who might have made it, or have made similar banjos.

Don

grm405 - Posted - 05/27/2012:  12:35:58

A regular long neck would have the same distance between frets; that is just set by the scale length which is normal for your long-neck.  What is hard for a regular long-neck is reaching the first few frets as they are a long way from the pot.  Your banjo would much easier since those frets a a few inches closer.

Gerry