DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device.
Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher.
Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more.
Premier Sponsors
|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/400728
gbisignani - Posted - 12/04/2024: 13:02:38
I saw advertised today a Bacon Silver Belle (what they're calling) 5 string plectrum banjo. There are 5 pegs on the peghead. The normal 4 and then one in the middle of the peghead. Can anyone tell me if this could be original or was the 5th peg added at some point to a plectrum banjo.
OldFrets - Posted - 12/04/2024: 13:41:07
I've seen one before. The neck was wider than a standard plectrum so I'm reasonably sure it's factory original, not a later modification.
banjopaolo - Posted - 12/04/2024: 13:48:04
I saw a beautiful Vega banjo with the same kind of neck, the owner called it ‘plectro-five’
Dan Gellert - Posted - 12/04/2024: 13:57:04
"Plectral 5" banjos (plectrum with an added low string) were offered by some makers in the 1920's. They never got generally popular, but I'm sure there are a few still-active players out there that dig them.
The "real banjo" version (6 strings: 5 long ones and a short thumb string) has been around since the Civil War era, and every generation since seems to have produced a few pickers who really want those extra bass notes, and makers who'll oblige. Sonny Osborne played one. Gold Tone has at least one 5+1 model in their catalog now.
Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 12/04/2024: 14:22:39
The "plectral five" banjos were popularized by a professional player named Brent Hayes. Vega made a number of them, so I wouldn't be surprised if Bacon made a few as well. Comparing the neck width at the nut to a standard four string plectrum may provide a clue.
mikehalloran - Posted - 12/06/2024: 23:44:15
The late, great David Lindley beat me to the punch on a 5 string Tubaphone NO 9 plectrum at Mandolin Bros by about 15 minutes. In 2014, both he and I loaned a number of our banjos to the Museum of Making Music for an exhibit and there it was. We had a good laugh over that.
I know I took some photos of the one that got away but I'm not finding them at the moment.
There are some YouTube videos of a 5 string plectrum being played like an RB. It's an interesting technique. I wanted to try that at one time.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
