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/403341
mike gregory - Posted - 05/19/2025: 20:48:04
Client wants a banjo with a wider than average string spacing.
Also, lives with several other people, who have different sleep routines.
So, I've got this FIRST ACT solid body electric guitar.
I can space the strings more widely, since there are only 5 an a fingerboard wide enough for six.
And I'll run a light gauge FIRST the full length, as the 5th, so one capo changes all of them at a single move.
I figure if the banjo head is an electronic drum, from a kid's set, he can play it unplugged, and it will be very quiet.
And he can play it amped, either using the vibrations from the bridge on the electronic drum head, or the magnetic pickups.
Or, if I can find the right switch, BOTH! when he really wants to be heard.
Took a picture of the two pieces, just stacked, nothing installed.
The drum head is black, but if he wants it WHITE, I'll just spray it with KILZ (TM) primer.
Put a big white circle there, to show him how it can look.
Edited by - mike gregory on 05/19/2025 20:53:08
aaronoble - Posted - 05/20/2025: 06:19:26
I'm very curious what the drum piezo will sound like under a banjo bridge
mike gregory - Posted - 05/20/2025: 09:53:35
Me, too!
MIGHT need a built-in preamp.
I will post either a MP# or a video, right here on the HangOut.
Edited by - mike gregory on 05/20/2025 09:54:51
banjodobro56 - Posted - 05/20/2025: 10:32:11
Some folks think outside of the box. Mike, you have no box! I'm always intrigued by your innovations and can't wait to see/hear how it turns out!
mike gregory - Posted - 05/20/2025: 16:02:11
Well, I once HAD a box, but I made an instrument out of it.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/20/2025: 16:09:19
Buy the weigh:
I HAVE a built in preamp, off a ruined OVATION guitar.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/20/2025: 18:28:52
I ran ONE string across a preliminary setup, taped some wires to a guitar cord, plugged it into a little amp.
Ta-WHANG!!!
No preamp needed.
Now to find the switch, and make a new recess for the pickup.
Sure is going quick!
banjoak - Posted - 05/20/2025: 19:10:52
Cool idea. I have similar kids first act guitar; but mine had a built in speaker about size of drum, and already has bridge PU; so I could just take speaker out and replace it with drum. It also has a built in on/off switch for built in speaker/amp.
For piezo, you won't necessarily need a preamp, often the preamp is more for impedance mismatch and tone. Many amps designed for Acoustic/electric have a high impedance input.
For a switch, might consider just replacing the vol pot with a push pull, should be easier to install.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/21/2025: 10:15:26
Notice the neck had a slight bow.
So, dripped a bit of oil in there, rotated the nut to the LEFT, first, because IF it's rusted, it's not going to go right easily.
Moved without a problem, so I let the oil sit a few more minutes, cranked it right. Bow mostly gone, might hit it again, tomorrow, give the wood some time to get used to the new configuration.
Trimmed the pick guard.
Next step is to make a new recess for the old magnetic pickup.
So far, so good.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/21/2025: 14:18:25
Nearby Mom & Pop store didn't have ANYTHING by way of switches.
Sadly, RADIO SHACK is no more.
Thought I might have to drive 40 or more miles to the American Science & Surplus store, where they got loads of stuff.
Would have cost about $6 for the gas.
But, the local auto parts store had a switch for about $7, throw it this way for ON for one device, the other way for ON for the other device.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/22/2025: 11:39:05
The folks at the factory probably have a big ol' router, makes the recess for the pickup in a matter of SECONDS.
Using my cordless drill, half a dozen different bits, and a small chisel, it took me about 2 and a half HOURS!
And when I got ready to wire it up, I discovered that my soldering iron, although it lights up and gets warm, does NOT get warm enough to melt solder.
Going to grab a nap, then trek to the store and buy a new one.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/23/2025: 05:33:53
Got a new soldering iron. Good to over 900 degF.
Wired everything together, plugged it into the amp.
The magnetic pickup AND the piezo both worked, according to which way the switch was thrown, but BUZZED like a gigantic bumblebeast!
Will re-try today, see if it's a problem with the cord, or if I've got the wires crossed somewhere.
And the project continues.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/24/2025: 13:48:31
Did nothing much on the banjo Friday.
Saturday, made a new top nut from an old beef bone.
First, got a small piece of paper, cut as wide as the neck.
Then, measured the distance, on a banjo, between the edge of the neck and the first and last string ,to give me marks for the first and 5th.
Folded those two marks to give me the center, and divided the spaces between those marks and the center, to give me a mark for the 3rd & 4th strings.
Because I'm running the 5th string all the way up.
Will probably mess with the wiring Sunday afternoon.
Profchris - Posted - 05/25/2025: 03:14:16
quote:
Originally posted by mike gregory
Got a new soldering iron. Good to over 900 degF.
Wired everything together, plugged it into the amp.
The magnetic pickup AND the piezo both worked, according to which way the switch was thrown, but BUZZED like a gigantic bumblebeast!
Will re-try today, see if it's a problem with the cord, or if I've got the wires crossed somewhere.
And the project continues.
Sounds like you need to shield the pickup cavity and the control cavity, earthing the shielding. My electric upright bass had a big buzz, but lining the cavities with self adhesive copper tape with a connection to earth fixed that nicely.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/25/2025: 07:16:02
Thank ye kindly!
The original cavity had no lining, but aluminium foil is readily available.
ium foil is readily availab
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 05/25/2025: 08:08:21
HVAC foil tape works too. The adhesive acts as a slight resistor. I was pleased to see that even through the adhesive HVAC tape conducts fairly well.
That's a funky project. It looks like it deserves a cameo in a Foggy Mountain Spaceship video.
youtube.com/watch?v=hSowQCnApIQ&t=5s
mike gregory - Posted - 05/26/2025: 03:00:33
Thanks for the link to banjos weirder than mine!
Soldered everything together, installed it IN the body, one string on for testing purposes, and it buzzed HORRIBLY.
Will try one more time, and MAYBE, if that doesn't work, Ill take out the magnetic pickup, since the drum worked OK.
Profchris - Posted - 05/27/2025: 02:08:53
quote:
Originally posted by mike gregory
Thanks for the link to banjos weirder than mine!
Soldered everything together, installed it IN the body, one string on for testing purposes, and it buzzed HORRIBLY.
Will try one more time, and MAYBE, if that doesn't work, Ill take out the magnetic pickup, since the drum worked OK.
Assuming you shielded all the cavities, have you connected all the shielding together and to the earth terminal of the output jack? If not, the shielding won't be doing its job.
I forgot to mention that you probably also need to earth the strings - a wire from one of the tailpiece screws to the output jack terminal (if the tailpiece is metal) should do that.
If all the shielding and earthing is fine, sounds like you have a dodgy componenet somewhere.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/27/2025: 03:49:09
Today's the day I take the drum out, and paint its black face white, with KILZ primer. Just like re-frosting a Mylar banjo head.
Let it dry, put it back in, GROUND the strings, reconnect everything, and, once more into the breach (or the buzzing SON OF A BREACH)!
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 05/27/2025: 03:51:40
I am having trouble visualizing the design and circuit.
Here is one of my attempts at an electric banjo. All oF the piezo transducers I have tried are too hot to be attached directly to the head.
youtu.be/AD1703bW24g
mike gregory - Posted - 05/27/2025: 11:14:32
Hey, Mr. McMurry!
Delightful sound from YOURS!.
I'll post a DRAWING of the circuit, since a photo would make a REAL electronics assembler throw up!
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 05/27/2025: 12:03:55
That looks similar to what I have tried, I use a pan pot rather than a double throw switch so the two sources can be blended. It is fun stuff to tinker with. I have not had great success getting tone that appeals to traditional banjo players. One thing that might cause a buzz is reverse polarity to the piezo.
steveh_2o - Posted - 05/27/2025: 13:16:13
Another cool project from Mr. Gregory!
I anticipate success.
I've only electrified a couple of banjos, and they really didn't keep much traditional banjo sound. I have one of the little mini electric guitars with a built in amp and earphone jack converted to a five string gitjo, but it sounds about as expected.
I once went all out and just stuck a piezo disk between a bridge leg and the head on a tin can banjo. I actually liked the results of that one.
Edited by - steveh_2o on 05/27/2025 13:17:27
mike gregory - Posted - 05/27/2025: 16:12:02
Hey, Mr. 2o!
I like the sound of your tin can, too!
-------------------------
I just puled the magnet pickup out, and am going to have JUST the piezo drum.
It was fun, but I'm sort of WEARY of fiddling around with the wires.
JerimiahWinston - Posted - 05/27/2025: 21:08:30
Playin'by ear is hilarious Mike Gregory, how did you com.e up with suuch a sily pictogram fur your pfp!!! ;)
Edited by - JerimiahWinston on 05/27/2025 21:09:33
mike gregory - Posted - 05/27/2025: 22:47:08
Thanks for asking!
It was a farmers' market, and there they were!
I just bought one, handed my camera to a friendly person, and asked to have the picture taken.
I just happen to live on a very silly world.
mike gregory - Posted - 05/31/2025: 11:19:16
Well, now!
Except for covering the big hole in the back, we seem to be done.
With JUST the piezo, it doesn't hum.
BUT! it sustains like a guitar, and the tension is NOT adjustable, so WHAT THE HECK do I do next??
Will probably get a video up, next week.
Meanwhile, advise me on getting a banjo sound out of it.
I suppose I COULD get an actual drumhead, and a microphone in there, like I did for the little red one.
But that's more work.
Edited by - mike gregory on 05/31/2025 11:21:22
mike gregory - Posted - 06/01/2025: 09:48:18
Mary had the large Air Fryer cooking the pork for supper, and then turned on the microwave.
Popped a breaker, so, she apologized for ending my well-deserves afternoon nap, and sent me to the basement to reset.
As long as I was down there, I looked around at the umptydozen things I've been saving to use as banjo parts, and THERE it WAS! A REMO(TM) adjustable tension drum practice pad!
Already attached to an experimental neck.
Took it upstairs, took the piezo off the one I'm working on, tucked it under the bridge, and it worked.
TIGHTENED the tension, half a turn per bolt, and it sounded even more like a "real" banjo, through the amp.
So, today, I'll have to take the head off the one I've been making, cut a BIGGER hole, and install the Remo.
Will post a video when I can.
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 06/01/2025: 10:45:38
How to build these things is a puzzler. The two that I made both tension from the back. This video shows what I tried.
youtu.be/Rx5ju5Ry3kI
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 06/01/2025: 13:51:07
Smellotone I, similar concept. The tone ring is milled right into the block rim on this one . Smellotone III has bent Black Locust tone ring that fits into a grove.
mike gregory - Posted - 06/01/2025: 14:13:26
Banjo builders like us put the "US" in GENIUS!
Now I know what to do with the 10 inch drumheads I got for almost nothing!
Thanks for sharing your smartitude.
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 06/01/2025: 15:23:38
None of mine have passed the scrutiny of the Scruggs Police. They mostly gather dust. I build things for my kids, nephews, and their bandmates. It is an expensive, time consuming hobby. I get to be involved with their music in a tiny way which is priceless. : )
mike gregory - Posted - 06/11/2025: 07:14:33
I got it DONE.
AND!!! Figured out how to make a video directly onto this laptop.
Will try, later today, to get it FROM laptop TO the HangOut, TO this very page.
mike gregory - Posted - 06/11/2025: 16:06:42
Oh, [EXPLETIVE DELETED]!
I made a video on this laptop.
Tried loading it to the HangOut, but the Hangout wants it moved here FROM Youtube, wants me to drag and drop, and I can't figure how to move it from the CAMERA APP onto youtube.
Anybody want to try explain this in REALLY SIMPLE language?
"How to move videop from camera roll to Youtube."
How to give a video file a NAME?
mike gregory - Posted - 06/12/2025: 03:27:33
Trying this as an attachment....
mike gregory - Posted - 06/28/2025: 01:59:19
Ahh, well!
Live and learn!!
He didn't like the finished product.
Too many visual flaws, plus, it's too heavy.
So, I'm taking it back, refunding more than half what he paid, and advising him that if he wants a banjo that LOOKS factory-made, he should buy a banjo that IS factory made.
As I said to him EARLY ON in our discussions: I would recommend he get a banjitar, a guitar-necked 6 string banjo, and all I'd have to do is make a new nut and bridge.
But, no, said he. He's long been an admirer of my work, and wanted something by me.
So, along with his refund, he gets a strong recommendation to get a [EXPLETIVE DELETED] banjitar.
If he wasn't a disabled veteran, AND my youngest brother, I would have kept ALL the money.
