CanadianCal - Posted - 09/13/2025:  04:28:25

Hello,



Does anyone have any experience with both of these pick ups?



Can you tell me which you prefer and why?



Thank you

Edited by - Texasbanjo on 09/14/2025 08:14:14

KCJones - Posted - 09/13/2025:  06:46:20

Never used an ACB version, but I have used both of that same style of pickup. The ACB Barrel is a copy of the Jones-Hatfield pickup. The ACB-5 is a guitar-style magnetic pickup.



Generally speaking, the Jones-Hatfield style (ACB Barrel) will produce more accurate "banjo tone". It picks up the head/bridge vibrations as a single signal. The downside is that it will be more sensitive to feedback. Not as bad as a piezo, but still can be an issue if stage volume is very loud (e.g. drumkits, electric guitars w/ stage monitors).



The ACB-5 is a standard guitar-style magnetic pickup. It picks up the string vibrations directly, rather than the head/bridge. It will sound like an electric guitar tuned like a banjo. The advantage is that it basically eliminates all feedback issues.



Either one you choose, you will still need to run it through EQ, reverb, compression, etc, in order to make it produce acceptable "banjo tone".



Given the choice, I greatly prefer the Jones-Hatfield (ACB Barrel) style. If I was going to buy one, I'd buy an actual Jones-Hatfield. They're cheaper and produce better tone because they're passive rather than active, and have more coil windings than the ACB/Fishman options. I did replace the jack on my Jones-Hatfield with a proper 1/4" jack and a Sylvan banjo jack mount. I use a RedEye preamp because the Jones-Hatfield is a passive pickup. I have never had much feedback issues, YMMV.



hatfieldmusic.com/product/jone...o-pickup/

sylvanmusic.com/store/p6/Sylva...ount.html

Edited by - KCJones on 09/13/2025 06:55:11

Old Hickory - Posted - 09/13/2025:  11:27:35

No personal, in-person, experience.

But I was greatly impressed by the sound of the ACB Barrel in the Tone Dexter Wave Map Shootout Episode of the Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast. Keith Billik tests the ToneDexter's ability to make a banjo played through a pickup replicate the soound of that banjo played though various microphones. In setting it up, he also lets us hear what his banjo sounds like directly through an ACB Barrel.

Give a listen here: banjopodcast.com/153-tonedexte...shootout/

Edited by - Old Hickory on 09/13/2025 11:28:52