I saw this on the Elderly website and had never seen anything like it: https://www.elderly.com/products/doc-fossey-model-2-banjitar-2012-70u-224137
I've seen plenty of six-string banjos, but a 5-string guitar with a short fifth string? I wonder if there are any online recordings of someone playing one. (I didn't find any with a quick Google search). Is this a once-off thing, or is it more common that I realized? What sort of music would you play on it: old-time? bluegrass? country?
(Picture is from the Elderly website.)
Sonny Osborne used to have one. He'd play it on softer, gentler songs. So did Emily from the Dixie Chicks, before she learned to play a regular guitar.
Way back when (1980s) there was one hanging in Rual Yarborough's shop (near Florence, AL). I've seen them from time to time. Last one I saw was a re-necked Kay archtop guitar. I didn't like the sound.
This isn't a Doc Fossey instrument, but a similar one made by Warren Yates.......still lets you know what the instrument can do.
I wouldn't mind having one of those, but I don't play the instruments I have nearly enough. The ad calls it a banjitar but, to me, a banjitar is a banjo body with a guitar neck. Sonny Osborne used to call his instrument a gitjo.
I saw something similar at Ciderville Music in East Tennessee about 30+ years ago. I can't remember what brand it was.
GoldTone makes what they call a "DoJo" -- a banjo neck on a dobro body, it's very different and fun to play.
Gold Tone sells the Banjola and Dojo, which are the same idea. I owned a Dojo for awhile. It was fun to play at home, and use for quiet practice, but pretty much worthless for playing with the band or at jams which includes multiple guitars, especially electric.
Edited by - Dean T on 08/19/2026 09:46:26
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