 | |
| Other names | Cello banjo, Banjocello |
|---|---|
| Classification | String instrument ( plucked) |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.322-5 |
| Developed | Late 19th century |
| Playing range | |
 | |
| Related instruments | |
There are multiple instruments referred to as a bass banjo. The first to enter real production was the five-string cello banjo, tuned one octave below a five-string banjo. This was followed by a four-string cello banjo, tuned CGDA in the same range as a cello or mandocello, and modified upright bass versions tuned EADG. More recently, true bass banjos, tuned EADG and played in conventional horizontal fashion have been introduced.
Five-string cello banjo
The five-string cello banjo was originally a gut-stringed instrument with a 3" deep 16" diameter rim, marketed by S.S. Stewart in 1889. [1] Advertising copy used the terms "bass banjo" and "cello banjo" to refer to the same instrument.
Other banjo makers manufactured similar instruments, including A.C. Fairbanks, with a 12⅜" diameter head and a 29½" scale length [2] and A.A. Farland, with 12½" head and a 28½" scale. [3] Gold Tone is the only contemporary manufacturer. [4]
Four-string cello banjo
In 1919, [5] Gibson began manufacturing a 4-string cello banjo, known as the CB-4. [6] Other vintage manufacturers of four-string bass banjos include Bacon & Day. [7][ verification needed] Gold Tone is the only contemporary manufacturer. [8]
Gibson bass banjo
Gibson produced a separate instrument called a "bass banjo" from 1930 to 1933. [5] This was a 4-string instrument, played as an upright bass, with a stand substituting for a spike. It was tuned EADG, the same as Gibson's mando-bass. [9]
Bassjo
The Bassjo, also referred to as the banjo bass in a 2006 article featuring Les Claypool on the cover of Bassplayer Magazine [10] was made by luthier Dan Maloney. Maloney was a friend of Claypool's approximately ten years ago when Claypool asked him to construct a guitar with "a banjo body and a bass neck ("Les Does More" 43)." The Bassjo can be heard on Claypool's 2006 album " Of Whales and Woe" on the track Iowan Gal", as well as Primus' "Captain Shiner" from the album Tales from the Punchbowl
Gold Tone bass banjo
Gold Tone Music Group produces a commercial version of the bass banjo. [11] It has a 32" scale and a 13" pot.
Heftone upright
An unusual variation is the Heftone bass, which combines a large, 22" banjo pot with an upright spindle to produce an upright bass banjo. [12]
| Bass and Cello Banjos | ||||
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References
- ^ "String Stories, Chapter 1: Banjo Orchestra!". www.forgottenwisdom.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2006. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "White Laydie No. 2". www.billsbanjos.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "Artist's Grande No.2". www.billsbanjos.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "CEB 5 by Gold Tone". Archived from the original on April 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Gibson Banjos...The Golden Years". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ "العاب زوما".
- ^ "For Sale or Trade: Bacon & Day Silverbell Cello banjo 14 inch pot". www.banjobuyer.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "CEB 4 (Marcy Marxer Signature Model) by Gold Tone". Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.
- ^ "www.DRBANJO.com". Archived from the original on October 20, 2007.
- ^ Fox, Brian. "Les Does More." Bass Player 8/2006: 40-50.
- ^ "BB-400 (Bass Banjo) by Gold Tone". Archived from the original on May 12, 2008.
- ^ "About the Heftone Bass | Heftone". www.heftone.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
|
| |
| Other names | Cello banjo, Banjocello |
|---|---|
| Classification | String instrument ( plucked) |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.322-5 |
| Developed | Late 19th century |
| Playing range | |
|
| |
| Related instruments | |
There are multiple instruments referred to as a bass banjo. The first to enter real production was the five-string cello banjo, tuned one octave below a five-string banjo. This was followed by a four-string cello banjo, tuned CGDA in the same range as a cello or mandocello, and modified upright bass versions tuned EADG. More recently, true bass banjos, tuned EADG and played in conventional horizontal fashion have been introduced.
Five-string cello banjo
The five-string cello banjo was originally a gut-stringed instrument with a 3" deep 16" diameter rim, marketed by S.S. Stewart in 1889. [1] Advertising copy used the terms "bass banjo" and "cello banjo" to refer to the same instrument.
Other banjo makers manufactured similar instruments, including A.C. Fairbanks, with a 12⅜" diameter head and a 29½" scale length [2] and A.A. Farland, with 12½" head and a 28½" scale. [3] Gold Tone is the only contemporary manufacturer. [4]
Four-string cello banjo
In 1919, [5] Gibson began manufacturing a 4-string cello banjo, known as the CB-4. [6] Other vintage manufacturers of four-string bass banjos include Bacon & Day. [7][ verification needed] Gold Tone is the only contemporary manufacturer. [8]
Gibson bass banjo
Gibson produced a separate instrument called a "bass banjo" from 1930 to 1933. [5] This was a 4-string instrument, played as an upright bass, with a stand substituting for a spike. It was tuned EADG, the same as Gibson's mando-bass. [9]
Bassjo
The Bassjo, also referred to as the banjo bass in a 2006 article featuring Les Claypool on the cover of Bassplayer Magazine [10] was made by luthier Dan Maloney. Maloney was a friend of Claypool's approximately ten years ago when Claypool asked him to construct a guitar with "a banjo body and a bass neck ("Les Does More" 43)." The Bassjo can be heard on Claypool's 2006 album " Of Whales and Woe" on the track Iowan Gal", as well as Primus' "Captain Shiner" from the album Tales from the Punchbowl
Gold Tone bass banjo
Gold Tone Music Group produces a commercial version of the bass banjo. [11] It has a 32" scale and a 13" pot.
Heftone upright
An unusual variation is the Heftone bass, which combines a large, 22" banjo pot with an upright spindle to produce an upright bass banjo. [12]
| Bass and Cello Banjos | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| |
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
References
- ^ "String Stories, Chapter 1: Banjo Orchestra!". www.forgottenwisdom.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2006. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "White Laydie No. 2". www.billsbanjos.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "Artist's Grande No.2". www.billsbanjos.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "CEB 5 by Gold Tone". Archived from the original on April 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Gibson Banjos...The Golden Years". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ "العاب زوما".
- ^ "For Sale or Trade: Bacon & Day Silverbell Cello banjo 14 inch pot". www.banjobuyer.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "CEB 4 (Marcy Marxer Signature Model) by Gold Tone". Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.
- ^ "www.DRBANJO.com". Archived from the original on October 20, 2007.
- ^ Fox, Brian. "Les Does More." Bass Player 8/2006: 40-50.
- ^ "BB-400 (Bass Banjo) by Gold Tone". Archived from the original on May 12, 2008.
- ^ "About the Heftone Bass | Heftone". www.heftone.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.