Question:
Ryan,
Hey there, I noticed you had suggested to a member to get a Snuffy Smith banjo bridge. Is the bridge what gives the banjo the sound??? I had a Fender beginner banjo before I went to the alverez 4292. What is your take on this banjo?
I really like the weight and the solidness of this banjo compared to the Fender. So what banjo bridge model should I get?
Also one last thing, do they sell small clips or screws that connect both sides of the strap?
Thanks Rodney
Answer:
Rodney,
Yes the Snuffy Smith bridges are high quality bridges. I would also recommend trying a Yates banjo bridge. I know that Warren Yates is building some very high quality stuff, probably the best on the market right now.
What gives the banjo the good sound is a very good question. We could discuss this topic for years. The bridge will make a significant difference in the sound of your banjo. You will also need the right height of bridge. You just do not want your strings to buzz on the fretboard and you don’t want your action to be too high. It’s somewhat of a good balance.
Good strings and proper head tension will also make a big difference in the sound of your banjo. It sounds like you have moved up in instruments simply because you have a more solid and heavy instrument. Light banjos aren’t usually worth playing and probably would be best if used for firewood.
Yes they do make small screws for the straps on your banjo. You could probably purchase them from Dave Gibson or order them from stewmac.com. Dave’s email is gibsonlw@hotmail.com. I’m sure he would be happy to help you.
Thanks so much for the great question. Have a great Christmas!
Ryan
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I would take your banjo to a bluegrass festival and walk around with it and ask some questions. If you live in Indiana you can bring it over to my house if you want and I’ll set it up for you. You just need to find someone that knows what they are doing. I use a Snuffy Smith bridge. I would recommend those or Yates bridges. You just need the action height to be right. I like a tall bridge. I use an 11/16 bridge. You can click here to buy one. Thanks, Ryan
I have a Gibson Epiphone MB 200 that I recently was given and it needs a new bridge. The local music shops in my area don’t have a clue when it comes to banjos and I am looking to purchase a high end/high quality bridge but want to get the correct size. The one that was on it was a cheap Grover but did the job. It seemed to be a little bit of a lower profile than the one sold at my local shop which was a #72.5. I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
Another suggestion is Emerson bridges made by Kelly Emerson, the son of the great picker Ben Emerson. There are three different bridges available: Power bridge, Vintage and Sweet II. I have tried the first two and are very satisfied. Bought a Vintage bridge on eBay 3 weeks ago and received it last week and it made a huge different both in sound and volume. More info available on http://www.banjofever.com