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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > OT: Of possible interest to guitar players?
OT: Of possible interest to guitar players?
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Todd Parrott
1163 posts
Nov 05, 2013
3:51 PM
Last week, I was asked to check out a new stringed instrument which has recently been invented and patented by a local musician in the Charlotte, NC area. However, since I only play bass, I'm not really the best person to evaluate an instrument like this in the same way as a guitar player could.

It's called the Banastar, and is a combination of a bass, banjo and guitar. It's tuned to an open E. I'm sharing the web site here, as I know some of you play guitar as well as harp. My first thought was that I could see someone like Bela Fleck making some interesting music on this, but what do you guys think?

The Banastar

Is this something that would be of interest to guitar players in the same way as some of Brendan Power's unique inventions have been to us as harmonica players?
The Iceman
1259 posts
Nov 05, 2013
4:08 PM
Best person to ask is Sandy Weltman in St. Louis.
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The Iceman
Komuso
197 posts
Nov 05, 2013
5:11 PM
Sounds interesting, but no pictures or video makes it's hard to get your head around what makes it unique?

I play only open/altered tunings so it immediately gets my interest.

As far as I can tell from the patent it's:

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the unique string configuration of the present invention. There are six strings on the present invention and six tuning pegs are required. The fifth string capo location (3) applies to the fifth string at the fifth fret. The sixth string on the present invention (4.f) is a heavy wound string (bass string). The diameter (gauge) of the sixth string is the largest (heaviest) on the present invention and is recommended to be at least 1.067 mm (0.042) or larger. The fifth string on the present invention (4.e) is the smallest (lightest) diameter and is recommended to be 0.305 mm (0.012). The fifth string (4.e) is fixed (or capoed) at the fifth fret. The fourth string (4.d) is a wound string and the parameters set the string gauge at 0.864 mm (0.034). The third string (4.c) is a wound string and the parameters set the string gauge at 0.660 mm (0.026). The second string (4.b) is a plain steel (non-wound) string and the parameters set the string gauge at 0.406 mm (0.016). The first string is a plain steel string and the parameters set the string gauge at 0.330 mm (0.013).

This string configuration is unique to the present invention. The present invention as illustrated is tuned to an open chord. The illustrated tuning includes the following: 6th string (bass) is tuned to an E note, the 5th string is also tuned to an E note (high E), the 4th string is tuned to a B note, the 3rd string is tuned to an E note, the 2nd string is tuned to a G# (A flat) note, the 1st string is tuned to a B note. The present invention is illustrated with a specific tuning (open E Major chord), however, the present invention is capable of accommodating various tunings.
USPTO: Combination banjo, bass, and guitar

I'm not sure how you can get a patent for just putting different string gauges on a guitar though?
The bass string gauge seems as thick as a "normal" extra heavy 6th guitar string could be, and the only difference I can see is the light 5th "Banjo" string.

I understand the Open E tuning from above, and how that with the different gauges would be a little different from a normal open E tuned guitar but need some video to demonstrate exactly how it's different in terms of playability.


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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream

Last Edited by Komuso on Nov 05, 2013 5:13 PM
Todd Parrott
1164 posts
Nov 05, 2013
5:52 PM
Komuso - Thanks for checking it out. Yes, I agree. I think a video is very much needed. As for the strings and such, I'm not really sure how to discuss it intelligently, as I know very little about guitars.

Iceman - Good suggestion - I will send a note to Sandy as well.
KeithE
220 posts
Nov 05, 2013
6:30 PM
It won't sound like a typical banjo with a drum-like head - here are some clips of Pat Cloud playing a banjola which might give you an idea of the types of sounds you will get. The sustain on a banjo is short, so the longer sustain means you will want to play differently to avoid a big mess of sound. Pat Cloud

Many banjo players try playing ukuleles with reentrant tuning like a banjo at some point, and it works for some material. But it doesn't seem to be very popular.

I would think that the 6th string is going to get in the way of playing for clawhammer/frailing and 3-finger style playing.

Banjo players aren't used to the 5th string being present at the lower frets. The neck is typically nice and narrow down there.


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