The Delta Snake Review: Musical Gear Review & Article Archive: Review: THE WASHBURN BA-6 SIX STRING BANJO

Note on picture: I have the truss rod cover off to do some adjustments to the neck.

GEAR REVIEW: THE WASHBURN BA-6 SIX STRING BANJO

Six-string banjos have been around since the 19th Century. One of the most popular bluesmen of the 1920s, Papa Charlie Jackson, played one.

The older name for a six-string banjo was "banjitar" or "ganjo" The closest modern equivalent is the four-string type mainly used in old-style jazz or Celtic folk.

The four-string was a familiar rhythm instrument in 20s jazz because it could play chords, and most importantly, it was loud enough to be heard in an age without electric amplifiers.

The banjo, along with the fiddle, was once the primary African-American instrument and used in "string bands," which were the early precursor to what is now called bluegrass or old-timey music.

The six-string version has become more popular in the last few years and there's now a wide range of models in every price range, but in the 70s and 80s, an inexpensive one made by Dean was the most commonly used.

I played five strings back then, so it seemed like a way to add more range to my sound, but the main problem with the Dean was that it was considered a banjo for guitar players who wanted to add that sound to their palette, so to speak, and built cheaply to be cheap.

In other words, it was inexpensive and did the job, but it didn't sound very good to a banjo player.

If you want a decent banjo sound, it's best to invest the time to learn the five-string, or if you want that "plectrum sound," an inexpensive vintage four-string can be easily found on the used market.

The main advantage of the Washburn six is that guitar players don't need to relearn anything. They can use the same chords and get a banjo-like sound. The Dean was good as an extra instrument that could add some range to a guitarist's sound and if bought used, an inexpensive alternative.

Higher-grade models were available from other companies, but none were big sellers.

The six-string banjo made a comeback in the last few years due to a couple of factors. One was that musical celebrities like Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, John Fogerty, and Taj Mahal started playing the type. People do buy what celebrities use (see yellow foil pickups and cheap Silverstone guitars).

Also, the banjo market became competitive as almost every known manufacturer entered the market. Like guitars, they entered a Golden Age where decent quality could be available at every price range.

In other words, no one is letting anyone else control the market; if six-string banjos become relatively popular, other manufacturers will jump in and offer their own models (or rebranded units made to spec from overseas factories).

All this hasn't changed the primary use of the model; it's still basically an auxiliary instrument to add range to repertoires, and it's generally played with a pick (plectrum style).

I got a Washburn BA-6 for Christmas a couple of years back and was surprised at the price and quality. My only other experience was with the Dean back in the 80s, which was competent but not outstanding.

The first thing I noticed was the BA-6 had a mahogany rim and neck, which tends to have a warmer sound than maple. That's better for someone using a guitar pick, and that's my preferred wood for a five-string.

I've previously owned Washburn guitars and banjos and have always liked the brand. It's a company that's made acoustic instruments for a long time, and the quality shows even in their import models.

There are two sets of players who'd be curious about this model; banjo and guitar players. As a rule, both have different views because the two instruments are played differently. For example, even the four-string banjo has different fingering for the basic chords.

The BA-6 is around 460.00 without a case, which is a fairly significant investment for an extra instrument that may not be used much.

For a banjo player, that fifth-string drone isn't there; you'll be playing bass strings instead with your thumb; without a thumb pick, the sound can get muddy. Also, the stock guitar strings aren't very suitable for fingerstyle, and in my case, I restrung it with a mixed set to create a very light group that works well for fingerstyle (on a banjo).

For guitar players, the modern profile neck will make them feel right at home. It's well made, and after setup will play as well as a guitar.

Note: The double coordinator rods attach the neck to the rim

Uh, the setup. That's where a guitar player will have to take a little time to learn about their new banjo because, after all is said and done, it's still a banjo.

Of course, you can adjust the neck with the truss rod, but the neck angle is adjusted by the coordinator rods under the head. That sets the basic string height along with the wood bridge, and after that, the sound is fine-tuned by adjusting the 24 brackets (it's tuned like a snare drum) to get the desired tension on the head.

Also, ensure the bridge is in the correct position, height, and angle for intonation and that the tailpiece is adjusted correctly.

If that paragraph sounds confusing, then make sure the banjo is set up by a tech that understands banjos.

There's another important decision; the string height affects tone; the lower the action, the less volume and tone. If you're used to an electric guitar, the action on a banjo can feel higher than on an acoustic guitar. However, using a pick adds volume, so adjust to what you want and work on the tone.

My point isn't to confuse or throw out a lot of jargon. Just understand that a banjo is a pro-level instrument that takes an investment of time to learn.

The plus side; all that means you have great control over the sound of even the cheapest banjo. I haven't even mentioned the types of heads you can use on the rim, tone rings, bridge woods, tailpiece types, etc.

In the case of the BA-6, you have a Remo Weatherking head optimized for bluegrass, which is good for country-type music on a six-string. In simple terms, it's a brighter-sounding head. You might consider adding a metal pick or finger picks to your collection to get even more twang.

Since I wanted more of a traditional banjo sound, I used the four main strings from a .009 banjo set and added a light .024 and .036. First, start with the stock guitar string set, see what you think, and then make changes.

When I first got it, I went ahead and restrung it like a 5 string and it sounded fine. So that told me that this was a fundamentally good banjo, but I found that it has better potential as a six.

I like the neck. It's very playable, and guitar players will have no problem transitioning. In addition, it compares well to any guitar in that price range.

This Washburn BA-6 isn't a casual instrument. It's priced too high for that. Instead, it's a serious instrument; it doesn't have the faults of the inexpensive ones of the 80s and will respond to the care and preparation put into it.

Don't buy it out of curiosity; research it, and if your aims are casual, consider buying a used, inexpensive five-string and learning the basic chords.

I've played the banjo all my life and found that this one gets as much playing time as any of my other instruments. I had to learn to respect it, but once I did, it's adding a lot to my sound and there's still a lot of potential there.

- Al Handa

December 2022

If you're interested, I have some banjo numbers on my Electric Fog Factory YouTube channel.

- Banjo Heaven: This one features Gold Tone Old Timer.

- Nigel Raga: This features the Recording King Madison.

- Banjo Music Box: I used an old four-string banjo but with a fifth-string drone instead of a bass string.

- It Never Rains On My Banjo: This features a vintage Maybelle. The loud woody tone made it suitable for a slow piece.

- Purple Ocean: This features a Recording King Madison.

The Quitturz by Al Handa