Which Mic for Banjo?

[L20A]

My band uses Shure Beta-57 mics for our guitars, mandolin and banjo.
For some reason, we have a hard time hearing the banjo. Imagine that!

I know that there are a lot of possible reasons for this but I also would like to know if there may be a better choice in mics for the banjo.

Side note, when we play on stage with most any Pro Sound Company, we all use SM-57 mics and the banjo sounds fine in the mix.

Perhaps we need someone to help us with the mixer and our way of setting up the sound.

I would like to be able to stay with all of us using our Beta-57 mics but if there is a better choice for the banjo that doesn't cost over $400.00 I would be interested in it.

[keith.rogers]

Beta57a is a hyper(super?)-cardioid pattern and so has a tighter pattern than a cardioid SM57. Your banjo player likely needs to get better at staying right on the mic, and maybe spend a little time determining the best position and angle and sticking closely to that when setting up.

Failing that, any cardioid pattern mic will be easier for anyone that moves around a bit, or too much. Inexpensive small condensers can also work if your PA lacks sufficient [separate] gain for the SM57 but has phantom power. No need to spend $400, IMHO.

[Rudy4]

Resonator or open back?

A lot of the open back players I know use a standard 58 tied to the perch pole / dowel stick / coordinator rods.

If you're looking for high volume and don't care about keeping your banjo stock then outfit it with a Kavanjo pickup / head.

[L20A]

This is a Bluegrass Banjo being played against mandolin 2 acoustic guitars, a resonator guitar and stand up bass.

[martingitdave]

We usually ask our banjo player to play "down the river and far far away." He doesn’t require a mic for that. Seriously though, SM57 is fine.

[columbia]

Even though the banjo is usually thought of as a loud instrument, you still have to get right up on a SM-57 to be heard well.

[L20A]

Thanks everyone for your answers.
He is using a Beta-57.
Would an SM-57 be a better choice?

[columbia]

Originally Posted by L20A

Thanks everyone for your answers.
He is using a Beta-57.
Would an SM-57 be a better choice?

No they're about the same. He has to pick forcefully and be close to the mic.

[L20A]

I'm starting to think that the problem isn't the banjo. It might be the sound mix.

[Fathand]

I've not had a problem with an SM57 and no need to be right on it except for breaks. I regulary back off during vocals, and other's breaks, lean in for fill licks and step up for a break. Isn't this what most Bluegrass players do?

I find pointing the mic at the flange openings near the neck on the treble side works.

[L20A]

Thank you all again for your help and perspective.

I took this info to practice and talked to our sound system mixer about possible fixes for the low volume problem.

We did a show last night and the banjo was sounded great.
He used the Shure Beta 57 and positioned it where the neck meets the body.

The sound guy [owner of the board] lowered all of our mic settings and brought up the main settings.
Doing this allowed him to have more room to adjust each individual mic.

We still need to tweak the sound a bit but we are now going in the right direction.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

If you're looking for high volume and don't care about keeping your banjo stock then outfit it with a Kavanjo pickup / head.

I’m not familiar with the Kavanjo pickup, but wanted to chime in in support of using pickups on banjos*. When I got good enough on banjo to use it onstage I discovered to my dismay that the banjo is fiendishly difficult to mic properly: you basically have to stand stock still like a statue and not move so much as a quarter inch away from the mic or the sound changes drastically.

Since I move around a lot when I play, this wasn’t viable for me. I solved the problem by putting a K&K banjo pickup on the drumhead AND playing into a mic simultaneously. This gives the player a lot more flexibility and a much more consistent sound.

It also gives whoever is running sound much more to work with, meaning that they don’t have to be as competent to give you a good sound as someone mixing the sound working only with a microphone needs to be.

So the best advice I can give you is to convince your bandmate to use a pickup as well as a mic - it’ll make his life much easier.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller



*Old joke about pickups on banjos:

What’s the best pickup to use on a banjo?

A Ford F-150!

[stevo58]

Wade, how is the tone on the K&K, and do you play four- or five-string?

Steven

[Wade Hampton]

The tone of the K&K is quite natural, and it’s a hot pickup so you can run it without a preamp if you want.

I actually play three different types of banjos: five string, six string guitar-banjo and eight string mandolin-banjo. The mandolin-banjo doesn’t have a pickup on it, but the guitar-banjo and five string both do.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Skarsaune]

My new GT-500 came with a pickup. We're going to experiment with it vs a mic at tomorrow's practice.