Gremlin 6 String Banjo

This Korean, inexpensive (#180) "Banjitar" certainly looks like a "real" banjo .It comes complete with chrome hand guard which has a poor, single centre fixing. This means it is prone to loosen then slide down and foul the head unless checked and tightened regularly. I have removed mine to improve playability at the expense of looks.
I can't fault the overall appearance and finish bearing in mind the price!

I have experimented with vatious string sets and found the following to suit the Irish/folk stuff I play.
50-46-36-28-20-12
I find the head needs tightening about once a week.
I tend to play with my hand damping the head which 'flattens' the sound to a more banjo like tone.
A transducer pick-up fitted to the truss rod under the bridge cover is not visible throug the skin. This is then wired to a jack socket drilled through the aluminium ring . This allows a tuner to be plugged in and also P.A. use. The controls are on the amp which has to be cranked up to get a reasonable volume.
I find that it is almost impossible to get a 'proper' banjo sound by strumming but use a pick to imitate a four string sound. behind a guitar and a whistle it sounds quite authentic

The action is a tad high 'thogh playable.
The floating bridge can easily be positioned to give 'bang on' concert tuning at twelvth fret on all strings. i have marked the bridge position on the skin. The cheap looking tuners with open worm drive work suprisingly well with no slippage at all.
Meticulous tuning is essential.
I intend to replace the softwood bridge with a hardwood copy.

I have had my Gremlin for two years now and have been delighted with it's robustness. I drag it around ( in a hard case )folk clubs and pubs and apart from routine maintainence, nothing has ever gone wrong or let me down.I use it at least twice a week and reckon I have more than had my money's worth.It stil looks as good as new.The head can be cleaned with a damp cloth and the resonater polishes up a treat.

I have never needed this facillity .

I am a novice with about fours years experience now.
I play a six string guitar (Kimbara 27F accoustic and Tanglewood MR 750 FX with Fishman bits)and tremelo mouthorgan.
I play solo in amateur folk clubs and in a band with two other friends as an Irish band. We are now getting a few pub gigs ,the shock of actually getting paid still has'nt worn off.
The Gremlin banjo has really helped me as a beginner to enjoy playing with other people and produce the sound I want without having to learn new chord shapes etc. I do'nt use it as a solo instrument but it allows our band a different sound to two guitars .I did intend to learn four string Irish tenor banjo as my playing skills improved, but I find the Gremlin does the job and I would not part with it now at any price.

This Korean-made banjo is been featured here as it has got 6 strings and it's tuned like a guitar. Looks preety much like a banjo, short scale and USA Remo head.
No case of any sort.
Everything rather cheap but the thing works. It's a bit of challenge for guitar players...

"I don't like guitar players, they can only play guitars" John Paul Jones

Raspy and twanggy but I guess that's how a banjo should sound to cut through a dense wall of sound. Not the best, sweetest sound I've heard but good for a folky impression. It reminds me sometimes as a distant cousin of a Dobro. Don't know...
By the way I play it with Maxima Acoustic guitar strings (014 - 057 -ish gauge). It sounds about right.

Action is a bit high and there's little you can do about it. Anything else up to Korean standards. The finish was applied in a nice, even way.

Not a terrible built instrument. I'd say right for the price.

Looks strong enough. Mind you, not many things can go wrong in this basic acoustic instrument.

You what??

It's an inexpensive, funky instrument made with little glamour. Nevertheless everything works efficiently and the sound is about right. Shame there isn't a pickup of any sort.
The best thing is that you can play it with having to change much your technique (six strings, EADGBE tuning,...) but you'll have to adjust your mind. I had to.

Come on lads, let's prove John Paul wrong!!!