Just like guitars, there are solid body banjos and “acoustic” banjos with pickups. You will find that most banjos do not have a pickup because traditional banjo playing typically emphasizes the acoustic sound of the banjo. That being said, modern banjo players or stage performers often desire plugged-in amplification.

The ability to electrify your banjo by installing a pickup or by purchasing a solid-body electric banjo offers multiple benefits over acoustic. First and foremost, with a pickup you can control overall sound and volume consistency through the pickup. For stage performers, effects and feedback reduction is not something you can replicate acoustically.

Types of Banjo Pickups

Magnetic Pickups

Magnetic pickups share the same characteristics as those installed in a typical electric guitar. This type of pickup works by converting vibrations of the nickel-plated banjo strings into an electrical signal. We often recommend this type of pickup due to the clear and loud sound when plugged in.

Pros:

• Strong, clear sound
• Good for high-volume settings
• Less feedback compared to other solutions

Cons:

• Can be more challenging to install
• Requires a magnetic string material (Does not work with nylon)

We recommend the SMP+ Sliding Magnetic Pickup which allows for a more simple installation process.

Piezo/Transducer Pickups

A piezo pickup or transducer pickup is a popular choice for a quick and easy amplification solution for your banjo. They work by detecting vibrations of the banjo body and converting that into an electrical signal. The transducer is typically placed on the underside of the banjo head close or directly under the bridge.

Pros:

• Natural, acoustic-like sound
• Simple installation
• Decent feedback resistance

Cons:

• Can be sensitive to handling noise
• May require a preamp to achieve the best sound quality and volume.

We recommend our Hot Dot Stick-On Pickup as a quick and budget friendly solution. Additionally we recommend the high-end Fishman Rare Earth Banjo Pickup.

Microphone Pickups

A microphone pickup solution typically involves a small microphone that mounts to the outside of the banjo. This pickup is designed to capture the acoustic ambience of the banjo while limiting outside noise. An installed microphone allows for a non-invasive solution while still capturing an accurate sound.

Pros:

• Very natural and detailed sound
• Captures the full tonal range of the banjo
• Non-intrusive installation

Cons:

• High susceptibility to feedback
• Requires careful placement and adjustment
• Can pick up ambient noise

We recommend our ABS Microphones designed for banjos. We offer both Condenser and Dynamic versions of this microphone to achieve your desired sound.

Recommended Electric Banjos

We offer a wide range of banjos both with pickups and completely solid body. Offering the largest variety of electric banjos, we have a selection of over eight banjos either solid body or with a pickup below. However, we can install a pickup on any banjo!

Solid Body:

• EB-5
• EBM-5
• EBT

With Pickup:

• Banjola+
• BB-400+
• CC-100+
• CC-100R+
• Dojo-DLX