Plectrum Banjo — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Plectrum BanjoType: instrumentA four-string banjo with a full-length neck, originally developed for chord-melody playing in early jazz and popular music.## History The plectrum banjo emerged in the 1920s when five-string banjo players, seeking to play chord-melody style in dance bands and jazz ensembles, simply removed the short fifth string and played with a plectrum. This approach allowed them to keep the full 22-fret neck length of the five-string banjo while using a flatpick for more driving rhythmic work. The plectrum banjo became standard in Dixieland jazz and ragtime ensembles, where its bright, cutting tone provided essential rhythmic accompaniment. Eddie Peabody, known as the "King of the Banjo," popularized the plectrum banjo through radio broadcasts and recordings in the 1920s-1940s. While less common today than the five-string or tenor banjo, the plectrum banjo retains a dedicated following in traditional jazz circles. ## Construction The plectrum banjo uses the same pot assembly as a five-string banjo, including rim, tone ring, head, and resonator, but with a four-string neck of 22 frets and a scale length of approximately 26 to 28 inches. Without the fifth-string peg, the neck profile is cleaner than a five-string banjo. Construction quality and materials match standard banjo building: maple rim and neck, metal tone ring, and either open-back or resonator-backed configuration. The instrument is played exclusively with a flatpick, and the four strings are tuned C-G-B-D (from lowest to highest), which is the same as the top four strings of a five-string banjo minus the drone. ## Tonal Characteristics The plectrum…