Clifton Hicks - Simple Banjo Setup for Correct Intonation, Action, Tone

[@dylansdj019]

Just got my first banjo after listening to your music for a few years now and I’ve been eating up all these educational videos. Thank you for making all this free on KZbin 🍻

[@muttandjeff5213]

Still the most no bull explanation on bridge placement/intonation. Thanks Clif!

[@davidtower3093]

Clifton, thank you for this instruction! Very good!

[@harvdog5669]

Mr.Hicks,, What brand, model, is this open back banjo 🪕 where can I get one ?? What kind of wood is the rim ?? What kind of head is on it too ?? Thank you sir. Your fan Harv I was hoping Mr. Hicks would give me a bit of information on this banjo. I am considering getting one, if I had information on it.

[@NoQuestions4sked]

Awesome, I kind of figured out this on my own, but also learned some things from this vid

[@khalidalonso2290]

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[@landenfrancisco4481]

@Khalid Alonso instablaster =)

[@khalidalonso2290]

@Landen Francisco i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im trying it out now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@khalidalonso2290]

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[@landenfrancisco4481]

@Khalid Alonso happy to help :)

[@janfideplat752]

Merci beaucoup pour ce petit bonus, très instructif 👍😊

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Je suis heureux d'aider.

[@itsobvious5835]

Another helpful video. Thank you.

[@nvdawahyaify]

The reason that that tailpiece makes the banjo sound better is because by adding pressure on the bridge it transfers more vibration from the srtings into the head. Increasing both volume and harmonic content of the sound. Thanks for the video.

[@BlindDesertPete]

So why the no tailpiece craze?

[@nvdawahyaify]

@@BlindDesertPete I'm not sure. But if you have a banjo without a tailpiece, the strings would still need to be mounted some how. If the strings are attached to the end of the neck struck all the way through the body like on the akonting or gimbri the pressure provided by the angle between the bridge and end whwre the strings are attached will do the same thing as the tailpiece. If it's a modern design of banjo it may not be lacking a tailpiece. One of my banjos has a no-knot tailpiece which doesn't look like i have one from the front, because the strings attach at the very bottom of the body.

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

@@nvdawahyaify my standard "no knot" tailpiece is maybe what he meant? Doesn't press down on the strings but of course is still applying pressure leading them down around the rim like it does, I suppose.

[@rayhomewood8831]

Thank you! 😊

[@whiskymylove]

Im late to the game here. Can i assume your measuring frkm the strings side of the nut and not the headstock side?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes, measure from inside edge of nut and bridge.

[@whiskymylove]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo thank you very much. You rock socks 🤘

[@tomkmb4120]

Coming to the Banjo after 20 years of guitar playing, I'm setting mine up correctly and tuning it however it always sounds like it's out of tune somehow, I've put new strings on, double checked the intonation etc...not sure what else I can do.

[@dantemacdonald7672]

My original intent was to make myself a mountain banjo to learn on because woodworking is fun and so are instruments, but before I got a chance to get any real work done on that, my sister lent me her fancy shmancy 5 string banjo so I strung it up and ive been trying to get down the absolute basics of playing it since then, this video (among another dozen or so that youve created) has been very helpful and id just like to let ya know that youre just about the only person on youtube from whom I can learn something and NOT want to throw a nickel or something at due to their sheerly annoying nature, so for that reason, I vehemently appreciate you and all the work you do on this channel; its all beyond helpful for a young aspiring banjoist and it only makes me wish I could learn from you directly

[@mitchellsimi5373]

Hey Clifton, I learned a lot about Banjo set up from you..being new to banjo playing I don't want to make rookie mistakes that could be costly...I noticed that there are two types of tuning peg set ups...ones behind the head stock and the other on the sides of the head stock... most of the seasoned players I've noticed prefer the tuning pegs behind the head stock...what are your thoughts on this???

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

The straight-back tuners are just more old fashioned, and I think they look nicer.

[@hammill444]

But why did you tilt the bridge exactly? Doesn’t that technically affect the distance from the 12 th fret to the lower strings?

[@adamgerald849]

It has to do with intonation. Every string is at a different gauge and tension so each string is actually a slightly different length. Every banjo and bridge is different and may require the bridge to be tilted slightly. You check intonation by playing a string open, then the same string at the 12th fret. It should be the same note. If the note is sharp move the bridge slightly toward the tailpiece, if flat move it toward the neck. Usually the finished result is the bridge slightly angled like Clifton's in the video.

[@hammill444]

@@adamgerald849 Thanks. Much appreciated.

[@christineweatherford5852]

Mr. Hicks, what if my bridge measures 5/8” and if followed your set up but my action is super high? Should I sand down my bridge?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I would just order a new 1/2" bridge, which is as short as they tend to make them. If the shorter bridge still doesn't lower your action enough then the banjo probably needs its neck re-set.

[@christineweatherford5852]

Thank you! I just ordered a 1/2” bridge! Fingers crossed because the action on this epiphone is super high!!!

[@redwolf7929]

Hi how high off the skin should you adjust the tail piece?

[@mickoleary7488]

You are saying 12th fret whilst showing the 7th fret?

[@eliwebster509]

I was gonna say the same thing haha.

[@vertexalliance6819]

@@eliwebster509 Me too. Anyway, I understand.

[@mickoleary7488]

Is it 7th or 12th fret?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

12th fret. "Do as I say, not as I do!"

[@theeaskey]

You cannot use a Carpenters tape to set up your intonation..there's a 1/6 " floating tip on the end of the tape...use a 24 " Ridgid ruler.. 13 1/2 ...or 13 3/4 that's not an accurate measurement.but I do appreciate the time you took to do this.

[@thurgogopro5338]

Along as it measures the same it doesn't matter what you use. A piece of shoelace is fine