timthompson Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I have a 5 string banjo,with a EMG banjo pickup in it, and want to run it in my HD500, has anyone had any experience with using it in the pod? If so what kind of eq and settings are you using to make it sound good? Thanks Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rino2 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 this is not an answer but a question for you ... what kind /model of EMG pickup do you use? I have a 5 string banjo too and I need to buy a pickup.... price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timthompson Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 I use the EMG ACB 250 .pickups/emg-acb-banjo-pickup-system . It is a very good pickup system, It sounds more natural the further you pick from the bridge. It still has some magnetic qualities when you pick close to the bridge, but you can adjust the pickup forward and backwards, closer and further away from the head to get your tone. "No Feedback" $229 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoguyy Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Just plug it in and use it. Twist the knobs as you see fit. The HD500 is multi purpose, not just a guitar instrument. So there is no problem plugging in other devices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfsmith0 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Yes, I use the Fishman Rare Earth Pickup with my HD500. In the studio I crank the volume, hold the banjo up to the speakers and use the Studio EQ to notch out the resonant frequencies as the banjo is prone to feedback (the entire head is sensitive and prone to feedback). There were a LOT of feedback nodes to null out - maybe 4 or 5 (compared to 0 for guitar, 1 for mandolin, 3 for ukulele, 0 for dulcimer). Once you get those tamed you will need to cut the lows around 220 Hz or so (the low D is ~150 Hz). When I move around on the stage as I approach a music stand (or whatever) the sound bounces off the music stand back onto the head enhancing the bass. Sounds really bad and echoey so just cut the bass. The banjo is a bright instrument anyway and hardly anything is lost. Good luck and have fun! This setup has worked really well for me and sounds very natural when picked close or far from the bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_Brown Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 As pianoguy says, work with your ears. If you want a starting place then the acoustic patches for variax are set pretty 'flat' and should give you a reasonable starting place... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.