The Electric Banjo Resource Page
Welcome to the Electric Banjo Resource Site! This is the home page for the TranjoCaster (tm) electric banjo.
For discussion of electric banjo and non-bluegrass banjo music, be sure to check out Bopjo. There you will find cool sound clips and discussions on:

  

More YouTube Tranjocaster Videos from Ian "Boog" Patton



The TranjoCaster

The TranjoCaster is now in production! The body has been altered slightly and the tuner mounting has been rotated 90 degrees. There are 2 pickups -- neck and bridge - and a blend pot to combine the two signals. I am now taking orders for TranjoCasters and I can deliver new instruments in 8-10 weeks - longer if you want the painted body option. Alternate pickups, control options, alternate wood and colors also available -- please contact me for details and pricing. The production TranjoCaster sounds just like the prototype, but with the second pickup added you can get a wider variety of tone combinations, from mellow jazz guitar to twangy country electric (scroll down for sound clips). List price for a stock Tranjocaster is $1000, but you can order one directly from me for $900.


Custom black model for Ian Patton, featured on the YouTube links above

Click any image for a larger view

TranjoCaster Specifications:

  • Body and neck - maple or walnut
  • Fingerboard - ebony, 12" radius, 22 frets
  • 7" - 12" compound radius available
  • Scale length -- 25 1/2" (26 3/8" available on special order)
  • Pearl dot inlays, white side dots
  • Two-way adjustable truss rod
  • Poly 1" adjustable mesh strap
  • Pickups - EMG Select single blade pole
  • Controls - Concentric volume/tone pot, blend pot
  • Bridge - metal Tuneomatic type, with height and compensation adjustment
  • Tuners - Gotoh minis, 14:1 ratio
  • weight - 4.25 lbs
  • One bolt removable neck for travel transport - no string removal required
  • Fits into a 20" carryon suitcase (with neck removed)

    Materials and workmanship warrantied for 5 years to original owner
    travel damage not covered under warranty

    14 Day evaluation period for web orders -- you may return your undamaged TranjoCaster within 14 days of receipt, for any reason, for a full refund (less shipping)


    TranjoCaster Ordering Information

    IN STOCK! - Custom Wood Tranjocaster. The face is maple, walnut and cherry in a wave pattern inlay. $1100 - available for immediate shipment

    SOLD!
    I have a custom purple TranjoCaster available for immediate delivery. I am selling this as a "second" due to body and finish cracks under the pick guard. The photos don't do it justice, but the color is a nice deep purple, not black.There is one visible crack near the output jack as well, but you have to be up close to see it. The body is solid maple under the lacquer finish. This is a one-of-a-kind instrument and the first TranjoCaster with a pick guard. Normal price for a custom painted TranjoCaster is $1200, but I'll let this one go for the discounted price of $800. Does not include hardware for travel disassembly. Full 5-year warranty on everything but the paint. SOLD!

    IN STOCK! - Standard Maple TranjoCaster - List price $1000, your direct price $900 (USD). Standard shipping and handling (ground service, continental US) is an additional $30. Premium shipping will be extra -- contact us for an exact quote. 2-3 week delivery

    Full price prepay for TranjoCaster - List price $1000, your direct price $900 (USD). Standard shipping and handling (ground service, continental US) is an additional $30. Premium shipping will be extra -- contact us for an exact quote. Normal delivery is 6-8 weeks from order.

    - OR -
    Deposit for TranjoCaster - $450 (USD) Secures your place on the waiting list. Normal delivery is 6-8 weeks. You will be contacted to pay the balance due before shipping when your Tranjo is ready. Shipping and handling charges will be added to your final payment.

    Custom painting option - solid color over maple, gloss finish. See black example above. Other colors available - please contact us for details. Due to laquer curing time, THIS OPTION WILL ADD 1 - 2 MONTHS TO DELIVERY TIME! Must be included with deposit - $200 (USD)

    Additional shipping charges for non-US customers. Tranjocaster will be shipping by International Priority mail. $50 (USD) (in addition to standard $30 charge)

    If you would rather pay directly by check or money order, email me for details, or call (615) 794-3516 between 9 AM to 9 PM US Central Time (GMT -6). Thanks for your interest! -- Sam Farris, proprietor.

    I took the prototype TranjoCaster to the 2006 Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy to show it off. I was fortunate enough to record both Gary "Biscuit" Davis and James McKinney playing some fantastic licks and tunes. These clips are used with their permission (thanks, guys!). The clips were recorded on a Sony MiniDisc using a homemade stereo condenser microphone, not directly from the amplifier. There is a slight distortion on the louder passages, but that is from the original recording levels being a little too hot.

    Gary "Biscuit" Davis - 1
    Gary "Biscuit" Davis - 2
    Gary "Biscuit" Davis - 3
    Gary "Biscuit" Davis - 4
    Gary "Biscuit" Davis - 5
    Gary "Biscuit" Davis - 6

    James McKinney - 1
    James McKinney - 2

    Prototype TranjoCaster info


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