Barnes & Mullins Empress 4-String Tenor Banjo

Barnes & Mullins Empress banjos are beautiful instruments named in memory of the 'RMS Empress of Ireland' steam ship which sank on Canada's St Lawrence River in May 1914 with the loss of over 1000 lives. Mr Albert Mullins, who was on the return leg of a 2 year worldwide sales voyage, was one of the lost souls that day.

Featuring a wonderfully figured burl walnut resonator with its spellbinding marbled grain pattern, combined with a walnut rim and neck, the Empress banjo is a real head turner!

Tonally, you can expect superb depth to the overall sound, paired with a bright and articulate response that rewards exploration and encourages performance of a wide range of playing styles.

Complete with chrome hardware and fittings, ovangkol fingerboard with patterned fret inlays, and traditional planetary machineheads.

Why should I buy a 4-string banjo?

This B&M Empress 4-string banjo is also sometimes referred to as a 'plectrum' or 'tenor' banjo and is generally used for lively styles such as Traditional Jazz (Dixieland). It is usually played with a pick (or 'plectrum') in either an accompaniment strumming fashion or by picking individual melody notes – much like a guitar.

It makes for an excellent introductory instrument if you're new to the world of banjos given its use of fewer strings than 5-string banjos, its shorter scale length, and its versatile playing styles.

Common 4-string banjo tunings

C, G, D, A – Standard Tenor Tuning
D, G, B, E – Chicago Tuning