Tranjo: The Travel Banjo

I love traveling with my banjo. Playing banjo in other parts of the country or world is one of my favorite things to do. However, traveling with a banjo can be tricky due to its size.

Years ago, I started looking for a travel banjo and discovered the Tranjo created by Sam Farris.

(The Tranjo in Kauai)

It's a fascinating instrument because it is a full 26-3/8 inch scale length banjo in standard G tuning, but is only 31" assembled (a good 6" shorter than a standard banjo) and only 20" when disassembled, and can fit into a carry-on suitcase. Yes, you read that right. But let's back up.

Having the full scale neck length means you see no difference in practice and playing up the neck, and the banjo stays in the standard G tuning (as opposed to being tuned in A on a smaller banjo).

To have a full-length banjo at 6" shorter in length is pretty phenomenal to start with. This is accomplished by putting Steinberg tuners in the body and having a smaller 8" head. As a result, the fretboard ends at the nut. 

Because it's so small and has a nice little carrying case, I've traveled with it several times without disassembling it. Doing so is still a bit of a risk if there's no room in the overhead bins. If I'm worried about it, I can easily disassemble it, and it fits right into a 20" carry-on suitcase, as you can see here.

I say " I can easily disassemble it," but the truth is it takes some getting used to. There is nothing more unnatural than unbolting the neck of a stringed instrument, as tension is the main requirement to create the tones. It is a process of detuning slowly until you can tighten down the "string clamp" (to keep the strings from going everywhere and the bridge from falling over) and then unbolt the neck.

But with time, it does, in fact, become easy (as you can see in the video above). I can disassemble the Tranjo in less than 5 minutes, even in a busy airport with people staring in disbelief. 

The sound is solid, given that you have a much smaller head, and you are constantly tuning and detuning the strings. It isn't the loudest banjo you've played, and obviously couldn't compete with a behemoth (in comparison) resonator banjo. But you can take it anywhere in the world, in standard G tuning, with a full-scale neck, which is its goal.

Banjo Mountain has no affiliation with Sam or Tranjo. We just love people who make great things, and the Tranjo is pretty great!

Tranjo in Hawaii

Tranjo in Croatia

Tranjo on Vancouver Island BC Canada

Tranjo at sea

If you're interested in learning to play banjo, I'd suggest starting here: The Beginner's Guide to Learning Banjo!