Hello,
Does anyone have any experience with the kavanjo pick up? I play in a very loud band with drums etc in smaller venues like bars.
I’m having a lot of trouble with feedback. I’ve tried all the normal culprits but still seem to be having trouble.
Are these pick ups as good as they clam to be at eliminating feedback?
Thanks!
Edited by - Texasbanjo on 04/16/2026 08:13:15
It's just a magnetic pickup. Being embedded into the banjo head is a bit of a gimmick.
It'll sound like a 5-string telecaster ("banjocaster"). There will be no transference of acoustic tone at all, so you will need a lot of FX to get it back to a banjo-ish sound. I say "ish" because realistically it won't sound like a banjo no matter how hard you try. That said, it won't feedback really at all so if that's your issue it will take care of that.
Deering has been selling them for years but they are not the only game around. I am also a dealer and have experience with these. You can't buy the pickup alone—it comes pre-installed in a head but they will install it in any head the customer wants.
It sounds more like a banjo than one should expect being a magnetic pickup. The strings still interact with the head so it is not like a solid body electric guitar.
For best results, use stainless steel or nickel plated steel 4th strings. These have magnetic properties—bronze wrapped strings do not except for the thin core.
There are a number of Kavanjo videos featuring Ashley Campbell (Glen's daughter) so you can get an idea of how they sound.
Thanks Mike, background = magnetic steel or non-ferrous bronze with weaker steel core. Then learn to mix
It’s like using a magnet on different banjo parts.
Feedback can be controlled.
It sounds like maybe the audience is less discriminating
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