Béla Fleck

Béla's electric banjo is a Deering Crossfire. He has modified it by changing to EMG pick-ups and pre-amp. It is currently outfitted with a Yamaha midi pick-up.

This black beauty Crossfire electric banjo is a stage performer's dream come true and will play as loud as an electric guitar without feedback. It can be used with electronic effects, pedals, etc. With tone a volume controls on the banjo itself and an actual working banjo head stretched over a brass tone ring, this banjo has the convenience of an electric guitar but with a banjo sound.

This Crossfire has two powerful, active, magnetic pick-ups under the head; one in the neck position and the other by the bridge and both powered by a single 9 volt battery.. By a flick of the toggle switch, you can play the bridge pick-up or the near-the-neck pickup or both at the same time.

You can plug this Crossfire into any keyboard amp, acoustic amp, guitar amp or run it directly into your PA system. While it will sound different in these systems, your versatile Crossfire can play through many systems. You can play almost silently if you play it un-plugged which can extend your practice hours at home or in a hotel.

Whether high volume on stage, or un-plugged on the couch when the kids are sleeping, this Crossfire will work with you in every environment.

The main banjo is the same one I’ve played since 1981: a Gibson Style 75 from 1937 that has the original metal ring and wood back. It has a custom arched neck made by John Monteleone. It’s just fabulous. It has a lot of body and you can play it really hard without it ever sounding harsh.

Bela Fleck's 1967 Rickenbacker 6000 Bantar electric 5 string banjo...

Crisp Maple with a brilliant full bodied tone, deep bass, brilliant highs, The Saratoga Star is one of the most elegantly beautiful modern banjos to enter the musical arena of classic instruments. Greg Deering personally designed the inlays with an Art Nouveau style in mind. Reminiscent of the Victorian Era, this high grade maple banjo stands out as a top of the line professional instrument, at home on the concert stages throughout the world. It is played by world renowned banjoists like Bela Fleck, 2007 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year - Tony Trischka, Joe Bonsal of the Oak Ridge Boys, and Ned Luberecki.

From Bluegrass to Country, Rock to Classical, this is one of the ultimate banjos made today. Crafted with the precision of every Tenbrooks banjo out of highly figured violin grade maple for the ultimate tonal power and sparkle. It is so alive with sound that you can feel the vibrations through the back of the banjo as you play. The sound carries clearly greater distances than other banjos. This banjo is for the dedicated musician who appreciates versatility in communicating with the audience through music.

Béla Fleck is known for using the Deering® John Hartford 24-Fret 5-String Banjo, as highlighted by the Deering Banjo Company. This model offers a unique sound with its longer neck, moving the bridge to the center of the head for a more rounded, full-bodied tone. Featuring both -06- and Grenadillo tone ring options, it delivers a distinct bell-like or woody ringing tone, embodying the iconic John Hartford style.

The main banjo is the same one I’ve played since 1981: a Gibson Style 75 from 1937 that has the original metal ring and wood back. It has a custom arched neck made by John Monteleone. It’s just fabulous. It has a lot of body and you can play it really hard without it ever sounding harsh. I also use another old Gibson Style 18 on the album.

In addition, I use a Deering Bantar, which is a 6-string guitar banjo.

Other instruments include a Rickenbacker electric banjo and a Vega Vox Deluxe banjo.

His other two banjos are electrified: “The black one is a Nechville Meteor, with a small head,” says Fleck. “Some [electric] banjos have no head, but then they have no characteristics, and you might as well play a guitar. The head and the wood bridge have to be in there somewhere. The Nechville sounds like a banjo, and it's in a different tuning, a dropped C, which John Hartford used to do a lot, and which is a sound I just love. I use that tuning on ‘Big Country.''

Bela is famous for using his pre war Gibson banjo. It was originally a four strung but he put a five string neck on it.