This six-string banjo (known by some folks as a "gitjo") is made by Carlo Robelli. I guess it's essentially a banjo for guitar players. While I don't think playing regular banjo is all that difficult to learn, it's nice to have something that's strung like a guitar and can easily be played. The extra strings and ability to hit more notes doesn't hurt either. This is a totally acoustic instrument and I'm not sure a pickup can be easily added. It's pretty cheap and isn't the finest made instrument in the world but it's nice to mess around with.

UTILIZATION

Playing this thing is actually pretty easy. I sound much better at banjo than I really am when I play this. Sure the banjo itself isn't the best sounding instrument in the world but it's easy enough to play. It's very light and easily fits into small banjo cases. The top notes are harder to hit but they're still doable. Overall it plays really well and can be transported easily.

SOUNDS

This is definitely, as I said, not the best sounding instrument ever, however, I do have a soft spot for it as it's really got a good feel to it, and it's great for guitar players. Plus, i'm not really a huge stickler for banjo sounds, and I rarely if ever need to play one on a session (or live). So it works well enough for me, and as long as you aren't trying to sound too professional with it, it'll most likely work for you too. Don't rule it out for recording or live playing though, because it can sound good for those, just not immaculate.

OVERALL OPINION

I feel like this is definitely worth it for the price. It's really cheap and it's definitely a worthy investment. It's great for guys who really just want to mess around and get down on some banjo without having to learn it all that much. Again, it's not perfect but it should be fine for the beginners. I have seen nicer versions of this but this one is certainly no joke. Good buy.