Some instruments carry a sense of history before you even play a note, and the Barnes & Mullins Empress Irish-Gaelic 4-String Tenor Banjo is certainly one of them.
This banjo is named in memory of the 'RMS Empress of Ireland,' the steamship that tragically sank on the St. Lawrence River in May 1914. It is a poignant tribute to one of the souls lost that day—Mr. Albert Mullins himself—who was on the return leg of a two-year worldwide sales voyage.
Beyond its heritage, the Empress is a stunning piece of craftsmanship. It is centred around a figured burl walnut resonator, and the wood features a spellbinding marbled grain pattern that immediately catches the eye. This is matched with a walnut rim and neck, creating a cohesive, dark-wood aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the chrome hardware, armrest, and flange.
This is a 17-fret, 4-string instrument, often referred to as an Irish or Gaelic banjo. Because it has a shorter scale length (502mm) and fewer strings than a standard 5-string banjo, it serves as an excellent entry point for those new to the banjo world.
The design is intentional; that shorter scale makes it significantly easier to navigate the fretboard for the fast, triplet-heavy fiddle styles found in Irish traditional music. While it accommodates Standard Tenor Tuning (C, G, D, A), it is most commonly found in ‘Irish tuning’ (G, D, A, E), making it a staple for session players.
The Empress offers a sonic character that balances weight with clarity. You can expect a sound with superb depth, aided by the rolled brass tone ring sitting beneath the Remo Weatherking head. Whether you are strumming chords or picking intricate melodies, the instrument encourages you to explore a wide range of styles.
The neck is topped with an Ovangkol fingerboard featuring patterned Mother of Pearl fret inlays, and the headstock is fitted with traditional planetary machineheads to keep your tuning stable.
- Figured burl walnut resonator with marbled grain and chrome fittings
- Deep tone and bright articulation driven by a rolled brass tone ring
- Ideal for playing fast Irish fiddle styles due to the 17-fret, short-scale design
- Walnut neck and Ovangkol fingerboard
- 502mm scale length
- 32mm nut width
- 17 frets
- Planetary machinheads