Instructions

Diagram

Setup

Introduction

GUITAR-JO® is an electric guitar accessory used to create the sound of a banjo. The following instructions will show you how to mount and use the device. We recommend visiting our YouTube channel or our website to learn more about how to maximize the sound of your unit.

Please note:

• GUITAR-JO mounts to flat body guitars, not arch tops.
• This is designed to make an electric guitar sound like a banjo, not an acoustic.

01

Take Off Cover

Take off the cover located on the bottom of the mounting base.

02

Locate Proper Position on Guitar Body

With the main body attached to the mounting base and the side screw loosened to allow it to swivel, slide the foot of the mounting base underneath the strings so that it is perpendicular with the guitar strings. Do not press down yet.

Alternate Positions

You can position the mounting base other ways as well based on where space is available on your guitar. Here are some examples:

03

Line Up Dampeners With Strings

Swivel the main body on the mounting base until the 6 dampeners roughly line up with each guitar string. Note that depending on the style of your guitar, the main body might need to be positioned at an angle rather than perpendicular to line up the dampeners with the strings.

04

Secure In Place

Once it is in position, press down on the mounting base to secure the device. The reusable microsuction material on the bottom will allow it to hold to the body of the guitar without leaving any sticky residue and can be pulled off with ease.

05

Adjust Height of Main Body

Adjust the overall height of the main body by loosening the side screw and sliding the body up or down the mounting base.

We suggest resting the main body on the ledge of the mounting base. The ability to raise the main body higher than the ledge is to accommodate guitars with strings that are farther away from the body than most guitars.

When resting on the ledge, you can pivot the main body away or raise it up so that it is not touching the strings to temporarily disable/enable GUITAR-JO and easily move it back into position, matching the exact height as before.

06

Adjust Height of Dampeners

The goal is to lightly touch the electric guitar strings with the dampeners to give it a banjo twang. Use the adjusters to raise or lower each dampener so that they gently touch each string. Note that the more you apply pressure, the more it will mute the strings and decrease the sustain, so it’s important that you take the time to get an even balance.

07

Cover Bottom of Mounting Base

Keep the bottom of the mounting base covered with the mounting base protector when GUITAR-JO is not mounted to your guitar. This will prevent dust and other particles from sticking to the bottom, which will maximize the life of the microsuction material.

Be sure to check out the helpful tips below

Tips & Tricks

Fret-Span

The higher you go on the fretboard, the more the strings will pull away from the dampeners. Therefore, you should determine the general span of frets you will be playing on ahead of time so you can base the height of the dampeners on that.

7-Fret span

As an example, if you will be playing mostly on the first 7 frets, it’s recommended that you tune your open frets so that the notes are staccato. That way, when playing in between the open and 7th fret, you will have a nice even banjo sound. When you go past the 7th fret in this particular case, you will start to lose the banjo twang.

Recommended Span of Frets

If you plan on playing higher up on the fretboard, you should lower the dampeners even more. However, it will mute the lower frets to the point where they are extremely staccato, which won’t sound very good. We find the former tuning settings are the most versatile when using GUITAR-JO, as you can play both chords and lead on the first 7 frets.

Pickups & EQ

Since the pickups on your guitar produce different tones, try out each pickup to find the best sound.

Amplifier EQ

Adjusting the EQ on your amp or mixer can also maximize the sound. In general, it is best to boost the mids and lower the bass, but it also depends on the guitar pickup you are using and your own sound preference.

To minimize the high-pitched harmonics that can occur when you let certain notes ring out, keep the treble on the lower side. If you have access to a multiband EQ, see next page.

Multiband EQ

With a multiband EQ, you can more precisely target and reduce any unwanted high-pitched frequencies without turning down the overall treble. You can find a multiband equalizer in any recording program, but there are also individual guitar effects pedals you can purchase. In addition, some multi-effects pedals have built-in multiband equalizers.

In general, the most prevalent peaks are between 1-2k Hz and around 4.5k Hz. Below is an example of the EQ settings for a GUITAR-JO studio recording. You can use this as a starting point, but again, it might vary based on the guitar pickups, placement of the GUITAR-JO, notes being played, your own sound preference, etc.

Engage/Disengage Quickly

01

Loosen the side screw just enough so that the main body can rotate but will stay in place when you take your hand off.

02

Swivel GUITAR-JO® out of the way when not in use.

Cleaning Microsuction

If the microsuction material gets dirty to the point where it loses its stick, take a clean, damp cloth and wipe any dust or particles off. Wipe it down again with a dry area of the cloth to remove any wetness.

Depending on how damp the cloth is, water may seep into the microscopic air pockets found in the microsuction, making it less sticky. In this case, let it dry for a while.

Also, you can also use scotch tape to pull dirt or dust off.