The Banjo That Plays Like a Guitar — Because It Basically Does
You've always had a thing for that banjo sound — the snap, the twang, the way it cuts right through a mix — but the thought of relearning your whole fretting hand from scratch has kept it on the wishlist. The Washburn B6-A is built for exactly that situation. It's a genuine open-back banjo with a genuine banjo voice, but it's strung and tuned EADGBE, just like your guitar. Your chord shapes work. Your scale runs work. You just sound like a banjo player now.
Part of Washburn's Americana Series, the B6-A has an 11" distressed Remo head that gives it a warmer, fuller tone than a standard bright head — a little more old-time character right out of the box. The open-back design keeps the sound direct and present without the added projection of a resonator, which makes it a great option for smaller rooms, porch picking, or sitting in with an acoustic group where you don't need to overpower anyone.
Washburn has been making banjos since the late 1800s, and the B6-A carries that heritage into a format that's genuinely approachable for anyone who already plays guitar. If you've been eyeing a banjo but weren't ready to commit to a whole new instrument, this one meets you where you are.
Mahogany Rim and Neck — Warm From the Ground Up
The B6-A builds its tone from a mahogany rim paired with a mahogany neck. Mahogany tends to push the low-mids forward and take a little of the brightness off the top end — which pairs really naturally with the distressed Remo head to produce a round, full banjo tone that isn't harsh or brittle. The 11" notched tension hoop uses 24 brackets, giving you even head tension across the whole drum for consistent response.
The neck carries a rolled brass tone ring, which adds sustain and a bit of warmth compared to instruments without one. A chrome armrest is also included, which makes a real difference if you're playing for more than a few minutes — your forearm will thank you.
Engineered Fretboard, Standard Guitar Scale
The B6-A uses an engineered wood fretboard with dot inlays and a 25.5" scale length — the same scale length as most full-size guitars, so the string tension and spacing will feel immediately familiar. Nut width is 1-11/16" (43mm), which is again right in line with what most guitar players are used to. The die-cast chrome tuners are geared, giving you smooth, reliable tuning stability.
The bridge is maple with an ebony tip, which helps transfer string vibration to the head cleanly and gives the attack a bit of definition. The banjo ships with D'Addario J60+ light gauge nickel strings installed and ready to go.
Product Features:
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Configuration: 6-string open back banjo, tuned EADGBE (standard guitar tuning)
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Rim: Mahogany, 11" notched tension hoop with 24 brackets
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Tone Ring: Rolled brass
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Head: 11" distressed Remo — warmer, fuller tone than a standard bright head
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Neck: Mahogany with chrome die-cast tuners
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Fretboard: Engineered wood with dot inlays, 25.5" scale length, 1-11/16" nut width
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Bridge: Maple with ebony tip for clean tone transfer
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Hardware: Chrome die-cast tuners, 6-string tailpiece, standard chrome armrest
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Finish: Natural matte
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Strings: D'Addario J60+ light gauge nickel
Brand: Washburn
Model: Americana B6-A
SKU: B6-A-U
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
