Barnes & Mullins BJ304GT 'Perfect' 4-String Gaelic Tenor Banjo

Barnes & Mullins BJ304GT 'Perfect' 4-String Gaelic Tenor Banjo

Achieve An Authentic Celtic Tone Without Breaking The Bank

The Barnes & Mullins BJ304GT 'Perfect' 4-String Gaelic Tenor Banjo allows players to achieve an authentic Celtic tone without breaking the bank. This banjo is part of the 'Perfect' series, originally created by Messrs Barnes & Mullins in the early 1900s and continues to be highly regarded.

Key features of the BJ304GT include a mahogany resonator, aluminum rim, Remo WeatherKing head, and mahogany neck. These components work together to produce a warm and controlled sound with a gentle and mature response, ideal for Celtic music styles. The banjo also comes complete with chrome hardware and fittings, an ovangkol fingerboard, and modern closed gear machine heads for enhanced playability and durability.

While the original B&M 'Perfect' banjos are considered valuable collectibles, the modern-day 'Perfect' banjos pay homage to the vision and designs of the founders, offering musicians an affordable option to capture the authentic Celtic banjo sound.

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Why Should I Buy a 4-String Banjo?

This B&M Perfect Irish-Gaelic 4-string banjo features 17 frets and is commonly tuned in ‘Irish tuning’ G,D,A,E (4th to 1st). Its shorter scale length makes playing typically fast Irish fiddle styles and songs easier, therefore making its use more common among these types of music and musicians.

It makes for an excellent introductory instrument if you’re new to the world of banjos given its use of fewer strings than 5-string banjos, its shorter scale length, and its versatile playing styles.

Common Irish/Gaelic 4-string Banjo Tunings

• G, D, A, E – Irish Tenor Tuning
• C, G, D, A – Standard Tenor Tuning

Body & Construction Specifications:

• STYLE: 4-String Irish/Gaelic Resonator
• RESONATOR: Mahogany 
• HEAD: Remo Weatherking®
• FLANGE: Chrome
• BRACKET QTY: 30
• RIM: Aluminium
• BRIDGE: Maple with Ovangkol Tip
• COORDINATOR RODS: 1
• HARDWARE: Chrome
• TAILPIECE: Chrome
• ARMREST: Chrome
• NECK: Mahogany 
• FINGERBOARD: Ovangkol 
• FRETS: 17
• INLAYS: Mother of Pearl Dots
• MACHINEHEADS: Closed Gear
• TRUSSROD COVER: 'Perfect' Script
• NUT WIDTH: 30mm
• SCALE LENGTH: 502mm
• WEIGHT: 3kg

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The Barnes & Mullins Story

In 1894, Mr Albert Mullins and Mr S. Bowley Barnes started “The Jo”, their famous musical instrument journal.

Specialising in all things banjo, they soon began manufacturing their own banjos as well as importing many other instruments. The original Barnes and Mullins banjos are still sought after today, with collectors seeking them out all over the world. Sadly in 1914 at the age of 40, Albert Mullins drowned when the ‘Empress of Ireland’ sank on the St Lawrence River. He was on the home leg of a 2 year sales trip.

Bowley Barnes continued the business thereafter, and what he had started with his partner years earlier in Bournemouth now moved to Rathbone Place, London. In 1976, Mark Barnes – son of Bowley Barnes – moved the business to Grays Inn Road, Bloomsbury. Sadly in 1986, Mark Barnes died. He was greatly admired and respected by employees and customers alike who were quick to tell of his fair and generous nature.

In 1999, Bruce Perrin – a Director since 1986 – became Managing Director and moved the business from London to the current location – Grays Inn House – a modern 46000sqft warehouse and office facility in Oswestry, Shropshire. Bruce Perrin says “We are excited about the future and are constantly looking at ways to innovate and evolve, yet Barnes and Mullins has always endeavoured to put the customer at the top of its priority list”