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Ozark Eagle - Professional Range submitted 11/7/2009
Submitter	Pablo9364 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Andy Perkins
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Very loud
Sound Rating	8
Setup	It was set up OK. I had the action and set up adjusted on two occasions shortly after buying but now it is just right.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	Very fancy without being over the top. gold , pearl inlay and fancy edging etc
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Very solid and well made. heavy
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service
Customer Service	10
Components	No components needed upgrading
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	Just my opinion but the name seems to be associated with the less expensive banjos they sell which are a bit cheap. But this is the exception. If you can see past the name then you will get one of the best quality items money can buy!
Overall Rating	10

Gold Tone Cripple Creek CC-50RP submitted 11/7/2009
Submitter	Pablo9364 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Andy Perkins
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	A little extra volume because it has a small tone ring around the outside. Sort of medium volume. nice sound.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	Set up was OK - action and setup adjusted shortly after buying but now perfect.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	Its nice and simple. nothing fancy
Appearance Rating	7
Reliability	Gold tone are a good make. It is a quality item and seems reliable in the same way
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service
Customer Service	10
Components	No components require changing
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	These cripple creek range are very nice banjos. well worth the money. A good proper musical instrument for the learner.
Overall Rating	9

Vega Vega by the Galaxy Corporation No Ser. # submitted 11/7/2009
Submitter	revellfa (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	eBay
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	600 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	Really had a Masterclone sound. Very nice bass. Very loud and full sound. It could hold its own in a jam. You could however tell that it WAS NOT a Mastertone on the last few frets which is totally understandable.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	Setup was excellent--better than any banjo that I have owned. It looked as though there was a shim near the heel. The action was perfect--close to the fretboard with about an 11/16th bridge on er'. I wouldn't change a thing about the setup on this banjo.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Beautiful. I think it was mahogany, but I don't remember. There was an eagle inlayed in MOP on the resonator as I recall. Rosewood fingerboard, Ebony peghead overlay. Tube and Plate Flange. It had Martin-VIP style MOP inlay and an ample amount of that good ole' Asian lacquer.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	It looked like a good sturdy banjo. Dual coordinator rods, tone ring (tubaphone style I think.) It was a very tough and solid banjo.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Galaxy Corporation has been out of business for some time and the Vega name now belongs to the Deering Company.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	The neck was nice, but a bit thick. The flange could probably have been replaced. I think the tailpiece was a Waverly. All very high-quality parts. This was a heavy, well-made, Masterclone banjo.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	For the price it was probably a better overall deal than a Gold-Star from the same time period, so it gets a 9. I regret selling this banjo, but not every day of my life. (I sold it to take a trip to the Middle-East.) I would jump on the chance to buy another.
Overall Rating	9

Deering Saratoga Star submitted 11/6/2009
Submitter	Ansacsteve (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Eagle Music
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Lots () historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	There is no other banjo sound to compare it to, its as simple as that. It has one of the new USA cast tone ring and I believe that the tones are of a better quality than the swiss one. It can be bright near the bridge or when further away so laid back mellow its almost horizontal. You only need to listen to a top picker to hear what she can do (I am a novice!)
Sound Rating	10
Setup	It came just as described 1/8inch at the 12th. Who am I to argue with the designer! Changes? Why bother trying to improve the Carlsberg of banjos (Probably the best banjo in the world), I know I could put on a nice new strap!
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Its very easy on the eyes, straight of the case a beauty.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	It will see me in my box! Take her out? Big question, dont think so. I will keep her chained up in the house! Serious I am not sure if I would take her out to a barn dance.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Life time warrenty. Its got to be good.
Customer Service	10
Components	The Saratoga Star hasnt got cheap parts. I might consider a custom nut cover, but I doubt if I would change it
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	A true joy. It is a beauty and more words are surplus.
Overall Rating	10

Gibson RB-3 Standard submitted 11/5/2009
Submitter	Brian (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Private Party
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	1549 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	This banjo was made in May of 1993. It is my second, high quality mahogany banjo. It sounds a lot like the Hatfield I used to have. It is bright and hollow with a very nice growl. One you've owned a banjo in each of the 3 main woods, you can really tell what each has to offer. I think mahogany is the best all around sounding banjo. This one sounds incredible!
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The set up was fine. I tore it apart and made a slight adjustment to the tone ring fit. The neck fit is perfect and the banjo notes true up the neck.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	This banjo has been played A LOT!! It has a massive belt buckle rash on the back side of the resonator. The neck has had some filler applied to gouges on several frets. I'm going to mark the appearance low but it is actually one of the reasons that I love this banjo. It's got a lot of character!
Appearance Rating	6
Reliability	Hardware is standard Gibson. High quality with no worries. The binding has yellowed. The headstock inlays have also yellowed.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	N/A
Customer Service	not rated
Components	All parts are great! It has a maple rim with Kulesh ring. The neck is impressive given the obvious amount of play time it's had.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	As I said, this banjo reminds me of a Hatfield Buck Creek that I once had. It has a great open and bright sound with lots of sparkle. I love the inlay pattern which I think is called standard. It's a 1993 which is from the coveted Greg Rich era. Is it all hype? Not from what I can see! Try one, you'll like it!!
Overall Rating	9

Gold Tone cc mini submitted 11/4/2009
Submitter	Pablo9364 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	AndyPerkins
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Plays in key of C. It wont sound as good as a full size but it sounds surprisingly better than what you might expect from an instrument of this size.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	Was set up very nice indeed.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Its cool because of its small size. quality built and looks like a proper musical instrument and not a toy.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	looks good
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	top
Customer Service	10
Components
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	Quality item well made and sounds good - Cant seem to put it down - the small size and quiet sound is nice.
Overall Rating	8

Kat Eyz Cougar submitted 11/3/2009
Submitter	BRIAN MUNDAY (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	The Cougar has a rich dry sound with no overtones, great fourth string and the upper register was crystal clear. The banjo has a traditional sound to it that matches the type of music I play.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	I loved the way the banjo sounded right off the bat, it was set up just the way I like them. Head to a G sharp, not much down pressure on the tailpiece and the action was perfect. I swapped out a couple of different bridges but went back to the original one that came on the banjo, I thought it still sounded the best.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The Cougar is a mahogany, nickel plated banjo and the fit & finish are second to none, hand crafted by Robin Smith of Hendersonville, Tn. Mike Smith designed the headstock & inlay patterns for the banjos and kept the "Big Kat" theme in mind for the creative inlay patterns. Very cool!
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	The banjo is crafted with top of the line metal parts from a major banjo parts distributor. It is a very solid, well made banjo.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	I have dealt with Mike Smith a number of years concerning his bridges & capos and he always goes above and beyond all measures needed to make sure the customer is fully satisfied.
Customer Service	10
Components	There's no upgrading needed on the banjo, everything is top shelf, ready to take out of the case and start pickin'. What sold me on the banjo, and that I thought really stood out, was the creative inlays in the headstock & fretboard & the overall great sound of the banjo.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	If you're looking for a great sounding banjo with top notch craftmanship at an affordable price, you need to check out the Kat Eyz banjo line.
Overall Rating	10

Recording King RK-20 submitted 11/1/2009
Submitter	JedNeedsCoffee (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	banjo.com
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	My first impression was that it is rather harsh. loud, yes..."bright", no. After installing a fiberskyn head and stuffing a sock behind the rod, the harshness was (naturally) toned down quite a bit and I found that these modifications brought the overall sound to just about where I want it. I like a banjo that sounds well with both Scruggs/Bluegrass and "folk-style" (which, yes, I realize is a nebulous term). The new head and sock provided a sound that lent itself well to both styles.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	The first thing I noticed was that this banjo had held its tuning perfectly during transit because I didn't so much as have to fine tune it when I took it out of the box...all strings were dead-on in tune. The only thing that I found very disappointing was the fact that the lenght of the fingerboard was not matched properly to the tension hoop, in other words, it was too long and therefore the heel of the neck didn't come in full contact with the rim. This may or may not be a "set-up" issue but I can't see how the folks at banjo.com could have overlooked this...we're talking about a 1/8 inch gap between the neck and rim! I took the neck off and shaved the fingerboard down, which of course altered the overall action height, which I then had to readjust.
Setup Rating	6
Appearance	Generally, a very nice looking banjo. Well done inlays, shiny chrome. Finish itself was pretty darn good except for the cracks (in the finish) which ran from bracket to bracket...almost as if the factory worker overtightened the hooks (or the brackets themselves) although when I got the 'jo, head tension didn't seem too tight.
Appearance Rating	6
Reliability	For what it is, a relatively lower-end banjo, it seems as sturdy as one would expect for this price range. I've had it a year or so now and nothing has broken. Tuners hold good.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	I had purchased banjos from banjo.com before and was always treated fairly. Still, I am disappointed that the banjo had the obviously mal-fitted neck and finish cracks. One would think that such an item would have been returned to the factory/distributor rather than sold to a customer. I didn't raise a fuss with banjo.com about this, because personally, I didn't feel it worth the hassle of returning/re-shipping the item.
Customer Service	6
Components	Personally, I wouldn't invest in any major upgrades. The cost of upgrading in relation to the value of the banjo itself would be disproportionate. I must say however that I AM quite impressed with the tuners, I can play this banjo for quite awhile and even leave this banjo sitting in the corner quite awhile and it holds perfect tune. Swapping out the head is the only "upgrade" I made.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	I have mixed feelings about this banjo. Other than the mismatched neck and the finish cracks and the fact that I had to change out and stuff the head...it sounds good, plays good and looks good. Were it not fo the problems mentioned, I may have been happier with the purchase. Originally I bought it as a "knock-around" banjo, for camping etc., which it works fine for. I think I paid 375 +or-. My advice though (which you may take with as many grains of salt as you wish) if you are buying this as a "first" banjo, (i.e. to learn on)....save up some more money and get one in the next price catagory up. If you're buying it as a "second" banjo, or a knock-around banjo, I would say it's probably worth the $, (as long as it's under $400).
Overall Rating	6

Deering Goodtime parlour submitted 10/31/2009
Submitter	Banjo Vern (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Andy Banjo
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	165 (GBP) (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Easy to play, plunky and basic sounding but great fun and really portable.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	I baught online so the bridge was laid flat however Andy had marked the bridge location which made set up a doddle
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	I love the goodtime styling and always have.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Great for the price
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Quickly delivered and carfully packed.
Customer Service	10
Components	I baught this banjo second hand and it has upgrades which include duel co-ordinating rods and planetary tuners which seem like a good investment
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	I baught this banjo for portability and quit practice. My main banjo is a Deering Sierra. Both sound great in their own completely different ways but for the money the Goodtime is superb and great fun.
Overall Rating	9

Kat Eyz Cougar submitted 10/31/2009
Submitter	doug.knecht (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Mike Smith
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This banjo feels great. Both hands are very comfortable at work, especially the neck is great. I used one of Mike's KatEyz 11/16" bridges on this particular model. The banjo has a good degree of separation between the notes sonically. The tone is awfully rich and in short, the tone is fabulous. It's one of those banjos that sound as good in front as it does to the player in back. I highly suggest it.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The banjo was set up perfect by Mike when I played it the first time.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The mahogany Cougar looks like a million bucks! Mike drew his own template for the designs of all his banjos, and this one has it's own unique look that isn't too much or too plain. It's a nice combination of ideas. Custom work is done by Robin Smith. Great job to Robin for his expertise and talent, and carrying that out into Mike's banjos.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	All the hardware is made to last. Mike has tediously picked out the hardware for tuners, tail-piece, etc.. to last.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Mike Smith one of the greatest guys you'll ever meet! He'll do anything to meet your requests.
Customer Service	10
Components	Great parts make a great banjo - his tonerings and bridges stand out to me.
Components Rating	not rated
Overall Comments
Overall Rating	9

Fender FB-59 submitted 10/28/2009
Submitter	unclepoppy (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Woodwind & Brasswind, South Bend, IN
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	Christmas gift ($US)
Sound	Very good overall for a variety of tones, it's bright and loud for bluegrass but can sound mellow enough for solo fiddle tunes or vocal accompaniment.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Had a bad 5th string buzz when I got it, I had to work on the guide notch to eliminate. I changed to medium gauge strings & adlusted tailpiece tension & tweaked the truss rod to suit myself.
Setup Rating	6
Appearance	It's purty ! ! Nice inlays, gold hardware, nice finish. My wife likes it more than I do.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I've read complaints about the plating wearing off,esp. on the armrest, but I haven't had that problem. It weighs a ton but is solidly put together,stays in tune well. I can't see why I would need a backup.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Never dealt with Fender, I do my own setups & repairs.
Customer Service	5
Components	I haven't changed any parts out yet, seems to be no need to, though I have been thinking of going to a black head and ebony buttons for the cool factor.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	Plays, sounds, and looks good. The only issues might be in factory setup.
Overall Rating	9

Gold Tone Banjolele submitted 10/27/2009
Submitter	Rwh56 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Elderly
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Great sound. I have the open back version, so it makes a big difference how you angle the instrument to let out the sound. I put some Martin fluorocarbon strings and they sounded much better than the original strings.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	Set up was largely OK. The tuners slipped and the strings were knotted on the "No Knot" tailpiece. Using knots to anchor the string on the no knot tailpiece led to strings pulling out or cut loose by the sharp edge of the slot. Once you properly install the string, it is reliably anchored to the tailpiece. I am new to banjos, so it took me awhile to see what was wrong. Otherwise the banjo was quite playable.
Setup Rating	7
Appearance	Very pretty.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	Everything but the tuners look very sturdy. The tuners unfortunately were very cheap. The tuners would slip and tightening led to broken plastic washers. I replaced them with Grover Champion tuners which work great. Finish looks very durable. Maybe a little on the thick side.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	I have not asked for help as yet. I will assume the best.
Customer Service	10
Components	Everthing is great except for the tuners. The contrast between the cheap tuners and the rest of the banjolele is striking.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	This is a great banjo ukulele. There are not too many new banjo ukes available. This one is a very good value.
Overall Rating	9

Deering Goodtime submitted 10/27/2009
Submitter	gdoc (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Janet Davis Music Store
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Wonderful banjo for bluegrass playing. Love the light weight. Loud, good tone, very good banjo. Sound rating if rated for banjos in that price range would be 10
Sound Rating	7
Setup	The banjo was set up as I requested. I later changed to 1/2 bridge. String action is perfect now.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Blonde finish, simple. But that helps keep the cost down.
Appearance Rating	7
Reliability	I expect this banjo to outlast me.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Warranty is one year, but at this price I am surprised it even has a warranty. A couple emails to the company were answered the next day.
Customer Service	10
Components	Nothing outstanding except it is an excellent banjo in a price range anyone could buy. It could easily sell for much more.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	They keep the price down by skipping all the options. I'm adding an armrest and I will install side dots. I think it is good that they sell a no frills banjo, in order to sell a good quality banjo and a price anyone can buy. Frills can always be added.
Overall Rating	10

Yates Ron Stewart submitted 10/25/2009
Submitter	orioletb1 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	From Ron
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This sounds great in a jam or rehearsal. But when you get it on a mic it is a MONSTER
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Perfect out of the box.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Its mohogany with a straight grain maple neck. Its more of a brown than red. Distressed. It will fool alot of people into thinking it from the 1930s
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Also distressd hardware. It looks like an 80 year old banjo and its two months old.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	The only person that I have dealt with is Ron and he's a helluva guy
Customer Service	10
Components	There is nothing that I will ever change out for better parts. Everything is as good as they come.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	The great attribute of Yates banjos is that they are ALL consistently GREAT. I have yet to hear or play one that I wouldn't love to have. That's the only maker that I can say that for.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Custom submitted 10/25/2009
Submitter	eastkypicker (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Hatfield Banjo Glasgow, KY
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	2700 ($US)
Sound	The sound suits me to a "T". I really like the powerful punch it has when I need it to. It has a warm "pure" tone to it that I'm sure comes from the love and care Arthur puts into his handcrafted neck and the Hatfield 20 hole tone ring. It has very sweet tone and will growl when called upon.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Arthur set it up when I picked it up and all I've done is tighten the head, The setup is to my liking. If it wasn't , he would see to it that I was nothing but happy with it.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	It is a gorgeous instrument! Beautiful inlay and a custom quilted mahogany resonator. The neck is a work of art in it's own right. Hand crafted by Arthur himself and the feel is super.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I believe this instrument will outlive me. I'd gig with it anywhere as my #1 instrument.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	It's Arthur Hatfield. If the rest of the world was filled with people like him...well....it'd be a better place to live ! He's not happy til you are happy. He WILL do whatever he must to make all things right.
Customer Service	10
Components	The neck and tonering are top notch. I would not change a thing about this banjo. I enjoy looking at it almost as much as playing it. This is basically a Buck Creek model with a custom quilted mahogany resonator. That's the only reason he calls it a "Custom"
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	It's quite obvious I'm a big fan of Arthur's. I've met and visited with him several times as well as phone conversations. He is such a likable guy with a huge talent as a banjo builder. I would recommend to anyone looking for a quality, pro level instrument to at the very least give him a call and try one out. You'll most likely be a fan as well. The most reasonable price of any banjo out there and the quality is superior
Overall Rating	10

Deering Sierra submitted 10/23/2009
Submitter	uncdavefan (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	N/A
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Play all kinds of banjo music from bluegrass, blues, jazz, to Irish etc.. Very bright, balanced sound - good mids, plenty loud. The few Gibsons I tried had more bass in the sound. Variety of sounds - not sure, since not enough experience with banjos. Dislike - as good as this banjo is, there was a Crafters of Tennessee banjo that sounded similar, but more punchy and louder. The Crafters cost twice as much.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Banjo had so-so setup when I purchased it. The sound was great, but not excellent as it is now. I recently got a Desert Rose Vintage Z bridge and tried Earl Scruggs medium strings and the heavier strings (came with lights) and new bridge plus a professional setup by a knowledgeable banjo repairman improved the sound and playability 100%. Action is lower, more punchy sound, more volume, better overall banjo tone.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	I prefer plain instruments. The Sierra is perfect for me, as far as that goes. I am not sure of the exact year of this banjo, but I believe it was sitting in a store for a few years. It is probably a 2005 no-hole model. It has the dots on the fretboard, which is fine by me.
Appearance Rating	not rated
Reliability	Except for the bridge, which I suspected could be improved, the hardware is excellent. The bridge, for all I know about banjos, might be excellent too, but with the new setup and bridge, everything improved greatly, so I am not sure how much is due to the bridge. Nothing rattles, though I got a little rattle initially from the tail piece but it went away when the humidity changed and hasn't come back. This is built like a tank and I haul it around to jam sessions - it weighs a ton, so I think it will last forever.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	I heard Deering has the best support, but no first hand experience.
Customer Service	10
Components	all components are very good. The bridge could be upgraded. Use medium gauge strings for better tone.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	Excellent banjo. If you buy one, get it set up properly, since you may not be able to accurately judge how good it is in some of the stores you go to.
Overall Rating	10

Stealth Stealth #148 submitted 10/23/2009
Submitter	Wes Lassiter (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Scott Vestal/ Stealth Banjo
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	3,350.00 ($US)
Sound	This banjo has the richest fullest sound even out of the box, I have ever heard. I am playing it just to hear the sweet rich tone this walnut banjo has. I had compared it to the imitation Nechville Phantom and there is no comparison in sound quality. The Stealth has it hands down. You can play it next to the bridge and the tone is still very full and rich
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Scott Vestal sets up all his banjos and needless to say his set up skills are amazing. No set up changes were necessary for the banjo was ready to go right out of the shipping crate. I set up my other banjos but I learned a few things with Scott's set up. He tweeked it and played it for a couple weeks before I took delivery. A++++++++++
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The banjo is named Stealth for its lack of inlay work and fifth string that runs under the neck. I had dots added and might add it is the nicest looking banjo I ever saw. the headstock is totally different than other banjos I have seen. It took some getting use to but it really is quite cool. Not the first flaw anywhere I could find. Absolutely perfect.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	This banjo is so well built with all super high quality parts. I absolutely would take this banjo without a backup. Very impressive!!!
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Five year warrenty, and Scott is there for you anytime. Scott is super professional and friendly. I do forsee any repair other than changing frets when they wear and a slight tweek maybe.
Customer Service	10
Components	There are no cheap parts................. Everything on this banjo stands out. I have been playing on a professional level for over thirty years and have had and have Stellings, Gibsons, Ome's, Odes, Baldwins custom built and I have never seen a banjo that would even come close to this instrument.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I guess by now you will see I am sold on this banjo. Just put it in your hands and each note is meant to be clear and true. Scott's design makes this the best feeling neck I could ever imagine. It gives you room to on the fretboard to dig in and really milk the tone. You want that JD Crowe sound its got room to rip the pull offs. You want to have a straight forward melodic break, it will do the trick, You want the ability to note single string it will do it. The Stealth is the total package, bar none. Make no mistake this is Scott Vestals idea design and vision to make a banjo that is so amazing that it is the next step in banjo craftsmanship. As I said before please do not make the mistake of purchasing the copy of Scotts design the Nechville Phantom for it truly does not compare. I am going to get back to playing my new Stealth now. Buy one, you won't be sorry.
Overall Rating	10

Ramsey Fretless Special submitted 10/18/2009
Submitter	WGE (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	traded with BHO member
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	850 ($US)
Sound	I was interested in developing my Round Peak style and decided I needed a fretless banjo. The Ramsey (#1270 originally purchased new in 2002) is perfect for what I wanted. It is a nice 12" thin-rim banjo with rolled brass tone ring and a cherry neck with an ebony fretboard with several small inlays. It makes for a great "Round Peak" sound when setup as described below. My "sound" rating is how it works now after my modifications. Prior to those I would have rated it about 6 or 7.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	I traded for this banjo with a BHO member. I traded my 12" fretted Lee Rosehill for it and some cash. It came to me with a Renaissance head and Nylguts strings. I imagine it came originally with the Ren head, but I think it started out life with steel strings. I am NOT a fan or Ren heads. I put a pre-mounted Bill Miller vellum-treated calfskin head on it. These are wonderful heads. I treated this one with waterproofing spray before installation. As a side note, Bill's head was perfectly mounted and fit like a glove; I love his stuff. I also didn't care for the Nylgut strings and replaced them with steel. I completed my set up with my favorite open-back banjo bridge, a Sampson old-growth walnut and ebony bridge. I really like the sound of this banjo now. These setup changes, of course, were very easy to do. My setup rating is based on how it came to me, I would now give it a 9 or 10 after my changes. So, don't blame Mike Ramsey for my preferences
Setup Rating	7
Appearance	I like the look of it. I prefer pretty unadorned banjos and the Special is pretty plain. It does have a Saturn peghead inlay and two inlays on the fretboard. The neck is a very nice cherry wood. I much prefer either cherry or walnut for necks. The Special has a multiply rim but with a cherry veneer to match the neck. It also has a nice rosewood rimcap. All in all, it is a very attractive, but not overly done banjo. Mt only complaint is that the inlays have a great deal of fill surrounding them. As I understand, this may be a common Ramsey complaint. However, you have to look closely to see these faults. Fit and finish are good. This banjo came to me with a few minor cosmetic faults, but it is used and I can't blame Ramsey for this sort of wear and tear.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	Everything looks and feels solid. The hardware is pretty standard stuff but does the job and looks pretty good. I think it is dependable.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	This banjo was warranted for a five-year period to the original owner. So, there is no warranty for me. I have never had cause to contact Mike about this banjo, so I can't really rate this.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	All OK. The components are pretty standard but functional. It might be nice to have custom-cast shoes and hooks, but what the Ramsey has works just fine.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	I wanted a nice fretless. I was hoping to get a Brooks fretless, but I needed to either sell or trade my Lee. To get a Brooks meant I would need to sell the Lee, and it was easier to work out a trade. The Ramsey trade came along and I went for it. It worked out great. Playing fretless is very interesting and I love the Round Peak style of Cockerham, Jarrell et al.. The Ramsey is a very nice banjo. Originally I was thinking of something with a brass fretboard plate, but I decided a straight ebony board was the way to go and I am happy with that decision. It has a very nice neck profile and the fretboard is nice and wide; very easy to play. Just a note of thanks to the Hangout for this trade. I am delighted and I understand the member who got the Lee is very happy with it, so the deal worked out great for all involved. We each made a BHO contribution.
Overall Rating	9

Sullivan Jam Series Open Back submitted 10/16/2009
Submitter	captin2521 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	FQMS
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Contest Winner ($US)
Sound	I have the bluegrass setup and it has a beautiful crisp sound. It can be played soft and smooth or played with a louder tone, the sound is very clean. I jave two epiphones that I also like but I think this model has less buzzing and seems eaqsier to fret. I've only been playing a year and some o f the more difficult chord positions seem easier for me on the Sullivan.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Came setup ready to play out of the box. Low action and perfectly in tune.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The banjo is gorgeous. I have the mahogony finish and its beautiful. The rest is simple but nice. The tuners are even good looking. The headstock is nice and thick and also looks good.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	Even though this is a beginner/intermediate model, Sullivan uses the high end hardware. It seems very swolidly put together and I expect it to last a long time.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	The people at FQMS were very nice and the banjo was packaged with a great deal of care.
Customer Service	8
Components	All of gthe components seem solid so far.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	I won this banjo on the hangout and I feel lucky as hell. I pfreviously had a very nice Epiphone MB500 that is extremely heavy and I love that versatility that this banjo gives me without sacrificing sound and playability. I love to play outside and camping and this banjo will be great. I had a beginner Epiphone (MB100) and even though i like it, this one blows it away. If it were stolen, I'd sell one of my epihones and start saving my pennies until I could buy another. Great banjo!
Overall Rating	10

Fender FB-55 submitted 10/16/2009
Submitter	PAUL T MCFARLANE (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Sam Ashe in Raleigh, NC
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	I sold it today after 5 years as a practice banjo. I am using a Vega SS-55 "folklore" (not Pete Seeger) as my practice and performance banjo. The Vega is much more enjoyable to play and to listen to. The Fender is too "bright" for my current tastes. I also owned a Fender "Leo." Its action was too fast for my skill level. I now lay mainly unusual chord progression, and very little single string work. I guess age really does change one's taste in musical styles.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	All aspects were improved by Joe Hinchliffe, the person I know who hs the best ear and the most skill in setting up banjos, guitars, and fiddles.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	A mint condition 1962 Vega Longneck is a joy to own, play, and have.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	If I played in public, I would use a more powerful sounding banjo, e.g. a Fender "Leo."
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	n/a
Customer Service	not rated
Components	no bad parts
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I count myself blessed to have owned both the Fender FB 55 or the 1962 Vega "folklore". That I kept the Vega and sold the Fender is simply a matter of personal preference.
Overall Rating	9

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