Carlo Robelli BJ001 Banjo Reviews
Carlo Robelli BJ001
submitted 6/6/2005
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Submitter |
dhoenisch (see all reviews from this person) |
Where Purchased |
www.samash.com |
Year Purchased |
2004 |
Price Paid |
99 ($US) |
Sound
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I am a beginner, but this banjo sound really nice for a $100 banjo. My music teacher has the Johnson JB-80 (his beater banjo), and mine sounds much better than his, after a lot of adjustments. Rather bright sounds, for not having a tone-ring. |
Sound Rating |
8 |
Setup
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The banjo was not set up at all, but than, according to some Banjo folks, you are supposed to send the banjo with everything loosened. I tightened the head, positioned the bridge, adjusted the strings... After about an hour or so of set up and fine tuning, I had it sounding rather good. I'm not rating because I don't mind setting mine up, where other's do, so I am leaving this open. |
Setup Rating |
not rated |
Appearance
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The finish on this banjo is beautiful. Mahogany I believe? Nice wet look. Really thick varnish. Nice diamond inlay. Definately a really nice looking banjo. The chrome isn't as nice as Nickel plating, but will definately hold it's shine longer without constant polishing. |
Appearance Rating |
9 |
Reliability
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I think this banjo will last a few years. I can't depend on the fifth string peg since you have to tune it, hold it, and tighten it with a screwdriver, and hope it stays. |
Reliability Rating |
7 |
Customer Service
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Never had to call, but the people who work at my local Sam Ash store are very nice. Seems to be rare these days. |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
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The fifth string friction peg is a piece of garbage. Have to adjust the string with a screwdriver in one hand, the tuner head in the other. Not an easy task. I ordered a geared fifth string tuning peg, so will replace it once I get it. The open geared guitar tuners hold the strings in tune nicely. The 18 bracket hooks are a bit on the cheap side, but seem to hold the tention hoop on rather tight. |
Components Rating |
7 |
Overall Comments
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If you are a beginner, and don't want to spend too much for a banjo because you don't know if you will continue on with it, I would definately suggest this as a beginner instrument, especially if you can find it on sale for $100 like I did. If it got stolen, I would just simply go out and buy a Gold Tone CC-100R since it is set up just like this, but I want a better quality instrument. I will actually be upgrading to that soon anyhow, and give this one to my little sister who wants to learn the banjo. |
Overall Rating |
8 |
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Carlo Robelli BJ001
submitted 11/6/2004
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Submitter |
Unknown |
Where Purchased |
Sam Ash Music |
Year Purchased |
2004 |
Price Paid |
Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
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Sound
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Carlo Robelli is Sam Ash's store brand. It sounds pretty much like most wood tone ring banjos. Pretty good tone considering, but its kind of sounds dull when compared to better banjos. Picking from the bridge to the neck has a great range in tone from bright to mellow. The head had almost no tension on it when I received it. I had to tension/tune it to really get it to sing out. |
Sound Rating |
7 |
Setup
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It wasn't set up at all. I had to find links on the internet on how to tension the head and place the bridge etc. The 5th string tuner was loose. I ended up replacing this with a geared tuner after a few weeks of using it. |
Setup Rating |
3 |
Appearance
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This compares to the Johnson JB-080, in fact It's probably made in the same plant. However, unlike the Johnson this has a nice glossy finish, not the mate finish that the Johnson has. Inlay is the snowflake at the fret markers and appears to be artificial mop. The hardware is chrome finished. Rosewood fret board with the remainder being mahogony. 18 bracket and the resonator can be easily removed to play openback with 4 screws.
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Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
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The tuners are guitar style but hold tuning well. I lightly oiled the worm gear immediately after getting it. Finish seems durable, I would guess polyurethane. Chrome hasn't shown any signs of wearing after 4 months of heavy playing. Reno weather king head. The only compaint I have is that I get a slight pitch change when handling the neck. I've tightened the attachment with no improvement. I belive it's due to a thinner wood ring. |
Reliability Rating |
7 |
Customer Service
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Haven't dealt with customer service. I was promised a 30 day money back gaurentee and a 90 day trade up policy when I purchased it. They staff in the store was more the freindly and allowed me to play with it all I wanted and compare it to their other 2 banjos they had in stock. |
Customer Service |
9 |
Components
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Overall it is well constructed for a banjo in this price range. I would definately plan on upgrading the 5th. string tuner to a geared one but be aware the splines are not tappered on the original peg. I had to reem the hole to a tapper in order to install the new tuner. |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
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If you're interested in starting out cheap or have a child interested in trying the banjo I would recommend this one by all means. I have played guitar for 20+ years and was interested in playing the banjo. This banjo allowed me to try it without risking alot of cash. The normal price on this is $140, but I waited for a weekend special on their web site (www.samash.com) and went into the store to try it out. They'll match the price on their web site without a problem. If it were stolen I would buy a better banjo and not fret the loss. I am looking into a OB-250 now that I've played this for a few months and am hooked! |
Overall Rating |
8 |
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