Blueridge Unknown Banjo Reviews
Blueridge Unknown
submitted 4/26/2009
|
Submitter |
1/361SPEC4 (see all reviews from this person) |
Where Purchased |
Ebay |
Year Purchased |
2009 |
Price Paid |
350.00 ($US) (bought USED) |
Sound
|
Surprising sustain and clarity. Warm yet plucky. LOUD, especially with medium strings. Big heavy flathead build. 5th string spiking was pretty well done as it rings OUT! |
Sound Rating |
8 |
Setup
|
Recieved Jo well set up, but have tried to work with it. Mylar head will do for now, as pop increased with tensioning. Work with tension bar/medium strings has paid off. Very easy to work with. Came with compensated bridge which was a nice little bonus. |
Setup Rating |
7 |
Appearance
|
Classic teardrop cross with side thorn branches/gibson/saga pattern has always been a favorite. Minimalist fretboard is OK, would like a more ornate pattern but hey. Installed engraved armrest and clamshell tailpiece. Lovely. Like the cobra tension hooks too. A little polish will help. Neck and resonator are a light brown mahogany with simple but exact trim work. Tried and true. |
Appearance Rating |
7 |
Reliability
|
Tuners could be an issue. Other than that this thing is a tank. Put some 25mms on it and call it a Bradley. See you in Kandahar. |
Reliability Rating |
7 |
Customer Service
|
N/A |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
|
The tone ring seems really well made. Just a heavy no-frills beast to get the job done. Tuners? Maybe I should just oil them. Minimal customization with standard case. |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
|
I would recommend this banjo for the price I paid, but it's the only one I've ever seen. I think some of the Joes at Saga got bored on the shopfloor one day and just threw together a frankenbanjo. I know they make Blueridge guitars and Gold Star/Tone banjos. Just juxtapose (yeah! that's right! I said it! dadgone juxtapose!) the Blueridge logo onto a Gold Star banjo and wham! The peghead shape and fretboard work are exact matches for Gold Stars, so if it is a knock-off they did a very good job.
If it were stolen I'd prbably buy the guy a beer as the closest match for insurance purposes would be a $1200 Gold Star. Is it a G-Star? This is all conjecture of course. Very little google info on this, so any insight would be welcome. How about a conservative 7.25 rating? Probably higher, but it is not a high end banjo by any stretch. |
Overall Rating |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Feeds