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Mastercraft Reviews

Mastercraft Bluegrass Mahogany submitted 7/1/2009
Submitter	OutOfReachDrumr (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	BanjoHut.com
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	279 ($US)
Sound	Sounds good. Has a bright sound, real banjo like.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	My biggest concern with buying over the net and not seeing it first was that the neck would be bent and the strings would be to far or close to the neck. But it is perfect. I do think the strings were are a bit out of tune though, but pretty good for the most part. The other things that bothered me is that the hook that the strap hooks onto (the one closest to the neck) is loose so I need to remove the pot and tighten it down. So that also doesn't please me.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	The banjo came in perfect conditon, bright, shiney; I love it. It's Mahogany wood, and has a nice fade to the middle, with a nickle arm-rest/hard ware.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I think it'll last just fine. It seems dependable, easy to play, and something that won't go bad on me in 4 months.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Customer service wasn't to bad. UPS delieverd it a day ahead of schedule, so that was nice. Warranty is kind of weak - 3 days to return or exchange. A week would be nice to give reasonable time to play and ensure you like the item or decide to echange/return it.
Customer Service	8
Components	All the parts seem to be good. The tuner included doesn't seem so great, and teh Book/DvD that have a $20 value are just home made copies (which is more like a $5 value). However, they are both pretty much free and it's still good to have and use. So overall, worth it.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	This banjo is great for me! It's my first, I took time before buying it. Even though I gave a few ratings less than 10, I'm still completely happy! I've been wanting this for years and now I have one. So yeah, life is good now. I think it was a great purchase.
Overall Rating	9

Mastercraft Bluegrass Mahogany submitted 6/29/2009
Submitter	me!!! (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	banjo hut
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	great sound for such a good price
Sound Rating	9
Setup	very well set up, i didn't change anything
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	beautiful, high-gloss finish
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	very reliable didn't skimp on quality!
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	N/A
Customer Service	not rated
Components	beautiful mahogany resonator, all great parts
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	great beginner-intermediate banjo. i would recomend a mastercraft banjo to anyone, any skill level! i would, though recommend a flange.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Bluegrass Maple Sunburst submitted 4/1/2009
Submitter	cecil36 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjohut
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	279.00 ($US)
Sound	For three finger picking this is a very nice sounding banjo. It has a lot better sound than the price would lead you to bleve
Sound Rating	7
Setup	The banjo only needed the tunning touched up a small amount.It was set up very nice and a pleasure to play. I will change to light gage strings but that is the only change that will be needed.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	This banjo is designed to give good quality it would seem at the expense of inlays and trim. It is a natural color mapel very nice. I have looked this over very close after a bad experence early this year and have not found any bad areas.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	The tunning pegs seem very good like on more expenseve banjos,the arm rest is nickle plated not chrome and sturdythe tail piece seems to be of average weight. I may change the tail piece to a streight line piece but do not feel that the one that came with the banjo would not last.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	no problems up to this point
Customer Service	not rated
Components	The tunning pegs are very nice a lot better than I expected
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	I would recommend this banjo for any player beginer through upper mid level are any one that can not spend the bucks for a very expenseve banjo
Overall Rating	9

Mastercraft Elite submitted 2/28/2009
Submitter	bstover (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	banjohut
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	670.00 ($US)
Sound	good rich tone wiith plenty of volume
Sound Rating	9
Setup	just needed minor tuning all though i snugged the head up
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	fantastic finish. nto the normal cheap yellowish sunburst like most imports
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	i am gonna replace the tail piece just not fond of a clam shell. and install d tuners
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	has a lifetime warranty. never had a customer service issue
Customer Service	10
Components	all parts for import very nice
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	very happy for what i spent. i wanted a middle of the road beginner. this banjo sounds as good as most higher priced banjos so dont hurt your buddies feelings when you start playing it
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Elite Mahogany submitted 1/29/2009
Submitter	johann (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	banjohut.com
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	679 ($US)
Sound	For Scruggs style bluegrass, the sound is a bit darker to my ears than many other banjos I tried. The 18 hole cast tone ring and a rather deep resonator makes the low range sing quite well but the higher range is not sacrificed in any way. It is very loud but not at all annoying in a solo context. Picking close to the neck with metal picks gives a great warm and mellow tone that I just love. It is not the brightest close to the bridge, but I am sure I could get a brighter ping by tightening the tailpiece closer to the head. However, I do prefer the tailpiece a bit higher since I like to do some ragtime on occasion and this banjo works just right for me. As far as sound rating is per dollar spent, I don't think I could have done better. This is truly a fantastic sounding instrument.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The drum head was tight and even, the bridge was exactly placed, the tailpiece was at the tension I wanted it (which was a surprise), The strings were still silver in color but they made my fingers turn black so they might have been on there for a while. That's fine though as I'll replace the strings soon any ways. The tuning pegs were tightened properly, let's see.... The neck is perfectly even with the drum head. There were no buzzing frets and every note rings out quite nicely. The action is just right. Not too low or too high. Except for the strings which had started to oxidise, the setup was perfect. I just tuned up and took off!
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	There is a single piece of what looks like real abalone inlay on the peghead. The rest is mother of pearl which has maybe larger glue lines than you would see on a banjo five times as expensive, but they are flush with the fretboard and in my opinion, have a great appearance without being at all gaudy. In all honesty, I would have preferred the inlay of the Ultima Gold model (see banjohut.com) but I couldn't get past the gold plating. It's no Deering Blond Calico or GDL but again, looks per dollar spent make the rating extremely hard to beat.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	Haven't had it that long. I took the resonator off to have a look inside and everything seems tight and sturdy. The tuning gears seem pretty solid though only time will tell. The case is maybe a bit flimsy. I certainly wouldn't trust airline baggage handlers with it. But it should be fine otherwise.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	When I ordered it, I talk directly with Paul from the banjohut.com he is very helpful. Shipping was free. Delivery took only three days.
Customer Service	10
Components	This banjo is essentially the Morgan Monroe Matterhorn with nickel plated hardware, a remo weatherking coated head, and a better peghead inlay. The same differences apply to the Washburn B-120 except that the Washburn doesn't have the cast tone ring. This banjo also has dual coordinator rods and a single piece flange, both which I don't know if the Monroe or the Washburn have. I have seen others mention the tuning pegs are not the best. And maybe they aren't, but I found that tuning it was no bigger hassle than on any other banjo I tried (and I tried many). Also, I can play Randy Lynn Rag on it after a bit of practice (playing the Scruggs tuner part with just regular tuners) so they are at least good enough for that. The four tuning pegs on the peghead have no discernible play to them. I will say that the fifth string tuner does have about 1-2 degrees of play. But tuning it is no problem at all. And only small changes are really ever needed there any ways. I am considering going over to a heavier tailpiece just because I don't particularly like the clam style that it comes with. Something like a kersher or fults but that might be overkill and is not really needed by this banjo.
Components Rating	6
Overall Comments	The level of workmanship of the Mastercraft Elite banjo is the exact same if not better (because of the setup by Paul) of any Morgan Monroe or Washburn I have seen. These banjos come out of the same factory in China (there is a made in China sticker on the back of the peghead). Don't let that deter you though, for the price you really can't get a better banjo. I was out to get the most banjo per dollar spent and I think I accomplished that goal. I love it. If stolen, I would immediately replace it with the same banjo.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Bluegrass Mahogany submitted 7/13/2008
Submitter	stringdusterfan (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut.com
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	279 ($US)
Sound	Amazing, sounds like a bluegrass banjo should. Its loud and impresses pretty much everyone, even though im not very good.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Setup very well. Slightly out of tune but easy to fix with the electric tuner that came with.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Beautiful mahogany resonator. This impresses everyone as well.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Seems well put together, I suppose. I guess we'll see.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Awsome service, ordered it online Sunday came on Wednesday. Under a liftime Warranty which is a good plus.
Customer Service	10
Components	The brass tone ring sounds awsome and I love the planetary tuners.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	Love it, a good banjo for a beginner like me.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Bluegrass submitted 1/2/2008
Submitter	grayghost (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	BanjoHut
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	279.00 ($US)
Sound	Good overall volume with a little edge on the treble side (all maple)
Sound Rating	7
Setup	Good basic set-up as delivered. Stock strings are always the first thing i change out on any stringed instrument. After getting some good feedback from folks here at the hangout i fitted a 5/8" std spaced Snuffy Smith bridge, put a heavier brass Straightline tailpiece on which improved sound considerably
Setup Rating	7
Appearance	Very basic appearance. Maple has good color, not much figure grain-wise, but didn't expect it in this price range. Binding on resonator is clean. Std dot markers on fretboard w/ a small tastful black script logo on peghead. the finish is the production standard high gloss poly, little slick for my taste, but well done and is probably a good durable choice for a starter instrument.
Appearance Rating	7
Reliability	Hardware is average. Plating seems good (all chrome/nickel) on arm rest, brackets, etc. Came with planetary tuners/ geared 5th string- better than a guitar-type machine head, but not high precision either (again in line with expectations in this price range). The tailpiece as mentioned above was replaced- stock unit was light weight, and the added mass of the brass replacment unit definately improved the sound. finish as mentioned above is a high gloss, tough poly type- i would guess it will hold up well.
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	N/A
Customer Service	not rated
Components	Covered most of this in the above sections. strong point- good wood materials w/good fit/finish. hardware (w/exception of tailpiece) good for price range. Remo weatherking head was fine. weak point- stock strings were not the greatest stock bridge functioned fine, but replacment sounds much much better.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	Overall i am very pleased with this as a starter banjo. i'm glad that i didn't spend the extra money on the model up from this, as spec's show same rolled tone ring/hardware just a little fancier wood, and appointments. I would have no problem recommending this for someone in my same needs position. kept in good condition this one will probably give biggest return of purchase price in effort to step up to a serious instrument as opposed to a similar quality but "fancier" banjo at a higher price point.
Overall Rating	7

Mastercraft Classic submitted 8/30/2007
Submitter	huddy905 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This is my first banjo, the sound is very impressive. I didn't want anything that sounded like a "beginner" banjo. I believe I'll be satisified with this banjo for a long time.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The Banjo Hut had offered excellent packaging/shipping...only 4 days to Toronto. The set up was perfect, although some minor tuning had to be done (as anticipated). The banjo arrived along with the "starter kit" which I found very helpful as a beginner.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	I am very impressed with the appearance, this is truly a beautiful banjo. The finish was flawless.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	It appears to be a quality item, I have no doubt that I'll enjoy it for years to come.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	I simply ordered through the Banjo Hut website and received notifcation of sihpping immediately. I believe that they will stand behind their product as everything I've read convinced me of their solid reputation prior to purchase.
Customer Service	10
Components	The appearance and the sound.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I'm very pleased with the quality banjo I received given the modest price. I don't have any experience for comparison, but I've played piano for years and know when I hear quality tones.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Classic submitted 5/6/2007
Submitter	dpbaker (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	The Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	419 ($US)
Sound	This is my first banjo. I wanted something decent to start with but I didn't want to sink a lot of money into the instrument. The sound is really good. Of course, this is the opinion of a new banjo player. However, it has a very nice bluegrass sound. Bright, clean and powerful.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The reason I purchased from The Banjo Hut was because they offered setup. The banjo arrived and was playable right out of the box. I tuned it up and started playing. Action was perfect.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	For the money, I think the appearance is great. All hardware looks great and there isn't an imperfection in the wood anywhere. It has one of those almost plastic looking finishes that I really don't care for all that much. However, it is a nicely finished instrument with attractive inlay.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	No experience here. The Mastercraft company does warrant the instrument for a lifetime.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	No experience here either. However, The Banjo Hut gets pretty high marks in this area from purchasers. That was one reason that I bought from them.
Customer Service	9
Components	Components seem pretty solid for a banjo in the $400 price range.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	Overall, I love the instrument. Sounds great and I think it is a perfect starter instrument.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Player Series Deluxe - Mahogany submitted 4/22/2007
Submitter	anetc99 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	The Banjo Hut.com
Year Purchased	April 2007
Price Paid	229 ($US)
Sound	I am a complete beginner so this review is all instinct and current experience. I chose an all-mahogany body because mahogany is supposed to be a mellower sounding wood. So far, so true. One thing I'm noticing and I'm not sure if this is because of set up or what - playing higher up on the head, towards the neck, I get a mellower yet slightly louder sound. Playing closer to the bridge the sound is brighter, but not brassy or harsh sounding. I like that variability as well as the overall tone.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The banjo was setup when I got it and really don't have much to compare it to or suggest. I like the action compared to my previous banjo experience but especially to guitar. I noticed that others received their banjos almost fully in tune, and that was not the case for me. But especially with the chromatic tuner it was easy to fix and since then, it holds its tune very well.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	It is a beautiful instrument. I would have liked to have the fingerboard be brighter or lighter somehow (perhaps just for visual contrast) but the finish feels as velvety, warm and inviting as it looks. Simple yet lovely, elegant yet friendly.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	If I ever would get with a banjo like I am on clothes, this thing could be made of stainless steel and I could wear the hell out of it in no time. But there is not much to suggest this won't be reliable and Mastercrafts' lifetime warranty does suggest their confidence in their product.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	You know, I ordered it, I got it and I have no reason to contact either Banjo Hut or Mastercraft. As far as I'm concerned, that's real customer service right there. If I ever do need to be in contact with one or the other, I'll amend the rating according to that experience. Now; ask me about UPSsssss... ------ 5/20/07: I've had the banjo for about a month now and I'm fonder of it than before, which is why I was eager to update this part of the review. The details of my first banjo drama is recorded on my blog entry for May 19th, so no need to get into it here. The important part is that my call was received (by a real person!), my panic soothed, the guidance easy to follow and the support was real, even though it turned out the 'injury' was not. Paul at the Hut cared about how I felt about my instrument. Even for me, 'nuff said.
Customer Service	10
Components	From what little I can tell the tuning components (plastic and metal) aren't top shelf but I don't see that as a drawback to the instrument itself.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	I definitely recommend this banjo. I 'm glad that I was able to take advantage of the sale on the beginners' package that Banjo Hut was offering but the banjo itself is better than worth the price. It also reminded me of way back, when "Made in Japan" was supposed to be a joke. This was made In China; talk about deja' vu.
Overall Rating	9

Mastercraft Bluegrass Maple Sunburst submitted 4/3/2007
Submitter	cthetford (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	thebanjohut.com
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	279 ($US)
Sound	No quite as loud as the bigger banjos with the heavy tone rings and large flanges, but this was a conscious choice on my part since this banjo was purchased for practicing when I had to keep things a little quieter. The quality of the sound is a definite step up from the low-end aluminum pot beginner banjos. To my ear, I don't notice a significant difference when moving between my GF-85 and this one (other than the volume). I'm going to rate this a 7 just because I don't think it's fair to the higher end banjos to put it higher, but I am thrilled with the quality.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	The Banjo has a 1/2 inch bridge which gives it a low action preferred by most starting players, however many players might prefer a higher end bridge. The action is set such that the banjo is very easy to play. About three months in, the instrument developed a buzzing on the third and fourth strings, and the tension rod adjustment to correct the problem was very easy.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	I chose the light colored Maple and like the looks of it. The finish on the fret board is a little inconsistent with a few minor imperfections (nothing that affects the instrument musically). The fretboard inlays are just very simple dots and the pearling appears to be painted on. The Mastercraft logo is also painted on. Overall, I'm guessing that on a high end banjo, you are probably paying 70% of the purchase price for appearance (fancy inlays, pearling etc). Obviously, when you buy a banjo at this price, you'd rather cut corners on cosmetics rather than musicality.
Appearance Rating	7
Reliability	The finish seems fine to me. The hardware across the board (arm rest, brackets, tailpiece etc.) appear to be a little lighter weight than the equivilent parts on my Gold Star GF-85. However, they seem sufficient for the intended purposes. The tailpiece seems a little flimsy and appears to be mounted slightly cock-eyed and I haven't figured out how to fix it.. however, the tone of the banjo is fine, so I haven't puch much effort into it. The tuners seem better than on my other banjo. I recently went a couple of weeks without playing the banjo and when I picked it back up, all strings were within a hair of being in tune (according to my electronic tuner). The strings that shipped on the Banjo were somewhat dead when it arrived so I changed strings very soon after starting to play it. Again, everything appears to be of a quality in line with the price and I expect no problems with the banjo holding up over time.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	When I had the issue with the buzzing (mentioned above), the owner took time to walk me through the process to correct the problem (using his toll free number!). He was very friendly through the whole process of selecting and ordering as well. Response was also very quick when I had an issue on the zipper of the soft case that was shipped witht he Banjo.
Customer Service	9
Components	See the section under hardware above. Generally, the philosophy in building this Banjo seems to have been to cut out expensive cosmetics while producing a sound instrument musically (kind of the Toyota Corolla of Banjos!)
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	Exactly what I was expecting for the price. If you are looking at a Cripple Creek or Good Time, this one is worth considering as well. After shopping around, I decided that the Mastercraft gave me an equivilent instrument at a lower price. I'm rating this a 9, not because I bellieve it is good as a $15,000 Gibson, but because the value is exceptional for the price paid.
Overall Rating	9

Mastercraft Classic submitted 2/21/2007
Submitter	Phoetus (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	409 ($US)
Sound
Sound Rating	not rated
Setup	Setup makes all the difference and Banjo Hut gets this.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	This is a beautiful instrument that is obviously well-made. The inlay work is perfect and the lamination is flawless in every regard. You can get a banjo with engraving or more inlay, but I have never seen an instrument that is more perfectly assembled.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	It's the bomb. You can spend more money for a fancier banjo, but you will not get more solid gear, with the possible exception of the tuners (see below).
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	I spoke with Banjo Hut for about half an hour before purchasing and they were great; they gave me a real education. I suspect that they would be good to work with if I had a problem, but I haven't come to that point yet and I hope I never do.
Customer Service	10
Components	I know guitars, but I am new to banjos. The ratio on the tuners seems very strange - that is, a little turn on the knob moves the post a lot, compared to a guitar. Maybe this is the norm for banjos because the tuners are built differently. Othe rthan that, the banjo is as solid as a rock.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	I can't believe that you can buy this banjo for this price. I definitely recommend spending the extra $130 to get this model compared to the Bluegrass as it really seems like a step up. The next banjo up was over $300 more.
Overall Rating	8

Mastercraft Classic submitted 2/3/2007
Submitter	old al (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	419.00 ($US)
Sound	Beautiful sound with good sustain for plqaying bluegrass Scruggs style. Set up head for rich full sound. Bass and treble notes very well balanced. Not too punchy.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	Action set low with no buzzes. Bridge placement and intonation were perfect. Head bolts were loose on one side of head, but I tightened them to match the other side. Great sound after that. Armrest was loose on the banjo. I later got a Drum Dial, tuned the head to between a G and G# and evened off the tension. This really brought out the sound and minimized wolf notes.
Setup Rating	7
Appearance	Finish was beautiful . Mahogany rim and resonator had no flaws that I can see. Hearts and Flowera neck inlays look fine.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	It seems like a beautifully crafted Korean banjo that should be reliable for years. Armrest is nickel plated. Banjo made of quality parts.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Paul was great at Banjo Hut. Took back another model that I didn't like and exchanged for the Classic no questions asked. Will probably buy from him again when I upgrade.
Customer Service	10
Components	Banjo came with rolled brass tone ring and one piece fllange. The neck and headstock were inlaid with Hearts & Fllowers . Resonator,was bound with white trim. Briidge appears to be rosewood tipped maple(I might be wrong.). I might replace it with a maple-ebony tipped bridge, but the rosewood sounds wonderful for now. Planetary tuners work well. On 2/12 replaced bridge with Snuffy Smith Type 1 and put on medium guage strings, Tone and punch are dramatically improved. One thing about banjo I don't like is that it only has a single coordinator rod which is a cheap setup and makes it more difficult to adjust the neck if necessary (this one's right on).
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	For a complete starter package with hard shell case, tuner, picks, etc it fits the bill perfectly. If it were stolen I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. Great banjo to learn on as well as intermediate and advanced skill levels.
Overall Rating	9

Mastercraft Bluegrass Mahogany submitted 11/20/2006
Submitter	wannabepicker (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	banjohut.com
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	279 ($US)
Sound	it has a nice sound for an inexpensive beginner banjo. Even my banjo teacher, with 30 years experience, said, "this is a nice banjo."
Sound Rating	7
Setup	i think it was setup pretty well. even though ups is rough, it came in fine shape, also.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	the banjo is beautiful. no flaws, lots of lustre lacquer, when i take it out for family and friends it usually gets "wow, that's nice."
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	i don't think it will have any durability problems
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	i called and talked to the owner himself. very helpful. banjo came fast, and i would not hesitate to recommend this place.
Customer Service	10
Components	this is a beginner banjo and i am most definitely a beginner. i don't think i'd spend a whole lot to upgrade it, because i consider it an excellent starter. i am sure if i ever get better i'll want to put my money in something higher end, but enjoying this banjo, hoping i can pass it on to my kids when they're ready to play.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	what a great deal. $279 got me my first banjo, a strap, a tuner, a carrying case and a fantastic janet davis book and CD, as well as picks. i highly recommend it for beginners.
Overall Rating	8

Mastercraft Bluegrass Maple Sunburst submitted 5/27/2006
Submitter	chrisbellamy (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	banjohut.com
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	279 ($US)
Sound	I bought the banjo to learn to play Bluegrass style. This is my first banjo (as well as my first stringed instrument), and I'm no expert on sound, but it sounds good to me. I'm sure there are better sounding instruments out there, but I'm very happy with the sound.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The banjo was set up nicely, with a nice low action, and almost perfectly in tune. I spent about 1 minute with the included chromatic tuner making sure everything was tuned just right, and I was ready to go. There was a little buzz in the 3rd string, but a 2 minute search on Google got me the information I needed to easily fix it. The tuners were a little loose, but 10 seconds with the included screwdriver fixed them right up.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Very pretty sunburst finished maple banjo, nothing fancy, but very nice for the price. The original banjo I received had a crack in the finish on the side of the rim. I called banjohut the day I got it, and they shipped me a new one out the next day, allowing me to keep playing the one I had until I got the new one. New one was perfect.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	The finish and hardware seems very nice. The chrome plating is nice and smooth, and there are no obvious flaws in the finish. I think this one will last until I reach a point where I am ready for a much more expensive banjo. As far as using it on a gig, I am so far from playing a gig I can't really answer that question.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Banjohut was great to deal with. I placed my order on Wednesday,and had the banjo in hand on the next Monday. As I mentioned, the first banjo I got had a crack in the finish, and the people at Banjohut were very easy to get in touch with (800 number) and sent me a replacement immediately, without even requiring me to send the original banjo back first. The banjo has a lifetime warranty. All in all, I couldn't be happier with my experience dealing with Banjohut.
Customer Service	10
Components	The banjo has a nice low action, and a very comfortable neck and fingerboard for someone who has never played a fretted instrument. The rolled brass tone ring makes the banjo nice and loud, and it has that real banjo sound that was missing in some of the cheaper (~$100) banjos I tried at local music stores. The only thing I might replace is the bridge, just because they are fairly inexpensive and I've read they can drastically improve the sound. Considering the price of the banjo, I was surprised at the quality of the hardware. Instead of a flange, it has 4 brackets and thumbscrews that attach the resonator. Because of this, it would be suitable to take off the resonator and brackets and use it as an open back as well. I also liked the package that it came with, which included a nicely padded gig bag, fingerpicks and a thumb pick, wrenches for the banjo, the Janet Davis book "You Can Teach Yourself Banjo" with DVD, nylon strap, and electronic tuner. The tuner was kind of cheap, and I've since replaced it with a $20 Korg chromatic tuner, but it is as good as I expected in a package deal.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	I would definitely recommend this banjo for the price. It is by far the nicest looking one I saw in that price range, and has features like the maple rim and rolled brass tone ring that I didn't think I would be able to afford. If it were stolen, I would definitely buy another one just like it from Banjohut. I really love playing it. I've been practicing 1.5-2 hours every night for the nearly 2 weeks I've had it, and I'm actually beginning to make bluegrass-like sounds come out of it! Compared to the other cheapie banjos I tried at local music stores, I'm both surprised and happy with the quality I got for the money. Given the opportunity to choose again, I would make exactly the same choice.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Classic submitted 5/26/2006
Submitter	sandiegobluesman (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2003
Price Paid	429.00 ($US)
Sound	I am a professional guitar player that decided to take up the banjo. I have many top of the line guitars and i knew i wanted a decent instrument that wouldnt work against me as i learned. since this is my first banjo i cant really judge the tone quality but its very loud and sounds like a banjo!
Sound Rating	8
Setup	seemed to be set up properly, action seems pretty nice. i may try to have the head tightened as others mention this improves sound.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	very nice fit and finish for a lower priced instrument.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	finish seems consistent with lower end instruments, chrome parts seem pretty heavily and evenly chromed.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	great service, very nice and helpful people.
Customer Service	10
Components	tuners are pretty jumpy, but then im used to the most expensive grovers on all my guitars. i may try a better bridge as this seems to be a major component in other reviews.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	all the makers of lower priced banjos-johnson, washburn, gold tone...seemed pretty bunched up and similar in construction and price. they each make banjos better than this mastercraft, but at 2-300 bucks more. with free shipping and a hard case, electronic tuner, all maple construction and a rolled brass tone ring, this is an outstanding value and a decent instrument. if i take to playing banjo i would buy another mastercraft top of the line model. i suspect they are as good as instruments costing much much more. the people at banjo hut are great, so you can order without fear. banjo came fast all the way to california, packed really well, tuned right up and i learned a song in an hour off the free CD.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Classic submitted 5/23/2006
Submitter	mtnpckr (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	The Banjo & Mandolin Hut
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	399.00 ($US)
Sound	Sound is full for a rolled brass tone ring, not as loud as needed for jamming perhaps but greatly appreciated by my wife when i practice. She can still watch tv 30ft away in the family room, while I pick away in my office/hideaway. I think this is an ideal beginners banjo. Just checked & tightened head after 4 weeks of light playing, volume increased twofold!
Sound Rating	9
Setup	Banjo was setup very well and only needed to tune strings before playing. Action is set very low, which is good for beginners. I plan to put GHS light strings on it when I change, but this is a personal preference. I also plan to try out some different bridges, again for personal preference.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	I was surprised & pleased with the fit & finish on this banjo. It has a great luster on the wood and the hardware is bright & shiny. No flaws or marred finish that I can see. Inlays are crisp and look very good. frets are even and smooth on the edges. Resonator & neck are well fitted.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I believe that this banjo will outlast me ( course i'm pushing 60). I doubt that I will ever play a gig but I would have to do something to increase volume first. But for a play at home, or practice unit, I think the hardware is fine.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	The Banjo Hut supplied this banjo to the Hangout as the free drawing prize for March 2006, and delivery was within 2 days of receiving notice that I had won. Packaging was superb, it would have protected this banjo from all but a direct missile strike. I am amazed at the quality of the case offered with this outfit. It is attractive, strong, well padded and looks quite durable.
Customer Service	10
Components	Overall this is an excellent package, and is superior to any other banjo that I have looked at in this price range. I have owned several used (eBay specials) banjos; Gretsch OB student, Aria alum. rim, & a Harmony Bakelite, and a new Deering Goodtime II ( which I upgraded with a rolled Brass tone ring), and this pkg is much better than any of them. The Goodtime played very well but I never got use to the bland appearance, it just didn't look right to me.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	For a beginner or as a carry around banjo, I would highly recommend this pkg, although the maple unit may appeal more to others. I think the mahogony is a warmer, plunkier sound which I prefer ( course i'm pretty hearing impaired) and its really a matter of individual taste. I would obviously highly recommend The Banjo & Mandolin Hut, not just because they gave the banjo to me but I was also well pleased with the setup, shipping & packaging and especially with the great friendly response I received. Very good people to deal with! This pkg came complete with strap, case, picks, tuner, wrench/screwsriver combo, banjo & Vega strings J. Davis "How to Play Banjo Book" & DVD; a great bargain for the price. I WISH TO GIVE MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO ERIC @ THE BANJO HANGOUT AND TO KATHY & PAUL AT THE BANJO & MANDOLIN HUT FOR MAKING THIS BANJO AVAILABLE TO ME.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Player Series Standard submitted 3/22/2006
Submitter	gmartin (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	thebanjohut.com
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	199 ($US)
Sound	This was my first banjo; my wife bought it for me for Christmas. The sound was good enough that I discovered I really enjoyed playing the banjo. Doesn't sound like Earl or anything, but it does sound like a banjo. For the price, the sound's not bad, though.
Sound Rating	6
Setup	It was setup fine when I got it. I just had to tune it up and play, the action was nice a low. I think it must have had light guage strings on it; I changed to Gibson Earl Scruggs mediums a few weeks ago, and it's a little harder on the fingers (not too much, though, I also play guitar, and mess around on mandolin, and those are much harder on the fingers). I have to say, the setup doesn't seem to adjust very easily; only one coordinating rod, if you can call it that. It's really just a thin bolt, and doesn't allow much adjustment. The truss rod adjustment is a little hard, the hex wrench that comes with it barely fits.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	It sure looked good when I got it. Now that I know more about banjos, it doesn't look as good as a banjo with a one-piece flange. I like the looks of it, though, it's got a dark finish (it's all mahogany).
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	The hardware isn't going to last. As a matter of fact, I've had one mishap with it. I was picking it up from its stand, and it slipped out of my hands and fell over and the neck smacked on the rim of one of those plastic tubs, right between the nut and the 5th string peg. It hasn't been the same since. The neck twisted where it joins the pot assembly, and I've fiddled with it to try to get it to play right again. Now, the 5th string buzzes, and the banjo doesn't sound the same. I finally found the reason; apparently, the rim cracked. I've got it playing as good as I can make it now. I don't know if this is a reliability issue or not. I mean, I _did_ lose hold of it, but it sure seems fragile if that's all it takes to break it.
Reliability Rating	5
Customer Service	Never dealt with them.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	I'm pretty sure the whole thing is weak or cheap parts. It's a $199 banjo, for crying out loud. It has no tone ring, and the tail piece is obviously cheap; it doesn't look like any tail piece I've seen while looking for my new banjo. The banjo itself I'm pretty sure is the same cheap imported banjo sold by Bean Blossom, Rogue, Johnson, etc, or at least made from the same parts. The tuners are guitar style tuners, and they suck. The 5th string tuner is not geared, but works okay if you tighten the button screw. It's really really light, too. As in, the neck weighs more than the pot, which makes it a bit awkward to play.
Components Rating	4
Overall Comments	For what it is, it's a perfectly acceptable banjo. It let me discover that I liked to play the banjo, and I can't fault my wife at all for buying it; it was a splendid gift, and I'd have probably thrown a fit if she'd spent $500 on a Christmas presend she didn't even know if I'd be playing in 3 months. So, if you don't know if you like to play banjo or not and you want to get a taste, this (or any like it) is a fine starter instrument. If you end up liking the banjo, though, you be wanting a new instrument in 2-3 months, probably, and you'll have to write the price of this banjo off as a learning experience because you probably won't be able to sell it for any useful amount of money. I'm replacing mine with an Epiphone MB-250.
Overall Rating	7

Mastercraft Elite submitted 2/18/2006
Submitter	Unknown
Where Purchased	the banjo hut
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	629.00 ($US)
Sound	very good tone.very heavy.big brass tone ring.as good as fender 59
Sound Rating	10
Setup	perfect setup
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	go to thebanjohut.com and see for yourself.it has no flaws
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	very good hardware.i would maybe install better tuners when i replace strings.i played it every day for the first week i got it and maybe tuned it 3or4 times.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	they replaced another banjo for this one with no questions asked.very helpful in every way.
Customer Service	10
Components	the tuners have some slop but holds tune.same tuners as morgan monroe.i would put scruggs tuners on it.tone ring is super.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	any ather banjo would just be for looks.this one is well worth the extra money over the classic mastercraft.this is the last banjo i will buy.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Classic submitted 2/8/2006
Submitter	Unknown
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	399 ($US)
Sound	Has a great bluegrass sound
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The banjo was setup and almost in tune when I received it.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	It has a beautiful mahogany gloss finish. No flaws. Nice inlays.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Hardware looks like it should last a long time. It is very dependable.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	It has a lifetime warranty. I talked with a person at the company before my purachase and he was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Customer Service	10
Components	As far as I can tell it has top qualilty parts. When the strings need to be changed, I might go from the light ones to medium.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	This is a beautiful banjo, has a great sound with the rolled brass tone ring, and came completely setup. The pack for $399 included a nice hardshell case, chromatic tuner, songbook, and strap. A real bargain for such a good quality instrument. I love to play this banjo and highly recomment it. I gave the Washburn B-10 to my grandson and now we are both pickin and a grinin. If anything ever happened to this banjo I would ask my wife to save up enough money to buy me another just like it.
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Bluegrass Mahogany submitted 11/18/2005
Submitter	DCKANSAS (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	thebanjohut.com
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	279 ($US)
Sound	I am just learning banjo and learning the Scruggs style. To me, the sound is good as I wanted on a first banjo. It has a much better sound than the Fender 54 and the used banjo a co-worker let me borrow. I can't rate it a 10 as I am sure there are better sounding banjos but would cost more.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	The banjo had a slight buzz on the G string, but the customer service at banjohut.com is fantastic. Read below for further. Overall, the banjo had action set low and the planetary tuners hold their tune
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Very nice. A mahogany finish with lots of lustre. Pretty straight forward for an intro banjo
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	The hardware will last as long as I will need this banjo. The finish seems well done for an import and will hold up well. I have had it for a week and I hope I can depend on it.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	Banjohut.com has excellent customer service. There were some issues with my banjo (there was a crack on either side of the nut, obviously caused by UPS mishandling based on packaging appearance) and banjohut shipped another one the next day. Very friendly and courteous staff. The customer service alone is reason to do business with this company.
Customer Service	10
Components	I will change the bridge. Maybe paint a Stewie from "The Family Guy" saying "What is that magical device?" on the head. Stewie said this in an episode when he saw a hillbilly banjo player picking on a porch. That Stewie is a good actor.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	Heck yes I would recommend this banjo. If this banjo is stolen, I'd be upset because I really liked the Stewie painting. I like this banjo a lot...it drowns out the kids screaming in the background. Like I said earlier (obviously you weren't paying attention) I like it better than the Fender and the one my co-worker let me borrow. DEFINITELY WORTH THE MONEY. GO TO BANJOHUT.COM....THEY ARE GREAT
Overall Rating	10

Mastercraft Classic submitted 10/13/2005
Submitter	Geno7 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Banjo Hut
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	400.00 ($US)
Sound	Banjo sounds good. I replaced the stock bridge with a Desert Rose and this made a massive change. Banjo sounds and plays wonderfully.
Sound Rating	8
Setup	The Banjo Hut set the banjo up very good and answered many of my questions over the phone. I ordered it and received it the next day packaged very well. Bridge placement was exact and was almost in tune.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Banjo looks great.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	Well made instrument... The tuners maybe could be replaced and the bridge should be replaced with a little better quality bridge.
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	Great customer service. They offer a 30 day money back return.
Customer Service	9
Components	The tuners maybe could be replaced and the bridge should be replaced with a little better quality bridge.
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	Well worth the $400.00 I paid...
Overall Rating	9

Mastercraft Classic submitted 9/16/2005
Submitter	Unknown
Where Purchased	the banjo hut
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	400 ($US)
Sound	very nice tone plenty of volume good sustain lots of punch for bluegrass
Sound Rating	10
Setup	yes the head was tight the bridge placed in the proper position the action was very close and no buzz
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	a very pretty banjo all very fine finished mahogony iveroid binding on resonater and neck nice inlays on head and neck no flaws at all first class workmanship througout nickel plated armrest
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	yes the hardware looks like it will hold up for a long time and i plan to keep it polished and protected beautifull finish very dependable no backup needed with this banjo
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	company very knowledgeable about banjo banjo owners and players themselves hav not needed any repairs yet lifetime warranty
Customer Service	10
Components	it has planatary tuners geared fith string tuner nickel plated armrest waverly style tailpiece and the bridge seems to be better than normally found in a banjo in this price range the neck is nice and thin and slippery nice inlays nice binding brass tone ring and flange
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	i searched a long time for a banjo like this in a price i could afford im just a working man not much money i looked at epiphone gold tone fender washburn and several others but nothing came even close in this price range! it plays like a dream any closer action and it would play itself if it were stolen i would replace it with another mastercraft from the banjo hut good knowledgeable people banjo players themselves fast service carfully packed for shipping and a very solid 5 latch lockable custom fitted case
Overall Rating	10

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