Sound

Traditional bluegrass, and it's great, far exceeding my expectations for sound. Loud and SOLID with good "twang". More substantial sounding than a VEGA Scruggs model. While I'm playing it, it sounds and feels to me to be very close to the great Scruggs Foggy Mountain Banjo LP sound, which I did NOT expect! Not a flat head Mastertone, but a great banjo all the same.

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Mint condition, a "closet queen". Typical 60s VEGA stain pattern, but hardly a fingerprint on it. The only thing "jarring" was the tailpiece is chrome plated but the rest of the banjo is nickel plated. I replaced tailpiece anyway with a nickel plated new Presto style, which I prefer in general. The nicest curly maple I've seen in any 60s VEGA resonator. The unique inlays are the BEST thing about its appearance.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

VEGA of course is long gone. But Clydes Guns & Banjos were EXCELLENT to deal with. They threw in some freebies too.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I knew what this banjo would look like, so it met my expectations. I did not expect it to sound so good however!!!!! This is a FINE vintage instrument for which I find NOTHING to be apologetic. Also highest props to Clyde's Guns & Banjos who are just GREAT!

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Wonderful deep plonky 12" head sound with the steel strings that came on it, also with Nylguts which I installed. Put on a 3/4" tall Morris "minstrel" bridge with the Nylguts so I can get a good "purchase" on the strings with my right hand and really snap them hard. I'm into old stroke style more than Round Peak style.

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Very curly maple in the neck, and BEAUTIFUL stark black ebony fingerboard, Saturn in peghead and "shooting star" at 5th peg area, are beautiful. This is old enough (Appamatox-made) that it has a nice walnut brown cap material on the bottom of the rim, I don't know what it is. A simple but beautifully designed and executed banjo. Even the "cut" under the 5th peg where the neck narrows down, is a beautiful piece of wood carving. Only thing I would desire different or more is white binding on the fingerboard. Oh, it had a Renaissance head on it, someday I may try a Miller pre-mount for a cleaner white look (which I prefer).

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

Haven't dealt with the maker at all, but the BHO member who offered to sell it to me was excellent to deal with, no issues at all. He answered my Want To Buy classified ad. My research had convinced me I wanted a Ramsey.

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

Delighted with this banjo, my first Ramsey and first fretless. This banjo has facilitated me getting WAY BACK into stroke style and dance pieces. I've got plenty of old Mastertones, it's fun to have such a wonderfully made instrument from the USA that doesn't cost an arm and a leg! I can't imagine a better value.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Excellent hard case, not too heavy. Stout wood construction, no "flexing" of the sidewalls. Plentiful latch hardware (about two too many in fact), very secure (no dreaded combination lock). Nice short nap maroon "velour" cushion lining, not long nap fur/fluff shag carpeting. Mastertone fits perfectly. Soft cushy leatherish handle. Good big box under the neck, and good neck supports. Paid well under $200, an excellent value. (List price on internet over $300?). Also love that terrific "chocolate candy" smell that most TKL's have. "Made in Canada" tab to open the string box.

Overall Rating

9

Sound

No tone ring, just beveled wooden lip on rim. Loud, and clear, but kind of "punky" compared to Mastertone-type banjo. Instant impression of the sound is "lightweight", which is also initial impression of the banjo when you pick it up. I was very curious about this banjo, but decided it's not for me. Kind of hard to compare this banjo to any other.

Sound Rating

5

Appearance

Looks better from the front than the back, where the dark walnut-type stain has sort of a "slap dash" thin and dull appearance, and stain intensity varies in the 3-piece spliced neck construction. Resonator and neck wood grain appears to have had no judgment or selective criteria used at all, but that helps keep the price point low, for sure. Nice sea shell inlays, good looking metal, fingerboard, peghead, etc. It's odd, but much cheaper instruments have much nicer stain/finish work.

Appearance Rating

6

Customer Service

N/A

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

An excellent "step up" banjo for someone who has gotten beyond beginner status on a $100-$200-$300 banjo. Not a Masterclone, but a very well put together instrument that is going to "feel" like a Masterclone except for its light weight. Not a "power" instrument by any means. If the stain job showed a little more care, I could really give it rave reviews. But the stain/finish detracts from the overall impression. But I'm sure that helps keep the price low. One would have to try it to determine if the tone/volume suits them, it's unlike any other banjo I can think of. Would not be a suitable "substitute" or "airline" banjo for someone used to a Mastertone. But it does have a unique price point, filling a price gap very nicely, if someone has this amount of money to spend. Can't get a much "better" banjo, even used, at this price point.

Overall Rating

6

Sound

A beginner's banjo, for sure. Very basic sound that except for a funny overtone on the 3rd string due to something with the nut, was quite adequate in terms of tone and volume.

Sound Rating

3

Appearance

Looks OK, matte finish medium brown stain. Plain fingerboard with dots. Paddle type Epiphone peghead.

Appearance Rating

3

Customer Service

N/A. Didn't ask about warranty.

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

I was stunned to see a new banjo for $150, so I had to try it. Got the bridge set right in a few seconds. Tuned up fine. Played OK although the twist in the neck angle made for some problems with clear fretting up the neck. Something wrong with nut at 3rd string made a buzz/ring I couldn't get rid of sitting there trying it.

For someone wanting to get a banjo to learn on from scratch, this banjo would be adequate IF there was access to someone who could do basic set up on it.

Cheap, but IMPRESSIVELY low price, for a kid or someone wanting to try the banjo to see if they can do it. I give it a good rating FOR THIS PURPOSE

Overall Rating

6

Sound

A powerful bluegrass banjo. Bright, loud, clear, sonorous, etc. I need to play it a lot, fool with the head tension, strings and bridge to bring out its best. It seems a bit "restricted" somehow, not as open and throaty as it seems like it can be someday. Doesn't quite stand up to my 1990 Granada, which is and amazing banjo.

You play it harder, it gets louder. Without running out of gas. A solid volume machine.

It does seem to have a tendency to want to play a bit sharp on the 4th string, first 5 frets, unless I really consciously tune it to what sounds to me a bit flatter than I would tune my other banjos. But intonates fine up the neck on all strings. Maybe the way the nut slot is cut?

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Drop dead gorgeous. Shiny gold plate with well executed engraving design that seems vaguely "western" or American Indian to me somehow. Deep Gibson black to yellow sunburst on VERY flamed maple. Clean rosewood fingerboard with the big inlays. Gold plate on armrest has been worn a bit, showing grey metal beneath. Not THE most beautiful Gibson I've seen, the old #6s are still my "10" rating for beauty.

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

I've dealt with Gibson Nashville recently on a broken mandolin pickguard issue, and they couldn't have been more helpful. I don't expect to need them for anythng on this banjo.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

A fully satisfying edition of the Gibson top of the line in the early 2000s. No complaints, and I know as good as it sounds now, with more playing and a bit of tinkering I can probably get it to sound as good as I can imagine, which would match the 1990 Granada.

I know this banjo has more potential, I played it on a gig when I had the head down to F#, and while I was vamping chords HARD, I could feel the entire head "flapping", it was vibrating so hard. VERY loud. I've never felt a banjo do that before. As hard as I play, this banjo keeps giving, doesn't pooch out. By comparison the Granada doesn't seem to require quite as much effort, it's more "open-throated".

I consider my buy a true bargain for such a great banjo.

Overall Rating

9

Sound

Appears to be a good solid traditional Mastertone style banjo, made in Korea, at low price. Right in the music store it had a "decent" tradtional bluegrass tone and volume. Could be tweaked to be better like any banjo.

Sound Rating

6

Appearance

Showy curly maple in reso and neck. Very nice sunburst. Good finish work and bindings. Typical modern gold plate, nothing to rave about. VERY cheesy cast or pressed "engraving" in arm rest didn't suit me. Tailpiece was a clamshell style, very heavy and clunky and out of character for a Gibson style banjo. Nice rosewood fingerboard with swirly grain. Very nice unique "cloud" inlays in fingerboard and unique "thing" in peghead and Epiphone name.

Appearance Rating

8

Customer Service

I didn't buy, I was just shopping. Sam Ash salesman couldn't have been more accomodating, he let me take the resonator off and brought me picks! I know nothing about strength of Epiphone guarantee, etc.

Customer Service

5

Overall Comments

Was tagged at $999, with 15% off on Dec. 18 only. If on sale after Christmas I would buy as a "flying banjo" for the airlines. With tweaking, I think it would sound OK, like a decent Mastertone, with a unique cool "look". A banjo you wouldn't cry over if stolen or destroyed, but perfectly acceptable unless you're at the very top of the game. Apparently no longer being made. A decent "something" different inexpensive Mastertonep-type instrument. I'd like to own one if they go on sale.

Overall Rating

6

Sound

After working with set up a lot, it sounds REAL good, I'd say between a good Gibson arch top and a flat head. Plenty loud, VERY clear especially up the neck. Not quite as gong-sonorous as a good Gibson flat head. Have played once in a show, and in jams at several festivals where it has held its own and gotten good reviews. One particularly noticeable positive is the intonation up the neck is CLEARLY better than a typical Mastertone, quite a surprise.

Sound Rating

8

Appearance

This is the "second variant" with the Crown, bowties and diamond inlays, before it was officially named Earl Scruggs II. Other than the very plain "paddle" style peghead, I think it looks as good as any Vega of its period. Very well assembled, but has the typical "odd" 1960s Vega finish, typically worn away at left hand first position. Resonator shows some nice light curl in the maple. White inlays in ebony board look very good. Greatest surprise was finding out Earl Scruggs Custom (as it says on the yellow tag inside) is GOLD PLATED, not engraved, which I never knew of (have confirmed in old Vega brochures). Also has factory installed gold Vega D-tuners which look quite cool and work quite well. Factory "Nashville" tailpiece in the case, but replaced by VERY nice gold plated Oettinger-style "fingers" tailpiece that works GREAT, although I don't particularly care for its appearance. Gold plate is worn on tension hoop with nickel underneath showing. Between being a Vega Scruggs and gold plate, it really catches other banjo pickers' eye!

Appearance Rating

6

Customer Service

I visited the Vega factory in the late 60s in Needham Heights (my dad took me) and I WANTED one of these so bad (I was playing a Gibson RB 100 at the time) that it almost killed me. Of course, they're long gone now. Parts would be hard to find. For instance, tension hoop notch spacing is NOT the same as some Gibson tension hoops I have. I'm on my own with this one, relying on Stew Mac if I need help. The sale via internet, phone and UPS went perfectly fine.

Customer Service

5

Overall Comments

I just saw a regular nickel plated Scruggs of about this same age sold on EBay for $1700. I feel as long as these trade in the teens like this, they are highly preferable for a bluegrasser to own/use than an Asian banjo at about the same price. American made, best quality parts, "interesting" to other banjo players to see and try, not plentiful, and if you're willing to fool with it to "discover" how to make it sound its best, a hell of a good bluegrass banjo. I remember in the late 1960s when Bill Emerson was reviewing banjos in Bluegrass Unlimited, his main complaint about Vegas (Scruggs and Osborne models) was that they were "too expensive" compared to Gibson, Ode, and Fender. He noted the somewhat "odd" finish they used but said the banjo is made from all best quality parts (unlike late 60s Gibson Mastertones which he totally panned as being cheaply made). Hard to believe these were the most expensive banjos of the day!! I'd like to see these get more bluegrass exposure.

Overall Rating

7