Bishline Custom Salty Dog
submitted 4/6/2009
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
Bishline Tulsa Ok |
Year Purchased |
2009 |
Price Paid |
2400 ($US) |
Sound
|
Very loud bright sound sounds very good.Ive had the banjo for 6 months now and it sounds better than ever and the glue smell is gone.Its a maple banjo not the standard mahogony. |
Sound Rating |
9 |
Setup
|
Set up was fine good action.The bridge feet are sanded at an angle so the bridge is not at a 90 deg angle from the head it leans toward the tail piece. Replaced bridge. |
Setup Rating |
8 |
Appearance
|
Very nice looking banjo |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
Its a top quality banjo only have a few issues with it. Today I lifted the banjo up, and the handle rivet popped out of the case. The case is pretty cheap.The day I opened it up on arrival the peghead cushion just fell out all was holding it in was some tape.I knew then the case was very cheap and poor quality. |
Reliability Rating |
7 |
Customer Service
|
They are great before the sale after the sale I havent heard a word from them. |
Customer Service |
5 |
Components
|
Tail Piece is pretty cheap it rattles when you hit the Low d . The armrest looks pretty cheap also its not rounded on the corner more square and sharp. The low d string close to the nut is to close to the edge of the fingerboard either the neck is a little to small or the nut slot is not spaced right its to easy to push the d string off the top of fingerboard. I have to be careful to push directly down when fingering the fat d string just a little up force and it slides off the top. The rest of the banjo is great. |
Components Rating |
6 |
Overall Comments
|
I would not reccomend buying a banjo unless you play it first especially paying this much $ for one. My money would of been better spent on a different banjo.I must says it is very pretty and sounds pretty good and plays pretty good. But for the money spent I expected a little better in parts and workmanship. Ive never had a banjo where the low d string pushes off the top of the fingerboard even on the cheap ones Ive owned.Thats my biggest complaint.The case is very cheap and poor quality along with the tailpiece and armrest.I recommend ordering specific parts on your banjo so you dont get the junk I got. |
Overall Rating |
7 |
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BanjoMate Thinline Armrest Thinline Armrest
submitted 2/24/2009
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
WWW.LITTLEMOUNTAINMUSIC.COM |
Overall Comments
|
Simple to install remove to bracketts slide on armrest and adjust height.Put it on my Deering goodtime openback.Its the same color as the goodtime matches real well and comfortable.
DOUG@LITTLEMOUNTAINMUSIC.COM |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Deering Goodtime
submitted 1/30/2009
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
Willis Music |
Year Purchased |
2003 |
Price Paid |
199.00 ($US) |
Sound
|
Sounds good a little flat up the neck but good for the price. |
Sound Rating |
7 |
Setup
|
Good |
Setup Rating |
8 |
Appearance
|
Looks good maple throughout which is what I like |
Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
|
Tuners are not great but do the job. Have to adjust quit often |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
|
No experience in this area |
Customer Service |
5 |
Components
|
Ebony tip on bridge has came unglued and the tuners are not great also would like a better nut. For the price and playability its great. |
Components Rating |
6 |
Overall Comments
|
I recommend this for a knock around banjo or for a beginner. |
Overall Rating |
7 |
|
Deering Sierra
submitted 12/20/2008
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
Willis Music |
Year Purchased |
1997 |
Price Paid |
Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
|
Sound
|
Sounds good has a sweet mellow sound.I prefer the mastertone sound but I bought it without playing it they didnt have one in stock ordered it from a deering advertisment.But again sounded alot better than my previous banjo.The newer sierras have a different tone ring and a different tail piece. I think mine was one of the first ones sold.The sound when played up the neck was not great a little dull not as crisp and bright as I would of liked. It is a mahogany banjo the newer maple sierra banjos are probably more to the sound that I like. |
Sound Rating |
7 |
Setup
|
set up was close had to move bridge and lower tail piece but you got to expect that from a store that dont know much about banjos. |
Setup Rating |
7 |
Appearance
|
Looks good but nothing fancy about it. |
Appearance Rating |
7 |
Reliability
|
Never had any problems with hardware but the tail piece was to small and short I thought, probably why they changed it on the newer models. |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
|
never had to make a call to them |
Customer Service |
5 |
Components
|
Well made banjo nothing fancy was a big step up in sound from my previous banjo a flatiron montana rose I should of replaced the tail piece may of changed the sound a little more to my liking. |
Components Rating |
not rated |
Overall Comments
|
A good sounding quality banjo ,but not the classic gibson sound, but all the same sounds good.If I had it all to do over again I would of bought a Mastertone or Master clone just because I like that sound better. I did like the neck alot very fast and slim easy to play. Sold the banjo in some hardtimes. |
Overall Rating |
7 |
|
Flatiron Montana Rose
submitted 12/3/2008
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
Willis Music |
Year Purchased |
1989 |
Price Paid |
800 ($US) |
Sound
|
Sound was not great was a beginner at the time and it was slightly better than my Alvarez bluegrass special I had before. Didnt know much about set up but knowing what I know today probably would of sounded better if set up properly. |
Sound Rating |
5 |
Setup
|
No set up action was good easy to play |
Setup Rating |
3 |
Appearance
|
Very nice looking banjo |
Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
|
Never had any problems with it |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
|
Willis music is great from my experience with them sometimes a little slow with customer service. |
Customer Service |
8 |
Components
|
Never had any problems |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
|
Very nice looking and would sound and play well with a good set up. Sold the banjo and bought a Deering Sierra. Which was much better |
Overall Rating |
6 |
|
Alvarez Bluegrass Special
submitted 12/3/2008
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
Willis Music |
Year Purchased |
1987 |
Price Paid |
375 ($US) |
Sound
|
Sound was good for a beginner very loud but not very crisp up the neck was very flat.With a good set up would sound a little better had a steel tone ring. |
Sound Rating |
5 |
Setup
|
no set up action was good |
Setup Rating |
5 |
Appearance
|
Simple looking but looked good very shiny chrome had it for a couple yrs and it still looked good and after many hours of practice. |
Appearance Rating |
7 |
Reliability
|
Never had a problem with it |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
|
Willis music is good.Sometimes a little slow with customer service |
Customer Service |
8 |
Components
|
Never had any problems |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
|
Good beginner banjo looks good plays good sounds ok quality parts traded it in on a Flatiron Montana Rose which was not much better. |
Overall Rating |
6 |
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Homespun Video Alan Mundes Lick A minute
submitted 11/13/2008
|
Submitter |
DENNISNDODIE |
Where Purchased |
Willis Music |
Overall Comments
|
Very helpful licks from a banjo super uber love his style of playing. Alot of moveable licks . It has helped me alot. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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