Recording King RK-80
submitted 12/1/2011
|
Submitter |
dubtom |
Where Purchased |
Kieran Maloney |
Year Purchased |
2011 |
Price Paid |
979 (euro)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
|
Sound
|
Playing Scruggs, out of box it sounds good, bright and loudish.
I like it already. |
Sound Rating |
not rated |
Setup
|
It wasn't set up by the seller, the action is good. I intend fitting a snuffy smith bridge. I'd give it an 7 seeing as it hasn't been touched since the factory |
Setup Rating |
7 |
Appearance
|
Very nicely finished, a tiny scuff mark on the reso although I could have done that. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
I hope the hardware will last, the tuners certainly feel robust. I would use it at a gig. I don't know about reliability yet. |
Reliability Rating |
not rated |
Customer Service
|
Lifetime Warrenty |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
Just the bridge I'd guess. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
|
Very pleased with the playability so far,it seems so much easier to play up the neck,cumberland gap being one example,always have difficulty making a banjo sound good , with the 80 my playing sounds smoother,and the banjo rings all the way up the neck |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Strings express (UK)
submitted 2/2/2011
|
Submitter |
dubtom |
Overall Comments
|
First time to use them,prices seemed ok,they contacted me next day to confirm payment,told me my order was ready to be shipped,that was in mid January. No sign of order on the 25th,emailed them and they said there was a back log due to snow. As of yesterday still no sign,emailed again,got reply to say order had been shipped on 17th january via airmail, that's 8 days before my first complaint. They must think I live in china rather than a two hour flight from them.
Overall, very negative, and it's still not complete. |
Overall Rating |
1 |
|
Saga Resonator Banjo Kit RK-2
submitted 1/3/2010
|
Submitter |
dubtom |
Where Purchased |
Music King (UK) |
Year Purchased |
2009 |
Price Paid |
180 (euro)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
|
Sound
|
Bluegass. banjo Kit,alu pot,arch top. It has a bright sound.Only just made so not sure of it's full potential. |
Sound Rating |
7 |
Setup
|
I will need to adjust the nut,the action up is way too high. The bridge is of not good quality. |
Setup Rating |
6 |
Appearance
|
I stained and lacquered it myself,the neck was nicely sanded,as was the reso,although work was needed on both.Apart from dots on the fretboard,no inlays included. BTW the holes for the dots were too small and needed drilling. |
Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
|
Too early to tell. |
Reliability Rating |
6 |
Customer Service
|
5 days after ordering I phoned and heard the guy shout to one of his co workers,any saga banjo kits down there,so obviously my order had been ignored for some reason,although I did receive it after a couple of days from then. Not sure of warranty. |
Customer Service |
3 |
Components
|
Now here's the thing. Although I'm happy with my banjo,here a list of stuff that needed to be done. The alu pot to neck alignment was off,not only where the holes in the pot misaligned,the lugs in the neck were also. I had to drill the holes in the pot,but managed a perfect fit. The resonator was too small for the completed pot and had to be drum sanded to achieve a fit. It was pre-drilled for the holders but in the wrong places. The tail piece,I had to drill the bracket for it to fit and also grind the piece itself because adjustment was impossible.I also had to cut the nut and thread because it interfered with the reso fit. |
Components Rating |
7 |
Overall Comments
|
Overall,despite the poor fit problems,I'm happy with my purchase. My initial idea was to build a banjo cheaply,to gain expierence in the building process. I knew I wouldn't get a gibson when all was done.If anything the problems I had have given me confidence that I didn't have before I started. The lack of instructions didn't help, but through the BH and other sites I managed to complete it.I would recommend this kit to anyone who want's to build,just bare in mind that work will have to be done. In saying that,when altered,the neck to pot fit is better than some factory banjo's I've seen,so not all bad. |
Overall Rating |
8 |
|
Recording King RK-20
submitted 1/29/2009
|
Submitter |
dubtom |
Where Purchased |
X-Music,Dublin,Ireland |
Year Purchased |
2009 |
Price Paid |
359 (euro)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
|
Sound
|
Sounds fantastic compared to my fender. Learning to play scruggs,it's got that ping that my other just doesn't. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
No,wasn't setup, The shop where I got it wouldn't have a clue,nor would they pretend too. I have read that with different bridges and a decent set up it can sound even better. |
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
|
Excellent. The peg head and fret board are very nicely inlaid and the paint finish is flawless. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
It'll be a long time before I gig,yes it does seem very well put together.The hardware looks good,although time will tell. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
|
One year warrenty,although RK's site says lifetime. TBH unless something drastic went wrong I wouldn't even consider bringing it back to the shop,I'd go to someone who knows banjo's first.Hopefully won't have to deal with CS.
I did get a free hard case with it,probably a mistake on the seller part,but I'm happy. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
Planatry (SP) tuners and geared fifth. Don't know enough about banjo parts to comment. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
|
Yes I would. If it was stolen I'd cry awhile and buy another. I love it. The looks and sound. None. Compared to my entry level fender it's a dream machine. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Fender FB-300
submitted 12/29/2008
|
Submitter |
dubtom |
Where Purchased |
Fender rep |
Year Purchased |
2008 |
Price Paid |
200 (euro)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
|
Sound
|
MY first banjo,and a present to booth,so I didn't have a choice. The wife got a deal from a guitarshop worker friend who got it from the fender rep,judging by the price I think she got an ok deal. As a beginner,I'm no judge of how it should sound,although a few musican friends have said it sounds nice and mellow, although with picks it's sounds quite loud to me. |
Sound Rating |
8 |
Setup
|
As a complete novice I managed to tune it straight out of the bag with the supplied tuner,which surprised me. I've had to it two weeks and in that time it seemed to lose tune everytime I put it down,but it seems to be holding tune a little better now. I know nothing about setting it up so haven't touched it although I do intend to get it set up professionally if I can find one in my area. Mine doen't have the remo head as stated by another rater,well it doesn't have a remo stamp anyway. |
Setup Rating |
7 |
Appearance
|
Quite the plain jane,just dot inlays on the fret and the fender name.No bells and whistles,I like the look though,not over done. |
Appearance Rating |
9 |
Reliability
|
Not sure yet. The tuners plasticy,if anything breaks I would imagine they will.I'm not sure whether the 5th is geared,it doesn't look like it to me. |
Reliability Rating |
7 |
Customer Service
|
no need yet,fingers crossed. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
As said already,the tuners look cheap,I'll wait for professional advise before I upgrade anything. |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
|
If on a budget I suppose you can't go wrong,but personally I would make sure it had a least a tone hoop,which this one doesn't.Compared to the RK20,which is a starter banjo,but more expensive,well it's lacking,but you get what you pay for. |
Overall Rating |
7 |
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