We have taken the opportunity this year to make many improvements in our tooling and banjo production techniques that add value to each and every banjo that we make. In making these many changes I realize there are questions from customers that I can answer here on the Banjo Hangout.

I will make time to answer questions as often as I can, possibly each morning for those who would like to contact me here.

In the Deering Banjo line we recently upgraded all the models with improved neck shapes. So if you have heard that the Tenbrooks shape was thick and a bit large, that is a thing of the past. The new Tenbrooks banjos have been resized to a wonderful neck shape that is comfortable and fast to play.

The shape of all Deering necks has been adjusted to a smaller thumb stop so that you can put a paige capo past the nut.

Each Neck shape we make has been reviewed personally by Greg and improved to what he originally intended.

Over the past year Greg has also designed and built the tooling to steam and bend our three ply maple rims in house and now we are able to use a high grade of violin maple for our rims and ensure perfect joints which in turn creates a more vibrant rim that resonates more fully the tone of the banjo.

Additionally, Greg has spent this past two months designing new inlays for the Sierra and the Deluxe banjos and these new inlay patterns can be seen on our website at deeringbanjos.com.

Feel free to ask me any questions you have and I will be happy sign in each morning over coffee and answer you.

I enjoy hearing from you.

Janet Deering

Janet,

Deering has always made terrific banjos but like most other american made products, imports are being shipped in that are also very good but with a lower price point. And given the state of our economy, less is sometimes more. Of course we all know why they cost less.

Thanks for your time!
I would like to know if Deering has ever considered offering a banjo builder's "Kit". I've alway liked the idea of building a banjo, however do not have the expertise, $$, or tooling to do some of the harder procedures (heal cuts, rim glue-ups, neck shaping etc...). A rough cut Goodtime, Boston or Sierra type "kit" would be a tinkerer's dream. There are other kits available out there, (Saga, Gold Tone, StuMac, etc) but I'd love a good quality American made banjo builders kit.

Happy Goodtime and Calico player

Dean

Edited by - DeanT on 10/14/2009 10:19:27

Yes, and the imports are getting better all the time.

Bill.O

bluegrassminstrels.co.uk

Hi Janet
I love Deering's banjos. I have a Vega Little Wonder and I had a Goodtime II and a Goodtime.
I think that the price for Deering banjo is not the best. Yes, I know the problems about quality,new product, the market..etc.Another problem is the poor option for customize the banjo.
In the other side I think that Goodtime Banjo is the best first banjo. (I don't understand the price of Midnight Special and the Classic).
New product: Sierra is very good, the inlays are special.The neck is a example of a perfect neck (playability).
Deluxe is out of my budget.
Thanks for Deering's work
Bruno

Hi Janet;

Thanks for your post. It is terrific that you are doing this.

I just bought a Goodtime 2 Classic, and while I love it overall, there are two things I think you should consider adding to the design:

1) There are no side dots. I think that these are essential, particularly for those just starting out.

2) The dark fret markers on the dark brown maple neck are about as close to invisible as you can get. Please consider changing the color of the markers to a light color so that they can be seen.

See my review for more details.

Best Regards,

PharmBoy

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There is no growth in the Comfort zone, and no comfort in the Growth zone.

"The instrument proper to them is the Banjar, which they brought hither from Africa."
-Thomas Jefferson

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hi Janet i have a Deering GDL, a great banjo and i love it, i am thinking about upgradeing it with a 20 hole tone ring i think the new GDL's have them, will i have to go through you guy's or get one from Eagle music im happy to do that, and what price would it be. keep up the good work, Deering banjo's all the way.

all the very best john. (airborne)

Hi Janet,

Glad to see that Deering is continuing to strive to improve their product line and ask for constructive comments from the public as part of the process. I have only been playing for 16 months. My main banjo is a 2001 Maple Blossom and I really like the feel of the neck and the tone of the banjo. Are their any improvements planned to the Maple Blossom line?

Janet,
Love my Goodtime Special!! You should consider a aftermarket armrest,you would probably sell as many of them as you did banjo's.

"Pick it right or pick through it,just dont stop".
Vic Jenkins

I do not own a Deering. All three of my banjos were purchased before Deering existed as a company. (You and Greg did build the neck on my California-made Staghorn, I believe.) I do want to say, though, that I really admire the way you have grown your company, and your involvement with the playing community. The fact that you show up with a manufacturer's booth at Grass Valley every year is great.

Eastbay George

I am asking this not to be mean but to clarify...can instrument makers make similar posts onto this site? I never asked the question before. Thanks

Tom Briarhopper
wbtbriarhoppers.blogspot.com
myspace.com/tomwarlick

quote:

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Originally posted by goldtopia

Yes, and the imports are getting better all the time.
Bill.O

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Janet:
My first good banjo was a Sierra (then called the "standard"). I loved it but eventually bought a Gibson RB3 because I thought I must have a Gibson.
Now I have switched to Clawhammer and recently purchased a Deering Vega number 2.
I absolutely love it. My dog is very upset because now my lap is never open for her.
Sometimes I just look at it. I clean it all the time and can't stop playing it.

Thanks for the craftsmanship that goes into your banjos.
Thanks also for your willingness to join this forum.

One question, I wish I had gotten the banjo with a scoop. What would be the cost to return it to the factory and have the scoop added?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Janet,

Thanks for the post and the offer to answer questions!

I've seen several posts regarding the price of a Deering compared to foreign made banjos, but I reject the comparison. A buddy of mine plays a Maple Blossom and I think it is comparable to and at a better price point to my Gibson. At the lower end of the price scale, I don't think there's a starter banjo that can compare to the Goodtime 2.

A good banjo is going to cost some money, so I appreciate the great quality you produce and will continue to support American Made. At least I know your banjos are made here by free people, not offshore, and not subsidized by a crooked government.

Also, thank you for all the opportunities you give to BHO members to win one of your Banjos, it always grabs my attention!

Axeman

If the minimum wasn't good enough...it wouldn't be the minimum.

Hi Janet. I love the new Sierra inlay. I think it looks fantasitic. Sounds like these several improvements are a real nice step for Deering. I want one of those Sierras. Now for the question. I have seen a few pictures of the new maple sierra with black binding and white binding. I know one can order whatever they want from Deering but what will most likely be in the dealers hands, white I presume? IMO the black looks sweet.

Thanks,

Tommy

Thanks for taking our questions. Mine is regarding the Tenbrooks neck. Bought a used one about two months ago and still not sure how I feel about the neck, somedays like it better than others. Past posts on this site have speculated that a thick neck was chosen because of tone characteristics. I was wondering if that is true, and if so, does the thinner neck Tenbrooks have the same sound. Can you share with us the considerations that lead to the original neck shape? Thanks

Edited by - jsowers on 10/15/2009 08:07:09

I would love to have a new Calico.

Good luck and say hello to Greg from Banjobrothers Australia. He gave us a really good welcome and told us to continue with our dream. He is so willing to talk and share his time. We were also pleased that he said our rims where great for beginners. Since Greg encouraged us we have grown soo much in the last year.

Thank you,
Leon.

banjobrothersaustralia.com

Thank you for making yourself available for questions. What is the chance of Deering offering a Whyte Laydie tonering in the Vega line?
Thanks


David "Uncle Dave" Holbrook
The Rockdale Ridgerunners

"Now good people, we're going to play this next tune with more heterogeneous constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself."

Many thanks for your time Janet.

I own an 03 Maple Blossom custom and a Goodtime standard. From my point of view the MB is as good as most standard Gibson's and better than some. The Goodtime is just excellent value for money all round and tonally head and shoulders above its price competitors. Deerings imminent problems [FMPOV] are going to be with the quality and price of chinese imports, specifically the Recording King and Goldstar banjos. They are very good instruments for the money, not better, but cheaper and that matters right now.

What needles me [and perhaps others] is when i see additions to the Deering line which are fundamentally only cosmetic, the huge variety of Goodtime options has now [IMVHO] priced you out of that starter market and my feeling is you need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath-water, the Goodtime is you bread and butter banjo, its many players first banjo and it needs to be cheap. Close to $1000 for any Goodtime is just nuts.

Secondly unlike several posters here i really dislike the new inlays on the Sierra, this is clearly subjective and down to taste, but to my mind fiddling around with inlays is not going to be a deal clincher. Greg said it best, the Sierra is the best banjo for the money around, keep it affordable and keep it simple. Ever seen a badly fitted go-faster-body-kit on a SUV? well its that kind of look the new Sierra has, unnecessary.

With that all said and done i really appreciate that you come on the HO and solicit public opinion on your products, it sends a message to us [your clients] that you both care and are listening, something i get the impression that Gibson could do with learning right now.

Many thanks for the opportunity to air my thoughts on your otherwise most excellent company and i will continue to buy Deering.

Incidentally, i'd like to take this opportunity to pass on to you how good a service Eagle Music [Deering UK] provide to the british player. Tim is an excellent ambassador for Deering banjos and arguably one of the most upright men in the English banjo fraternity.

Proud Union Man

Regards from London.

Edited by - country frank on 10/15/2009 07:43:23

Thanks for your response! This may take a few cups of coffee and I will enjoy answering each of you.

Deering has always made terrific banjos but like most other american made products, imports are being shipped in that are also very good but with a lower price point.

Yes, there are lots of choices on the market now and that is good. Some look better than they perform and as a player gets more advanced the differences will become much more apparent. Also, as the life of the instrument requires quality parts for durability, lower prices may include an early demise.

Once at a festival I sold a new head to a lady and I tried to help her by changing the head on her Morgan Monroe. As I tried to tighten the hooks on the new head each hook began to give way under the stress of proper tension. All I could do is get the head on and apologize for the fact that I could not tighten the head to the proper tension without the hooks breaking. She would have to make do with the sound as it was.

This is a good example of the kind of challenge that comes with something made far away by a company that knows nothing about what it really takes to make a quality banjo good enough to have lifetime warranty. The quality is just enough to pass it for a banjo and sell it. We call these banjos BLOs - "Banjo Like Objects.

In every field of product you will find this - even in tools, you can buy a wrench of inferior metal, take it home and it will bend rather than turn the nut you need to adjust. You just threw your money away because it doesn't do the job, but you had the satisfaction of getting a great price on it.

Janet, you are of course correct about the BSO's out there however Recording King and Goldstar [specifically] are not in that league. They are well constructed instruments designed from the ground up by expert builders, they are the new wave of imports and need to be taken seriously.

On another note both brands mentioned above enjoy a fair bit of support here on the HO and that is down [in no small part] to Greg and Scott's consistent and comprehensive input on this site. Communication with your customer base is of paramount importance and a very powerful marketing tool as they have proved. Once again you presence here is doing exactly that, communicating with us.

Proud Union Man

Regards from London.

I would like to know if Deering has ever considered offering a banjo builder's "Kit".

We have thought about this. Have not decided to do it. Have not decided never to do it. It's like asking Martin if they will make a kit guitar.

Our main focus has always been to make the highest quality banjos possible. It takes great precision to do this.

We only have about 30 people working here and only a few office staff. Carolina Bridges alone handles customer service calls and she is very busy since we are the only banjo company that answers customers questions directly with a person dedicated to this job. But Carolina also does the factory tours for people who come to visit us each day.

Imagine if we sold kits how many people would have questions about how to build their kit banjo. It could swing our focus away from making great banjos to teaching people how to assemble their kits.

For us, it is important to build the greatest banjos that have ever been made and to develop the sound and quality of our banjos such that the banjo as a musical instrument reaches a higher level of perfection and enables players to express themselves in ways never possible before.

I'm not sure that as a small company we could do both, so kits will wait.

I just bought a Goodtime 2 Classic, and while I love it overall, there are two things I think you should consider adding to the design:

1) There are no side dots. I think that these are essential, particularly for those just starting out.

2) The dark fret markers on the dark brown maple neck are about as close to invisible as you can get. Please consider changing the color of the markers to a light color so that they can be seen.

Thank you. As we have been improving our tooling to be able to provide more features, these are two items we have discussed. We actually changed already to white inlays on the Goodtime Classics last year. We will have a new catalog out showing this soon. One down, one to go.

So much of what we have offered has been dependent on time and tooling. The side dots on all of our banjos are put in by hand with a drill, and to keep the cost down, we figured the customers could put a dot mark with a permanent marker by the inlay frets if they wished. Many customers have done this if they wanted it on the 25,000 Goodtimes we have sold since 1995.

When we started this company 35 years ago, we had nothing but determination. Greg has personally built many of our machines by scrounging parts from aircraft salvage yards when General Dynamics, and Rohr industries were here in San Diego.
So, having built it personally from the ground up making banjo equipment has taken many years. In more recent years the improvements have come faster.

There are always more things to do as we progress.

Edited by - Janet Deering on 10/15/2009 10:57:20

quote:

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so kits will wait.

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Edited by - DeanT on 10/15/2009 08:47:03

hi Janet i have a Deering GDL, a great banjo and i love it, i am thinking about upgradeing it with a 20 hole tone ring i think the new GDL's have them, will i have to go through you guy's or get one from Eagle music im happy to do that, and what price would it be.

I'm glad you love your GDL. You can upgrade it to a 20 hole tonering and you can buy it through Eagle. I cannot guess the price because there are monetary conversions between dollars and pounds and other costs involved in the work of changing it over. Eagle Music in Yorkshire has a wonderful banjo repairman who can put the new tonering on for you and set your banjo up. I'm sure if you call them this can be arranged at a reasonable price.