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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
7232 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Ebay
Year Purchased: 2005
Price Paid: 610 ($US) (bought USED)
I had a Pro II Tree of Life the year that they were out. Later, I played it against Deerings, Stellings and others at Picker's Supply in Fredricksberg Va. I told the store owner that I liked the others, but they didn't have enough difference in the sound to make the $3000 price worth the trade in. The Aria was just that good.
Sound Rating: 10
The banjo has just arrived at my mother's in Virginia. I don't know what the setup is like. I will probably run a setup when I return home this year.
Setup Rating: 5
Vine and leaf inlay in MOP up the fingerboard. I always had a gripe with my last Pro II as some of the leaves were not in standard positions. I always used a fifth string capo and couldn't see the dots on the side of the neck.
Appearance Rating: 10
I used to use the original Aria with my Gibson long neck RB-175 as my only banjos. This one will go where my GDL might be at risk.
Reliability Rating: 10
The Tree of Life was only built for one year. When I came to Germany, I didn't plan on doing gigs, so I left it at my mother-in-law's house. I never planned on her having a total-loss house fire.
Customer Service: 5
It is a solid instrument that will hold up to any that my other Aria did.
Components Rating: 10
I lost my first Tree of Life in a house fire. I think I am lucky to have found another.
Overall Rating: 10
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