Submitted by tenor800 (see all reviews from this person) on 9/22/2006

Where Purchased: Music Folk

Year Purchased: 2006
Price Paid: Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

I play in a dixieland band, and this banjo cuts through just fine. It has a
bright, but plunky sound, and unlike the Gold Tone TS-250's and the Tyler Mountain TMT-85 I've tried, the sound is good all the way up the frets. Plays better with medium strings. It is the only Asian tenor banjo I have ever liked (made in Japan in the 1970's or 1980's) and until I can upgrade to an Ome Monarch, It's great. The longer you play it, the more volume and mellow it gets.

Sound Rating: 8

Setup

The setup was perfect, just needed to move the tailpiece slightly to better center the strings. Perfect low action, new frets, good quality Presto-type tailpiece. It was bought and never really played. so It is essentially brand new with absolutely no wear anywhere. I had a Luthier replace the friction pegs with new 5-star geared tuners.

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

It is the most beautiful banjo I have owned---much better than the Gold Tone or Tyler Mountain tenors I've owned. The peghead shape and inlay is very cool, and the rosewood resonator w/inlay is outstanding---as is the mahogany neck, and Deering-type flange. It has a 20-hole brass flathead tone ring, I just love to look at it.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

The new tuners, the armrest, the flange, tension ring, tailpiece, and tone ring are all solid, good quality, and the laquer finish is excellent and should last a long time. I play it in my dixieland band.

Reliability Rating: 9

Customer Service

N/A Never needed service. Set-up was excellent.

Customer Service: 9

Components

The only component not original is the new 5-star planetary tuners I had the friction tuners replaced with. The bridge was slightly bowed in the center when I got it, so I replaced the bridge with a regular maple (ebony top) bridge from StewMac.

Components Rating: 9

Overall Comments

I love this banjo. The tone suits me, and it looks fantastic. It is the only Asian banjo I would buy---they look great, but have a flat low-quality sound above the 7-10th fret. These Alvarez tenors are very hard to find anymore with the world gone bluegrass crazy. I feel lucky! Dixieland tenor music will rise again!

Overall Rating: 9