Banjo-Tam 5-string with Jingles Reviews

Banjo-Tam 5-string with Jingles submitted 6/20/2007 Submitter dhoenisch (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased eBay Year Purchased 2006 Price Paid 55 ($US) Sound For a banjo around $50, I can't complain about the sound, but I had to do a lot to get decent sound. It comes with a really soft bridge, weird type of strings, weird tailpiece and a sagging head. Not much can be done about the sagging head since the rim is so thin, but I tightened it as much as I could without breaking the rim, made a new bridge, added a no-knot tailpiece, and used nylon strings, and it sounds pretty good. I play Scruggs-style, and I play this one a lot without fingerpicks, and it sound okay for something to play around with. This is my recliner banjo. (I am rating this as a $50 banjo, not a $5K banjo) Sound Rating 9 Setup As mentioned before, the banjo wasn't set up too well, but really couldn't be (I do understand that it is a novelty instrument). After the many modifications I did to it, it definately improved from something almost playable to something worth playing. In addition to the modifications mentioned above, I added side markers since this one didn't have any. Sometimes I'll lay in bed and play this thing, and without the side markers, I'd get lost playing Foggy Mt. Breakdown or other songs that go up the neck. The guitar tuners were installed weird. The bottom two were fine, but the top two were reversed. No problem, just reversed them, redrilled the screw holes, and problem solved. Frets had finish on them, but scraping with a fingernail fixed that. Action was also a bit high, but an adjustment of the neck, and that fixed that. Again, this is a novelty banjo, and I still got a playable instrument out of it. I am not at all complaining. Actually, performing all of these upgrades was a lot of fun, and a definate learning experience. (I am rating this as a $50 banjo, not a $5K banjo) Setup Rating 6 Appearance Hey, for what it is, I have no complaints. Actually, I feel that it is better looking than the gumby styled GoodTimes banjo. Same color, better looking headstock. (I am rating this as a $50 banjo, not a $5K banjo) Appearance Rating 10 Reliability Well, I've had it a little over a year now, and it's fine. The guitar tuners are guitar tuners, and hold their tuning very well. Also, on a very good note (no pun intended), it has a geared 5th string tuner that also holds tuning very well. No complaints whatsoever on the tuning machines. My upgrades have been holding beautifully now for over a year. (I am rating this as a $50 banjo, not a $5K banjo) Reliability Rating 8 Customer Service Customer service is outstanding. The first banjo that was sent to me had a broken headstock. I e-mailed Frank Abrams at Banjo-Tam to tell him about the problem, and said that I could send pictures. He replied to me within an hour (if I remember correctly) and said not to worry about sending pictures, a new Banjo-Tam was on it's way. I got it within a few days, and this one was delivered in good condition. You just don't get customer service like this anymore. Customer Service 10 Components See my entry for Reliability. (I am rating this as a $50 banjo, not a $5K banjo) Components Rating 8 Overall Comments Overall, I am glad I bought this banjo. Because of it's light weight (I think it's only 4 pounds) and it's nylon strings that I upgraded it with, I tend to play this more than my regular banjo. I can take it outside, and not have to worry about it, take it on trips and play it at rest stops, etc. I really enjoy this little banjo. I'd definately pay more, and was willing to, but then I saw Frank's Christmas special price on the eBay, and jumped on it. (I am rating this as a $50 banjo, not a $5K banjo) Overall Rating 8