Cases (Soft, Gig Bags): TKL Zero Gravity

Submitted by don wiseman on 7/1/2012

Where Purchased: banjoteacher.com (Ross Nickerson)

Overall Comments

The TKL Zero Gravity case replaces my Durafoam case from Musicians Friend (which I also reviewed here in 2010) and is a better case in every way (except that it's more expensive at $117). The case has backpack straps, a larger accessory compartment inside, better neck support, and a larger outside pocket that's big enough to accomodate song sheets and books, and the exterior looks to be durable. It also has what I consider to be safety feature on a zippered case: half of the handle is on the lid and half on the bottom, so when the two pieces are joined and it's picked up, it can't open even if the lid is not zipped. Well worth the extra price over the Durafoam. Only reason it's not a 10 is because the straps aren't completely removeable.

Overall Rating: 9

Chris Cioffi

Submitted by don wiseman on 3/28/2011

Overall Comments

Chris recently did a transformation on my 2007 RB250. I bought the banjo used and while it sounded ok, it had a small rattle and just didn't seem right. I sent it to Chris for a setup based on comments on BHO and my telephone calls with him. After he inspected it and he took it apart, I agreed with his recommendations and had him do a neck reset, redoing the neck to achieve the proper relief and range of adjustment of the truss rod (a big job), a complete refret (got rid of that cheesy plastic look binding material on the ends of the frets), a new Huber ring properly fitted to the rim to replace the ill-fitted "mystery" ring, a new nut and pip, drop-filling a small nick, and a general cleaning and set up. This banjo looked almost new when I sent it to him and now it not only looks better but it sounds like it should and plays easily. Not only was the workmanship meticulous, what I really liked about Chris was the communication, complete with photos. Can't recommend him highly enough.

Overall Rating: 10

Cases (Soft, Gig Bags): Durafoam Shaped Case

Submitted by don wiseman on 8/15/2010

Where Purchased: Musician's Friend

Overall Comments

This case looks look on the website, the price is certainly right at $50, and its actually pretty well made with backpack straps, an outside large pocket and 2 fabric handles, one on the bottom side and one on the lid so if you pick it up and forgot to zip it, the banjo won't fall out. The problem is that the interior offers very poor neck support left to right and because the resonator won't lay flat on the bottom of the case, there's some tension on the neck to pot connection. OK for going from house to car and back, but that's about it.

Overall Rating: 4

Other: Fiddle Widget for Banjo

Submitted by don wiseman on 7/7/2008

Where Purchased: Janet Davis

Overall Comments

This is a moveable cardboard and clear plastic sleeve device that locates all of the notes on the neck, and all of the major, minor, 7ths, augmented and diminished chords. It's a simple slide rule (those of us eligible for AARP know what a slide rule is) type device that has punched holes to fit in your 3-ring songbook binder. No more pages of chord forms and charts. Very easy to use, and you learn the neck and a little bit of music theory along the way. It's a little hard to find on the JDMC site, but once you get there, there's a link to a video demonstration.

Overall Rating: 10