Deering Goodtime Special submitted 4/28/2008 Submitter instntkrma Where Purchased Prussia Valley Dulcimers, Waverly OH Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid 600 ($US) Sound Having played the Deering Goodtime 2 (available at your local Guitar-Mart) I'd sought out the Special in hopes of some bluegrass tone-ring punch, which this banjo delivers handily. Soft and sweet or loud and bright, just as described. Sound Rating 8 Setup The gentleman at PVDulcimers took this banjo from the wall, adjusted the bridge a bit, picked a few enviable licks and handed it over. I'd recommend shopping locally for this instrument (or any banjo, for that matter) to guarantee no accidents in shipment and to ensure it's set up as you like it. Setup Rating 8 Appearance With its signature unrefined natural satin finish, some people say this is an ugly banjo. Those people are jealous. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability This is a good, solid, American-made hunk of wood that could survive a two-story toss by a jealous lover, though I'd rather not test that assessment. Many online sources (including the Deering website) state that this instrument weighs 7 lbs, which I doubt. It's a good, honest weight. Not as heavy as a full on brass tone-ring, but not 7 lbs, either. Reliability Rating 8 Customer Service Now, this could turn out to be disappointing, but I suppose only time will tell. Upon completing the one-year warranty card, I spied a check box stating "Please Send my FREE Way to Happiness Booklet". I'd assumed this would be a bit of inoffensive religious literature, but I Googled just to be sure. As it turns out, this is a bit of Scientologist literature. I can only assume that, in order to obtain a warranty and the promised Owner's Manual, I'll have to suffer an onslaught of Scientology pamphlets as they attempt to convert my mailbox from its heathen ways. Again, only time will tell, and I would have bought the banjo anyhow, but I wish they hadn't been all sneaky about it. Customer Service 5 Components I've read a few complaints about the Vega-style arm rest on the Goodtime series, and I can confirm that it is much higher than one would expect an armrest to be. However, I think this benefits the beginning player, as it reinforces the proper wrist angle and encourages you to anchor a finger or two. A little discomfort is a small price to pay for good technique. Components Rating 8 Overall Comments The Goodtime Special is somewhat harder to get ahold of than other models in the Goodtime line, and will cost a bit more in a local store than over the Internet, but it's worth the expense in quality, tone, sustain, and style. The instrument has the sound and heft of a banjo twice its cost but comes in under $1k by eschewing the unnecessary gloss and refinements. Support your local luthier and snag one today. And unless Thetans are your thing, consider setting up a fake address for that warranty. Overall Rating 8