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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: 2014
Price Paid: 180 (GBP) (bought USED)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
This is a top of the range Ozark open back banjo, and since most of the Ozark range is cheap and cheerful, I wasn't expecting too much.
It has a combination of walnut pot & neck, whyte laydie tone ring and renaissance head. As a result, the sound is very loud, quite bright and very open/airy. It is surprisingly excellent, and gives me something different as my other banjos are woody, brass hoop and dobson.
Sound Rating: 8
When I got it, the banjo had a 5/8" no-name bridge, which for this banjo made the action too low and buzzy. The strings were also a bit dead.
I replaced the bridge with a 3/4" maple and put a set of Newtone PB mediums on it, and after a few hours settling in, it sounds much better.
Other than that, I've made no adjustments.
Setup Rating: 7
It's a mixed bag here. In places it looks spectacular, yet in other aspects it seems a bit gaudy. The walnut neck is lovely, although the joins in the wood are a bit too severe and obvious. The walnut pot is very nice too, and the thin, smooth satin finish throughout is excellent.
The maple multi-ply binding is very well done, although there is a gloop of something on the pot under the heel - minor cosmetic flaw.
The chrome hardware on the pot (stretcher band and armrest) are engraved, and while superficially this seems classy, the engravings are basic, make no sense and ultimately add to the 'gaudiness'. The headstock is very well done, with nice binding and inlay, but I feel the overall look would be improved with an ebony fingerboard.
Appearance Rating: 7
It seems solid and well put together. Not as solid maybe as a Bart Reiter, but I would certainly rely on it for the meantime. There are no loose connections or hardware, no rattles or buzzes, and it holds tuning quite well.
Reliability Rating: 7
N/A
Customer Service: 5
The neck is smooth and light, very nice indeed.
The WL tone ring is very heavy and appears to be the real deal.
Brackets and hooks seem good quality, and the renaissance head is a nice touch.
I'm not too keen on the tuners as they seem quite cheap, with plastic buttons, and they have a little bit too much play, even tightened down, but they hold tuning well enough, so no big deal.
Components Rating: 7
Overall, this is an excellent, good looking, well put together banjo, and is easily the best Ozark I've ever seen or played.
For the money I paid, it is simply an unmissable bargain, and if you get the chance to get something similar, don't hesitate.
The tone is really nice, very light, airy and open, but retaining a richness and a ring that make it stand out. It's loud for an open back too!
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: Eagle Music
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: 489 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I bought this banjo as a second banjo and as back-up to my main instrument. I wanted something with a tone ring to give a different sound to my existing rosewood ring banjo, since selling (regrettably) my Gold Tone BC-350.
I'm glad I chose the Special model, as I really can tell the difference in tone, and this banjo has quite a bright, zingy ring to it, tempered somewhat by the renaissance head and no-knot tailpiece.
I play only clawhammer/frailing, so I like the fact this Goodtime Special offers something different, which I hope will cut through better in a jam.
Sound Rating: 8
Set-up was near perfect when I received the banjo. Very low action, which suits me fine for my style, although due to the fifth string spike (rather than a nut), catching the fifth string over the fingerboard is very difficult. Bridge placement was fine, and the head was nice and tight.
Setup Rating: 8
Beautiful banjo to look at. This one was an Eagle Music custom banjo, termed 'The Southern Queen', which means it deviates a fair bit from a standard Goodtime. The peghead is the new fiddle shape, and it is branged 'Leader' with a burned in Eagle motif, which is very classy and striking. Nice planetary tuners give it a classic look, and I love the natural satin blond maple finish. The renaissance head just completes it, and the bow tie inlays are quite nice too.
Appearance Rating: 9
Hardware looks bomb-proof and the finish is lovely, although might possibly mark/scuff easily given the light satin look.
The banjo feels very solid to play, and adfter only a week, although it;s hard to judge, seems very substantial.
Reliability Rating: 8
Dealt with Eagle Music and the owner Steve Noon, who answered all my queries pleasantly and promptly.
Even though I only ordered the banjo on 23.12.10, I found it had been delivered to me less than 24 hours later, which is superb customer service, and amazingly it arrived in time for Christmas, which was a great bonus.
Customer Service: 10
I don't know which brand of tuners are used on this banjo, but they feel solid and consistent and there is no slipping at all.
The neck is simply incredible - so smooth and fast and a delight to hold.
I changed the bridge pretty much right away to a Sosobee select maple, but the stock bridge seemed ok.
Components Rating: 9
A very fine, good looking and great sounding banjo, which with the addition of a 5th string nut and a scoop I'd be happy to use as my main banjo in any circumstance.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Used from a friend
Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: 1300 ($US) (bought USED)
I got this banjo to replace my Gold Tone BC-350, which I really liked, but I was looking for a more old-timey sound.
I think I got it with the Cedar Mountain. It has a fair bit of 'plunk', which can be adjusted by altering the usual variables - head tension, bridge etc.
It came with a skin head, generic bridge and an integral rosewood tonerim, which I thought at first made it a lot quieter than the BC-350, but on reflection it affects more the tone than the volume, although it's not quite as piercing as the brass hoop Gold Tone.
I really like the sound, but I don't know if I prefer it yet.
Sound Rating: 8
The head was quite loose, and needed a lot of tightening, but this was a personal preference of the previous owner. Other than changing the bridge, it was very playable right away.
Setup Rating: 9
It is a beautiful looking banjo, with attractive block rosewood rim, striking striped/flamed maple neck with matching dowel stick and rim cover, black ebony fretboard, heel cover and headplate and some rather impressive inlay work of stars, moon and planets, with especially nice custom star inlays for fret markers.
The wood has a hand rubbed finish which is lovely to look and and hold, and doesn't have the 'glassy' polished appearance of gloss, which I don't particularly like.
The real skin head has a cool old-time look about it - in fact the only thing I would change would be the tuner buttons. I prefer ebony, but these are cream, and while nice, are not perfect.
Still, it IS a looker.
Appearance Rating: 9
The hardware and finish seem very durable - nothing has worn off in the (almost) year since I've had it, and when I put a replacement calf skin head on it several months back, the whole thing came apart and put together again easily.
Reliability Rating: 9
Did not deal, but send Lo Gordon an email enquiring about the banjo and when it was made. I got a short reply stating it was made in early 2005, which was quite helpful.
Customer Service: 8
Not too sure about the 'no knot' tailpeice, but everything else is very good quality on this banjo. The rim is incredible, as is the neck and fingerboard. The tuners are Waverley, although for some reason I preferred the Five Stars I upgraded my BC-350 with! The Waverelys do seem to have a bit more play in them that I'd have thought.
Components Rating: 8
A very nice quality banjo, a definite upgrade from my Gold Tone BC-350, and I'm pleased with the playability and sound.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Frailers (UK)
Year Purchased: 2008
Price Paid: 659 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I was upgrading from a very poor grade starter banjo, and from my favoured style of play, I was recommended a 'frailing banjo'.
This Gold Tone BC-350 did not disappoint. A very loud sound for an open back banjo, but also slightly plunky for that old time tone.
Sound Rating: 9
The banjo was selected by the shop tech as the best set up and most playable of the models available. It arrived with a very nice, playable action (not too low).
I'm none to experienced with banjos so far, but it played like a dream right out of the box for me.
Setup Rating: 9
I love the look of this banjo - attractive blonde maple rim and neck, and beautiful striped ebony fretboard and headstock faceplate. The fretboard is not overelaborate with too much inlay work - instead it has simple MoP dot inlay fret markers, with a star inlay at the 5th fret, and a star motif on the headstock.
I like the fact this banjo does not have the makers name emblazoned on the headstock - it's very understated and classy.
Appearance Rating: 8
It seems very solid and well put together.
I've only had it a month, so it's hard to judge, but the top quality materials used suggest it will last just fine.
Reliability Rating: 8
Frailers in Runcorn, UK were good to deal with. Helpful over the phone in making a selection, and very quick with delivery too. The banjo arrived in good order as described, with a hand written note from Dave asking me to call him if there was a problem. There was even a complimentary pack of strings in the case, in the event that any strings were broken in transit.
I think the warranty is the standard Gold Tone Limited Lifetime, but I'm not sure.
Customer Service: 8
The fretboard is beautiful and the neck is easy to play being a little wider than normal.
The flesh hoop was bent slightly, but makes no difference at all.
Good quality components as far as I can make out.
Components Rating: 7
I would certainly recommend this banjo for those looking for a frailing banjo with an old time sound, but not too soft and great volume levels if required.
I paid a little too much, but the price included a decent quality Gold Tone branded TKL hard case, specifically designed for a 12" pot and overnight shipping.
So, looking at it that way, the banjo may only have cost me about £550.
I love this banjo, and would definitely get another if it needed to be replaced.
Overall Rating: 8
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