Deering: Maple Blossom

Submitted by randall collins on 9/18/2004

Where Purchased: deering custom shop

Year Purchased: 03
Price Paid: historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

deering maple blossom with granadillo wood tonerim.
good rich deep timbre,beautiful bass tones,good clear round notes in high register and does not give out to become harsh and clattery., or nasal with single string runs.and is a very responsive instrument with a wide tonal range.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

.presently set up with a gary sosebee11/16 bridge and goldtone skin head tuned somewhere around f#.i'd really recommend anyone with a wood tonerim banjo trying out this combination of one of gary sosebees bridges and the GTS head it really seems a good match and to brings out the best of the possibilities of all three .the action doesn't need to be set up masochistically high to retain good clarity also this is a loud banjo.

Setup Rating: not rated

Appearance

though i'm not a luthier i cant pick any fauts with the fit and finish of the parts.nice understated looking banjo.

Appearance Rating: not rated

Reliability

no trouble so far .

Reliability Rating: not rated

Customer Service

good friendly servicefrom the custom shop. no complaints.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

replaced the stock deering tuners with waverly two bands, the stock tuners did seem to stick a bit just where you didn't want them to.replaced the stock steel presto with a kerschner.nice easy neck.(I believe deering have started using different tuners and tailpieces on their instruments in the time since this one was purchased)

Components Rating: not rated

Overall Comments

a great sounding banjo.deerings write up on the wood tonerim has so far rung true.it is avery responsive and beautiful sounding instument, theres plenty of volume without ever becoming harsh.it has really sold me on the wood tonerims.

Overall Rating: 10