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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: Fults online shop
I have now been playing my banjo for a little over 18 months now and I suppose in the grand scheme of things not very long. However I have stuck at it and practice and play over 2 hours a day.
I also play in sessions at local pubs with my girlfriend who also plays banjo,mando and guitar.
I am an Engineer by trade and like taking things apart to find out how things work,I guess my banjo is no exception. I strip it down and clean and try to improve in the way it sounds. I bought a Deering Calico over a year ago and love it. I have experimented with lots of different strings and find the D'addario J60 suits my playing. I always thought the tailpiece was good but may be there was room for improvement so I bought a Fults Cumberland tailpiece with a mounting system. I was a bit sceptical as to whether it would make any difference in sound but the end result is amazing to say the least,the workmanship is flawless and the adjustment is infinate. The mounting system has a knurled knob with a grub screw to lock it after adjustment its so easy to tweak compared with Deerings standard tailpiece.
I thoroughly recommend this tailpiece,well worth the money.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Ebay
Year Purchased: 2013
Price Paid: Don't Remember (bought USED)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
When it first arrived it was extremely dull and lifeless and I was rather dissapointed,but after a bit of tweaking and replacing the strings it took on a whole new sound.
I bought this to take away to work and on holiday with as my Calico is a bit heavy and expe sive to be lugging about.
It now sounds loud and bright and just how I like it.
Fit a capo and tune to A and play devils dream it sounds wonderful.
Sound Rating: 9
As above,but the biggest contribution was a set of light strings.
Setup Rating: 8
Flawless craftmanship, rock solid maple construction and built like it will last for ever.
Bow tie inlays on the maple fret board and very effective steel tone ring.
This particular model is the Carolina King exclusive to Eagle music,with railway spikes fitted on the 7th 9th and the frets.
Appearance Rating: 10
No problems here at all,nice quality hardware.
Reliability Rating: 10
Used sale
Customer Service: not rated
Simply built to last.
Components Rating: 10
So glad with this purchase,really surprised about this little banjo,its excellent value for the money.
Its meant to be an entry/intermediate level banjo but I would have no problems playing as a second banjo.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this as a first banjo, I am sure it will provide years of reliable service.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Eagle music,UK
Normally costing in the region of £66.
If there was ever a product relying on a name to sell it this is it.
After buying a Deering Calico I decided to buy the soft Deering gig bag to go with it.
What a dissapointment when it arrived,it's just a cheap Thai made bag dollyed with a Deering logo embroidered to the front pocket.
The bag is just big enough to get the banjo in and the front pocket is next to useless.
There is no depth to the pocket what so ever so taking a music book of a normal size is a no no because it sticks out of the top.
The shoulder straps have no padding what so ever,relying on some pvc sleeves to prevent the weight of a 12lb banjo cutting into your shoulders.
The padding inside is inadequate for the valuble instrument it is designed to transport.
I had a black ice gig bag given to me as a freeby with a travel banjo which was of better quality.
My Tom and Will bag cost less than half the price and is also of much better value.
SO COME ON DEERING, LIKE YOUR WONDERFUL BANJOS LETS HAVE A BAG WORTHY TO CARRY THE NAME,SORRY BUT THIS IS RUBBISH.....
I reluctantly give a rating of 2 because of the because of the nicely embroidered logo.
Overall Rating: 2
Where Purchased: Eagle music
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: ()
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sounds absolutley beautiful. I cannot express how pleased how I am with my Calico.
I play bluegrass and it suits me perfectly.
Sound Rating: 10
It was set up right out of the box,just a slight tune up and that was it.
The action is spot on and so easy to play.
I had been playing it a month,and it started to sound a bit woolly so I checked the tightness of the head,which had by now stretched a little.
I tightened it up about an eighth of a turn and its now back to normal.
Setup Rating: 10
Stunning honey maple wood with tiger stripes up the neck.
Unusual inlay up the neck along with calico name.
Check my pics of it.
Appearance Rating: 10
Absolutley flawless finish on the plating,no faults what so ever.
I wipe with a silver cloth after I play it,to keep it bright thats all.
Reliability Rating: 10
Eagle music give excellent service,I only hope they are as good as thomann in Germany if anything goes wrong
First buyer life time warranty.
Customer Service: 10
I guess you get what you pay for,expensive yes but I love it and well worth it.
After my bad experience with a Recording King Elite (see pics) I am glad I made my purchase.
Everything on this banjo smacks of quality.
Components Rating: 10
Only time will tell how things last,but at the price if anything does go wrong I will be rattleing Deerings cage straight away.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: THOMANN GERMANY
Year Purchased: 2O012
Price Paid: 700 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS VERY NICE THE BUILD QUALITY IS RUBBISH.
THIS PARTICULAR BANJO MUST HAVE BEEN MADE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON AFTER QUALITY CONTROL HAD ALL GONE HOME.
HOW THE LADS ON YOU TUBE CAN PUT THEIR NAME TO THIS IS PARTICULAR ONE IS BEYOND ME.
Sound Rating: 8
SET UP QUITE WELL OUT OF THE BOX,JUST TIGHTENED THE HEAD FOR PERSONAL TASTE.
THE ACTION IS SUPER AND EASY TO PLAY..
Setup Rating: 8
VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED,SO MANY FAULTS TO LIST HERE.
EDGE OF RESONATOR UNLAQUERED SO STAIN IS ALREADY RUBBING OFF,
SMALL BLISTERS IN THE NICKEL PLATING,
CO.CODINATOR RODS SO TIGHT ITS SPLITTING THE POT, CHIPS ON INSIDE OF RESONATOR,
THREAD STRIPPED ON ARMREST BRACKET,RATTLEING ABOUT WHEN IT ARRIVED. (unforgiveable)
STAIN ONLY HALF FINISHED ON THE POT.
Appearance Rating: 4
BLISTERS IN FOUR PLACES IN NICKEL PLATING ON THE FLANGE,ITS GOING BACK TO GERMANY ON MONDAY.
Reliability Rating: 4
WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I SEND IT BACK ON MONDAY. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A NO QUIBBLE MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. THOMANN CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS BRILLIANT,OFFERED A FULL REFUND,REPLACEMENT NEW INSTRUMENT OR €30 IN CASH (yeah right).
FURTHER TO MY LAST,REMARKS ABOUT THOMANN IN GERMANY.
THEY REALLY DO LIVE UP TO THERE GOOD REPUTATION,. I WAS GIVEN A FULL REFUND AND WOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN USING THEM AGAIN.
Customer Service: 9
THE GENERAL FINISH IS VERY POOR FOR QUITE AN EXPENSIVE CHINESE MADE BANJO.
Components Rating: 7
I AM SO DISSAPOINTED WITH THIS BANJO AFTER READING ALL THE REVIEWS AND WATCHING DEMOS ON YOU TUBE.
ITS SUCH A SHAME BECAUSE ITS SOUNDS AWESOME.
ITS BEING RETURNED TO THE SUPPLER ON MONDAY
MY FENDER FB59 HAS A FINISH THAT IS ABSOLUTLEY FLAWLESS AND SOUNDS ALMOST AS GOOD,THINK I WILL SPEND SOME MONEY UPGRADING THAT,BYE BYE RECORDING KING ELITE RK75 YOU ARE HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Further to the above, I have decided to decline the offer of a replacement RK75 and requested for a full refund.
PLACED A COMMENT ON YOU TUBE WHICH PROVOKED A RESPONSE FROM RECORDING KING ASKING IF THEY COULD HELP.
AFTER SENDING A REPLY MORE THAN 2 WEEKS AGO,HAD NO RESPONCE WHAT SO EVER.
I have now ordered a new Deering Calico, will post a review when it arrives.
Thanks for looking.
DEERING CALICO arrived and WOW I love it,will write more when Ive played it a while.
Got a full refund from Thomann in Germany,really good customer service despite the rubbish RK75.
Overall Rating: 4
Where Purchased: project music Exeter UK
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: £290 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
My girlfriend plays bluegrass and it suits her style to a tee.
Sounds great after a bit of tweaking n fettleing.
I like it sounding loud and bright so I tightened the head,which made a heck of a difference
Sound Rating: 8
It was set up to play right out of the box,the action was good and compared much the same to my Fender FB59
Setup Rating: 8
Very good finish,the gold is a better finish than my Goldtone TB250 which cost twice the price.
The inlay is really nice although the carved neck is a bit gaudy.
Appearance Rating: 9
No real problems there at all looks like the gold finish is of reasonable quality and built to last.
The clamshell tailpiece is rubbish,both rattley and cheap looking.
WASHBURN B17 6 MONTHS ON,PLAYING 2 TO 3 HOURS A DAY
The gold plating is already wearing off the generic engraved armrest,and the top of the tension hooks.
Reliability Rating: 7
Lifetime warranty,can return to store if not pleased in 2 weeks.
Customer Service: 8
Usual cheap quality clamshell tail piece which seem to be used on most chinese made banjo's works ok though I would think a more up market one would be better.
The rest is very good for the knock down price I paid.
Components Rating: 7
I traded in my old Ozark and bought this banjo for my girlfriend. Apart from the wood used and the inlay on the neck the construction is almost identical to my Fender FB59.
The quality is much the seem too, sorry but both th7ese banjo's knock spots of the Goldtone with regard to build quality.
It even feels the same to play as the Fender once set up,lets face it I bet they even come from the same factory now with a different name.
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: Eagle music UK
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: 575 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
It has a loud bright sound,very pleased with it.
Just had to tighten the head to make it sound like I like it.
Sound Rating: 9
The action was fine I just tigtened the head to make it a little crisper.
Changes were made easily.
Setup Rating: 8
Very pretty litttle Banjo with gold plated finish though in places the gold is very thin,not sure it will last to well
It has a dark wood stain (not sure what)and looks very attractive,the laquer finish on the pot could be better,not a patch on my new Fender FB59.
The resonator finish was flawless.
Dirt trapped under the laquer on the neck.
It has very nice MOP inlays
Appearance Rating: 8
The depth and quality of the gold plating is quite poor and doesnt look like it would last very long.
I would use it as a gig back up despite being a travel banjo.
Reliability Rating: 7
12 month warranty.
Eagle music of Huddersfield in UK are simply brilliant.
Customer Service: 10
The general finish could be improved on. I found a hair under the laquer on the pot and there was still machineing marks on the tension hoop.
The tail piece also looks cheap and nasty,with cast marks apparent round the edge.
Components Rating: 6
A nice little travel banjo let down with lack of attention to detail during the manufacturing process.
I also have a Fender FB59 which cost much the same but beats this banjo hands down for build quality
The sound how ever is very good when tuned to the key of G.
Overall Rating: 7
Where Purchased: Project music Exeter UK
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: 575 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I bought this to play blue grass,after playing on other banjos I found this a lot easier to play, and it sounds loud and bright now after tightening the head.
I also made sure the tuning pegs were nipped up.
Sound Rating: 9
I have had no problems at all.
Apart from tightening the head and tuning pegs
Setup Rating: 9
The finish is excellent,the walnut looks stunning too
I found no flaws what so ever,it knocks spots off the Gold tone I also own.
Appearance Rating: 9
The gold plate finish is certainly better than my Gold tone TB250.
I have been playing it for two months with no sign of any problems.
Reliability Rating: 9
Had no problms at all.
12 month warranty
Customer Service: 9
The wood finish is stunning, no flaws what so ever.
Time will tell if the gold plate lasts.
I bought an engraved arm rest apart from that I left it standard.
Components Rating: 9
I am very happy with my Banjo, I have a Gold tone TB250 a Tanglewood TB 24 select 5 a low end Ozark this runs rings round them all for the price.
Some complain about the tuning pegs but I have had no problems at all.
They share the same type as my gold tone and it stays in tune without any trouble.
FENDER FB59 A YEAR ON,
I have now moved on and bought a Deering Calico but the Fender will stay as my first banjo.
Up until I purchased the Deering I played the FB59 for 3 to 4 hours a day and it has stood up to the test of time quite well.
The gold on the armrest was becoming a little thin,so I took the banjo apart and polished each part using Mer automotive polish and the whole banjo looks more like white gold than the yellow gold it was when new.
It stays bright and shiney all the time and doesnt look quite so blingy.
For a cheap banjo I would certainly recommend it, although the rattley clamshell tailpiece would have to go.
Overall Rating: 8
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