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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: FQMS
Year Purchased: 2005
Price Paid: Don't Remember
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Very warm rich balanced sound. Not too loud and with just the right level of sustain for me. I chose this banjo on sound quality over Stellings and Gibsons. Sometimes lacks punch in jams but may be more the picker than the banjo. Good variety of sound across different picking hand positions.
Sound Rating: 9
Very well set up as you'd expect from FQMS who build the Sullivan banjos. Came with an FQMS head which sounded good but the frosting went gooey. I've had both Renaissance and Snuffy Smith Heads on it and I like both. Otherwise as original, with D'Addario light strings and Desert Rose Elite Z bridge.
Setup Rating: 10
Lovely curly maple on the resonator and neck. Ivoroid buttons and binding. Looks fabulous. Nice inlay work. Simple plain nickel hardware.
Appearance Rating: 10
Very durable if looked after. Some wear on the Nickel after 4 years. Wood finish is in great condition. Tuners all work perfectly.
Reliability Rating: 9
Lifetime Sullivan Warranty. Staff have been very helpful over my minor queries to date.
Customer Service: 10
Nice Grover Tuners, Ivoroid buttons, double hump tailpiece, Prucha Hardware. The Sullivan neck is great to play. Very slim. All other banjo necks feel fat to me now.
Components Rating: 9
Looks, sounds and plays great. A quality banjo.
Overall Rating: 9
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