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Enoch Tradesman submitted 8/22/2008 Submitter pernicketylad (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Zepp Music Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid 1025 ($US) Sound This banjo is great for old-time music.It has a real traditional sound.I only have it for 6 weeks but it got to meet other instruments for the first time last night and it performed brilliantly....it really cut through without being one bit harsh. It had nylgut strings on it when I got it first and I was initially dissappointed in it.I persisted for 5 weeks but it sounded like a plastic basin to me.....tubby in the extreme.The thin 12" pot probably contributes to this aswell.As someone who listens primarily to 20th century recordings this is not the sound I associate with or love about the banjo.It was a bit 19th century-sounding for me (or what I'd imagine 19th century banjos sounded like!) Anyway, the nylgut strings are obviously what I didn't like because when I put the steel ones on it was a different story.It now has a warm sustain and the tone is somewhere between tinny and tubby.....just right really!If a banjo can sound 'friendly' this one does. I should also mention that I've stuffed a sponge under the skin to soften the overtones.This obviously lowers the volume (and I'd prefer to not have to) but it's not absolutely necessary, it's just a preference. It's a half-fretted model and the slides sound great.I think the slides were better with the nylgut strings though. Sound Rating 9 Setup The man at Zepp was very good to deal with but I had requested that the action be lowered.Maybe this was an oversight but it was not done when it arrived! I subsequently had it lowered as it was set very high. Setup Rating 9 Appearance I like the look of this banjo as it is very plain.I'd prefer an ebony veneer on the headstock though and I'm not mad about the fact that the maple rim is painted black (but the maple would probably clash with the cherry neck).The cherry neck on my banjo is really beautiful....really straight grain and a little knot in the wood is a nice feature.The Dobson heel looks great......beautifully crafted neck. The finish seems to be a natural satin finish.It feels great to touch and it looks great.However,I feel a more traditional laquer finish would probably be more durable.The inlay is basic too.....just dots on the fretboard(I think they're MOP).The tuners look well....they're black.....don't know if they're ebony or plastic? This banjo is honest.It'does what it says on the tin'.If you want fancy look elsewhere.The workmanship here has gone into the sound and that's fine by me.It's hard to give it a rating as a result. Appearance Rating 8 Reliability It seems durable but it's early days.The gotoh tuners are a little shaky and I'd fear for the finish in the long term.No problems yet though. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service I rang Kevin in the early stages of my research.I was initially interested in his M200 model which he told me is no longer in production(although it's still on the website).Anyway, even knowing that I was no longer a potential customer he was a complete gentleman.He was very helpful.This banjo has a lifetime warranty so absolutely full marks here. Customer Service 10 Components I know gotoh tuners have a good name and they look great but as I've mentioned I find them shaky.Planetary tuners would be an idea.I'd probably prefer if the rim and neck were made of the same material.The no-knot tailpiece could also be upgraded and I wouldn't think the brackets and tension hoop are top quality but again its hard to rate this....if the components were better it wouldn't cost $1025! Components Rating 8 Overall Comments For the price I paid I couldn't recommend it enough.It's famous for being a quality,affordable banjo and that's what it is.The exchange rate really helped too!I'm just starting on the fretless so it's perfect for me.If it was stolen tomorrow I'd buy another and I wouldn't have to re-mortgage the house to do it.I'd also be confident the replacement would sound just as good.I got off to a slow start but I'm growing to love this banjo.It doesn't have the punch my Reiter Regent has but it sounds more earthy.I don't prefer either one.They both offer something different.This banjo delivers on sound....the most important thing.Check out the video files on the Zepp Music website for demos....they're great. It's unfair to compare it to more expensive banjos.For the money it's 10/10. Overall Rating 9