Cellist - Posted - 03/10/2008:  17:52:22

Hi,

New to banjos, new to forum. Glad to be here.

Was looking for a banjo to use and keep...there is a great price on the Savannah SB 100 right now. ($215)

Is this a banjo that will stay a welcome part of my instrument collection? Or, is it just a starter piece of junk that my kid will inherit as soon as I move on? The posts I have read say get a Deering Goodtimes, but they are 2x the cost.

Any advice? I do love my instruments, and don't want a dog in the kennel.

Thanks

But I didn't know!?!

CoolSpring - Posted - 03/10/2008:  18:06:10

Welcome to the hangout and the world of banjo picking. I have never played that banjo before so it would be hard to say but my guess would be once you learned to play a little you would want to move to a better instrument. I have learned that with banjos you get what you pay for, and in order to get a better banjo you will have to pay for it. If you are just wanting to try and learn and are not sure that you will keep with it then I would say you will be allright with a cheaper one just to see if you are gonna like it, but if you plan on sticking with it I would recommend getting at least a halfway decent banjo to begin with. There are alot of options out there, you should get a lot of good advice here though. I started out with a Johnson JB-200 and it still doesn't sound half bad but after I really got into it and started going out and playing with people I went ahead and got a better banjo. Once I new that I was going to stick with it I got a Gibson. Around here where I am from it is pretty much the standard in bluegrass and what everyone usually ends up with.

Edited by - CoolSpring on 03/10/2008 18:08:04

mtnpckr - Posted - 03/10/2008:  18:14:26

Not familiar with Savannah SB100, but suggest you check out www.thebanjohut.com. They offer it for $219. including a bunch of extras and free shipping. They have a video posted that sounds pretty good. I recommend the Banjohut as very good people to buy from.
I agree however that you can't expect a quality banjo at such a low price point. It should see you through a year or so, and make a decent "bang-around" after you move up.

"Never take yourself seriously, others are always ready to do it for you"


"I Crack me up!"

mudskippercory - Posted - 03/10/2008:  18:32:55

I agree 100% with both Fellow BHO Plucker's
I did the same thing with getting a very cheap banjo when I first started, and after I found a banjo teacher he informed me, that I will not really get to learn and know the sound from a cheap banjo.
It is missing a lot of great elements that give a higher quality banjo, the sound of "Banjo".
I have two great intermediate banjo's but still lack some great qualities of sound that I am looking for, it's a never ending story. The more you learn the more you understand about what a great instrument the banjo is.
So back to your question, if I were you, I would save a little more money and get a much better banjo even just for your first and starting banjo.

"No banjo has yelled at me, that I didn't put the toilet seat down"
Mudskipper Cory

wrightedward - Posted - 03/10/2008:  20:48:45

If the action is playable ,if you can throw a cat under the strings ,so to speak ,it wont play and you will be discusted and quit,if playable ,it will be ok for a while .But if you get serious about banjo you will want a better banjo ,just the way it works .But no one has asked you how much you can afford to spend and that will be the main factor in buying ,if 215 is your top price then you are locked in to a cheap banjo.I have also seen the other side of the coin ,people buying good banjos to start and quiting and selling at a great loss .Only you know what you can afford .Look around ,look on the Hangout .Hate to say this but Sam's sells banjo's ..
Eddie
Phillipians 4:13

Edited by - wrightedward on 03/10/2008 20:52:51

jdog - Posted - 03/10/2008:  21:16:29

Read the reviews here. Try to save a couple hundred more and you will get a much better starter. Of course, like most, you may never be satisfied with one. Welcome.

bones - Posted - 03/10/2008:  21:35:11

i lean toward the save up and get the best you can afford to start with. not 2k --- but not 2c either. remember most music stores show list price ---and not all , but a lot of retail stores double their profit. just something to think about.

For Fun and Frolic the One and Only "Mr. Bones" and his trusty 5 string Banjo !

wrightedward - Posted - 03/10/2008:  22:28:25

Go to Google and type in Morgan Monroe Everst Model 5 and check out the banjos there
Eddie
Phillipians 4:13

KYTone - Posted - 03/10/2008:  22:46:04

I would highly recommend maybe spending a little more and getting a banjo you'll be satisfied with at least while you're learning.

Chris

Cellist - Posted - 03/11/2008:  06:16:06

Hello all,

Thanks for your thoughts. I suppose no one has played a Savannah brand banjo around these parts....not a promising sign for the instrument.

I suppose it does all come down to how patiently I can wait for a better starter.

I'll come back and let anyone that cares what I do.

Thanks again...

But I didn't know!?!

pops-to-7 - Posted - 03/11/2008:  09:41:07

http://mastercraftbanjos.com/master...ass_maho.htm
I have this banjo and it is a very good banjo, I look at the Savannah and it was not as good as this one, it also did not have a tone ring.


Danny
knoxville,TN

fiddler57 - Posted - 03/11/2008:  13:48:58

Give Patrick Costello a call at this number, (410)968-3873. He's a teacher in Md.who just started selling good banjos to students and he's not shy to give advice. He does the set up himself before shipping them off. Here is a link to his website.

http://pik-ware.com/

Click on the "Instruments" heading.

bosborne - Posted - 03/11/2008:  21:19:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cellist


Thanks for your thoughts. I suppose no one has played a Savannah brand banjo around these parts....not a promising sign for the instrument.

I suppose it does all come down to how patiently I can wait for a better starter.

---

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 03/12/2008:  17:43:04

One of My students bought a Savannah from Banjohut.com. It plays just fine, came set up easy to play, stays in tune. Wil she still be playing that same banjo when she's my age? Maybe not, but it seems like a good deal for a beginner. Oh, she's 11 and she paid half of the banjo cost herself out of her paper route and her parents picked up the rest. She's pretty serious about it.

deligo ergo renideo,
Bob Cameron

BJ Saalfeld - Posted - 03/13/2008:  10:24:24

Can't go wrong with the Gold Tone Cripple Creek 100R. Had mine for 4 years now and love it. It has good tone, lightweight, and plays well. It's a great
banjo for the money. Welcome to the BHO. Good luck with whatever banjo your choose.

BJ

Keep on Picking!

Cellist - Posted - 03/13/2008:  21:02:55

Ok,

So I found a Deering Goodtime 2 used, for around half of the list with some of the add ons intact. (Kit bag, picks, etc...)

Thanks for the advice. Now its on to how to play the thing when it arrives. :)

Looking forward to having a steady traveling tune shortly.



But I didn't know!?!