iSteve - Posted - 09/28/2012:  19:51:28

Just got my new Pete Seeger head from Deering.  It looks beautiful.  It won't make my banjo sound any better, but it sure gives it a proper attitude.

DIV - Posted - 10/11/2012:  09:45:52

Janet--

I've wanted to ask you--

What was the reasoning behind the original Deering tone ring ("classic", "pre-06") not having holes.  I would have figured that the standard of a 20 hole tone ring was set a long time ago.  There must have been a good reason you guys didn't drill holes.  Did you do acoustic tests and find that the added expense of drilling holes did nothing to improve tone?  

Are the wood rims of the pre-06 Deerings compatible with the new 06 tone ring if someone were wanting to change the ring, or would it need a new rim as well...?

I'm looking forward to hearing about this.

Thanks...and forgive me if this was brought up and already answer in this tome of a thread.  Please point out which of the 66 previous pages I need to reference!  

Janet Deering - Posted - 10/11/2012:  13:55:19

That's right.  Early on in the '80's we did some blind sound tests.  We made two identical banjos, one we made with our standard solid tone ring and another we made with the same tone ring but we had drilled the 20 holes before we had it plated.  The blind tests with several excellent players proved conclusively that they could not hear any difference between the two banjos.   Therefore we decided that it was not providing the customer any added benefit to add cost to the banjos by drilling the 20 holes.

Later on when tooling improved and the cost for drilling the holes was not so great, we decided to include them on our tone ring primarily because customers had expressed that they felt it was an important feature. We respond to what our customers need and want and it changes with the times. We get great satisfaction by pleasing our customers.

tvguy11 - Posted - 10/11/2012:  14:04:45

Hi Janet. It is very refreshing to see someone care enough about their product and their customers to do what you are doing here. I own a fairly new Goodtime open back and an older Goodtime 2 as well. I enjoy them both and don't think I could have made a better choice to start with than the Goodtime line. I hope one day to be able to purchase a higher end banjo from Deering, but that is probably a good ways in the future.

Janet Deering - Posted - 10/11/2012:  14:25:36

We have had a busy summer. I've been to several festivals, the Americana Show and the IBMA Bluegrass show. Now  I'm back in town for a week and will be available to answer some questions.

To answer the more recent ones I noticed today:

I noticed there was a query on how often the finger-joints have failed on  Goodtime banjos.  Well, in the past 16 years since we started making Goodtime banjos, having made more than 55,504 Goodtime banjos to date,  we have had about 100-200 that have had any kind of joint failure that includes ones that were dropped and the peghead snapped. That's a dozen banjos per year.  This is why the Goodtime banjo is recommended more often by teachers than any other banjo brand.

 We are happy to be of service to customers and do our best to take care of any problems.

Yes, we do still make the resonator kits for those that want to upgrade their Goodtime banjo to a Goodtime 2 by adding the resonator.  The cost is $248.

 I thought it was on our website, but I looked for it too and did not see it. We will have it back up there soon.

sully151 - Posted - 10/11/2012:  16:30:56

So I am thinking about a new banjo. I talked to the shop that I buy my guitars from about an Eagle 2. They told me I could get one by December of 2013 or January of 2014!!!!

That is crazy. Are you really that far back ordered or is there an issue with the shop?

GrizClaw - Posted - 10/11/2012:  17:12:59

I'd like to throw a plug in for the Deering Vega Little Wonder.  I think it is an extremely under-rated banjo. In my short but highly addictive banjo career I've owned  a Morgan Monroe Bean Blossom, Goodtime Crow, Bob Carlin 350 and Enoch Tradesman.  I've also built three banjos. I recently bought the Little Wonder because it was selling for a great price and the owner had not played it much at all. Kind of an impulse buy. Well, I absolutely love this banjo....from the construction, feel, tone etc. I never thought it would become my primary banjo but it is. I now own the Goodtime and the Vega and I don't think I will ever give either one up. The only thing I might do someday is buy a Senator. Deering makes amazing banjos.

Bob Murphy - Posted - 10/12/2012:  08:54:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by DIV

Janet--

I've wanted to ask you--

Are the wood rims of the pre-06 Deerings compatible with the new 06 tone ring if someone were wanting to change the ring, or would it need a new rim as well...?

 

 

---

Hey DIV,

I thought I would add my input to your question.  Last year, I took my 1999 Golden Era to Deering and had them install the 06 ring.  I had the option of a new rim, but decided (partly being cheap) not to do so.  I was interested in changing rings as I played a newer GE with the new rim and ring and was very impressed with it.  My GE had a strong 4th string but always sounded kind of tinny.  I had actually put it under the bed and hadn't played in a while.

I was very impressed with the results when I got it back from Deering.  I can't say for sure if it is strictly due to the new ring, or perhaps a better rim to ring fit.  I have a prewar conversion from Jim Mills, and I have to say that my modified GE doesn't sound much different.  Deering is clearly doing something right.

The bottom line is that you CAN add the new ring to an older rim.  I still kind of wonder if it would have sounded even better with the new soft maple rim.

iSteve - Posted - 10/12/2012:  11:41:50

Dear Janet,

I am very interested in the Deering Goodtime 2 19-Fret Tenor Banjo .  Would I be able to upgrade this banjo at a later date with a tone ring?

Secondly, why the decision to not equip this particular model with a truss rod?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

bowtie man - Posted - 10/12/2012:  17:43:47

Janet,
yall make a great product.I learned to play on a Deering
Golden Era model good sounding banjo it was a looker to

bowtie man - Posted - 10/12/2012:  17:45:45

Janet,
yall make a great product.I learned to play on a Deering
Golden Era model good sounding banjo it was a looker to

DIV - Posted - 10/13/2012:  10:51:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bob Murphy

quote:

---

Originally posted by DIV

Janet--

I've wanted to ask you--

Are the wood rims of the pre-06 Deerings compatible with the new 06 tone ring if someone were wanting to change the ring, or would it need a new rim as well...?

 

 

---

 

Hey DIV,

 

I thought I would add my input to your question.  Last year, I took my 1999 Golden Era to Deering and had them install the 06 ring.  I had the option of a new rim, but decided (partly being cheap) not to do so.  I was interested in changing rings as I played a newer GE with the new rim and ring and was very impressed with it.  My GE had a strong 4th string but always sounded kind of tinny.  I had actually put it under the bed and hadn't played in a while.

 

I was very impressed with the results when I got it back from Deering.  I can't say for sure if it is strictly due to the new ring, or perhaps a better rim to ring fit.  I have a prewar conversion from Jim Mills, and I have to say that my modified GE doesn't sound much different.  Deering is clearly doing something right.

 

The bottom line is that you CAN add the new ring to an older rim.  I still kind of wonder if it would have sounded even better with the new soft maple rim.

 

 

---

Hi Bob  Great to hear that!  I just had my Custom Calico upgraded with the new rim and there's definitely an improvement.  There's more "presence" in the tone and I'd say it's more responsive.  I might be wrong, but it sounds like it's more resonant due to possibly softer wood of the rim?  Like somehow the tone travels better...I might be wrong, who knows?

Bob Murphy - Posted - 10/13/2012:  11:24:47

DIV,

I'm sure the new rim would make a difference. Now I'm tempted to take it back............................................It's so hard being a banjo player!

Bob

Rindill - Posted - 10/13/2012:  23:26:54

...It's so hard being a banjo player!...

Yes, unbeknownst to the teeming madding crowds that walk around this planet, we who fret, keen, frail, and flail are all actually closely related to Atlas, holding up the world. As his minions, cousins, and descendants, we keep the mooring lines balanced - in charge of stringing others along!

Surely you have noticed that although we generally play with the pot down, have you ever noticed how comfortable it is to carry the pot (world) end over one's shoulder?

geraldh - Posted - 10/31/2012:  00:01:59

Janet, does Deering have an option for a tunneled 5th string?  A Sierra with a tunneled 5th would be amazing.  I tried searching both this thread and your site but didn't find any info on this.

Gomer - Posted - 11/05/2012:  07:41:46

One of the issues of a tunneled 5th string is that the string often vibrates within the length of the tunnel, sort of like a harmonic effect. If you are playing in A, the harmonic comes out in G and can be the source of annoyance. Some people stuff tiny threads of dental floss in the channel to stop this, but it has never been proven to help. Another issue is the tension that the fifth tuner puts on the peghead. I am not aware of any injuries firsthand, but I am certain that the risk of the peghead snapping under the tension is clear and present. I am thinking that you would not want to be playing when a peghead projectile, but of wires and sharp metal pegs, came flying across your face. It's a risk of personal injury that I am not will to take. Other reasonable minds may disagree.

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/07/2012:  14:42:12

No we do not have an option for a tunneled fifth string for reasons Gomer so aptly expressed. We made a couple of custom banjos with this feature in the 90's.

sully151 - Posted - 11/07/2012:  14:48:44

Is it true that you are almost sold out of Sierras and Eagle 2's until the end of 2013 or early 2014? My guitar shop says they can't get one for me

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/07/2012:  14:54:04

Dear Janet,

I am very interested in the Deering Goodtime 2 19-Fret Tenor Banjo.  Would I be able to upgrade this banjo at a later date with a tone ring?

Secondly, why the decision to not equip this particular model with a truss rod?

Thanks in advance!

Steve, The best way to upgrade a Goodtime 2 to a Special
with a Tonering is to trade it in when you are ready.
The decision to equip this model with a truss rod adds cost, materials and labor. If you want a truss rod consider the Boston or the Vega Little Wonder. The Goodtime banjo is designed to perform very
well without needing a truss rod. More than 50,000 happy Goodtime owners can attest to that.

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/07/2012:  15:00:55

Sulley, Yes, we have a long waiting list for our banjos with scheduled delivery times. However, if you are on the waiting list with an order for delivery as soon as possible and an opening presents itself by any change in a scheduled delivery we may be able to fit your order in sooner.

iSteve - Posted - 11/07/2012:  15:02:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering



Dear Janet,



I am very interested in the Deering Goodtime 2 19-Fret Tenor Banjo.  Would I be able to upgrade this banjo at a later date with a tone ring?



Secondly, why the decision to not equip this particular model with a truss rod?



Thanks in advance!



Steve, The best way to upgrade a Goodtime 2 to a Special

with a Tonering is to trade it in when you are ready.

The decision to equip this model with a truss rod adds cost, materials and labor. If you want a truss rod consider the Boston or the Vega Little Wonder. The Goodtime banjo is designed to perform very

well without needing a truss rod. More than 50,000 happy Goodtime owners can attest to that.

---

 Thanks, Janet!

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/07/2012:  15:12:18

Janet,
yall make a great product.I learned to play on a Deering
Golden Era model good sounding banjo it was a looker to

Thanks. It is always a delight to meet people who learned to play on a banjo we made. The Golden Era banjos are beautiful. I agree. I'm glad that we have been a part of your banjo playing journey.

Edited by - Janet Deering on 11/07/2012 15:15:36

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/07/2012:  15:25:05

Greg and I will be at the Kruger Brothers concerts in Switzerland this week. If you are in the area it would be great to see you there. For more info go to krugerbrothers.com

Greg will be doing a Banjo Workshop at 8 am on Saturday in Zurich. Visit our website for details deeringbanjos.com

Edited by - Janet Deering on 11/07/2012 15:28:23

bkdraft - Posted - 11/07/2012:  15:27:10

Janet, it was a pleasure to meet you and Greg in person, makes me even more proud to own my Maple Blossom. Some day I hope to get good enough to do it justice. 

James

Chillicothe, Texas

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/07/2012:  15:30:04

Thank you, James. You do it justice every time you enjoy playing it. What a banjo needs is love.

edhanzel - Posted - 11/09/2012:  22:57:40

Janet,
Very glad to see you on the the hangout.

I live up here in San Marcos and am looking forward to owning a Deering one day. I love that you are here in San Diego and that buying a Deering would also be helping out the local economy.

One thing I have wanted to do is to tour your factory to see how you make them. Do you offer any tours, and if so what days?

Thanks,

Ed

Alaina - Posted - 11/14/2012:  10:52:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by edhanzel

Janet,

Very glad to see you on the the hangout.



I live up here in San Marcos and am looking forward to owning a Deering one day. I love that you are here in San Diego and that buying a Deering would also be helping out the local economy.



One thing I have wanted to do is to tour your factory to see how you make them. Do you offer any tours, and if so what days?



Thanks,



Ed

---

The tours are Tuesday through Friday at 1pm. If you call ahead and ask for Carolina, she will get you set up 

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/26/2012:  15:19:06

Thanks, Alaina.  Let me introduce Alaina to you... She is our wonderful receptionist who is helping me by answering the easier questions here.

You are welcome to come by for a factory tour as she said,  Tuesday thru Friday at 1 pm. Carolina does the tours personally.

We will, however, be closed for Christmas from Dec 22 - 2 January.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/27/2013:  07:22:22

We are at the NAMM show this weekend and Greg surprised us with a new banjo creation inspired by the boys in his Boy Scout troop. They were telling him about the new movie that came out this past summer called Zombie Land. In the movie which I have yet to watch, they said that the heroes played the banjo to attract the zombies then killed them with the banjo. With this as his inspiration, he went to work on a secret banjo.... I walked into his office and was surprised by the inlay drawings on his screen. At first I thought he had lost his mind! I will post a photo as soon as I can figure out how to do so from my IPhone.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/27/2013:  09:49:48

Sorry to leave you in suspense but I can't find a way to upload from my iPhone so posting photos will have to wait until I get home in a day or two.

Dog Break - Posted - 01/27/2013:  14:12:54

!

must           see         zombie          banjo

Grinnin&Pickin - Posted - 01/27/2013:  21:58:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering



Sorry to leave you in suspense but I can't find a way to upload from my iPhone so posting photos will have to wait until I get home in a day or two.

---

 Here's a few photos of the new Deering Zombie Killer banjo from the Wimberley Bluegrass Band's Facebook page.  They visited the Deering booth at Winter NAMM 2013.  I like the saw blade flange detail!

Zombie peghead design	Zombie flange detail	The Wimberley Bluegrass Band with Greg & Janet Deering and Mark Johnson	The Zombie Killer fretboard
The Zombie Killer Banjo

jswkingsfield - Posted - 01/28/2013:  07:07:14

O. M. G.!!!  That is brilliantly demented, looks like Greg had a lot of fun and is ready to protect his family.  

Thumper47 - Posted - 01/28/2013:  10:04:54

I am 65 and just started taking banjo lessons the beginning of this month.  I bought a Goodtime 2 on Jan. 18th after reading the reviews on Banjo Hangout and trying three different banjo's at banjo.com.  The plain look took getting used to but I love my new Goodtime 2.  It was a little above my preferred price range but I was willing to pay extra because it is American made.

The one thing I would change is the armrest.  It is not very comfortable.  I know there is an after market upgrade available but it is expensive and I am not crazy about the way it attaches or looks when installed.

Are there any plans for a wider armrest that attaches like the original, either as a stock item or an upgrade?  I would take the wood armrest off my old Asian banjo but it has 24 brackets and won't fit on my 16 bracket Goodtime.

Thumper47

BanjoJeff - Posted - 01/28/2013:  10:29:40

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thumper47

I am 65 and just started taking banjo lessons the beginning of this month.  I bought a Goodtime 2 on Jan. 18th after reading the reviews on Banjo Hangout and trying three different banjo's at banjo.com.  The plain look took getting used to but I love my new Goodtime 2.  It was a little above my preferred price range but I was willing to pay extra because it is American made.

The one thing I would change is the armrest.  It is not very comfortable.  I know there is an after market upgrade available but it is expensive and I am not crazy about the way it attaches or looks when installed.

Are there any plans for a wider armrest that attaches like the original, either as a stock item or an upgrade?  I would take the wood armrest off my old Asian banjo but it has 24 brackets and won't fit on my 16 bracket Goodtime.

Thumper47

 

---

 The thinline arm rest would be a nice upgrade.

deeringbanjos.com/banjomate-armrest

littlemountainmusic.com/banjo/

Or the vega wire type will work also and is much cheaper.

elderly.com/also/accessories/i...ARM10.htm

You'll probably get a mix of opinions on which is more comfortable but hope this helps.

.

Edited by - BanjoJeff on 01/28/2013 10:39:09

Thumper47 - Posted - 01/28/2013:  11:20:26

Banjo Jeff,

Thank you for the suggestions.  Unfortunately, I think  the Vega wire type would be less comfortable than the one currently on the banjo.

At some point I'll probably give in and buy an after market one from Little Mountain Music.

I still wish Deering would make a wider armrest that attached like the narrow one.

Thumper47

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/30/2013:  21:13:41

We just released a new armrest for the Goodtime banjos that is more comfortable.

Here is the page on our website:

deeringbanjos.com/goodtime-banjo-armrest

Have you seen this?  I think it fits what you are looking for.

bluegrass37918 - Posted - 01/31/2013:  17:12:23

I just received a tenbrooks saratoga star that is labeled as a demo and the serial number is
0420110 0174CF what does the CF stand for?

Thumper47 - Posted - 01/31/2013:  17:24:02

Janet,

Thank you for the heads-up. I think what you are referring to is the Banjo Mate armrest.  That will work but what I am looking for is something that looks like the Deering armrest for a 24 hook banjo.

I have been told an OME armest will work on a Goodtime 2 but I am trying to be sure it will work and look like I want it to before I spend $60 on an OME armrest.

Do you have any experience with an OME armrest on a Goodtime 2.

Thumper47

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/31/2013:  19:46:46

No, I am not referring to the banjo mate armrest. Sorry the link didn't take, but we just released a new armrest for the Goodtime banjos that is wider and flat but fits the 16 bracket spacing of the Goodtime banjos. You can find it on our website and it sells for $24.95.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/31/2013:  19:49:13

The CF on your serial number of the Saratoga Star was a designation of a festival it was shown at as a demo.

GrizClaw - Posted - 01/31/2013:  21:51:13

quote:I wish that  armrest had been available when I had my Goodtime....the armrests that came with my Little Wonder and Senator are the best that I have used.

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering



No, I am not referring to the banjo mate armrest. Sorry the link didn't take, but we just released a new armrest for the Goodtime banjos that is wider and flat but fits the 16 bracket spacing of the Goodtime banjos. You can find it on our website and it sells for $24.95.

---

bluegrass37918 - Posted - 02/01/2013:  07:58:21

Which festival does the CF stand for? Thank You, Greg

Thumper47 - Posted - 02/01/2013:  09:47:14

Janet,

Thank yo,  for clearing up my confusion.  I just placed and order for the new style armrest.

Thumper47

dnichols - Posted - 02/01/2013:  10:17:57

Hi...This might have already been addressed in the 69 pages on this thread, but I have a Goodtime banjo that I love...LOVE IT...I was thinking about moving up to a Calico/high-end Deering...but a couple years ago, the high-end Deerings I've played were more tinny then other high end banjos I've played (Gibsons, Hubers, Yates, etc) ...Again, it has been a couple years since I played these Deerings..has anything changed over the past couple years go address this issue...

DeanT - Posted - 02/01/2013:  11:30:14

Set-up. Every Deering I've played (including the three that I've owned) with a factory set tailpiece (down on the tension hoop) is too thin and tinny sounding for my liking. I guess some people like it, or they wouldn't set them up like that. I own a Calico, and I have the tailpiece raised up off the tension hoop, with the forward most edge always 1/4" or more from the head surface. This gives it a nice deeper, richer, full tone which rivals my Gibson.

mikeyb2 - Posted - 02/01/2013:  13:41:18

After a bad experience buying a Gold tone banjo from Andybanjo(UK), I won't return there under any circumstances. Forum members responding to my thread recommended a Deering Goodtime from EagleMusic, Huddersfield, and in particular the Leader openback. I rang Eagle over 3 weeks ago and was told no stock of the Leader and were due in the following week. I was told this 3 weeks in succession and now I'm told they have received a shipment but no Leaders again. They may be there in another 2 weeks!(I'm not so confident). In the meantime, I 'm itching to start learning the banjo but I'm without one. So come on Deering please pull your finger out before I lose patience and buy something I might regret.

Levi Fisher - Posted - 02/19/2013:  15:03:17

Janet, congratulations on the nice article that was in the Los Angeles Times .It made it here in Pittsburgh in the Sunday edition. It was nice to read about how you and Greg have increased your staff and are doing well.  Pretty Cool!!!

I also want to thank you for giving the "heads up" on the new arm rest for the Goodtime.  I ordered mine and really like it.  And I also want to thank you for making banjos for all skill levels. 

Levi Fisher------ A satisfied Goodtime owner

GrizClaw - Posted - 02/19/2013:  16:42:39

Ditto what Levi said....very satisfied PAST GOODTIME owner and still miss it......BUT......a very satisfied current owner of a Little Wonder and Senator! Rick