Janet Deering - Posted - 11/03/2014:  15:38:58

It was a great honor to accept the award for David Day and his work in making banjos which included the tubaphone tone rings that we still make in our shop today.  I am delighted to hear that you both are enjoying your Plectrum Eagle II banjos.  The new 2010 tone ring is creating a lot of excitement from musicians who appreciate that sound.  It clearly is not a traditional banjo tone but has great versatility for many styles of banjo music.

Greg and I feel very blessed to be able to participate in the craft of making some of the finest banjos in the world. It really is a privilege to live today in this modern world with so many tools that make what we do possible.

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/03/2014:  15:45:07

"Just got a used Goodtime Special (w/resonator) and I'm hoping to get some insight on what exactly I've bought. Other than a new obsession of course - this is my first banjo and I'm thrilled...



It has the newer style headstock, so that must make it post 2008. I've looked around the tailpiece for the 3 or P marking that I've heard of earlier in the thread, and didn't see either - do I need to disassemble anything to see this marking? Also, It has side dots on the neck - is this aftermarket or something added since the discussion earlier in the thread? I'm wondering what version of tone ring I've got (2010 or earlier?)"



Congrats on getting started playing the banjo! You probably have a newer Goodtime Special because we started putting in side dots on that model about a year or two ago, and we no longer mark the rims since all of them are the 3 ply maple rims now. No need to disassemble your banjo. You have a fairly recent Goodtime Special,  2010 or later with the new tone ring. I'm glad you are thrilled with it. Keep on having fun playing the banjo.

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/03/2014:  15:49:59

"I just have to say that I really love what you guys at Deering are doing, making banjos wholly in the US. I really do like the Goodtime series. My question is do you sell tone rings for the Blonde Goodtime openback and Goodtime 2? If so is there a link you could put on here or if I would have to call to order one could you let me know the price of one."

Racca,  The Goodtime and Goodtime 2 are not made to convert over to include a tone ring.  The neck fit to the pot and too many alignment problems occur if you try to convert it.  If you would like a tone ring in your Goodtime it is best to simply purchase a Goodtime Special.  We don't sell the tone rings separately since we make each tone ring for a banjo that is on the waiting list.  Thanks,  Janet

chas5131 - Posted - 11/18/2014:  06:16:25

Was in a room full of banjos when I tried the Eagle II openback. Tried several others. The Eagle II made a huge positive impression.
It is my first banjo.

BearRacca - Posted - 11/19/2014:  22:36:50

Is there any difference between the Remo and Deering Renaissance Heads? I read somewhere that they are both manufactured by the same company and the company logos are the only thing that are different.

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/20/2014:  09:23:50

They are the same head, different logo. 

Janet Deering - Posted - 11/20/2014:  09:28:39

Charley, Good choice on your Eagle Banjo. Congrats. I hope you enjoy playing it for years to come. If you are ever in the San Diego area with your banjo feel free to bring it by for a check up. We give factory tours Tues thru Friday at 1:00 pm. We'd be happy to show you how we make the banjos here from raw materials to the beautiful banjo you just got.  Happy Holidays!

chas5131 - Posted - 11/29/2014:  10:43:59

Why is there no Kruger ring open back?

Janet Deering - Posted - 12/06/2014:  10:11:43

You can order a custom open-back with a Kruger tone ring in models that normally have a tone ring.  You would simply need to call us directly and ask for the Custom Shop. If you name the overall model you want and then specify that you would like that model in an open-back with a Kruger tone ring we can give you a quote on the price.  

bluegrassbanjopicker - Posted - 12/06/2014:  11:47:27

Janet,

I'm making a resonator with Goodtime-like flange pieces for an open-back Melody Plus aluminum banjo which I got fairly recently.

Does your company sell Boston banjo flange pieces individually for banjo builders or do you not offer that right now?

I really like Deering banjos a lot. I'd never settle for anything else if I was to buy another banjo. (I got the Melody Plus banjo for free.)

chas5131 - Posted - 12/07/2014:  06:22:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering

You can order a custom open-back with a Kruger tone ring in models that normally have a tone ring.  You would simply need to call us directly and ask for the Custom Shop. If you name the overall model you want and then specify that you would like that model in an open-back with a Kruger tone ring we can give you a quote on the price.  

---

Thank you very much.

Gary S - Posted - 12/07/2014:  09:24:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering

Gary, We don't have a model below the Jens Kruger model is the only model we make with a radius fingerboard right now. You can custom order a Sierra with a radius fingerboard and this feature is listed in our catalog under custom options on the price list.

---

Banjo Studio appears to have a Deering Sierra Maple with radiused fingerboard available right now.  Thanks! 

DIV - Posted - 12/17/2014:  10:56:36

Janet

I remember some years ago, I noticed that 12th Fret guitar shop in Toronto, Canada was selling special Walnut versions of the Calico model. 

What's the story with that and about how many were produced?  Are they as rare as hen's teeth?

Here's a look: banjoshop.com/CalicoCustomWalnut.html

Edited by - DIV on 12/17/2014 11:04:16

copperbanjo - Posted - 01/16/2015:  02:25:20

OK - Finally ordered my new banjo !!

I have on order a Deering Eagle II. Can hardly wait to get my hands on her.....

But wait I am going to have to do.  My retailer says NOT IN STOCK. And word

from Deering is it will be the end of February before it gets to this side of the country.

God grant me the PATIENCE ...... I hate waiting.

Come On Janet....Put a little extra yumyum sauce in there for me or something !!!

jlsorbit - Posted - 01/16/2015:  05:01:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by copperbanjo

OK - Finally ordered my new banjo !!

---

I think  you will be very happy with the Eagle II. They sound great and play easy. I believe Deering has the best neck in the industry, very easy to play.  In fact, the Eagle II may be my next banjo.

Good luck and have fun with it.

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rudykizuty - Posted - 01/16/2015:  06:11:05

I have a plectrum Eagle II that I ordered about the same time last year. Beautiful fit and finish and everyone who had heard it says it sounds great. You'll be happy, I'm sure. Congrats!

CSG - Posted - 01/16/2015:  21:45:28

My experience with a new Goodtime was negative. Received today from Gryphon and when I went to tune it, the 5th string peg popped out. I understand that can be an issue over time but it sure as heck shouldn't be on a brand new banjo. Gryphon sent out a call tag and I'll find another brand. So much for the whole dealer set-up they assured me of...

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/17/2015:  06:42:43

That's the first time I've heard of that happening on a new instrument. It should not happen. We will replace it immediately. Have you contacted your dealer on it?     I will ensure that nothing has changed in the assembly area. Please accept my apology and know that we stand behind our banjos and will take care of it immediately by replacing it for you.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/17/2015:  08:27:03

Daniel, Yes, walnut Calico banjos are as rare as hens teeth. We have made only three of them!

They are beautiful.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/17/2015:  09:03:19

Tim, Great on ordering your new Eagle II banjo. We'll put some extra yum yum sauce in there for you!

GrizClaw - Posted - 01/17/2015:  09:20:54

quote:Loose fifth string pegs is no big deal and pretty common. I have had loose pegs on new and expensive banjos. Just push it in and tune to pitch and it should be fine. Dab of titebond glue if you want it to be more secure.  Titebond because with a little heat you can remove it if you ever need to. Really has nothing to do with quality or set up.

---

Originally posted by CSG

My experience with a new Goodtime was negative. Received today from Gryphon and when I went to tune it, the 5th string peg popped out. I understand that can be an issue over time but it sure as heck shouldn't be on a brand new banjo. Gryphon sent out a call tag and I'll find another brand. So much for the whole dealer set-up they assured me of...

---

CSG - Posted - 01/17/2015:  09:31:30

Gryphon offered to replace it but they should have checked it before shipping it.



And Rick, to me it is a big deal on a brand new instrument. That's not part of the equation of buying something supposedly quality control checked by the manufacturer and then a dealer that's supposed to have checked it again before shipping. And, FWIW, I tried to get it to stay in place but I wasn't about to spend time trying to shim and/or glue it. I understand it happens but this was a poor intro to both Deering and Gryphon and will cause me to shop elsewhere for a different brand.

Edited by - CSG on 01/17/2015 09:32:02

GrizClaw - Posted - 01/17/2015:  10:04:48

quote:That's fine CSG....and I can understand your concern.....I wasn't trying to challenge you......just trying to explain that after owning and building a bunch of banjos I know this can be a fairly common problem. If it ever happens to you again, use the search box above....there has been quite a bit of discussion about this problem and how to deal with it. Good luck in your banjo search! Rick

---

Originally posted by CSG

Gryphon offered to replace it but they should have checked it before shipping it.



And Rick, to me it is a big deal on a brand new instrument. That's not part of the equation of buying something supposedly quality control checked by the manufacturer and then a dealer that's supposed to have checked it again before shipping. And, FWIW, I tried to get it to stay in place but I wasn't about to spend time trying to shim and/or glue it. I understand it happens but this was a poor intro to both Deering and Gryphon and will cause me to shop elsewhere for a different brand.

---

CSG - Posted - 01/17/2015:  10:14:03

I do understand that, Rick (about the 5th string tuners and their issues), I just don't feel it should have been on a new banjo. Reiter's banjos have been suggested and I talked to him last night. He said the same you did (that these tuners can come loose and it's not rocket science to seat them).

I just wanted to add another POV to this mostly love fest of a thread that my first experience with both the brand and dealer was not sterling.

GrizClaw - Posted - 01/17/2015:  10:17:56

quote:Got it....no horse in the race....I've owned three Deerings and three Bart Reiters. Half the fun is shoppin for banjos!!!! Rick

---

Originally posted by CSG

I do understand that, Rick (about the 5th string tuners and their issues), I just don't feel it should have been on a new banjo. Reiter's banjos have been suggested and I talked to him last night. He said the same you did (that these tuners can come loose and it's not rocket science to seat them).



I just wanted to add another POV to this mostly love fest of a thread that my first experience with both the brand and dealer was not sterling.

---

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/17/2015:  11:16:33

Yes, CSG,  you made your point.  The world is not a perfect place.  I called Gryphon and they said they have already sent your call tag and on their shipping on line view  it looks like you have returned the banjo.  They will take it back no questions asked.  They are an excellent dealer for many of the various brands of banjos and pointed out to me that this happens on all sorts of brands especially when shipped without cases.  No love fest here.  We admit that we are not perfect.  I hope you have a better experience somewhere else.

CSG - Posted - 01/17/2015:  11:19:45

Yes Janet, I said that in my first post (that Gryphon quickly issued a call tag and offered to send another). Simply relating my experience. Sorry to have offended you.

Edited by - CSG on 01/17/2015 11:20:41

copperbanjo - Posted - 01/17/2015:  12:54:49

Well Janet my wife thinks yumyum sauce should not go in a banjo. She thinks having my initials engraved or something would be more appropriate.
I kinda like yumyum sauce !!
The sooner I get my hands on her the better!! (Banjo not wife)

PharmBoy - Posted - 01/25/2015:  20:46:04

I've had my Boston five string for a couple of years now, and just love it

peter somerville - Posted - 01/26/2015:  22:37:15

Hi Janet, i've got an arch-top maple blossom. frets are fairly worn so i decided to replace them but much to my surprise, i discovered they are glued in. that's fine as one came out easily with no risk of cracking off any fret board, but i'm just wondering what glue to use if i go ahead and do some re-fretting. for now i just shoved the fret back where it was and gave them a dressing. eventually i'll have to replace them. i'm thinking i might put some slightly wider frets in, probably a standard guitar size. Do you have any opinions, pros and cons of wider frets versus thinner?

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/28/2015:  14:50:44

Peter,  It's great that you've played your Maple Blossom archtop banjo enough to need new frets. Wider frets are fine, whatever you like is okay on your Maple Blossom neck.  We glue in the frets with Devcon 5-minute epoxy.  To remove the frets you can use a soldering iron and just warm them a bit and the glue will release easier that way.  Then glue in the new frets.  It should be a straight forward job especially if you have done something like that before.  We do cut the tang so that the tang does not go into the binding and the fret goes over the top of the binding. This is a simple trim job to get the frets ready to lay neatly into the open slot.  Good luck with it.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/28/2015:  14:53:16

Copperbanjo,  If I knew who your dealer was, I could tell you when the next Eagle Banjo is going to them.  It shouldn't be long.

peter somerville - Posted - 01/28/2015:  19:04:14

hi again Janet, yes the archtop gets played a lot! it's my main gig banjo, it cuts thru the best, it's more toppy sounding but i like that for the band. at home and recording i often use my Deluxe - heck i'm a real Deering fan!
thanks for glue type. i've already pulled out a fret without warming, i don't know if that was risky or not but it came out ok. i'm not a re-fretting expert but i knew about trimming the tang, one reason i'm happy to have a banjo (next one perhaps) without binding, simple looks fine to me. All the best from down under, perhaps i'll meet you over here one day. i met Greg a few years ago at the Guildford festival in Victoria.

copperbanjo - Posted - 01/28/2015:  20:17:54

Thank you Janet. That would be amazing. I ordered from Jim @ the Music Outlet in Sevierville, TN

rudykizuty - Posted - 01/29/2015:  17:12:12

The Deluxe is now made from walnut? Be still my heart!

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/30/2015:  13:14:12

Tim,  Your Eagle II banjo is scheduled to ship out on Feb 9th.  So it will arrive about a week later.  It is being crafted right now. Thanks for your patience.

Janet Deering - Posted - 01/30/2015:  13:20:52

Yes, Anthony, the new Deluxe model is being made of walnut.  We had one at the music trade show last week and it was quite a hit!   We just came out with our new 2015 catalog that is our 40th Anniversary edition.  If you'd like to get one just send an email to info@deeringbanjos.com and we will mail one out to you.

This year we added three new banjos to our line. The Solana 6 Goodtime 6-string banjo with a classical guitar style neck and nylon strings,   The Americana Goodtime banjo with a 12 inch pot and a renaissance head,  and another model that will be released to the public in about a month,  the Goodtime Banjo Ukulele.  It was an amazing show with lots of excitement over all our new offerings.

We also improved the Maple Blossom model to include a radius fingerboard.   Lot's of good things are happening in our 40th Anniversary year.

rudykizuty - Posted - 01/31/2015:  06:23:45

Thanks, Janet.

ildertongap - Posted - 01/31/2015:  08:31:02

quote: Hi Janet,

I must say from the start that I am a Deering Banjo "superfan", I currently have a Vega Senator and a Calico(both purchased new from Grant at "The Twelfth Fret" in Toronto), and love them both. I am intrigued by your move to add a radius fingerboard to the Maple Blossom. As a beginner picker, I am wondering about the advantages associated with the radius fingerboard. 

I was also interested in what your thoughts are regarding a tunneled fifth string, and is there any probability of offering it on a Deering model in the near future?

Geoff

 

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering

Yes, Anthony, the new Deluxe model is being made of walnut.  We had one at the music trade show last week and it was quite a hit!   We just came out with our new 2015 catalog that is our 40th Anniversary edition.  If you'd like to get one just send an email to info@deeringbanjos.com and we will mail one out to you.

This year we added three new banjos to our line. The Solana 6 Goodtime 6-string banjo with a classical guitar style neck and nylon strings,   The Americana Goodtime banjo with a 12 inch pot and a renaissance head,  and another model that will be released to the public in about a month,  the Goodtime Banjo Ukulele.  It was an amazing show with lots of excitement over all our new offerings.

We also improved the Maple Blossom model to include a radius fingerboard.   Lot's of good things are happening in our 40th Anniversary year.

 

---

Janet Deering - Posted - 02/02/2015:  16:19:51

The radius fingerboard is something we get asked for fairly often these days and so we thought it would be good to offer it on the Maple Blossom banjo to satisfy those who want this feature.  It makes the strings curve to fit the shape of the hand and many feel it is more comfortable.  However,  if you get used to it then the banjos you have with a flat fingerboard won't feel as comfortable as they do now.    Guitars have wider necks and so radius is more important on a guitar than on a banjo. But for those who prefer that feel it is a wonderful thing.  

We have made one or two banjos with a tunneled fifth peg but this feature is rarely desired.  As you may know, we listen to our customers and are responsive to current needs and trends in playing style.  If many people want a tunneled fifth peg I'm sure we would start producing them, but at this point it is not a particularly desirable feature.  If at some point our customers preferences go that way we will certainly meet those needs.

ildertongap - Posted - 02/02/2015:  18:58:01

quote:

 Thanks for the feedback Janet, I was wondering if getting used to a radius fingerboard would impact how a person felt about their other banjo's with flat fingerboards. I can appreciate the practical aspect of the tunneled fifth string, but I appreciate the value in keeping the fifth string tuner on the neck.  

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering

The radius fingerboard is something we get asked for fairly often these days and so we thought it would be good to offer it on the Maple Blossom banjo to satisfy those who want this feature.  It makes the strings curve to fit the shape of the hand and many feel it is more comfortable.  However,  if you get used to it then the banjos you have with a flat fingerboard won't feel as comfortable as they do now.    Guitars have wider necks and so radius is more important on a guitar than on a banjo. But for those who prefer that feel it is a wonderful thing.  

We have made one or two banjos with a tunneled fifth peg but this feature is rarely desired.  As you may know, we listen to our customers and are responsive to current needs and trends in playing style.  If many people want a tunneled fifth peg I'm sure we would start producing them, but at this point it is not a particularly desirable feature.  If at some point our customers preferences go that way we will certainly meet those needs.

 

---

nathane - Posted - 02/03/2015:  14:31:11

II just took delivery of my long awaited blonde eagle II today. Big thank you to all the Deering crew who made me such a great looking and sounding instrument. I am very pleased with it.  

copperbanjo - Posted - 02/04/2015:  19:36:59

Nice Nathane!!!
I'm counting the days. Janet is taking extra special care of my new baby.
Soon, very soon she will be on her way home.
Happy pickin!
Tim

copperbanjo - Posted - 02/09/2015:  05:39:41

This is the day !! The start of the long journey from California to Ohio (with a pitstop in Tennessee)
COME HOME TO PAPA !!

copperbanjo - Posted - 02/12/2015:  13:32:16

My brand new Deering Eagle II landed today. She is so beautiful. Now I have to get at making her sing!!
Thank you Janet for making beautiful instruments. I can't stop smiling. The kids think it is cool. Now I
just have to wait till the wife gets home.
The journey starts today !!

rudykizuty - Posted - 02/12/2015:  13:51:59

Congrats,Tim!

Mango - Posted - 02/12/2015:  16:29:09

I really like my Eagle II.

Janet Deering - Posted - 02/18/2015:  17:51:58

Tim, It is our pleasure making beautiful instruments.  I am glad it arrived safe and sound.  It gives me great satisfaction knowing you are enjoying your new Eagle II banjo.  I hope you enjoy making her sing for years to come!

Bob Murphy - Posted - 02/22/2015:  16:40:55

Hi Janet

I have a question about my golden era. Let me first say that it's a surpurb banjo. It was made when you were in lemon grove, and the serial number is 0355899-7141. I bought it new from FQMS.
It actually has a rosewood fingerboard. We're these standard at that time, or did I just happen to get one with this board?

The wood used on the resonator is beautiful, and after all these years of playing, it sounds as good as any banjo I've ever owned, which includes several pre war conversions.

Thanks

Bob