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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/160151/5
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Gomer - Posted - 11/19/2009: 18:33:06
quote:
Originally posted by Janet Deering
Gee, Gomer. That is an interesting thought. Do you mean a place where people who own various models could list their purchase if they buy one used?
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/21/2009: 09:33:28
Are you thinking this registry would be made public like on our website or simply kept at the factory so that the info was available.
I can see allowing the data entry through our website for owners wishing to log in their transaction and keeping this on file at the factory but making it public might have some privacy ramifications. Then again, who would verify that the data logged in was true.... We'd need to think it through.
I can see it now,....a wife looks up to see how many Deering banjos her husband really owns!
Janet
Cessna172 - Posted - 11/21/2009: 12:31:56
Greetings Janet,
Oftentimes a post appears on the Hangout that holds me captive for days (like the banjo player’s photos thread). This has been just such a post. Thank you for your time, expertise, and sincerity!
I own a GDL and a 22 fret Hartford and absolutely treasure my time with them! I am also on the doorstep of purchasing a Tree of Life (money is the bank)! I am just scared to death about the shipping processes. Should I be?
Also, please pass along my sincerest regards to Barry. He and I have enjoyed many playing sessions together and other interesting escapades when he lived up here in Seattle. I also purchased his original Stelling Superstar which I continue to cherish. Barry is a wonderful honest human being.
Cheerio,
Gary
Jack Russel - Posted - 11/21/2009: 16:17:25
Hi Janet
re privacy
I wouldn't like to think that a register of ownership was open to public scrutiny - thieves could use it to steal to order
Gomer - Posted - 11/21/2009: 16:17:56
It would probably not be appropriate to make it public to anybody who happened along evenb though the privacy issues are waived by consent to be on the provenance list.
You might start twith the warranty card since the registrant is the presumptive owner. buyers or sellers would have to voluntarily report transactions with a copy of a bill of sale or will or something else that gives proper indicia. If the instrument is missing part of the chain of ownership, the claim of ownership may be noted but not authenticated. I am sure that there must be people that do this type of stuff.
ChipL - Posted - 11/21/2009: 17:02:31
quote:
Originally posted by Janet Deering
I can see it now,....a wife looks up to see how many Deering banjos her husband really owns!
Janet
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/23/2009: 07:27:00
I own a GDL and a 22 fret Hartford and absolutely treasure my time with them! I am also on the doorstep of purchasing a Tree of Life (money is the bank)! I am just scared to death about the shipping processes. Should I be?
Gary, Great choice of banjos. No, I don't think you should be scared about the shipping processes. We ship with the banjo fully insured. If it gets damaged on the way we replace it. So you would not take a hit either way.
The place to worry about shipping damage is Nashville. Someone there at UPS does not like banjos because somehow a large percentage of what ships there gets damaged. We ship all over the world and very few places are like that. As a general rule we have very little shipping damage.
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/23/2009: 07:53:59
You would call it " the Deering Registry" The initial owner you should already have along with the warranty card return.
If Jens Kruger were so overwhelmed in hearing me play that he gave me his tenbrooks, there would be a journal to register that transaction whether by having the owner sign off or some other evidence of bonafide transfer. There might be a note about modifications or repairs such as a refret. There could be a note that the piece was left in a will or destroyed in a fire etc. It might give the purchaser of a used piece a connection to your company, the same way that a person buys the brand his instructor plays. Maybe that last correlation was not too artful, but it is pretty much true.
Great thoughts on The Deering Registry. Actually we basically have one but have not thought about making it useful for second owners.
We have a database of everyone who sends in their warranty card. For second owners we would need to add that transaction to the notes under the original serial number. We can make this service available with a form that could be filled out with all the relevant service data by the original owner when they are selling their banjo and with a place to fill in the new owner to transfer the ownership.
This way, if a person sells their original Deering and gives the gold card to the new owner, they could also send the transfer of ownership form to us with a copy of the bill of sale. We could then log them into the Warranty database as the second owner. If the banjo is ever stolen, then we could verify who the current owner is. And people buying a used banjo could call us and have us look up any history on it.
This would not extend the warranty, but would serve to help in ownership issues and would serve as a banjo pedigree. It would be more administrative work for us, but I can see the usefulness in the marketplace. Great idea.
What you think would be appropriate for the cost of this service?
dbrooks - Posted - 11/23/2009: 09:28:44
Janet, I'd like to digress briefly back to our exchange on Marketing techniques to call your attention to an article in today's Wall Street Journal. It descibes some efforts by large companies to pick up what potential customers are talking about in web chats and other arenas and adjusting their advertising to reflect those interestes and needs. For example, Lotus learned that people were talking more about contacting and meeting with people through technology than in the technical details, like cloud computing. So they have a "Lotus knows" ad series, iclduing one which says, "Lotus knows you're trying to reach the person, not their phone." Harrah's changed their ads also to get in line with customers interests. Here's a link to the article:
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001...7556.html
I have the full article if you have trouble getting to it. I think it offers ideas that fit well with your high-touch dialog here on the Hangout.
David
Gomer - Posted - 11/23/2009: 20:01:52
quote:
Originally posted by Janet Deering
What you think would be appropriate for the cost of this service?
HHHHHHH - Posted - 11/24/2009: 05:23:28
Hello! I have a Deering goodtime (first banjo ever) and love it. I think this was mentioned earlier, but side dots would be fantastic on the entry-level instruments
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/24/2009: 06:11:15
YOU have the idea fairly well nailed
If you are looking for a profit center, this would not be it. The value is discernable, but very esoteric. You would make money if the piece went through a factory inspection in order to qualify, then the warranty might be extended to the new owner.
Gomer, I'm not after a profit center, I just want to be able to pay my workers. I'm thinking maybe $25 one time fee to register ownership transfers. This would cover the administrative work to handle something like this and all the calls to look things up.
I spoke with Greg on the idea of extending the warranty and his response was how many lifetimes would we be warranting the instruments for? If we did that it would always be under warranty.....which brings up the question of how many lifetimes should a warranty cover?
Any company that does that may not be around to really service their instruments. We will follow Martins lead since they are still in business. We intend to be here through out the next hundred years.
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/24/2009: 06:16:25
Janet, I'd like to digress briefly back to our exchange on Marketing techniques to call your attention to an article in today's Wall Street Journal.
David, Thanks! I would love to read that article. Please do send it along. I appreciate your pointing it out. I am enjoying hearing directly from you all on the hangout. That direct contact I missed when the company grew and I was no longer on the front lines. This conversation is very inspiring to me and it also helps me improve the company. It is a winning combination.
Thanks, Janet
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/24/2009: 06:21:53
Hello! I have a Deering goodtime (first banjo ever) and love it. I think this was mentioned earlier, but side dots would be fantastic on the entry-level instruments
Lois Ann, Yes. When the topic first came up I mentioned it to Greg. Once he hears about things like that, that are needed and wanted, he thinks on it a while and starts solving the challenges in his head. He amazes me. When he is watching TV, or just looking around and not talking, often he is designing a new machine or a new process to solve a problem. He brought up the side dots on Goodtimes issue the other day and he has an idea of how to make it happen. His comment was that it is at a long list of things to do, but he does plan to get to it.... So it will happen. But I can't say when.
Ronnie - Posted - 11/24/2009: 06:45:47
Although I do not currently own a Deering banjo, I have signed up on their Facebook. I would encourage other banjo enthusiasts to check this out.
Gomer - Posted - 11/24/2009: 07:14:46
quote:
Originally posted by Janet Deering
[size=2][i]
Gomer, I'm not after a profit center, I just want to be able to pay my workers. I'm thinking maybe $25 one time fee to register ownership transfers. This would cover the administrative work to handle something like this and all the calls to look things up.
Edited by - Gomer on 11/24/2009 14:56:43
dbrooks - Posted - 11/24/2009: 18:14:13
I have two comments.
First, Janet, I will send the WSJ article to you when I'm back in the office on Monday, November 30.
Second, concerning the Deering Registry suggestion, you might get some ideas from the thread below about a journal that Jason Burns, a Birmingham, AL, builder sends off with his banjos. He includes notes about the construction (materials, steps, etc.) which would not be so practical for Deering. But he encourages the owner to continue to log experiences related to the banjo in the journal and to pass it on to subsequent owners. His point is that some 1890's banjos would have some interesting tales to tell if a journal had been included.
banjohangout.org/topic/160927
Keep these ideas flowing.
David
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/25/2009: 07:15:06
Thanks, David. I'll look forward to seeing it.
I also appreciate the thread about the Journal! That is a class act.
Great idea. That really gets my thoughts going..... it would be great to see all the places and experiences a banjo has been through.
We keep a log book on our sailboat, every time we take it out. We enjoy looking back to see when and where we have been. I'm sure a banjo log would be just as much fun to read years down the road.
Thanks,
Janet
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/25/2009: 07:22:18
You should always be looking for profit centers! Always! It's the way companies like 3M are around today. My point is that you may have a perceived value-added to the instrument. I probably would balk at paying $25; my executor may not, assuming they get my rigored dead fingers off the neck of my Hartford.
Gomer, You are a better business man than me. Of course, I'm not exactly a businessman. Yes, your point about value added is well taken. I like the idea of providing services that we are able to provide to enhance the whole experience of owning a Deering. I really appreciate your ideas.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Janet
Janet Deering - Posted - 11/25/2009: 10:07:00
Great News!
We have just started a Holiday Sale on some of the favorite Deering and Vega and Tenbrooks models with spectacular Holiday Sale Prices through December 31st.
Models on sale include The Black Diamond, Black Diamond Long Neck, Maple Blossom, Hartford, Golden Era, Golden Wreath, Vega No. 2, Vega Long Neck,
Tenbrooks Legacy '06, Tenbrooks Saratoga Star '06, Tenbrooks Jens Kruger '06, and the Ivanhoe.
You can check this out by visiting our website at deeringbanjos.com
or at any Deering dealer.
Happy Holidays!
Janet
zemacar - Posted - 11/25/2009: 12:08:41
Hello. I've just joined BHO. I play every bluegrass instrument but banjo and Dobro (and I think I'll keep it that way), but I am looking for a starter banjo for my husband, who is a nonpicker at this point. I was leaning towards a Deering anyway, because when my uncle took up the banjo, he chose a Boston, and I know he did his research first.
This topic, and Janet's daily presence here, pretty much seals it for me. I read all nine pages last night; it took a while! I read good things about the quality, and its being US-made is important. I still might get him a Boston, but I now know much more about the Goodtime than I did before. My local store has the lower-priced Goodtimes, which maybe I underestimated. They did not have a Special Classic, or whatever it's called; that looks like a "real banjo" IMO, and just the ticket for an adult-onset picker.
Now, should I get on the list for the wider neck that you promise to build when you get enough takers? What would the ETA be for an actual completed banjo?
Thanks!
Cara
snakeherd - Posted - 11/25/2009: 12:14:41
Cara;
Why do you want to wait for the wider neck? The vast majority of us pickers, thin or thick-fingered do fine with a standard width.
zemacar - Posted - 11/25/2009: 12:18:24
I gathered from what I read that it might be easier for him to have a little more space between the strings. But I do want to get this banjo between Christmas and his early Jan. birthday, and I am not terribly patient anyway.
Gomer - Posted - 11/25/2009: 13:30:58
quote:
Originally posted by zemacar
I am not terribly patient anyway.
zemacar - Posted - 11/25/2009: 14:52:26
quote:
Welcome to the hangout.
quote:
I know you!
'Course, it looks like things get a little rough over here. Just read 2 diff 9-10-page threads about Recording King/Flinthill. Holy mackerel. spaz - Posted - 11/25/2009: 15:13:33
Awesome thread! Let me be one to suggest against making any changes to the goodtimes. I bought my goodtime (can see it in my pic) a few years ago.. happened to be in town and stopped by the factory, met carolina, looked about the shop a bit and left with my goodtime about 3 hours later.. :-) I, for one, am extremely glad that someone decided to make a banjo that forwent some of the non-essential things so that they could focus almost solely on quality. For example, I have the old style peghead, and while it doesnt look like the fancier ones, id rather have that and a better banjo (though i noticed the new goodtime seems to have a different peghead, which may be part of why its more expensive now). Same goes for the finish, tuners, etc. As it relates to side dots on the neck, it seems that most beginners will primarily play sitting down. I can easily see the fret dots on the neck face while sitting down and even when standing up, the fifth string tuner does a good job as a marker unless one is playing up the neck (something else a beginner may be less likely to do). I guess once you get good the dots may be less important.. but I wouldnt know about that yet.. ;-) Anyway, unless the idea for the dots can be done without changing the price, I would be the lone dissenter on that.. sorry. :-)
Anyway, thanks for the awesome banjo. I think the goodtime should be the only answer for the beginner's banjo question, and the price for quality ratio is why. Trying to buy a cheaper entry-level banjo will only either cost you more down the road and/or ruin your bainjer experience. Almost every time I pick it up I silently give thanks for the fact that I am picking it up to play it instead of to fix it.. that makes it a more beautiful banjo
gdoc - Posted - 11/25/2009: 19:56:11
Hey spaz,
Your not alone on the dots thing. I solved my dot issue by using a "Sharpie" CD/DVD pen and just touched a little dot on mine. Works fine, doesn't rub off, unless I really wanted to work at it.
The Goodtime has become my work horse banjo due to the ease of play and light weight, not to mention it sounds good.
dannnjo - Posted - 11/28/2009: 19:35:59
I bot a deering BOSTON 10 years ago and it is fantastic, rings brightly and well made.
My ony problem is that the G string (3rd string) slips.
I have tightened the set screw to the max. and it still slips
Any suggestions ?
Thank you, Dan
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/01/2009: 07:36:44
Dan,
What kind of tuners do you have? Are they the normal guitar style or did you have us put planetary tuners on your Boston?
If you have tightened the screw and it still slips and you are not having your string slip through the hole in the post than it may be a warranty issue. I'd be surprised if it is a guitar style tuner because they virtually never slip.
However, if it is the original tuners and one is slipping we will replace it under warranty. Just give us a call at 800-845-7791 and talk with Carolina.
I'm glad you are enjoying your Boston banjo.
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/01/2009: 07:54:13
Now, should I get on the list for the wider neck that you promise to build when you get enough takers? What would the ETA be for an actual completed banjo?
Cara, I can't say that we will make wider neck Goodtimes in the time frame you have in mind, by January. To get a wider neck in that time frame I would recommend that you look at a bound neck like the Maple Blossom, these tend to be wider because the binding adds some width and if you request that we cut the string slots wider this may satisfy any need for wider string spacing.
Usually the regular width necks that we make work just fine. My husband, Greg has huge hands, he is 6'6" tall, and the width of neck we make works just fine for him. So the majority of people don't need a wider neck.
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/01/2009: 08:00:45
Anyway, thanks for the awesome banjo. I think the goodtime should be the only answer for the beginner's banjo question, and the price for quality ratio is why. Trying to buy a cheaper entry-level banjo will only either cost you more down the road and/or ruin your bainjer experience. Almost every time I pick it up I silently give thanks for the fact that I am picking it up to play it instead of to fix it.. that makes it a more beautiful banjo
Yes, you nailed it. The exact reason we started making the Goodtime banjo was because we heard from many people that they bought an imported banjo and tried to learn to play it, and it was so hard to play that they gave up playing the banjo entirely.
The Goodtime banjo is designed to ensure success. Many of the other American banjo makers have thanked us because as a result many more people now are enjoying and succeeding at playing the banjo. Everyone wins.
dannnjo - Posted - 12/02/2009: 15:40:52
quote:
Originally posted by Janet Deering
Dan,
does it do any good to tighten the assembly nut on top of the guitar style tuner????
What kind of tuners do you have? Are they the normal guitar style or did you have us put planetary tuners on your Boston?
If you have tightened the screw and it still slips and you are not having your string slip through the hole in the post than it may be a warranty issue. I'd be surprised if it is a guitar style tuner because they virtually never slip.
However, if it is the original tuners and one is slipping we will replace it under warranty. Just give us a call at 800-845-7791 and talk with Carolina.
I'm glad you are enjoying your Boston banjo.
Bob Murphy - Posted - 12/02/2009: 17:11:22
I just checked out the new Deering online catalog. Great job Janet!
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/03/2009: 07:07:20
Thank you, Bob.
We have just put it up. And if you are interested in any item in it you can click on the box around the name or on the item itself and it takes you to the on line store.
We are doing our best to make things easy to get to. It is still a work in progress. Greg and I are going through each model and making sure we have explained the differences and features so our line is easier to grasp. We make so many models for many styles of playing. And we are working on releasing a whole new website. For now, the on line catalog with click through access will open up a whole new understanding of our banjo lines while we get the new website finished up.
We plan to have the new website up early in 2010.
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/04/2009: 07:07:58
Anyway, thanks for the awesome banjo. I think the goodtime should be the only answer for the beginner's banjo question, and the price for quality ratio is why. Trying to buy a cheaper entry-level banjo will only either cost you more down the road and/or ruin your bainjer experience. Almost every time I pick it up I silently give thanks for the fact that I am picking it up to play it instead of to fix it.. that makes it a more beautiful banjo
Yes, that's how we see it too. Why make a banjo that just looks like a banjo and does not perform and does not hold up well. So much is out there from companies who slap what looks like a good banjo together but use inferior parts that make it a constant problem for the player. We call those banjos BLOs (Banjo Like Objects). Unfortunately they fool many people into spending hard earned money for something that just gives them a constant set of problems instead of years of enjoyable playing. There is no real savings in that.
I love hearing from so many players like you who write to us and tell us that they kept their Goodtime banjo and still play it every day even while they may take their more expensive banjo out to jams or for performing. That is what having a Goodtime banjo is all about. It's about making the playing experience always a good time.
cockneybanjo - Posted - 12/06/2009: 01:35:21
I've passed this thread around several friends who for one reason or other, aren't members and the general consensus seems to be fairly even;
1) sales in UK fo the Goodtime peaked when the exchange rate was pretty much £1 = $2 and they were relatively competitive. People have gone away from this now because British buyers, for the most part, won't pay a premium for "US Made"
2) the Goodtime doesn't have the reputation in UK. This is partly a chicken-and-egg question, and partly because it's perceived as inadequately specified, but none-the-less it's so
3) the sort of people who buy a Calico, say, are the sort of people who are also looking at Gibson, Stelling etc so the price isn't really the issue. ALL instruments of that quality are expensive, they are all priced at similar figures and several of them are affected by the same considerations affecting US-made instruments.
4) UK buyers are much less interested in the cosmetic variations ( cf CountryFrank's post )
the impression I get is that Deering are already serving their market in UK pretty well and aren't likely to reach the 'import starter' market to any great extent
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/07/2009: 07:55:34
2) the Goodtime doesn't have the reputation in UK. This is partly a chicken-and-egg question, and partly because it's perceived as inadequately specified, but none-the-less it's so
What does "inadequately specified" refer to?
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/07/2009: 08:07:38
You can now get Vega Hats.
They are on our website. You can see them in our new catalog on page 85 and order them on line through the accessories section of the store.
We just got in beautiful black T-shirts with the large Vega Star in gold. They will be available soon online.
deeringbanjos.com
Jack Russel - Posted - 12/07/2009: 11:29:30
What does "inadequately specified" refer to?
my guess is that the instrument lacks the following
micron thick gold plate (or bubbly chrome plate), mock rosewood fingerboard, thick opaque mahogany coloured gloss finish over unknown hardwood, j hooks with 6mm easystrip threads, nonfunctional tailpiece.....I could go on.
Tastes vary of course, and I'm only guessing, but I don't think that Cockneybanjo's survey result can be entirely representative of UK opinion.
best regards
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/09/2009: 08:06:31
the impression I get is that Deering are already serving their market in UK pretty well and aren't likely to reach the 'import starter' market to any great extent
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your informal survey. We began the Goodtime banjo in 1995 to provide a good banjo that plays right for beginners because at that time all the other banjos that were available at low prices had frets that were in the wrong place and this made it imposible for beginners to succeed.
Since that time we have watched the development of the two factories in China where all the banjos of the various brands are made along side of guitars, mandolins and other various stringed instruments that come through on conveyor belts. While one professional player who was working with them to try to ensure the quality told me personally that his frustration with them was that he would visit the factory and tell them precisely where the nut should be in relation to the fingerboard then he would go back six months later on another trip and they told him they felt that anywhere within a quarter of an inch of that location was fine in their application. He was fit to be tied!
However, I have not heard as many complaints now from banjoists regarding giving up the banjo because it is too hard to play as I did back in 1990s. So I hope that the quality of the instruments are such that people are continuing to succeed in their playing because that is what is most important to us.
I know that if the starter banjo a person begins with performs adequately, then when they are able, they may step up to a Deering. We don't have to be the ones to sell every beginner banjo. We only started the Goodtime line to make a starter banjo that works with the player and not against him. And as a result many more people today are playing the banjo. So it worked.
We watched the flood of import banjos come in from Asia starting to gain in quantity in around 2001. I'm sure Oh Brother Where Art Thou helped because it picked up our sales also.
Only recently did we realize that all the "bling" that people value, the fake mother of pearl inlays and fake abalone trim, is a major reason why novices who don't know what to look for are buying those banjos. Somehow we as American makers never considered it appropriate to use alternative materials to bring the cost down. But buyers are showing us that in many cases cost is primary.
So we have done extensive research on alternative materials for lower line instrument and have found the best quality perloid for the upgraded inlays in the Sierra, the Boston and the Deluxe and without raising the costs we have upgraded these instruments. The cost of some of the real shell we use on our upper line instruments is much of the reason these instruments cost so much.
This economy is challenging us to re-examine how to give even more value to the customer. And we are up for the challenge.
But I don't expect to own the beginner market. We won't pay slave labor rates and we do give our employees health insurance so we will have to leave that to the folks from Asia for people who buy on bling alone and are okay with what looks like a banjo.
dpete210 - Posted - 12/09/2009: 10:54:40
People who complain about the cost of US made banjos compared to the Asian made banjos may never be convinced that it is an apples and oranges type of issue. Yes, many of us want the most bang for our buck. Some people want a well made product but want it to get it as cheaply as humanly possible, especially in this present economy, others buy what they want regardless of price. Then there are those in between. They want quality, are willing to pay more for it, but perhaps aren't especially interested in all the bells and whistles. Many of us fall in that category - quality at a good price. Several years ago when I decided to learn to play banjo I bought a Fender 55 for my first banjo. It is one of those banjos Janet is referring to - Asian made with cheap parts. I didn't know anything about banjos but had played guitar for years and knew Fender is a trusted name for quality guitars. I had no idea I'd get so hooked on playing banjo so I didn't want to sink a lot of money into an instrument right away. I bought the Fender banjo at a guitar store that carries only a few banjos, none of which is Deering, and trusted the Fender name. It turned out it was a POC banjo, poorly assembled and set up, and I later bought a used Deering Deluxe to replace it. The Fender sounded good enough in the store and the issues with the banjo surfaced at home as I learned to play it. As I now look back and if I had known about the Goodtime banjo, that would have been a great banjo for me to begin with, especially the Goodtime Special. However, all is not lost. I learned a lot about banjo set up and their make up trying to get that Fender 55 to sound and play decent, which I eventually succeeded in doing, and now someone else is learning on it (minus the previous issues, but it has better parts on it now to make up for the junk it came with). This forum and now the threads such as this one are terrific resources and a great way to become educated about stuff related to banjos! I now own 2 Deering banjos and can attest to their quality and great sound. I also own a Nechville which is a wonderful banjo. These banjos will remain with me for my lifetime. In summary, if you want a great sounding USA banjo that you can grow with as you learn and get better, a Deering banjo is a great way to start. Yes, there are cheaper banjos, Asian made, that are quality banjos (Gold Star, Recording King, Gold Tone, etc), but like Janet said, Deering (as well as Nechville and other American banjo producers) is paying their workers a decent wage and providing benefits. This all translates into the cost of the product. We can choose to pay more for home grown quality and labor or we can pay less for foreign made stuff, but sooner or later we have to understand that if we are always looking for the cheapest price, we may suffer in the quality issue and eventually will see more and more of the good jobs leave the US. That is not good for any of us. I'm glad there is a Deering company providing jobs for some good people. This has been a very informative and interesting thread and I hope it continues!
Edited by - dpete210 on 12/09/2009 11:16:03
jamos1 - Posted - 12/09/2009: 11:01:05
Janet, I own a Calico and love everything about it. I'm happy that Deering has remained a US manufacturer. Thank you for that!!
I bought my Deering new from Elderly Instruments in Lansing Michigan over a year ago but I am still waiting for my warranty and owner's card. How often do those go out? It would be nice to get that at the time of purchase.
Also, I am saving up to buy a 24 Fret John Hartford model. Are those still being built or should I be looking for a used one?
Again, thanks for building quality instruments here in the US. Doug
Old Man - Posted - 12/09/2009: 11:45:59
I still have my goodtime ,and play it quiet often. It served me well from begginer to now.
JLB - Posted - 12/09/2009: 15:49:04
quote:
Originally posted by Old Man
I still have my goodtime ,and play it quiet often. It served me well from begginer to now.
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/10/2009: 06:00:47
Janet, I own a Calico and love everything about it. I'm happy that Deering has remained a US manufacturer. Thank you for that!!
I bought my Deering new from Elderly Instruments in Lansing Michigan over a year ago but I am still waiting for my warranty and owner's card. How often do those go out? It would be nice to get that at the time of purchase.
Also, I am saving up to buy a 24 Fret John Hartford model. Are those still being built or should I be looking for a used one?
Doug, You should have gotten the warranty card when you bought the banjo at Elderly. We send each card out with the banjo. Then you fill it in and send it to us to get your gold card which we send out twice a year. You can also mail in a copy of your reciept from Elderly with your serial number from inside the resonator written on it to register your banjo if you did not get the warranty card at the time of purchase. We will then register it here and your gold card will go out in the next run.
Yes, we are still making the 24 fret John Hartford model. At this point from the time you order it we can ship in about 3 weeks.
Thanks, for your encouragement and support. It means a lot to us.
Janet
Janet Deering - Posted - 12/10/2009: 06:08:32
I'm glad there is a Deering company providing jobs for some good people. This has been a very informative and interesting thread and I hope it continues!
Thank you Pete, for all your insights. You understand well the full scope of what is going on. I'm glad that this thread is here to provide the communication and understanding. I gain as much from it as others do. It is an interesting world we live in and everyone is doing their best to survive and make a living. I'm glad that there is a big, big world out there where more and more people are learning to play on whatever they can afford, and I'm very glad that you continued to play banjo because that is what it is all about.... having fun playing the banjo.
Tim13 - Posted - 12/10/2009: 20:52:16
Janet,
You mentioned that the neck shapes have changed recently. I'm interested in a Maple Blossom. What serial number did this change occur after?
Tim
Ralph Stanley legend - Posted - 12/11/2009: 01:53:50
Hello Janet,
Greetings from a cold and foggy England ! Janet, I am aware the majority of Bluegrass banjo players own flathead's and that thier is a much smaller market for raised head Banjos.
May I ask, have you considered offering a raised head model on say your GE / GW and GC models. I think with these classic pre-war style models a Raised head option would allow players an altervative to a quite restricted market. You can either go relatively cheap ( in the $1000 bracket ) or expensive ( Prewar conversion ) in a Raised head. Thier does not appear to be much in the "middle ground".
Thanks for your time Janet,
regards
David
the-fish - Posted - 12/11/2009: 05:18:20
Morning Janet
Curious, did you receive a message from me the other day? sometimes Ive noticed some mail doesnt always go through
Best
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