Kilby88 - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:01:54

Excluding any brands that you cannot buy new (i.e. Gibson), what banjo would you buy if money wasn't a factor?  In other words, if you could pick any banjo and buy it today, whether expensive or not, what you would pick and why?  This may be interesting to see what people pick.

MildBill - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:10:25

The one I liked the best 

Try a bunch, get the one that cracks like a machine gun and has a prominent, growly 4th string

Edited by - MildBill on 04/15/2013 15:13:35

tony wall - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:15:14

hi kilby88 i own 97 rich/taylor walnut bill kieth model i love it loud crisp and rings like a bell up the neck dont need another banjo p/s wud love to have a liberty quadrille as well. there is a lot of great banjos out there for sale at the right price /all u need is the cash regards tony

BoneDigger - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:28:15

Personally, all I would ever need would be a Gibson RB3 or an Earl Scruggs Model. If not, probably a Stelling Red Fox.

Todd

mrphysics55 - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:40:12

Enoch Tradesman ... Used ... One Of The Better Values Out There.

For More Cash I'd Have Jason Burns of Birmingham, Alabama Build Me A Custom Open Back.

MrP

howseth - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:41:24

You may want to feed this question in the BHO search field (upper right). Banjo players have loved to consider this.

banjoman56 - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:48:54

I've listened to videos of all the top brands and the one that sounds best to me is the V35 Sullivan. If I didn't have one coming from Sullivans, (the one I won in the hangout drawing last summer) that would be the one I would buy.

Old Hickory - Posted - 04/15/2013:  16:28:54

Stelling Staghorn, new or used. Preferably used -- because even though this is just a game and money is supposed to be no factor, I still can't imagine myself spending new-Stellling-level money on a banjo.  I can't see myself spending what a used Staghorn costs, either, but at least it's less than new!

Why a Stelling Staghorn? 1 - I love the sound and feel of a Stelling 2 - I love the looks of a Staghorn: the abalone purfling and bound peghead more so than the inlay.

A close second would be a Greg Deering Limited for the same reasons as above - I like the sound and feel of a Deering and the GDL also has the abalone.

kmwaters - Posted - 04/15/2013:  16:50:20

I have a Gibson Scruggs (maple) and a Stelling Masters Cross (walnut). My 2 favorite tonal woods and my two favorite brands. But the top end of Gibson, Stelling, Deering, Huber, Bishline, Hatfield, Robin Smith (Heartland), Nechville, Prucha, Yates, and other custom builders like Romero or Clancy Mullins would most likely satisfy.

The IBMA convention - if you could ever make it there, is the ideal test drive center under one roof. It's a banjo candy store.

BANJO TONY - Posted - 04/15/2013:  16:53:50

I would love a Hatfield. I would have Arthur make it to my specs.

unclekurty - Posted - 04/15/2013:  16:55:46

I'm loaded up with cool open backs so I think I'd like an AMB Custom Kel Kroyden Aqua Blue MOTS including fingerboard.

The Old Timer - Posted - 04/15/2013:  17:00:05

Huber.

mebacon - Posted - 04/15/2013:  17:19:20

So many great banjo builders right now, so little time to pick them.

JMalmsteen - Posted - 04/15/2013:  17:58:14

Head to Jim Mills' house, play every banjo he has for sale, and pick my favorite. Okay, back to reality now.

You did say no Gibson banjos though. I love my Yates, but have never played a Hatfield or Neat. I'm assuming any of those would work. Romero builds some incredible sounding open back banjos if you have the patience to wait a few years.

Edited by - JMalmsteen on 04/15/2013 18:03:37

skevincampbell - Posted - 04/15/2013:  18:42:30

Open back - a custom Romero

Bluegrass - Arthur Hatfield custom built Blackjack, w Blackjack inlays, copperflashed Crowe ring, aged gold hardware, Hatfield on the peg head, instead of Gibson, and Hatjack in the name block. I forgot, prewar rim, and resonator.

Edited by - skevincampbell on 04/15/2013 18:43:05

skevincampbell - Posted - 04/15/2013:  20:59:48

This is a great thread. I believe I have expressed exactly what I want. I need to start saving. One of these days.

Drivel - Posted - 04/15/2013:  22:57:56

Nechville Walnut Galaxy Phantom with a bunch of mod's, like a full length 5th string +,+,+,+ etc.

I would also like to go, and visit OME with a blank check.

Edited by - Drivel on 04/15/2013 23:03:25

Old Man - Posted - 04/16/2013:  04:51:20

Stelling ,the ultimate Banjo

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/16/2013:  05:41:00

It would have to be a Stelling.  I love the sound and feel of a Stelling.  They are easy to fret, keep in tune pretty well, and just make me feel good when I pick one.

banjoez - Posted - 04/16/2013:  07:00:11

A Pass rimmed Stelling has everything you could possibly want from a banjo. Tone, volume, easy playing neck, beautiful workmanship, consistent quality. A lot of other banjos are temperamental but once you get a Stelling dialed in it stays there.

stelling man - Posted - 04/16/2013:  07:33:59

STELLING........ I could always use one more..

STELLING MAN

Beardog - Posted - 04/16/2013:  07:44:02

I have loved one wonderful woman for 31 years.

I have no intentions of being faithful to just one banjo. The love of my banjo life changes frequently!

Prucha, Yates, Huber, Nechville, Stelling, OME, Bishline, Kel Kroydon, Hatfield, Deering Tenbrooks.....They all make me swoon. If you copper flash or gold plate them, I am really in trouble!

That Hatfield "Hatjack" that Kevin looses sleep over sounds like a good one!

If you exclude used Gibsons, you leave out many unbelievably good banjos, though.

MTBanjo - Posted - 04/16/2013:  09:13:29

Prucha Diamond Point

skevincampbell - Posted - 04/16/2013:  09:19:48

That Diamond Point is a beautiful banjo. I like that aged plating, and I love 2 hump tailpieces. No pun intended.

Glen5 - Posted - 04/16/2013:  09:24:27

Would have to be a Yates. I played a bunch before I bought mine and it spoke to me like no other. I love my RS but would like to try a Skillethead sometime. 

Beachbum Scott - Posted - 04/16/2013:  14:10:02

Sad to say I have yet to find a nice banjo that I like the sound of...

I have played quite a few nice banjos too but they were all with metal tone rings of some sort and I am finding out that I must be a woodie kind of guy.

MTBanjo - Posted - 04/16/2013:  14:28:58

quote:

---

Originally posted by skevincampbell

 

That Diamond Point is a beautiful banjo. I like that aged plating, and I love 2 hump tailpieces. No pun intended.

---

It all depends on the particular banjo. He doesn't seem to have any "stock" Diamond Point. The only things that stay the same are the basic Prucha build of rim and neck and peghead, and the inlays. The hardware, type of head, tailpiece, and binding seems to change, depending on how he's feeling that week.

There would be a lot to choose from, if I were to order one from the source...

starhopper - Posted - 04/16/2013:  16:23:10

I would buy exactly what I have now -  a Deering John Hatford model - I never did get the pre-war fever, nor was I ever overly impressed with the so-called "pre-war Gibson sound".

Edited by - starhopper on 04/16/2013 16:26:51

kmwaters - Posted - 04/17/2013:  08:33:14

I wonder if Romero can ship to the afterlife.

BanjoJeff - Posted - 04/17/2013:  08:50:00

I would love to have a Huber Berkshire. That's one beautiful banjo. 2nd choice would be a Hatfield Buck Creek. Both are just well crafted instruments.

Edited by - BanjoJeff on 04/17/2013 08:55:38

banjoplyr. - Posted - 04/17/2013:  15:45:50

if money was not a problem,Iguess I would try to buy Ol' nellie Don Reno's banjo....but I would have Arthur Hatfield make me a walnut banjo.

D

Moosethird - Posted - 04/17/2013:  20:59:25

Two that I have looked at on the internet is the Stelling Staghorn & the Cox Johnny Reb. Not that I would probably spend this kind of money but one can always wish.

Leslie R - Posted - 04/17/2013:  23:19:53

Not too long ago I heard a Yates Skillethead, on a YouTube video. My decision was instantaneous. I placed the order on New Years day. I've had it several weeks now. I have not been disappointed.

Paul R - Posted - 04/18/2013:  05:27:42

The ebony Whyte Laydie that Dan Knowles built, or a custom order by Dan, or a Romero, or the Seeders Whyte Laydie, or ...

If money is no object, why do I have to choose just one?

Pittsburghin - Posted - 04/18/2013:  05:57:38

I was about 3 days short on a classified ad here at the BHO to own it, but I'm still always looking for a mid-70s Ome Juggernaut. I've owned a stelling...wasn't a fan. Deerings have that 'wide neck' thing going on that isn't for me either...I've seen too many BAD gibson's to justify gambling on one. Just an opinion. I own a masterclone archtop now in mahogany and I love it, the Jugg is the only thing that would earn my eye (and wallet) at this point.

ThomasW - Posted - 04/18/2013:  14:14:52

Wildwood Paragon Archtop.

O.D. - Posted - 04/18/2013:  14:55:11

There are a few banjo's Id like to have.

 Imperial Chapperal,very nice looking banjo with the distinctive Imperial tone.

 Id like to have a Goldstar Crowe model like  the one I sold   .I like the vintage Fender banjo's too

 I also like the Wildwood banjos,Paragon as well as the Artiust, and  the Ode model D is pretty cool

regards, Everett

mainejohn - Posted - 04/18/2013:  17:28:08

You said "which banjo would you buy?" Something tells me you mean specifically 5 string mastertone type banjo because that's what the term "banjo" means to most of the members in BHO-land. If I'm correct in my thinking, then there's no point in my chiming in, because my answer would be Bacon & Day #9 ne plus ultra plectrum, or VegaVox V plectrum or 5 string, or a custom Wyatt Fawley longneck on a 20's Vega 10 15/16" pot, or an Ome, or a Chuck Taylor, or a....

howseth - Posted - 04/18/2013:  17:44:59

A great new custom banjo with a 28"- 29" scale length for playing in lower tunings. No, no, no!: not a regular 'long-neck' of 31"- 32" inch scale with a capo. I am talking about a civilized 28" - 29" scale banjo good for tuning to the lovely growl of  'Double A' (Instead of Double C, or, heaven help us: 'Double D') If money was no object - and I could talk someone like Ome into doing it. I would also radius this 28.5" fingerboard, chrome plate it, put in a Silverspun tone ring on, probably, a 12" pot... get some some nice inlay for sparkle, etc.

country frank - Posted - 04/19/2013:  05:30:55

Stelling Crusader.

NCjones - Posted - 04/19/2013:  06:32:01

Stelling.

loukiii - Posted - 04/19/2013:  08:05:53

Too many to pick just one.
OME makes some beautiful banjos but I would be afraid to leave the house with it.
Yates 'Skillethead' intrigues me.
Hatfields are nice.
Stellings too.
Hubers...
Im so glad I dont have enough money to buy anything. If I did I wouldn't be able to decide on one anyway. I need enough money to buy them all.
That'll be my answer.

Which one? One of each.

biznork - Posted - 04/19/2013:  08:27:19

I have a Huber VRB-3 wreath that sounds better than any new banjo I've ever heard.  I'm really lusting after a Yates top tension though. Ugh.

the parrot - Posted - 04/19/2013:  10:04:32

I would agree there's some good quality banjos out there today. If you're shopping for a top quality banjo, I would recommend you check out Laurie Grundy's banjos. The Grundy banjos are made in Missouri now. Morgan Music in Lebanon has one in stock, & Smokey Mountain Guitars in Pigeon Forge, Tn. has them in stock.
L.H.

MrNatch3L - Posted - 04/19/2013:  11:43:17

Probably would have Robin Smith build me something custom and dangerous looking. I'm thinking black with black hardware, compound radius fingerboard with minimalist inlay and tunneled 5th, one nice inlay in the headstock. Some kind of killer woody because my back doesn't do heavy banjos anymore. Actually I might be able to scrape the cash together, but I'd have to be one helluva better player than I am now or am likely to become any time soon before I'd let loose like that.

BanjoRW - Posted - 04/19/2013:  12:00:22

I'd buy a Gold Tone CEB-5 Cello banjo. Love the sound and look! Not an expensive banjo, but it'll take some time to save the bucks...

maryzcox - Posted - 04/19/2013:  12:46:50

Probably buy an Ome Bright Angel with the 12" head --open back-in the blue color--just because it is pretty and a bit different in the blue color--and because I don't have one of those.

But I will not be buying a banjo this year because my daughter is getting married and we are committed to having a dream wedding for her. 

This year--I'll probably do some maintainence and string experimenting on some of the banjos I already have 

Best wishes,

Mary Z Cox

maryzcox.com

banjoman_18 - Posted - 04/19/2013:  14:56:07

I would choose a gibson granada Greg rich era. the reason being is he borught gison back to life after so long.

Kilby88 - Posted - 04/19/2013:  16:53:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjoez

 

A Pass rimmed Stelling has everything you could possibly want from a banjo. Tone, volume, easy playing neck, beautiful workmanship, consistent quality. A lot of other banjos are temperamental but once you get a Stelling dialed in it stays there.

---

banjoez,

I have listened to some of your videos and that Stelling sounds great!  Can you give me more detail about your Stelling...I have been looking at these banjos for a while now. Thanks.