Cessna172 - Posted - 04/20/2013:  18:53:52

Really interesting variety of choices! But I guess if everyone was a pitcher, who would catch the ball?

Been very blessed in life to already have my dream banjos; but, if pressed to choose one more with money as no object - I would pick a Stelling Viking or Scrimshaw.

Gary Griffin - Posted - 04/21/2013:  05:55:27

Any Stelling with Curly Maple: Red Fox, Sunflower, Golden Cross etc...

They're unsurpassable!

banjosweetie - Posted - 04/23/2013:  11:44:35

OME Sweetgrass...hands down. Now if I could afford another high end banjo, it would definitely be a Gibson Blackjack.

Chris Cooper - Posted - 04/23/2013:  12:18:46

The Prucha's do it for me.

Mine is a custom "Fall in love" model.

They have a look feel and sound all of their own and I love them.

BeeBe - Posted - 04/23/2013:  13:28:54

I would again buy a Mastercraft Ultima, it has the sweetest sound, lite weight and plenty loud enough.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 04/23/2013:  13:29:47

If money wasn't an object then this banjo would be at the top of my wish list,

stellingbanjo.com/custom2.htm

bohemian - Posted - 04/23/2013:  19:49:33

Stealth for most styles

Wildwood custom with Tu-Ba-Phone  tone ring and bracket band for old time

ike449 - Posted - 04/24/2013:  01:45:44

Stelling hands down. I bought my Golden Cross new in 1985.

clarky - Posted - 04/24/2013:  02:52:22

seems to me stelling banjos get a good rap on this forum i can only dream!

Chris Cooper - Posted - 04/24/2013:  05:07:07

The Huber banjos are awesome too, and I've always liked the sound of the Osbourne Chief.

mishe mokwa - Posted - 04/24/2013:  05:18:07

Being completely honest, probably an upper end Recording King. You see I don't gig, I have not plans to form a band. Also I would be damned to take a 3000+ banjo on a travel to festivals and jams. I think the stress from trying to preserve some kind of antique master piece would be a distraction. I'd rather have a great sound banjo that I wouldn't have to worry about denting/breaking during the everyday wear and tear (dogs, kids, traveling, jamming, beer spilling!).

bill forster - Posted - 04/26/2013:  10:16:39

 Deering tenbrooks jens kruger model Swiss tonering

pick1936 - Posted - 04/26/2013:  12:30:09

I  would  buy  a  custom  Nechville   with  all  4  of  His  enterchangable  Tone  rings.  With  custom inlay  on  board,  and   peg  head.  THE  BEST..

Nechville  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

 

snapjackson - Posted - 05/04/2013:  23:24:29

The John Hartford Deering (w/ the wooden tone ring). LOVE the tone on that banjo.

stanger - Posted - 05/05/2013:  17:23:58

There are a lot of excellent banjos out there, but I just ordered a Prucha Diamond Point openback.

It is going to be the litter mate to my present Diamond Point, which I've owned since 2006. It will be identical, with the same inlays, rim and tone ring, but it will use the tube from a tube & plate flange to hold the brackets, and will have some additional binding and trim on the bottom of the rim and heel.



After futzing around for 2 years and playing a ton of openbacks, I began playing my Prucha with the resonator off, and found his cast flathead tone ring's tone sounds better to me than any other. A buddy who is strictly an old-time player agrees, and he's also ordering one just like mine. Since I never play over the neck when I'm playing clawhammer, I'm having the neck fully fretted with a radiused board, just like my first Prucha DP. They are the nicest necks I've ever played on.

There will be on difference; the neck on the openback will be cherry, not mahogany. i love the mahogany sound when playing bluegrass, but I want a bit more sparkle in the openback, and cherry will do the trick. From the front, they will look identical.

The tone of a Prucha bluegrass banjo is a lot different from the Mastertone and all it's clones. When I heard it for the first time, I knew I had to have one, and now, the thought of a matching pair tickles me pink!

regards,

stanger

Edited by - stanger on 05/05/2013 17:27:33

dmiller - Posted - 05/05/2013:  17:44:35

Hi there Stanger - - will it have the "copper patina"?  

Hoss Banjo - Posted - 05/07/2013:  05:43:36

I have been blessed with some great banjos, but my next banjo will be a Yates Skillethead.  

BoneDigger - Posted - 05/07/2013:  09:25:33

Although I really don't see me buying anymore banjos for quite some time, especially after my most recent purchase, I now want to change my answer. I would really like a new Deering. One of the upper end ones preferably.

Todd

tmoore - Posted - 05/09/2013:  09:11:45

I would get one of Earl Scruggs Personal Banjos. Might as well go to the source that we all wish to emulate.

jessie - Posted - 05/09/2013:  10:11:33

get your hands on a chrome plated dp hopkins walnut banjo with a cox rim ,and  you can count on it your search for another banjo will be over .

scruggsophylia - Posted - 06/22/2013:  05:13:14