AcousticBuckeye - Posted - 07/21/2014:  10:47:22

All,

I'm debating between these two banjos for beginner learning, Scruggs Style.  The Mastercraft classic is the burled Maple and runs $529.00. Made in China and sold by Banjo Hut.  It has a lifetime warrany.  The Deering can be purchased for $900.00. It's American made.

To me on the surface for the price and features the Mastercraft looks like the better deal.  I'm hoping others that may have experience with these banjos can provide some good insight.  I see a lot of good reviews for the Mastercraft Classic in the review sections and almost always hear good things about Deering as well.   Given apples to apples I would take he American made product.  For $400.00 more I'll pass on the American product if everything else is equal.

I'm looking at these as they are both around 8 pounds and I think a good mid-point for sound(both have tone rings) and price.  I don't want to invest in a 14 lb banjo at this point. I think the weight alone would put me off.

Thanks for any suggestions.

AB

Shake-Boy - Posted - 07/21/2014:  11:16:10

For the past couple months the Deering Goodtime Special Classic has been available for only $749.00 with free shipping from Amazon.com.  That's one of the the lowest prices I've seen for that instrument.  It's usually 900 as you mentioned.  Amazon facilitates the transaction but the instrument comes from a place called Zorro Sounds.  I don't know anything about Zorro sounds but I picked up my Goodtime from Amazon a year or so ago and it arrived in great condition with no issues. 

You can check it out here:    Goodtime Special Classic (Amazon)

Old Hickory - Posted - 07/21/2014:  11:18:54

You've really laid it out well.

I don't have personal experience with either banjo (though I do with similar models), but from my understanding of the features they are not apples-to-apples instruments of similar design. The Mastercraft gives you a neck with a true (separate) fingerboard (vs the Goodtime's integral neck surface stained dark) and a truss rod (vs the Goodtime's none).  You also get a substantial notched tension hoop and round hooks (vs the Goodtime's flat or grooved hoop and flat hooks). The flange is also heavier, I believe, though I don't know if that counts for anything.  You also get the fancier looks -- though you can't hear inlay and binding.

The Mastercraft is actually closer to a walnut version of the Recording King RK-20 (which I have played), Morgan Monroe MNB-1 and others (including one of the entry-level Gold Tones).  That extra wood above the 22nd fret is the give-away.  That brings the bridge closer to the center of the head, which is a feature on these banjos I don't like.

So they're not the same and you are paying  $400 premium for American made with the Goodtime.

On the plus side (for me, personally) I prefer feel of  Goodtime necks (I've played other Goodtimes, inlcuding tone ringed Goodtimes, just not this exact model).  I find them more comfortable to play than the banjos similar to the Mastercraft you're considering. The Goodtime neck feels a lot like the higher-level Deering necks, which are great.  And I find the tone a bit more crisp on a tone-ringed Goodtime -- though still not the same as a Mastertone-style banjo.

Only you can decide if the Goodtime Classic Special is worth $400 more to you.  For me, I would have a hard time spending that much on that banjo. I'd much prefer to find one used for hundreds less (if such a thing exists).  Amazon had them on sale for $749 or so quite a few months back.  That was an OK price.  Edited to add: I see from the above post that came on while I was writing that the $749 price is still available. There is little reason to spend more for that banjo. (set-up and service from banjohut being the possible value-add for the extra $150)

Too bad that weight is one of your issues, since once you are up to $900+ for the Goodtime Classic Special, you're at the price level of an RK-35 or 36 -- true bluegrass banjos that offer so much more at the same price.  Or a used Gold Star GF-85, another excellent Masterclone that gives you more for your money.  Or even a used Deering Sierra (if you're patient).

Good luck.

Edited by - Old Hickory on 07/21/2014 11:22:07

RSayer87 - Posted - 07/21/2014:  11:33:14

I have a mastercraft burled walnut, it was a great starter banjo, but I eventually moved up to a used deering sierra that I got for around 1000. The difference in sound is incredible when you step up to a professional grade bluegrass banjo. It is my opinion that the mastercraft will keep you happy, but not for long.

Helix - Posted - 07/21/2014:  13:05:14

Deering.