banjo playing bison - Posted - 09/08/2016:  02:42:01

im planning to get a new banjo in the next few months,and i have two banjos in mind that im thinking about getting,but i need help deciding between the two.my current main banjo is a backyard fireside which is good,but can't really perform with it well.im looking for a good banjo under like $500 that i can play and perform also(at stuff like open mics,busking,and i want to play folksy banjo in a worship band at church) ,and carry around without worrying about losing an expensive banjo,the two banjos i have in mind is the recording king dirty 30's banjo,and the deering goodtime,they are both the openback versions of them.i know some people complain about that there is no tone ring and resonators on these,but i dont really care about it cause i dont really need them for what i play and i play mainly alot of old-time and americana/indie folk music on my banjo.both of these banjos from what ive seen look and sound great,and have a good price.but i want to hear from people who have actually played them and hear what they think.

Banjo Fanatic - Posted - 09/08/2016:  04:31:32

I personally like Recording King so that's what I'd probably get. That being said, I haven't personally tried the dirty thirty series banjos, but all their other banjos and dirty thirty guitars are very nice.

For a budget of $500, I recently saw a nice Gretsch banjo that has a full size tone ring and one piece flange. Once again, I personally haven't tried this banjo out, but Gretsch is making a name for itself in traditional instruments, and the three reviews on Musician's Friend all are positive. The only thing I've seen negative is that you might have to to a bit of set up to it once it arrives such as tightening bolts and the like. But other than that, it might be something to check out.

It is on sale for $450 so it would be at the top of your budget though. musiciansfriend.com/folk-tradi...p;index=1

Banjo Fanatic - Posted - 09/08/2016:  04:40:55

As for the dirty thirty banjo, all Recording King banjos have truss rods in the neck which makes adjusting easier, unlike Deering which doesn't have any truss rods in their banjos until you go to their higher priced models.

Another option that you might look into is the tube and plate banjos as they can easily be turned to an openback. Another cheap but farily nice banjo for that if you're willing to do some setup work on it is the B200 Ibanez. I purchased one of those as a factory blemish from Reverb and I really like it. I am upgrading some of its components as I want it to be my "mess around banjo" but if you set it and leave it, as it is it would do fine. With that one it does have a full size tone ring, as I saw you're not too worried about. Sorry about my last post, I've been using my tablet since my computer is being borrowed so it's kind of hard to see. :P The Ibanez also has a block rim which is also very nice. With that one, a brand new one is about $500, but if you can put up with some finish flaws, a factory second one can be had for $320 - $400.

Here is a link to one of these: reverb.com/marketplace?query=ibanez+b200

Chadbanjo - Posted - 09/08/2016:  06:09:51

Hi,

I've owned both and have setup both with different heads and bridges tailpieces for various tone.. If I were to choose between the two, i'd keep the deering goodtime over the dirty thirties, to my ears, it just sounded better. I'd say the main reason being the better 3ply rim on the goodtime.

ZEPP - Posted - 09/08/2016:  06:33:34

As a former dealer for both Deering and Recording King, I can make the following observations:

• Most of the imports offer significantly more features for less money than a Goodtime banjo..


• Side-by-side, I sold hundreds more Goodtime banjos than all the imports put together (RK, Gold Tone, Washburn, Morgan Monroe, Saga, Gold Star, Flint Hill and a few others).


• While most RK banjos are well designed and offer good bang-for-the-buck, I generally steered people away from the Dirty Thirties ROH-05 model owing to its excessively narrow neck and tight string spacing at the nut. Spend a little more and get the much better designed and more solid OT25. By all means try these banjos out; who knows, you may like a skinny neck! 

With all that said, among the banjos I own personally, their are no imports, but there are three Goodtime banjos...

Cheers,

ZEPP

loonsailor - Posted - 09/08/2016:  07:43:26

I own a Goodtime II and an RK R35, so have no direct experience with the specific models you mention. Zepp is right, that RK offers more features/$$. But, the setup on the Deering was perfect from the factory, and my RK35 was a complete mess that required pretty much complete disassembly and reassembly. Granted, the RK was a store demo from Guitar Center, so it may have been knocked around a bit (or a bunch). Also, when I showed the RK to my banjo teacher he immediately pointed out that the nut was wrong - they had stuck an arched plastic nut from some other instrument, probably a cut down guitar nut, on the banjo. And, the fifth string buzzed because the plastic fifth string nut was cut wrong. So, unless you're comfortable with doing the setup yourself, and maybe even some minor repair, you might want to factor the price for somebody to do that for you into the RK.



Having done that work, I'm very happy with my RK. It's definitely a "better" banjo at a great price, even including what I paid a repairman to make and install new nuts. But, I also really like the Deering for what it is, and I use it regularly for something like a campfire, or when I want something lighter, and sometimes as a practice instrument. If you expect to use it straight out of the box, the Deering might well be a better choice.

Edited by - loonsailor on 09/08/2016 07:44:37

Old Hickory - Posted - 09/08/2016:  08:59:50

I don't know what your "backyard fireside" banjo is, but in my opinion, neither the Goodtime nor Dirty Thirties are significant step-up banjos from most entry-level instruments and are not great performing instruments.  They're adequate, which may be all you need.

For a little beyond your $500 budget, MusiciansFriend.com currently has an open box Deering Goodtime Artisan open back banjo for $534.  The new Artisan series Goodtimes have several upgrades over the basic Goodtime:  planetary tuners, attractive inlays, traditional dark color, and a real fingerboard. The fingerboard is a black-dyed maple, but it's still a separate piece of wood, unlike the design of the basic Goodtime.  Still no truss rod, but the glued-on fingerboard adds some stability.  And the truth is, there have been very few reported cases of Goodtime neck failure as long as people don't use heavier strings than the instrument ships with.

Something else to consider that is over your budget is the Recording King "Madison" RK-O25 open back. These were available earlier this year for under $300 from MusiciansFriend and Guitar Center when they were closing out their supply.  Now the only ones left are at regular retail by sellers who are not as desperate.  If you don't mind mind buying used, one of these would be a much better banjo than either the Goodtime or Dirty Thirties.

dilrods - Posted - 09/08/2016:  09:42:55

Deering is lighter and fairly indestructible; easily fits in plane overhead compartment. I recommend a thin vinyl case (not the more protective had jet cases). Truss rod is less of an issue since it has no separate fretboard. I've never had any issues with neck bow. RK is beefier and heavier. I think the Goodtime is the better banjo and the RK is the better value. I second the o25 advice. I have a Goodtime and an r25.

Alex Morice - Posted - 09/08/2016:  10:02:46

I agree w/ Ken. I think most of us here would always say spend a bit more and you will not regret it in the long run. Greater enjoyment and satisfaction is worth the extra money. I do own an open back Goodtime and use it as my camping banjo but really enjoy my Maple Blossom (worth every penny). I have played the Artisan and wow it sounds really nice and rich. Go for the Artisan if you can. Wish the Artisan was out when I bought the Goodtime.

dlaughery1013 - Posted - 09/08/2016:  10:05:38

I've just ordered a new Deering Artisan with the shorter neck (parlor) because I've had excellent luck with my Deering Goodtime Classic.  This will replace my other A scale banjo that is not a Deering, so I guess I am a Deering fan.  Dave L.

torpedo - Posted - 09/08/2016:  10:08:16

I'd go with the Gretsch like Banjo Fanatic said.

Old Hickory - Posted - 09/08/2016:  13:52:45

quote:

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Originally posted by Alex Morice

I agree w/ Ken. I think most of us here would always say spend a bit more and you will not regret it in the long run. Greater enjoyment and satisfaction is worth the extra money. 

---

Thanks.  In the past, I've complained several times about how whenever a person says they have a budget, someone will invariably tell them they have to spend more.  Of course, it's usually hundreds more.  But it still bothers me a little that this time I'm the guy suggesting that the OP spend a little more.

But in my defense, or as justification, I think that in new banjos, $500 is not a price point at or below which there are open back banjos very much better than what Banjo Playing Bison may already own.  Sub-$500 doesn't get you much in the way of gig-worthy instruments -- and I fully realize that Mean Mary makes her living playing a Goodtime.

I agree with Dilrods' comment that Goodtime is the better banjo and the Dirty Thirties is the better value.  If I were going to choose only between those two, I'd probably get the Goodtime but look for a used one so I'd have money within my budget to change the tuners.  I'd also be looking for the current model with the traditional peghead shape and the bowtie inlays. I might also find a way to color it dark -- maybe spraying a tinted lacquer, then clearcoating.

baldbugguy - Posted - 09/08/2016:  16:58:45

I have played an RK dirty 30's and was not overly impressed. But I was also never really impressed by the Goodtime open back. However, about 2 years ago I played a Goodtime Americana and fell in love with it, and the love has continued. Then this spring I played an Artisan Goodtime and knew right away I just had to have it! The Artisan is my favorite banjo of the 5 that I own. I also own a Gretsch root series, a Gold Tone cc-ot, and a Gold Tone Maple Mountain with a white lady tone ring. The Artisan is my fave! Great sound, looks great, and it's light weight makes it easy to carry around to jams at festivals

saulsmanb - Posted - 09/08/2016:  22:26:30

BPB: I have owned both and think that Zepp has done a great job comparing them.

I found the Goodtime neck that I had to be more fun to play than the dirty 30's, but others might disagree. I currently own a O25 Madison which I also  prefer over the dirty 30's OB that I had, but again, that's just me and I have not handled hundreds of banjos like Zepp surely has.

All the best.

Brian Saulsman