stomapicker - Posted - 06/18/2026:  09:12:19

Hi everyone. I started with my ac-1 resonator, picked up a penco in March and put on a Grover 1/2" compensated and terminator tail, total cost of banjo and parts about 200.
Now I have a chance or 2 amazing banjos for almost the same $, so ???
#1) deering eagle 2, as from factory,no add ons. Case included.
#2) OME xx. Mahogany neck, 2 factory tuners (3 with 5th) and 2 Keith tuners. (honestly can't remember if hard case or not)
I can play both of these side by side only a mile from my house. I can only afford one, if I should like the sound and feel equally ... which do I go in debt for???
Thanks for any thoughts, advice, or opinions!
Russ.

stomapicker - Posted - 06/18/2026:  09:14:54

Forgot:
Deering $1,700
OME $1,900

Thanks!

banjo bill-e - Posted - 06/18/2026:  09:28:14

You'll know when you play them. One will call to you more than the other, and that's all that matters.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/18/2026:  13:02:51

All things being equal, the Ome. It’s long out of production, so the price is stable. Both are easily converted to openback, should you ever want.

aaronoble - Posted - 06/18/2026:  13:57:19

Check out the finish; I'm not a fan of the Eagle finish (gave one away because of it) but I don't know the Ome

stomapicker - Posted - 06/18/2026:  14:13:46

Thank you all so far very much for your input, I greatly appreciate it. I am going to go play both, or whatever is still available, and make a decision tomorrow. One may be more banjo then I will ever need (both actually) But I just want a nice, mellow banjo that will be worth more then a cup of coffee when I leave a poor widow to clean up my messes. Actually, they both are probably worth more then our car, and will be a Lot more fun to to play with!

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 06/18/2026:  16:59:50

Fwiw I have an Ome xx and I love it. Never played an Eagle

stomapicker - Posted - 06/18/2026:  17:25:05

Thank you. These opinions and personal preferences, and any info that I dont know enough of to know what I dont know mean a lot to me.

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 06/18/2026:  18:07:39

The OME has a silver spun tone ring which makes it lighter but I don’t think it sacrifices tone, quite the opposite.

Silverspun ring

 

Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/18/2026:  19:43:46

I had an Ome Double-X with an earlier version of the Silverspun ring that had no holes. Great tone and good volume. I consider the Ome, with either tone-ring version, preferable to the Deering, and worth the extra cost. 

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 06/18/2026 19:46:06

stomapicker - Posted - 06/18/2026:  19:53:21

Thank you!

pinenut - Posted - 06/18/2026:  20:46:13

I favor the Ome with whatever tone ring is in it. 

I like Deerings too; they are solid, consistent, sound 'right' and feel good.

If the Ome has the silverspun, it is a radically different sound than a cast tone ring; more sparkly and delicate with a specific voice, whereas the cast rings are a bigger tone. 

My preference is based on the intangible 'feel' of the older Ome models and there is no good reason for choosing one or the other, throw a rock, inspect, play and follow your heart.  

Edited by - pinenut on 06/18/2026 20:52:28