I'm still looking at getting an open back banjo but don't have the funds for a Recording King OT25. The local shop had a Deering Goodtime and a Fender Rustler. Anyone got opinions on either? They both say "Made in the USA" which surprises me. The fender has two truss rods compared with the Deering's one and looks sturdier. Haven't had the balls to try out either yet as I am a complete newb.
22 Comments |
 | banjonz says:
12/27/2013 3:11:10 PM
The Goodtime is made in the USA, the Fender is not, in spite of what the label says! The Fender is a new edition but like the vast majority of Asian instruments, are made in China. Any banjo can be made to sound and play better (within limits) by setup. I have played a number of Goodtimes (and Asian copies). The Deering does NOT have a truss rod. I have seen a new one that was brought back from the USA with had a converse (backward) bow in it. It took a few weeks for the neck to pull up nicely. I like the GT's for open back playing. Inspite of its construction (seems lightweight) they are good banjos. What are the prices being asked for these two? Where abouts are you and the shop selling these? Generally Deerings are expensive here in NZ.
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 | primaveranz says:
12/27/2013 3:19:47 PM
Hi, The Fender is $599 and Deering $699.
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| primaveranz says:
12/27/2013 3:36:47 PM
Forgot to say I'm in Nelson.
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| banjonz says:
12/27/2013 4:08:22 PM
The best advice I can offer is to play them both if you can or get someone who can play clawhammer style to test them while you are there. Can you get over to Wellington? There is a shop here (Alistairs Music in Cuba st.) that has a range of banjos. Alistairs' wife Catriona plays clawhammer ( I taught the guy who taught her). They can show you a number of alternatives.
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 | NZsteve says:
12/27/2013 10:27:26 PM
Some further thoughts and options ... check this out, it details the Goodtime Spec. or lack of it ! goldtone.com/resources/comparison.pdf , Epiphone MB-100 $399, check out the nut & string spacings, if you can find it on the Deering website it advises you only to use light strings on the Deering, (no trussrod), this is a poor specification banjo, but may have a higher resale value, designed to reduce costs. Fender has a synthetic bone nut ?, der. !
Fender is pretty looking & has the Fender name. No this is not a joke $230 can be bought on trademe savethebanjos.com/Saga%20Kit%20Review.htm
Set this up & it will sound at least as good as the above and save you a bomb untill you can buy a real banjo. Thought of buying one for the hell of it.
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| banjonz says:
12/28/2013 1:21:00 AM
Steve, I was going to suggest you also. The problem is often that banjos are too far away to try, unless you have an arrangement whereby you can ship one for appro!
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| NZsteve says:
12/28/2013 2:07:26 AM
Hi Wayne, out of open backs in this price range, looking at options but quite a niche & slow selling product, have the CC-100R/P which is easy to convert to OB as a "baseline" product but above this price, those Deerings are underspeced and overpriced. Should make the choice "easier" in some respects. Deering make jos with steel rims !, "only Dixon could go to China".
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| NZsteve says:
12/28/2013 10:15:26 AM
Dixon ?, Nixon, there thats better. (Tricky Dicky)
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| primaveranz says:
12/28/2013 5:04:56 PM
Well you have both convinced me not to bother with either of these two but to try and keep saving for the Recording King OT25! ;)
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| banjonz says:
12/28/2013 7:17:01 PM
The OT is nice. I played one when I was up at Steves (NZSteve). I still advise actually playing one before you purchase, if that is practicable.
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 | Big Dan says:
12/29/2013 10:41:17 AM
Are you refering to the Rock Shop in Lower Hutt? I had a look at the Deering GT the other day and whike doesn't look as flashy as the others they've got hanging up, it'll probably play better and last longer. Many people speak highly of the Good Times and it sounded good to me. Problem is, I'm a lefty so I couldn't really put it through its paces. If you know someone who can play it for you, that will help you decide. As far as Gold Tone CC100s go, I've had an open back version since 2008 and it plays well. The sound is a bit thin and kinda nasal, but banjos are very adjustable and I could get a much better sound with a different set up. Hope that's of some help.
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| primaveranz says:
12/29/2013 12:14:35 PM
Yeah I agree on the play before purchase but it is a bit hard down here in the boonies ;) And Big Dan, I think the CC100 looks like a possibility but I do like a mellow "chunky" sound. Like you say probably adjustable though.
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| banjonz says:
12/29/2013 1:40:15 PM
I have just come back from the Lower Hutt Rock Shop trialing both the Deering GT and a Washburn. I agree with Dan's assessment that the Deering is a bit thin. but then, banjos are very adjustable and you can change quite a bit on them to alter the sound. My preference was towards the Deering. It was 4mm wider at the 12 fret and easier to play. They would move on the price. I want to investigate what Alistairs Music has in stock.
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| NZsteve says:
12/29/2013 2:19:40 PM
Some of this from the Deering site, head tension reduction results in a warmer, less bright, or plunkier sound. HOW MUCH it changes depends on how much you loosen the head.
Keep it firm enough to hold the bridge in place as there are other methods to mute the banjo further. Old timey frailers know these other tricks very well. They realize if you muffle the sound of the head, you create a banjo that is not only less loud but gives you a warm, deep tone with sustain. I have seen players using foam blocks "Wayne" in the pot assembly, a rolled up rag, a mute on the bridge, you name it.
Acoustic wadding as used in speakers. Dony forget vellum and old time tunings ! or even nylon strings.
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| NZsteve says:
12/29/2013 2:39:40 PM
Don't know how big you fingers are, but have the Morgan Monroe wideneck MWN-B1 easy to convert. This is a good string !
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| primaveranz says:
12/29/2013 3:15:24 PM
They are not long but a bit fat on the ends ;) e.g. I find it impossible to fret a mandolin cleanly and am more used to a classical guitar than say a jumbo. I guess it really does come down to trying one out. Don't know if I'll get the chance any time soon though. I guess I could try out those two at Rock Shop in Nelson and at least get an idea. But being a total newb it's hard to judge when I can't even clawhammer yet ;)
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| banjonz says:
12/29/2013 4:24:19 PM
Regardless of being a newb, still good to try them. As you are used to stringed instruments, it will give your ears a chnace to get used to the differences if anything.
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| banjonz says:
12/29/2013 4:25:04 PM
I also have largish hands so a wider fretboard really suits me.
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| primaveranz says:
12/29/2013 7:15:06 PM
One of those Saga kits just closed on TradeMe - no bids. I got a fixed price offer of $349 but declined ;)
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| NZsteve says:
12/29/2013 8:25:42 PM
Had a look at their website, and that is what they list them at, this is most likely their reserve also. I would not buy them at that price, I only use the buy now function when selling on Trademe, you dont want to undercut your website or overcharge its not a "good look". Under normal circumstances I would not buy anything from these people. If they did sell them at $230 it would be worth giving it a go.
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| primaveranz says:
12/29/2013 8:45:05 PM
Yeah I hate businesses using that "fishing" approach. I'll stick with dealing with real banjo peeps face to face (or as close as I can get) ;)
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| primaveranz says:
10/28/2014 11:36:02 PM
Well after 3 lessons with Helena Faust I had enough nerve to go into the shop and try both banjos. The Fender was horrible and the Goodtime was a little better but not much. Neither was anywhere as good as the Harmony that I have a loan of. I am think seriously about the Morgan Monroe option (if converting to open back is easy) as I have decided my fat thumb need a bit more space between strings. But is the neck longer than other jos to compensate? Because I don't really like having to span long chords.
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