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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!

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Zachary Hoyt 17 fret tenor Banjo Reviews

Submitted by KingStudent (see all reviews from this person) on 6/17/2014

Where Purchased: custom order

Year Purchased: 2014
Price Paid: Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

Sound is excellent, characteristic of 17-fret tenors. Punchy, loud, but still warm and enjoyable.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

I asked for a specific action (~3/32" @ 12th fret) and it was set up exactly for that. No changes except tightening the head a little. Strings were dead center on the neck, all very good.

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

This is a block rim, not sure of the woods. Fretboard is jatoba or "Brazilian Cherry," very nice. Simple appointments, dot markers etc., no headstock inlay, but nice looking nonetheless.

Appearance Rating: 8

Reliability

Very solidly built, excellent connection of neck to pot (dowel stick), no issues, I expect it to last.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

Zach was great to work with, good communication, very efficient.

Customer Service: 10

Components

Parts are all good; I asked for a simple no-knot tailpiece etc. so nothing fancy.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

Overall this is a very nice 17-fret tenor, simply but effectively fulfilling the possibilities of its design (which was after all very popular in the 1920's & 30's). Solidly built from good woods and parts, exactly according to my requests. Nice job.

Overall Rating: 9