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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!

7163 reviews in the archive.

Zachary Hoyt #30 Banjo Reviews

Submitted by nyartist (see all reviews from this person) on 12/17/2016

Where Purchased: from Zach

Year Purchased: 2016
Price Paid: Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

This is my second banjo Zach built for me. The first was 11" and this is 12" because I wanted a banjo with a sound that was complementary to the first one .This is it: I was very pleased with the woody, open and subtle sound of this banjo. I sold a 12" banjo from a well known maker to buy this one and haven't regretted it for a minute.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

Set up was fine. This time I just changed bridges but not sure it really made any noticeable difference. Banjo seems to sound good no matter what bridge I put on. Action was perfect for me - distance of the strings to the scoop.

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

A beautful banjo: brass tuners and hardware, mohogany pot and neck, no tone ring, bone nut and pip - that s scoop I love for aesthetic reasons as well as functionality. Everything looks as if Zach took super care of every step in the process of building it.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

Great hardware and Gotoh tuners..

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

There is no better maker to deal with than Zach. Responsive to emails immediately.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

Everything is top notch. There is nothing I would do to upgrade.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

The 11" banjo I have from Zach gives a brighter tone that I would call 'upbeat'.. This is exactly the sound I was hoping for in a 12" banjo. They both hang from my wall and I take turns with different songs..

Overall Rating: 10