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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!
7232 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Pisgah Banjo Company
Year Purchased: 2023
Price Paid: 2072.75 ($US)
My first opportunity to play over the neck (I got the "s scoop" option. It really is game changing. A delightful tone perfect for old time but also suited for my weird banjo covers (like 99 Red Balloons). Very warm, but that's how I like it.
Sound Rating: 10
Banjo was set up perfectly when I picked it up. Proper bridge placement and head tension.
Setup Rating: 10
I'm giving out a lot of 10's, but this is easily the most obvious 10. It's gorgeous. And it's beautiful in a practical way. You want to play it, not just display it. The persimmon fretboard has very striking spalting along it that really adds to the natural look. I opted for the non aged brass hardware. Looking forward to watching it and the cherry wood age over time.
Appearance Rating: 10
Reliability Rating: 10
I mostly emailed with Melissa at the workshop. She was friendly and prompt in her responses. When I picked it up, they seemed genuinely excited for me.
Customer Service: 10
I love that it is all native hardwood.
Components Rating: 10
I lose sleep because of this banjo. I just keep playing it. I picked it up 3 weeks ago, and (and this is not a joke) I probably average 2-3 hours a day playing it because it is so comfortable and enjoyable to play. Add to that that it's a banjo I can feel good about owning (living wage certified, all native hardwood), and it's a very exciting purchase.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Pisgah
Year Purchased: 2022
Price Paid: 2200 ($US)
(claw hammer) Rich deep sound from lowest strings to up the neck.
Sound Rating: 10
Arrived ready to play.
Setup Rating: 10
Beautiful American locally sourced hardwoods.Yes, easy on the eyes. Inlay and general craftsmanship of the highest quality.
Appearance Rating: 10
This is a banjo that I, and my children, will be playing for generations.
Reliability Rating: 10
Staff was very responsive to emails.
Customer Service: 10
Every component is highest quality (no short cuts here!)
Components Rating: 10
Pisgah Banjo are awesome banjo builders. Their attention to detail and love of the craft shine in all their instruments.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Online from Pisgah Banjos
Year Purchased: 2023
Price Paid: 1662 ($US)
The banjo sounds wonderful and has the warm, rich tone I was looking for
Sound Rating: 10
Setup Rating: 10
Beautiful walnut finish and permisson fretboard
Appearance Rating: 10
Reliability Rating: 10
Very friendly and clear service during the payment and shipping process
Customer Service: 10
Components Rating: 10
Really happy with this banjo. I started playing banjo a few years ago with a used, inexpensive Gold Tone and was ready to upgrade to something more 'permanent'. This custom version of Pisgah Possum looks and sounds great and I love playing it!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: www.pisgahbanjos.com
Year Purchased: 2022
Price Paid: 1818 ($US)
The sound of this thing is really pleasing to the ear - plunky, warm and woody with plenty of sustain and volume. It has just the right amount of brightness to balance the warmth and woodyness, really versatile. No weird overtones at all, so my habit of putting a big ol' sponge in the pot is now redundant with this banjo.
Sound Rating: 10
The banjo was shipped from the Pisgah shop to Sweden with the strings tuned down and the bridge flat against the head. The head had markings on it for bridge placement, so when tuned, the setup is fllawless. No string buzz anywhere on the fretboard, no intonation problems, the head set to about 92 throughout, and just the right string height with a 5/8" bridge.
Setup Rating: 10
This thing is a beauty! I asked for Pisgah to stain the walnut, which together with the aged brass hardware and a really uniquely figured persimmon fretboard looks really, really nice. I chose to go for a paddle shaped headstock with the quilted star inlay. All in all a clean looking, no frills banjo, which is exactly what I like.
Appearance Rating: 10
I've only had the banjo for a few days, but just by picking it up for the first time I could instantly feel how well this banjo is built. It's a tank! I can't imagine this thing not lasting for years and years.
Reliability Rating: 10
The customer service has been very good. I've been making quite a lot of changes to my initial order, and Melissa has been a true gem. I ordered my banjo in late july 2021, and was hoping to get it delivered in time for my vacation in july of 2022. Because of the turnaround being about a year, it was a really tight call though. However, I had the luck to be bumped up to an earlier batch because of a cancelled order, so I was able to get the banjo delivered in may 2022 - about 2-3 months earler than expected.
I would have loved to see some pictures of the banjo during the building process, but since they build about 350 banjos a year, it's totally understandable that it's hard to send cutomers pictures all the time, and Pisgah's instagram lets you in behind the scenes quite a bit too, so it's no biggie.
Customer Service: 9
My custom banjo is a standard sized banjo with a 12" pot, persimmon tone ring, stained walnut on neck and rim, stained cherry rim cap, aged brass hardware, a 5/8" Mulheron bridge, Fiberskyn head, black gotoh tuners and PBCO strings. It all looks and feels really great. Might experiment with changing to a renaissance head just for kicks, but right now I wouldn't change a thing.
I also ordered their banjo strap, a ren head, a banjo adjustment tool and some extra strings, all of which are great quality.
Components Rating: 10
This banjo is a keeper and a true heirloom item. I had read online somewhere that people had issues with the neck being too thick, but to me that is not an issue at all. Coming from a guitar background, this banjo suits me a lot better than my other 2 banjos (Recording King RK35 & Gold Star GE-1 prospector) - and the 1 3/8" nut width creates the perfect space between the strings. The banjo plays really, really well and it's really difficult putting it down. I usually play my other open back muted to get rid of overtones, but there's really no need for that on this one since there aren't really any overtones to think of. I love everything about it - the sound, the looks, the components - I couldn't be happier. It also feels really good supporting a company like Pisgah because of the sustainability aspects, their political standpoints and of course, their high quality banjos.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Pisgah Banjo
Year Purchased: 2021
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I like old time, picking and "grab and go". The sound is rich, nice attack with a little sustained decay. The Dobson tone ring, on persimmons and maple give this a rich beautiful sound.
Sound Rating: 10
Everything was ready to go... a slight tuning adjustment and I was off to the races!
Setup Rating: 10
Spalted Persimmons fret-board, head-stock and arm rest. Maple neck and pot. I buy and sell logs for a living, I know my wood. This maple is beautiful in color and grain consistency.
Appearance Rating: 10
This is solid and has a great feel. The tuners are great!
Reliability Rating: 10
Patrick and Melissa have been a joy to work with. I look forward to a long term great relationship with these people and this company!
Customer Service: 10
All parts are top quality and will last my life time and grand=childrens as well. My only wishlist might be a Kavanjo pick up head. It sounds so good with the head that came on it, I wish I could afford two, one with and one as is!
Components Rating: 10
I am grinning like a cheshire cat!!!
My new banjo is beautiful, solid, plays and sounds like a dream! This
easily exceeds my highest expectations!!!!
This banjo brings joy to my ear, heart and life!
#pisgahbanjos #openbackbanjo #clawhammerbanjo #banjo
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Online
Year Purchased: 2019
Price Paid: 1860 ($US)
This Banjo sounds incredible, full stop. The tonal quality is retained all the way up the neck right to my frailing scoop. I chose the persimmon tone ring because I play frailing style. I was searching for a rich but "earthy" tone. After some excellent communication, Patrick and his team guided me towards the wooden tone ring (which was cheaper). One of the distinguishing tonal qualities is the bronze 4th string. It adds such a rich bass sustain that I haven't seen elsewhere.It's something small but the devil is in the details, and this devil can play. I really love the end result which to me sounds like a beautiful instrument made to frail. People take notice of how this banjo sounds.
Sound Rating: 10
I loved almost everything about this setup. It shipped internationally and barely needed any tuning. My only complaint is a personal choice. I think the action is a bit too high. Especially for a banjo with the frailing scoop. I haven't endeavored to change this but have treated it as something to get used to. I'm not experienced enough to know if it's something to fix or something to get familiar with. Aside from that I had to adjust the height of the railroad spikes I had them install a little bit. nothing major and very easy. Aside from this it's masterfully setup.
Setup Rating: 8
This Banjo is a flat out stunner! I chose a curly maple pot and neck with a vintage head stock (which comes with a standard star inlay). I also chose a goatskin head and aged brass tuners and j hooks. The end result is a dark, sultry, vintage looking banjo that happens to be brand new. It isn't the fanciest banjo I've ever seen but it has class and looks like something that's been made to play. The design is simple, elegant, and exactly what I wanted. I've received numerous compliments and I've only owned it for a month.
Appearance Rating: 10
I can't speak too much on reliability as I've only owned it for a little over a month. However it is very sturdy and all the parts are very clearly high quality. I really like Pisgah's design for local made hardware and components. It's cool knowing every part of my banjo was made in NA and Patrick and his crew clearly are aware that all components reflect on the end product. I envision myself playing this banjo for the next several decades without a hiccup.
Reliability Rating: 10
This is truly where Pisgah Banjo's stand out heads and shoulders above the rest. The customer service I received throughout the entirety of this project was on another level. I changed my mind several times throughout the process. Usually on their recommendation, after I was able to voice my desires more clearly to them. It was an absolute joy to go through the process of getting this build to completion. This was hands down the best shopping experience I've had in my life. AND I never even had the pleasure of meeting the Pisgah crew. They were so fast in response. Let me know certain deadlines for decisions I had to make. Were VERY helpful when it came to helping me make decisions based on my opinion and their expertise.
Customer Service: 10
Build Components: 12" Curly Maple Pot and Neck. Persimmon tone ring. Richlite Neck with dots. Vintage headstock. S - Frialing scoop. Goatskin hide head. Standard tailpiece. Aged Brass Tuners and hardware.
All the Components are very clearly top shelf. The Gotah tuners are perfect and even with the aging process on them. The head is very high quality hide. Even the railroad spikes I had them installed were done to perfection with tone in mind.
Components Rating: 10
The other thing that I found incredibly well done and easy to handle was Pisgah's website. The banjo builder tool is where I started and it was so handy in helping me create my initial vision. It was definitely tweaked and adjusted as time went on but that process was also a delight with the Pisgah banjo teams assistance. It's super helpful for pricing out something that you want.
I would only add some sound bites from each of the different tone ring options as well as maybe a bigger viewing for the wood choices. However they're truly miles ahead of anything else I've seen as far as websites go.
The last thing I would mention is the Pisgah production method. I really admire them for sourcing all of their parts and wood from local and sustainable sources. Also their whole workshop is run on solar and alternative power sources. I doesn't add value to my Banjo but I really applaud them for going the extra mile in this regard.
All in all I'm over the moon delighted with my Pisgah custom banjo. If you're looking for the world's fanciest inlay crazy custom piece. Look elsewhere. But if you need a REALLY high quality sounding instrument that isn't going to break the bank... PISGAH PISGAH PISGAH!!! I added a bunch of choices that increased the price significantly but I would do it again and again. It looks SO freaking nice. I just hope one day I'll be able to do my little beauty justice and really let her sing.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Direct from PBCO
Year Purchased: 2018
Price Paid: around $1700 ($US)
Perfect nice and crisp without being too bright
Sound Rating: 10
I asked that the banjo be set at 1/10" from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the 1st string - that is exactly what arrived
Setup Rating: 10
Walnut w antique brass - very nice - the banjo has a bunch of character and the fit and finish exceeded my expectations - so much so that I ordered another one the week this one arrived. The next one is a different style
Appearance Rating: 10
I have some top notch instruments, including a Martin 00-45 and several other Martin Custom Shop guitars. I am proud to have this banjo sitting right next to them on any stage. I am also confident that this instrument can take the heat.
Reliability Rating: 10
Patrick Heavner is the owner of this 5 or 6 person shop. Every communication with him was prompt and helpful.
Customer Service: 10
I love the antique brass hardware. My recollection is that Patrick founded the company that manufactures the hardware. I would not change anything on the banjo.
Components Rating: 10
Has anyone out there tried Pisgah Banjo Co. banjos? I have been playing banjo for a few decades and was ready for a change. I had some very specific ideas about what I wanted for a new banjo, but could not find anything to fit the bill. I looked around on the web and went to some boutique shops up here in Boston. I still could not find what I wanted. I was looking for an A SCALE neck, light weight, antique looking but new, with a few other features. I saw Pisgah banjos in a couple of spots and I thought they played well, were priced reasonably and looked pretty cool, but they still didn't include all of my specs. I emailed Patrick Heavner at Pisgah and he got right back to me. We started communicating, he took all of my specs, gave further input and in less than 3 months, I had exactly the banjo I wanted. (check out the “banjo tool” on their site)
My Pisgah is absolutely perfect for what I want to accomplish. The look, feel, and right down to my 1/10” at the 12 fret spec, fits me to a T. My shoulder is loving the 23 1/2” scale too. The banjo has a Victorian peg head, a persimmon tone ring (light weight) walnut neck and rim (light weight). I like this banjo so much that a week after I received it, I ordered another Pisgah; curley maple, paddle headstock, persimmon tone ring, antique brass… - to use with nyguts. What tops it all off is that the wood used is harvested right there in Asheville where so much of this music was and is being developed. To me that is one notch higher than “made In The USA”. Most importantly, the communication with Patrick was outstanding. I find all of this to a rarity in any marketplace today. If you are looking for a banjo that is perfectly custom and reasonably priced, Pisgah Banjo Co. is the destination. I hope that this post is helpful. Mark T. Small Please visit www.marktsmall.com
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Mark has played on the bill with; Johnny Winter, Albert Lee, Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, Coco Montoya, James Cotton, John Mayall, Jimmy Thackary, Shemekia Copeland, Bettye LaVette, Marcia Ball, Toots & The Maytalls, Elmore James JR, David Lindley, Robert Cray, Savoy Brown, Charlie Musselwhite, Jonathan Edwards, Robert Randolph & The Family ... |
Overall Rating: 10
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