Submitted by ChrisCoelho (see all reviews from this person) on 7/20/2022

Where Purchased: Direct from Pisgah

Year Purchased: 2022
Price Paid: c. 2000 ($US)

Sound

I find the instrument excellent in every way. As a fellow who only buys luthier instruments, I'd call it a masterpiece. Not merely a thing of beauty with perfect craftsmanship, but as an instrument of music, it's quite an achievement. Here's what I thought:

I wasn't expecting the banjo to be so loud. But it's got a huge sound, even absent a resonator. I've had to cut my nails back and eschew steel picks entirely in this learning phase so as not to blow myself away with the bigness. Likely I'll never use picks on it, though clearly I could, there being ample space for it between and beneath the strings.

I was also amazed at how easy the action was. I was expecting some unpleasantness with the transition (on guitar I play nylon strings on nails mostly) but I was shocked to find a natural, easy, properly spaced action adequate for thumb plus two or thumb plus three, just as natural as water. A great action. Best I've had on anything other than a classical. And quite a lot of dynamic capability nonetheless. Only one tiny blister on the right hand that didn't even hurt, and nothing at all on the left! It's got to be the most forgiving steel-stringed instrument I've ever played, whether of guitar or zither type.

I'd read that one can expect an open-back banjo to have a mellower, more chocolately flavor than one with a resonator, and so it seems. Nevertheless I do find plenty of very characteristic nature-sounds right there whenever one wants them. Oh there's clean, bright melody enough all over the fingerboard. But the hard-hitting, evocative, nature sounds that really give the banjo its unique voice are readily accessed with obvious techniques. Ducks in the water. Bullfrogs at night. The bark of a hound. The chirp of the squirrels. I had never really heard those things in the banjo before, but having an instrument in your hands opens the ears, and I recognize them all now as essential evocations in the banjo. They're all loud and clear on this instrument.

When I first tuned it up and began playing on it, my wife responded to the tone immediately. Her reaction was the equivalent of a crowd whispering "oooooooh..." when a gymnast performs some astonishing feat. What more praise can a luthier demand? Well, over these thirty years, Alice has listened to me play, compose, and arrange for every kind of guitar, autoharp, keyboard instrument, and sax, and she says this banjo's her favorite by far.

I find the additional bass string very natural. No issues adapting there. And it's loud and clear enough all over first position. I guess I was expecting it to be a bit thunky when fretted. It isn't.

The instrument can only be described as a masterwork. Its ease of play, variety of tone, natural ergonomics, characteristic sounds, and visual attracrtiveness draw you in and make you delight in becoming your own first teacher. Crappy instruments just don't do that.

Great banjo, great experience, more fun than you can have at a Baptist picnic.

If the open back's what you need -- and a lot of you out there know you do -- go to Pisgah and get it done. You'll be very, very glad you did.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

Perfect setup. Incredibly easy action. Beautiful loud response. Will change nothing.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

Gorgeous. Cherry and persimmon; there's a bit of gray in the persimmon that gives the banjo a distinctive aura. Never seen that wood on an instrument, looks great. Grains are very fine.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

Rugged, well built, well finished, excellent craftsmanship. Seems like it will last forever, and yes, I'd bring it without a backup for sure.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

Excellent. Responsive, friendly, helpful, generous with time.

Customer Service: 10

Components

No cheap parts. No weak parts. Even the tuning pegs are of a very high quality. The neck is a thing of beauty and the aged brass is perfect.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

Glad I went to Pisgah.  To have an instrument like this for the small price Pete asks is incredibly awesome.  I'll play many thousands of hours on it, I can already tell.

Overall Rating: 10