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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!

7071 reviews in the archive.

Enoch: M200

Submitted by Steve Arkin on 3/6/2006

Where Purchased: Bob Smakula at Clifftop

Year Purchased: 1994
Price Paid: Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

Rich plunky tone, loud and responsive, capable of great variety depending on set up, hand position, and right hand technique, The best banjo I ever heard (except for the Enoch custom model I had Kevin build because I liked this one so much).

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

It was set up perfectly--exactly the way I like it. The most playable neck I have ever encountered and with a deep enough fingerboard scoop (which is a rarity).

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

Kevin Enoch rivals Doug Ungar in fit and finish, with the added bonus that his banjos are completely playable Round Peak style instruments and not merely replicas of historic banjos. The finish, inlay and pearl engraving, are as good as it gets.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

It's as well made as any banjo I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot of them, including three all-original pre-war Mastertones, two pre-fire Whyte Laydies and an early #9 Tubaphone, a Cole 5000, and a Chanterelle fretless.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

After 11 years of constant playing I needed a fret job and gave the banjo to Kevin during the first week of August--and got it back within 10 days. Kevin has been tremendously accoommodating and helpful.

Customer Service: 10

Components

As I said, the best neck I have ever played and the perfect rim for Round Peak style clawhammer (and all clawhammer). I also used it to play 3-finger style on the Troublesome Creek String Band CD and it sounded like a great pre-war Mastertone (only a bit quieter). I have a problem with 5 Star Planet pegs, but that goes for almost all modern pegs--they lose tension very easily (same goes for Waverleys).

Components Rating: 9

Overall Comments

I strongly recommend this banjo (and all Kevin's banjos--including the Tradesman--which is an incredible bargain). If it was stolen I would order another one and buy a Tradesman to tide me over (along with the one that wasn't stolen--since I have two of them).

Overall Rating: 10