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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!
7203 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Eric Prust
Year Purchased: 2008
Price Paid: 270 ($US)
I play clawhammer and just love the sound of this banjo. It has a warmth and richness that seems to come from deep in the earth, the reality of things, the good and the true.
Sound Rating: 10
Eric sent three bridges of varying heights to accommodate the variations in the tension of the calfskin head, recommending the middle height, which I used and haven't had reason to change in two months of spring weather. The playability has been excellent thus far, perhaps a bit high as you go up the neck, but this may be a characteristic of fretless banjoes. I should mention this is my first fretless.
Setup Rating: 9
Though no one will say this is a highly finished banjo, it is still a beauty in my eyes, and everybody I've shown it to seems to love the look of this banjo. The calfskin head looks like a piece of the sky, and the maple neck is very nicely figured. Yes, there is a rough hewn quality to it, but I like that. It's real. It's not trying to be anything more than what it is. And the sound and feel are what matter most.
Appearance Rating: 10
I think this banjo will surely outlast me, provided I don't run over it with a truck. I hope my children and grandchildren will love it as I do. I think they will.
Reliability Rating: 10
Eric and Donna deserve beyond a 10 here. I didn't think there was anyone on the planet who still did business this way. First of all, communication with them was excellent. You tell them what you want, they make it and send photos. If you like the photos, they ship the banjo, well packed, but they won't take money until you receive the banjo and are satisfied with it. There's a level of honesty and trust here that you just can't find anymore. I can't praise them enough.
Customer Service: 10
Eric has chosen the components well. Everything seems as it should be on a replica of a Civil War era banjo. When I play this banjo, I know I'm playing something real, made by a real human being, with a big heart. The music benefits, believe me.
Components Rating: 10
I absolutely recommend this banjo if you are looking for a Civil War era replica that sounds terrific, plays terrific, and has the look and feel of the ages.
Overall Rating: 10
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