DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device.
Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher.
Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more.
Premier Sponsors
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!
7198 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Direct from Rob
Year Purchased: 2007
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
This banjo has 'the sound' I had only heard before on recordings. Note separation down the neck is exceptional. I especially love the poppy tone when playing up the neck...brilliant for back up. The highs are bell like and the lows full and rich without being muddy. Big variety of tone possible depending how and where you pick the strings. The sound really is getting better and better every time I pick up this banjo.
Sound Rating: 10
Intonation perfect. Neck relief needed a slight tweak because of a little fret buzz and that extra forward bow was easily achieved on the super smooth truss rod. Action was too low for my preference. I discussed this via email and Frank sent me a 11/16 Sosebee bridge to replace the 5/8 bridge fitted, at no charge to me. This put the action exactly where I wanted it without having to adjust cooordinator rods. Perfect!
Setup Rating: 9
This banjo has exceptional fit and finish. It is a custom instrument in that it has fingerboard and inlays from Rob's standard Classic model but the neck and resonator are those fitted to the standard Cardinal model. The burl walnut resonator veneer has to be seen to be believed! the neck is laminated walnut, beautifully put together. I especially like the various layers of walnut, ebony and???? which make up the headstock. the finish and attention to detail are virtually flawless.
Appearance Rating: 10
I specified all American hardware for this banjo. I have no worries about durability or reliability. The finish appears to be bomb proof.
Reliability Rating: 10
Dealing with Rob, Frank and Andy has been a total joy. All my questions before ordering were answered very quickly and thoroughly by Frank or Rob. While the banjo was being built Andy kept me informed of progress, including a short video and many photographs. When ready to ship we even discussed how the banjo was to be packed. I cannot think of any other major purchase ( including my house and car ) to beat this one for being made to feel so very special as a customer.
Customer Service: 10
Tony Pass ( Bishline ) thin skirt rim, Kulesh Big10 tone ring, Waverley tuners, Fults 1934 tailpiece, Ameritage Deluxe case. Just all top of the tree components and no upgrades needed. The laminated walnut neck, as well as being beautiful to look at, provides a very stable platform.
Components Rating: 10
As well as my Bishline, I own and play Deering, Stelling and Ome banjos. None of them are slouches but my Walnut Classic does everything better than they do! This is an exceptional instrument and exceptional value for money. Rob, Frank and Andy are also front runners when it comes to looking after customers. I cannot recommend the whole package highly enough. I will be buying another Bishline banjo.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Resound UK
Year Purchased: 2006
Price Paid: 3250 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
On first arrival, the sound had everything I wanted, being rich, clear, well balanced and with plenty of volume and projection. But, the banjo had to go back straight away for a neck replacement.....cracks had appeared either side of the 5th peg. On its return, it had lost all its great tones sounding weak, thin and very ordinary. No amount of my tweaking could restore what was lost.
Sound Rating: 6
When the banjo arrived the second time it was unplayable because the 5th string nut was cut too deeply and had to be shimmed underneath. Otherwise, set up was OK but I tried lots of head tension/tailpiece height and action adjustments attempting to get that great tone back.
Setup Rating: 7
On first arrival it looked beautiful, with its half gold hardware, curly maple neck, abalone inlays, tortoise binding and 'massif' resonator. At the first head tension adjustment gold began flaking off some of the nuts. After maybe 3 months some of the gold plated hooks started showing patches of tarnish and this fairly quickly deteriorated to the extent that several hooks were nickel or even copper coloured. After about 6 months I became concerned that the back of the headstock and neck were beginning to 'ripple' with the changes in maple figuring pattern. I then found that the neck was cracked again at the 5th peg.
Appearance Rating: 5
From the start I found it almost impossible to hold tuning. In my opinion the neck was very flexible and easily moved up, down, from side to side and the headstock twisted with very light finger pressure. The supplied case did not support the banjo correctly, allowing the headstock to rest on the bottom of the case, distorting the neck. The banjo could also rattle around in the case. I had to stuff a rolled cloth under the neck at the pot end to minimise this. The 5th peg came out on a number of occasions. In my opinion, the 5th peg installation was poor in that the hole diameter was too small. This caused the peg to protrude exposing approx. 8mm of tapered spline. Because of this, the peg was barely tight, but more seriously, was capable of acting as a neck splitting wedge, given that only 40% of the peg's splined shaft was in the neck, exaggerating leverage under string tension.
Reliability Rating: 4
I reported all my problems to Resound and to Jaroslav Prucha as they occurred. I supplied back up photos. Resound arranged for their luthier to visit in the Autumn of 2006 and assess the problems. He supported everything I was unhappy about and issued a report backing up my claim, by then, for a refund. After some months of negotiation between Resound and Prucha, I returned the banjo to Prague in January 2007 and I have been fully refunded by Resound. My customer service rating reflects my opinion of Resound, not Prucha Bluegrass Instruments
Customer Service: 10
In my opinion there were serious problems with the standard of gold plating, the 5th peg installation, the stability and appearance of the neck and the suitability of the case supplied
Components Rating: 5
I ordered this banjo unseen based on the high reputation of the builder and all the excellent reports. I spent many hours researching and travelled 1000 miles to try out two other Prucha banjos. I waited 4 months for original delivery and a further 2 months for the first neck replacement. The banjo has finally gone back 15 months after ordering. I thought I was buying my 'banjo for life'. To say I'm disappointed and disenchanted would not even come close.
Overall Rating: 5
