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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!
7170 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Ebay
Year Purchased: 2017
Price Paid: 99 ($US)
Sound is muted but very good!
Sound Rating: 5
This is a basic banjo kit. Very well thought out. All parts included plus an extra string/screw/brad or two. Extremely easy to assemble. It was up and playing in two days only because I took extra time to stain and finsh otherwise it would have been done in several hours.
Setup Rating: 9
No flaws. The basic kit comes un-finished so you are able to put your own craftsmanship and personality into it. Over all length is 32 inches and head is 9.25 inches across. Ring is made from a section of cardboard concrete form tube, head is aircraft grade plywood and neck appears to be a mahogany type. Geared tuners. Nice little instruction book and youtube videos made the build easy.
Appearance Rating: 8
Suitable for a front porch jam session or hotel room solo. I plan to carry in a tennis racket bag during my travels and leave my Deering at home. Nice enough to be proud of but I won't care if it gets a little road rash.
Reliability Rating: 8
David Cross at Backyard responded within minutes to an email I sent. I had no issues with the kit so I cannot speak to service but I would bet Backyard would be responsive to any problems or questions.
Customer Service: 10
This kit is for a "basic" banjo. My need was for an affordable, nice sounding travel banjo. Getting to build it myself was just a bonus. It was a birthday present for myself and I bought one for our son for his birthday so we built them together, each putting our own personality into it. I think with minimal care I could expect to hand this down to a grandson or daughter someday.
Components Rating: 7
I was pleasantly surprised to come across these little banjo's at Backyard. I almost pulled the trigger on a $300 travel banjo but I did a little more surfing and found some great reviews on the offerings of Backyard Music. They make other types of instruments also as well as already assembled. The sound is what really got me hooked. In my opinion it is amazing the quality of sound this little banjo puts out. You don't have to be an advanced wood worker to build this kit. A little hammering, a straight and cross point screw driver, some sand paper and some glue and you are in business! Well worth a hundred bucks! My profile pic is of the two banjo's my son and I built, mine on the left.
Overall Rating: 9
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