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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!
7228 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Mikes Mute (online)
Lowers volume - but changes tone too. and not volume adjustable. However, easy to use, but for muting I still prefer stuffing my banjo.
Overall Rating: 7
Where Purchased: Buffalo Bro. Guitars
Year Purchased: 2008
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I play a blues/rock/jazzy/old-timey melange. This Ome has a great sound for my style of playing - Bright with clarity - has some growl, yet sweet with sustain. (I was not looking for a traditional bluegrass sound - or a traditional old-timey woody plunk) The 12" pot adds depth to the low end. I am told it's sound can be compared to the old B & D SilverBell banjos. (this Ome model has a "SilverBell" style tone ring.)
Sound Rating: 10
Setup was excellent right off. Action was fine - medium. I have not made changes - save for tweaking the head tightness, and raising/lowering the tailpiece angle - depending on my particular tuning.
Setup Rating: 10
Lovely maple banjo with pretty Primrose inlay pattern. The metal parts are chrome plated.
Appearance Rating: 10
Seems very solid. Double rods in the back. after one year steady playing - no problems. I tighten the head, a little, about once a month.
Reliability Rating: 10
Have not really needed anything yet - but Ome is a very small friendly company and have promptly answered a few questions I had - with e-mail, and also over the phone. Lifetime warranty.
Customer Service: 10
My Ome is a custom open back model. I ordered a radius fingerboard, 12" pot. Chrome metal parts. Renaissance head. Nothing needs to be upgraded. It also came with a radius Snuffy Smith bridge to match the fingerboard. I really like the Harp tailpiece that's very easy to adjust - a "floating" design. The chrome tone ring is based on the B&D SilverBell banjos of the 1920-30s.
Components Rating: 10
This banjo is a champ. I love it. - suits me in every way. I ordered custom - mainly because of the radius fingerboard. I also like the chromed metal. The 12" pot works that bottom end, which is a plus, as I often tune the banjo a step lower than standard tunings. After playing it daily for a year - I think this is a lifetime banjo.
If I think of a one word to characterise this banjo: "Responsive." It is more capable of shifting from quiet sweet subtlety - to brash popping clang - depending on how you pick it - than any banjo I have encountered.
Overall Rating: 10
Paul worked on setting up and also repairing several of my banjos - and did an excellent of whipping them into shape - and at resonable cost. In particular, my Buckmaster banjo had severe neck problems that Paul repaired (see my Buckmaster banjo review). I feel fortunate that I live close to such a talented, skillful luthier.
Overall Rating: 10