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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!
7200 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased:
Year Purchased: 2022
Price Paid: $970 ($US)
This is the second banjo I have had Zach make. I purchased an 11" laminated red maple rim and had Zach make a3 piece red maple walnut neck with curly walnut on the peghead face and the heel. This is a 17 fret tenor tuned GDAE. I play Irish and Old Time. The open back banjo has no tone ring. The sound is mellow but crisp with good sustain. It is quite loud. The workmanship is impeccable.
Sound Rating: 10
The setup was as spcified. The bridge is 11/16", but has room to go down to a . 656". Strings on the bridge are spaced ½".
Setup Rating: 10
The contrast of the straight grain soft maple with dark, highly figured walnut is striking. The hickory fretboard is centered so the grain cathedrals are in the center and face up and down the neck. The simple Tru-Oil finish is even. The overall appearance is simple, but beautiful.
Appearance Rating: 10
Fit and finish of all parts looks good. I'm sure they will outlast me. I had Zach use stainless frets, and the ones on my first banjo show no wear.
Reliability Rating: 10
Zach is very easy to work with. He is very polite and quite friendly. Whenever I visit, he takes time to show me around and answer all my questions. I wish all young folks today were as friendly, polite, and knowledgeable. I wish there was a 10++ rating.
Customer Service: 10
No tone ring. Zach formed a ring on the end of the rim.
Components Rating: 10
My first banjo from Zach looks just like this one, but has a Whyte Laydie tone ring. It sounds wonderful playing Irish tunes. I wanted something lighter that I could use in campgrounds without angering the neighbors.
All in all, this is much more banjo than I could hope for.
Overall Rating: 10
