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!
7231 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Elderly Instruments
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: 975 ($US)
I've been playing bluegrass banjo for 28 years. This banjo is a real departure for me. I've just started to learn some clawhammer banjo. I don't really have knowledge of the vocabulary to describe open-back banjo tone. This banjo has a Bacon-style tonering without the internal resonator. I would say the tone leans toward the "bright" end of the clawhammer tone spectrum -- it is sufficiently "plunky" for my bluegrass ears. I like the way it sounds.
Sound Rating: 9
Setup was excellent. I purchased the banjo long distance, but the folks at Elderly had pencil marks on the head to help with correct bridge placement. I've made no setup changes. If I ever need to, I'll need some help. The neck attachment is with a dowel-stick - I'm used to coordinator rods.
Setup Rating: 9
It's a beauty. Flamed maple, two-piece neck, there's a thin ebony or rosewood strip (maybe it's not even wood) where the two pieces are joined. The peghead face and heelcap are ebony. Maple rim with rosewood cap. The maple is unstained with a non-glossy lacquer finish. Grained ivoroid-bound ebony fretboard. Engraved MOP position markers (diamond-shaped) with the Ramsey shooting star at the 5th fret. Ramsey states the peghead inlay is an engraved dragon - actually it's their interpretation of the old Fairbanks mythic lion's head. The banjo has a frailing scoop.
Appearance Rating: 10
The hardware is nickel-plated. It seems slightly more susceptible to tarnish than the plating on my Deering Hartford. The Deering is a year older than the Ramsey and has basically been exposed to the same conditions. The top edge of the rim on the Ramsey showed some tarnish this summer which required attention.
Reliability Rating: 7
I've had no dealings with Chanterelle. Elderly Instruments are always great to deal with. The banjo has a 5-year warranty.
Customer Service: 9
Tuners (5-Star) are top quality. Buttons are cream colored plastic - Ramsey's specs indicate ivoroid - don't know what happened there.
No-knot tailpiece.
I added a Vega-style armrest.
Has a Fiberskyn head - considering a change to Renaissance due to the rave reviews out there, but like the tone of the Fiberskyn just fine.
Components Rating: 9
Great banjo for the price - highly recommended. If it was stolen, I'd probably get another Chanterelle (might opt for the Tubaphone pot with Bacon model inlays). I like it alot.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Sonny Osborne
Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 3850 ($US)
Updated: 5-18-09 - I've owned this banjo for 5 years now. It is the best! It just keeps getting better.
I play Scrugg's style BG banjo. This banjo was designed by Sonny Osborne (and built by Frank Neat) to be as close a copy as could be made of his 1934 Gibson Granada. IMO, this banjo has got THE sound. Amazing sustain up-the-neck, and a monster 4th string. As close to a pre-war as I'm ever going to get (or need).
Sound Rating: 10
This banjo was set up just the way I like it. Action was at 5/32" at the 12th fret. The only change I've made is the strings...I use Bill Keith bronze (11, 22, 15, 11, 11). Feb 5, 05 - I switched to Bill Keith stainless (same guages) - I like the tone of these alot better. In June 2005, I switched back to the GHS strings (Sonny's set - 11, 22, 13, 12, 11) that came with the Chief. Much better. May 2007 - I switched to the GHS JD Crowe Stage set (10, 20w, 12, 11, 10) that I've been using on my Neat Kentucky. April 2009 - I've switched back to original equipment - GHS (Sonny Osborne - 11, 22, 13, 12, 11). I like the heavier strings on this banjo.
Setup Rating: 10
It's a beautiful banjo. I really don't care much for gold-plating, but I've gotten used to it. The hearts & flowers inlay is perfect. Rosewood fingerboard, curly maple neck and resonator, great sunburst finish. The finish is removed from the back of the neck on the Chief - great feel. The neck on this Chief (#82) has the least amount of "curl" of any Chief that I've seen. That's the only appearance disappointment with this banjo.
Appearance Rating: 9
So far, so good. Have used it without a backup from day one. In fact, just sold my Stelling Bellflower Top-tension. I think the Chief will last.
6/1/06 - The Chief is more than holding its own...gets better every day.
6/10/08 - More of the same...a very good banjo.
5/18/09 - 5 years and it's never let me down.
Reliability Rating: 10
Sonny was extremely helpful/friendly during the purchase process. No need for repair or other service so far.
I attended the NashCamp Fall Banjo Retreat in 2006 and took my Chief and the Mahogany Neat banjo that I purchased in June '06. I asked Frank Neat to give the Chief the 'once-over' and he replaced the first four frets. He refused to take any money for it. Now, that's customer service.
Customer Service: 10
Everything is top quality. The Blaylock tonering is said to be just like a Sonny's original (gold-plating over copper flashing). 5-star tuners, Cox rim & resonator, pearl nut and 5th-string nut. The Chief comes with a Calton Deluxe case, an Elliott capo - designed just for the Chief, and a Dogwood Designs strap.
5/18/09 - I'm in the process of swapping out the original tuners with Keith Tuners (not the D-tuners). No problem with the original equipment, but I have Keith tuners on my Neat Kentucky and I like them better.
Components Rating: 10
This is a great banjo, and worth every penny. If it was stolen, I'd have to get another. I love it - the tone is IT - and it's purty.
5/18/09 - Still the best.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Elderly Instruments
Year Purchased: 2001
Price Paid: 2069 ($US)
Loud, rich/full sound. The Grenadillo wood tonering gives this banjo a "vintage" tone (sounds good and old) - to my ears anyway.
Check out the review of my Stelling Bellflower Top-Tension.
Sound Rating: 10
Excellent setup. The guys at Elderly do a great
job. Action is 1/8" at the 12th fret. I haven't made any changes (none required).
Setup Rating: 10
This banjo is too beautiful for words. Flamed
maple (neck and resonator) stained a rich brown. Hand rubbed finish - great vintage look - not glossy. Inlays are
described as "Steamboat Gothic." Very elaborate, multi-color pearl headstock inlay. Unique inlays at frets 1, 8&9 (inlay covers 2 frets), and 21&22. Small pearl dots at the "usual" frets.
Appearance Rating: 10
So far so good. The finish on the wood is described above. Nickel plating on the metal parts is flawless. I'm trying to do my part - diligently wiping the plated parts down after each use - to hopefully prevent (or at least delay) tarnish.
Reliability Rating: 10
Deering has been great to deal with...so have the
folks at Elderly Instruments.
Lifetime manufacturer's warranty. Elderly has a 90-day to one year new instrument warranty in addition to the manufacturer's.
Customer Service: 10
Excellent components.
This banjo has a wooden tonering - Granadillo
wood - same wood used on marimbas. Amazing
tone!! It also has a zinc flange...makes for a very
light banjo...probably 6 or 7 pounds lighter than my
Stelling. It's said that because of the wooden
tonering, the Hartford will "play in" like a violin (become louder and develop more presence the more it is played).
Components Rating: 10
Well worth the money. It doesn't sound like a pre-
war Gibson or a Stelling, so it's probably not for
everyone, but it's perfect for me. I love the sound
(loud, not clangy, lots of mid-range), and the great
vintage look. It's a unique banjo, and has all ready
become my favorite.
I'd have to say my 21+ year old Stelling is a much
more "modern" banjo - and it has never let me down - but I'm really liking the Deering.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Direct from Manuf. (when Stelling in Calif.)
Year Purchased: 1980
Price Paid: 1475 ($US)
Classic Stelling sound. Powerful, Loud, Bright, Kick-Butt sound! Can be somewhat brittle sounding, if you dig in real hard.
Check out the review of my Deering Hartford model, too!
Sound Rating: 10
Setup was excellent at time of purchase. Action was low-to-medium. I replaced the orig. bridge with an 11/16 Stelling bridge.
Setup Rating: 9
It's a beauty...Black walnut, gloss finish, standard Bellflower inlays (Geoff Stelling's version of Hearts & Flowers). In 1980, Bellflowers had a bound headstock, which I really like. No custom work on this banjo. The fingerboard on this banjo is made of a synthetic material - Ebonol - which Stelling used from late '77 through Aug. '80. Mine looks like wood - have had no problems with it. The banjo arrived with one flaw... the pearl in one of the hearts in peghead inlay is broken (I assume during the inlay process) - the pieces were just inlaid in broken form into the peghead. The hardware has (after 21 years) tarnished quite a bit. In addition, a portion of the flange is heavily oxidized - the result of the way I've stored the strap.
Appearance Rating: 9
It has lasted...like I said some oxidation/tarnish on the metal - some places on the resonator where the rivets on my jeans have left some dents.
Reliability Rating: 10
They were very friendly during the order/purchase time. Have not had to have repairs or service. Have run into Geoff Stelling at festivals doing field service on banjos, and he has always been friendly and helpful. Manufacturer's warranty was 2 years.
Customer Service: 10
5-Star pegs, Stelling's unique approach to tone-ring/rim fit accounts for the powerful Stelling sound. Also, the nut is compensated for intonation. No upgrading necessary.
Components Rating: 10
You couldn't get a new Stelling for what I paid for this one. Stellings are worth what you have to pay for them. If this banjo were stolen, I'd replace it with a Stelling - the hard part would be deciding which model. I love it...especially the sound and looks. I had a 1976 Gibson RB-250 when I bought
the Stelling. The Gibson sounded great. The Stelling sounds great, is prettier than the Gibson. My new Deering Hartford is prettier than either one.
Overall Rating: 10
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
