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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!
7202 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Bonners,Eastborne
Year Purchased: 2023
Price Paid: 349 (UK £)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Quite loud and similar to Deering Goodtime 2
Sound Rating: 8
Bonners did a good job it has quite a low action - 2 mm at the twelfth fret but no string buzz anywhere. This action suits me very well because it makes the instrument very playable. It seemed a bit too brassy but then I realised that the tail piece tip was touching the head so I backed it off so that it was around 1.5 mm clear and that improved the mellow tone and improved the sound of the base D string considerably. I have told Bonners this.
Setup Rating: 8
A very smart lookin banjo for the price, soft finshed natural maple coloured neck and resonator, al metal well chromed.
Appearance Rating: 9
I really don't have enough knowledge to comment in this area as I am a novice.
Reliability Rating: 6
Bonners have a good reputation developed over 50 years. The makers are Stentor, a British company that designed the instrument which was subsequently made to a high standard in China. Stentor have been in the "strings" business for over 100 years.
Customer Service: 10
Remo head as might be expected, truss rod and single co-ordinator. Rolled brass tone ring and laminated maple shell.
Components Rating: 9
Others have commented that it has a great and loud tone for such a reasonable price and I love it. I have recently discovered that it is constructed of the same materials and in the same high quality factory in China as the Goldtone BG150F. Who copied who I have no idea but don't turn your nose up, the Chinese have been making stringed instruments for at least 2000 years.
Overall Rating: 8
