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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!
7161 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased:
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid:
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I have no complaints about the sound of the banjo. It's crisp, and bright.
Sound Rating: 8
The banjo required the frets to be dressed. It was unplayable when it arrived. The tailpiece is a very flimsy presto copy and I replaced it as well.
Setup Rating: 3
It's a pretty banjo, however the pattern on the back has an issue. The "flower" in the center is great, but the circle appears to have been stenciled with a marker. There is also evident of some marker where the resonator meets the flange as if it was scuffed in shipment.
Appearance Rating: 6
Other than the tailpiece everything else looks decent. I would have no problems using it at a gig.
Reliability Rating: 7
These are distributed by Saga, and there's probably a half dozen different stories about how these banjos came to be. Warranty? No clue... I didn't see it as an issue considering the price.
Customer Service: 6
Tailpiece, tuners and armrest could stand a slight upgrade. Pot assembly is great.
Components Rating: 7
...yeah, I know, there's a crowd of you that will think I'm a bad person. I think I can handle that.
What I bought was the one that looked like the RK-60 - or Deco King.
It's not without it's issues I guess, but the price was considerably cheaper so I figured, "What the heck!"
Now, most of the RKs I've encountered in shops were ready to play right out of the box. This one was not. It required setup... and not just minor tweaking. First and foremost the frets had to be dressed. They had never been touched beyond getting put into the fingerboard. The ends were sharp, and they were by no means level. Now, I'm not extremely picky, but the frets were bad enough that it was unplayable.
I have no idea what sort of tailpiece comes on the RK-60 but the Flinthill came with a flimsy Presto knockoff. It's functional, and had I not had a real Presto handy I'd have left it alone, but I did replace it.
How's it sound? Well, it sounds quite good. It sounds like a banjo, and compared to other banjos I have it sounds a lot like another banjo.
The only really troubling visual thing about it is the design on the back. The "flower" is fine, but the circle... it looks like an afterthought put on with a marker.
Worth what I gave? Very much so, even including the tailpiece and the fret dressing.
Do I feel guilty? Nah, not really. However, after buying this one I feel like I can heartily recommend the RK banjos. Not sure if that's enough to keep me from being cast out as an unbeliever, but that's okay too.
Overall Rating: 6
Where Purchased: From Maker
Year Purchased: 1998
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Very loud, very plunky as you would expect.
Sound Rating: 9
The banjo was well set-up when it arrive, but I did make changes.
The first change was the bridge - it came with a maple bridge - I immediately made one out of pine and replaced the maple. Later I purchased a pine bridge from George Wunderlich.
The other change I made was replacing with nylon strings with real gut strings.
Both the gut strings and the pine bridge really added to the volume this banjo could put out. Pine... whodathunkit?
Setup Rating: 9
Well... it's certainly an eye catcher - especially to folks that are used to seeing modern looking banjos.
The neck is beautiful flamed maple.
Appearance Rating: 9
There's hardware? Well, there's a bit...
The hardware is brass and handmade - should last a couple or three lifetimes. :)
Reliability Rating: 9
I've never had a problem, but Mike Ramsey is a great guy and very helpful.
Customer Service: 10
My only concern with the banjo is the rim; it seems a bit heavier than an "original" instrument, but I'm convinced this rim will be extremely durable and as far as "sound" goes, I'm very happy.
Components Rating: 9
I've recommended this banjo on a number of occasions. Stolen? Perish the thought! Guess I'd have to shoot someone.
Pictures: http://webpages.charter.net/jhpankey/minstrel.htm
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Tom Nechville
Year Purchased: 1996
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
This particular banjo is very bassy. There is great separation of notes and it has just enough fuzzy overtones to keep me coming back!
Sound Rating: 9
The banjo was ready to play when I got it. It was even in tune! The 14:1 tuners along with the helimount made that possible. I later raised the action a bit.
Setup Rating: 8
The black finish is great. Easy to maintain. The banjo originally came as a Nuvo Graphite. I later traded for a more "traditional" neck.
Appearance Rating: 7
Well, truthfully that there isn't that much hardware to worry with. All seems just great! I've used it many times as my only banjo on many jobs.
Reliability Rating: 10
Tom has been very easy to deal with.
Customer Service: 10
Of course the most outstanding feature of this or any Nechville banjo is the pot assembly. No brackets, no nuts, no coordinator rods.
This banjo is a tinkerers dream. I can change the head on this banjo in less than 10 minutes without taking the strings off!
It also has a Kulesh 10 hole ring.
Components Rating: 10
One of the qualities that keeps this banjo in my arsenal is the fact that it is 30% lighter than a "regular" banjo.
See pictures here:
http://webpages.charter.net/jhpankey/nextar.htm
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Ome
Year Purchased: 1997
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Plunky. Loud.
Sound Rating: 8
When the banjo arrived here in Georgia from Boulder, CO the neck needed to have the trussrod adjusted slightly - pretty common when changing humidy in such a drastic fashion.
Setup Rating: 8
The Jubilee is rather plain with the exception of the Boucher style headstock. Inlays are dots, with moon, star and a diamond.
Appearance Rating: 7
Ome's selection of hardware is always wonderful. Tuning keys are great and everything is superior quality.
Reliability Rating: 9
Ome's customer service is very good.
Customer Service: 9
Component-wise there is nothing that I would change on this banjo.
Components Rating: not rated
This is my main clawhammer banjo. It's also my only steel-stringed old-time banjo.
To see a few pictures look here:
http://webpages.charter.net/jhpankey/jubilee.htm
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Blaylock Music
Year Purchased: 1982
Price Paid: 2650 ($US) (bought USED)
The archtop tonering in this banjo gives this banjo a very bright (punchy), tight(?) sound. It sounds great. I've recorded with this banjo on several occasions and it's always wonderful to work with.
Sound Rating: 8
The banjo was ready to play when I got it. It was Clyde Blaylock's personal banjo at the time.
Setup Rating: 9
I'll try to keep this brief - not exactly sure what sort of limits may be set for the amount of text. :)
The banjo is beautiful burled walnut with a maple cross overlay on the resonator. Every edge thinkable is bound and in most instances there is purfling. A few years ago I found purfling on the shell, but under where the resonator sits (an obvious "easter egg").
The metal parts are all hand engraved and gold plated. Inlays are of abalone and mother of pearl.
Appearance Rating: 10
I couldn't imagine ever needing to replace any hardware on this banjo. Everything is top notch! I did have to replace a lag screw in the neck (operator error). A few years ago I got around to putting 4 Keith Tuners on it. It's had several heads and has been refretted a time or two.
Reliability Rating: 9
Geoff and Sherry have always been a great help. They have answered many questions for me over the years. I consider them my friends.
Customer Service: 10
Banjo is built from the very best components available.
Components Rating: 9
This banjo was made for and owned by Ralph Stanley. There were several promotional pictures made of Ralph with this particular banjo - see Masters of the 5-String Banjo
For some pictures check out the following link:
http://webpages.charter.net/jhpankey/gospel.htm
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Gary Price
Year Purchased: 1994
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
When the banjo first arrived I disappeared for 2 days solid playing and listening to the banjo. Somewhere in the middle of the second day the banjo really opened up, and it's been that way since. It was almost as if I had changed banjos in mid-tune. I'm guessing that since this banjo had been "dormant" for so long that it just needed a "kickstart".
Sound Rating: 10
Read above - as far as I'm concerned the banjo was setup perfectly. Played great, and sounded good right out of the box.
The only changes I've made since it's initial purchase in 94 is one head one bridge and 4 Keith tuners.
Setup Rating: 9
This Price Knight has some of the best quality inlay work I've ever seen. No filler. None.
The wood Gary selected for this banjo is California Quilted Maple. Not only for the neck and resonator, but for the pot too!
Appearance Rating: 9
Hardware for this banjo is top notch. I've used this banjo on many occasions with no backup.
Reliability Rating: 9
Gary is a true gentleman. I've always been able to count on him for any of my repair and setup needs!
Customer Service: 10
This banjo uses Price's Mark V tone ring and of course his straightline tailpiece.
Components Rating: 10
Since I've owned this banjo I've hardly played anything else.
For some pictures check out the following link:
http://webpages.charter.net/jhpankey/knight.htm
Overall Rating: 9
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