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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!
7232 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: eBay Music Store
Year Purchased: 2015
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Bought this to use in a bluegrass band as a backup. Great sounding banjo (but sound is always subjective). Did nothing other than put another bridge on it - haven't "tinkered" with anything else.
Sound Rating: 8
Sounded good right out of the box. As it settles in, I may have to "tweek" a few things.
Setup Rating: 8
This one came with the traidtional Hearts & Flowers inlay which I have always liked. Mahogany neck and resonator. Seems that the neck was finished a little lighter than the resonator, but I may do a speed neck on it so it donesn't matter to me.
Appearance Rating: 8
The hardware looks great now, but time will tell ..... ask me again in a year :)
Reliability Rating: 7
Never dealt with Recording King, but I hear good things.
Customer Service: 8
The banjo is still new, so this is something that not apparent to me yet.
Components Rating: 7
Overall, seems to be a well-built good-sounding banjo.
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: eBay
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Really nice-rounded sound. Real clear ringing highs up the neck.
Sound Rating: 8
As with a lot of new banjos, I had to do a few setups. I had to shim the neck for my 11/16 bridge. I also put a four-hump tailpiece on instead of the Presto that came with it. Surprisingly, it already had spikes at the 7th, 9th and 10th frets.
Setup Rating: 6
My modle came with the old Gibson RB-12 headstock and fretboard inlay style. The maple on the neck and resonator was very highly flamed - what you would expect to see on a pro level Gibson, Stelling, Huber, Deering, etc. I was very impressed with this feature of the banjo!
Appearance Rating: 9
I was impressed with the quality of all the hardware except for the tailpiece that came on the banjo.
Reliability Rating: 8
Mine came directly from Sonny Smith as a eBay purchase - he was very nice.
Customer Service: 7
Again, I put a four-hump tailpiece on instead of the Presto that came with it, but the maple was outstanding! The wider fretboard makes playing easy, especially up-the-neck.
Components Rating: 9
Great sound and great banjo. I personally would have never thought of buying a Washburn banjo, but when I saw this one, I was intrigued by the extra-wide fretboard, so I wanted to give it a try. The fretboard is real easy on the hand – better than I expected as I’ve always been a fan of thinner fretboards. The may very well be one of the best, most affordable banjos out there today and itsw a keeper!
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: eBay
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: 950 ($US)
The sound is very loud and bright - its what you would expect from a nickel and maple banjo. Seems really responsive. Good ring up the neck as well.
Sound Rating: 9
The setup was OK, but I always go back over my banjos and set them up for me as I like a 1/2 inch bridge because of poblems I have with my right hand.
Setup Rating: 8
Maple finish - very nice flaming on the neck and resonator. The resonator is one piece which is unusual on a lower-price banjo. A few small imperfections around a couple of the inlays which was my biggest gripe with the banjo.
Appearance Rating: 8
Overall the hardware was good, but I did swap out the armrest as the one that came on it was kinda thin.
Reliability Rating: 8
I dealt directly with a dealer who called me after the sale was made. There are questions about where these banjos actuallyy came from. Some say they are built from parts taken from the Reocroding King facutory illegally, some say they are Recording King overstock parts which Recording would not take delivery of - you will need to do your own reserach and come to your own conclusion. All I know is its a really nice banjo for the price.
Customer Service: 8
Overall the hardware was good, but I did swap out the armrest as the one that came on it was kinda thin.
Components Rating: 8
Great value for a banjo thats sounds really good and you can ake anywhere!
Overall Rating: 9
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