All Banjo Reviews (By Submitter)

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Banjo Reviews

Review Categories

Most Recent

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!

7170 reviews in the archive.

Gibson: Earl Scruggs Standard

Submitted by 62mapleTone on 3/9/2011

Where Purchased: Curtis McPeake

Year Purchased: 2003
Price Paid: 2500 ($US)

Sound

A great bluegrass banjo; curly maple neck, maple rim and the prewar re-issue tone ring gives this banjo an deep, complex, crackling tone. Once I got it set up I was pleased with the sound. Although it sounds clear, it sometimes seems harsh when playing up the neck, however that is partly due to old strings, which is my bad.

Sound Rating: 8

Setup

I bought it used from Curtis McPeake's website; it arrived well setup, nice action and no issues. After about 1.5 years I got it set up at a local music store. No fret buzz or any other issues, however I have played banjos with nicer, easier necks.

Setup Rating: 8

Appearance

I love the appearance of this banjo. Everything from the curly maple neck, the tobacco sunburst, the ebony fret board, the traditional peg head style... it's a great looking banjo. the only reason I don't give it a 10 for appearance is it's not my favorite inlay pattern.
I've kept it in the case when not playing and I have polished it with Mother's compound which was a fair amount of work, but great results

Appearance Rating: 9

Reliability

I've played it for 8 years and aside from a little fret wear, it has been trouble free.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I bought it used.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

Quality components that you would expect on a banjo in this price range.
I changed out the Presto style tail piece for a Kershner style which I liked better because it was adjustable and heavier.

Components Rating: 9

Overall Comments

This banjo has served me well. It was my first pro level banjo and I named it 'Curly'. It has a deep tasty low end and a great crackly maple tone; great appearance. My only complaint would be the playability of the neck, and the responsiveness of the instrument compared to my Bishline, and some harshness of tone, which again is less noticeable with new strings.

Overall Rating: 8

Bishline: Salty Dog

Submitted by 62mapleTone on 3/9/2011

Where Purchased: Banjo Hangout

Year Purchased: 2011
Price Paid: 1700 ($US)

Sound

Bright, responsive, round/ balanced tone. I'm used to maple banjos, so I'm not as crazy about the low end, or the absence of that crackle you get with a maple banjo. I occasionally play clawhammer and I don't like the tone as much for that style, however the quality of this instrument is excellent and I don't want to put it down. It is louder than my Gibson ESS, and more responsive.

Sound Rating: 9

Setup

The setup is pretty much perfect. I'm not planning on changing a thing. It seems like my playing has cleaned up with this banjo, which I must applaud.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

This model has a very unique look, with the bones inlay and the dog on the peg head. It has a gorgeous finish and the detail is very high quality. I personally like ebony fret boards, and black binding (the Salty Dog has a rosewood fret board and white binding), but the way this banjo plays and sounds is winning me over.

Appearance Rating: 9

Reliability

The quality seems top notch, I have only had the banjo for a couple months, but I'm confident it will hold up. I've gig'd with it a few times now, with no issues except the 5th string popping out of the spike a couple times, but that hasn't happened for weeks now, and it's an easy problem to fix.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I bought it used, however I have spoke to Rob on the phone and he was very nice, helpful and knowledgeable. He really seems to want to satisfy his customers. He's a great banjo player and a great banjo builder. I'd rather buy a banjo from a guy who plays banjo and puts his name and warranty right on the instrument, then from some random assembly line somewhere.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

I'm pleased with all the components, except I may change out the Presto style tail piece, since it's not adjustable that I can tell.
Snuffy Smith bridge, excellent!
I think it has a stock, Bishline tone ring which sounds fine to me, but I would be curious to hear it with a different tone ring, I'm guessing it would be splitting hairs to tell the difference.

Components Rating: 9

Overall Comments

I got a great banjo for a great price and I'm really happy. I look forward to playing this banjo more and growing with it. It is very responsive to how you want to play it, be it driving hard, or more gently. It seems very well suited to scruggs style bluegrass, which is mostly what I play. It also sounds good on melodic style fiddle tunes. I occasionally play clawhammer and I don't like the tone as much for that style, compared to a maple banjo, still the Mahogany has a classic tone. I would buy another Bishline in a heart beat; great banjos, especially for the price.

Overall Rating: 10