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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!
7197 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: E-Bay
Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 149+shp ($US)
Aluminum arch top rim. Tone is bright, crisp, and not metallic. Tight head gives great Bluegrass tone, and looser for frailing. Didn't like the Remo head furnished, so changed to Ludwig, and tone is much deeper.
Sound Rating: 9
Very easy to assemble. Action is ideal. Neck is full width and comfortable Gibson profile.
Setup Rating: 9
Basically the same as early Stew-Mac kit banjo of the 70's. Very nice peg head. Without flanges, makes a nice open back. Holes drilled for dot inlays.
Appearance Rating: 7
Very good quality metal parts and mahogany wood neck and resonator.
Two-way truss rod installed.
Reliability Rating: 8
There was an error in one part and 1 thing missing. Dealer responded right away.
Customer Service: 9
Geared planet pegs and geared 5th. Armrest and tailpiece like Gibson. Neck is pre-fretted. 24 hex lugs are not as good as shoe brackets, but work OK. Gibson style hooks and nuts. Strings furnished were all wrong gauges, and bridge had too much lean.
Components Rating: 9
Very good value and easy to assemble. Some knowledge of finishing required. Exellent instruction book. Recommended for beginning builder.
It's very responsive to the touch and a pleasure to play.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Grizzly Industrial
Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 159.00 ($US)
Nice, plunky old timey tone with replaced Fiberskyn 3 head.
Sound Rating: 8
Easy to finish and assemble.
Setup Rating: 6
Looks like a nice old time open back.
Appearance Rating: 6
Has planetary pegs and geared fifth, rosewood FB with truss rod. Nice frets with binding.
Reliability Rating: 8
NA
Customer Service: not rated
Mahogany neck and pot veneer. Pot is 3/8
Components Rating: 6
Not a very good value, as a fully playable Rover is less money.
Overall Rating: 6
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