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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!
7225 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Eagle Music Huddersfield, GB
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: 1549,- (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Perfectly suitable for old time music, folk songs and clawhammer, beautiful and full sound. There seem to be medium gauge strings on it, haven't tried the sound with other strings or other head yet.
Sound Rating: 9
Setup was done by Eagle Music before shipping, perfectly set up for my needs. Nothing to change for the time being...
Setup Rating: 10
Pot and neck are of curly maple, flawless, look nice...moon and stars inlay on victorian headstock and scooped ebony fingerboard. No flaws.
Appearance Rating: 10
Seems to last a life...Ome gives a lifetime warranty.
I should depend on it wherever I take it.
Reliability Rating: 10
A big THANK YOU to Tanya from Ome Banjos, for swiftly answering emails and helpful advices. I ordered some spare parts directly from Ome and their customer service is great - recommended!!
Customer Service: 10
No really standout components, but no weak or cheap looking parts either...all parts seem to be of high quality i.e. Snuffy Smith compensated bridge, planetary tuners, renaissance head, spikes fitted at the 7th & 9th frets.
Components Rating: 9
Recommended!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Eagle Music (GB)
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: 369 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound is good, a bit thin perhaps for an open back...Loudness good enough to drive the neighbours crazy and to be heard among other acoustic instruments.
Sound Rating: 7
Setup was done by Eagle Music and was almost perfect, action not too low, bridge placed absolutely correct.
This banjo does not have a truss rod, only one coordinator rod, therefore it might be difficult to set the action when necessary without deforming the wooden pot.
Setup Rating: 9
Wood is mountain maple, bow tie inlays, frosted Deering head...the typical Goodtime appearance. Simple but good.
Appearance Rating: 7
Seems sturdy enough to last for a while...suitable for travel, outdor sessions etc. On a gig I should certainly have a second one around, if only for the possibility of a broken string...
Reliability Rating: 7
I once sent an email to Deering regarding strings - never got an answer, they do not seem to care...
Customer Service: 3
No standout components as the instrument is build very basic to keep the price relatively low, updates could be a no-knot tailpiece, a different head perhaps...and definitively an armrest.
The banjo has a piezo pickup, with tends to give a lot of feedback when plugged into a guitar amp. Do not know how to avoid the feedback...
Components Rating: 6
This is a good beginner`s and travel banjo, light weight, relatively easy to play and with a simple but nonetheless nice appearance.
Overall Rating: 7