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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!
7234 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Ordered from Vance Banjos
Year Purchased: 2015
Price Paid: 2800 ($US)
Ordered a "woodie", so Colin used a rosewood tonering... and asked for a slightly deeper and thinner pot, which i got, and the sound is just what i wanted.
Sound Rating: 10
Ready to go!
Setup Rating: 10
Claro walnut and ebony with flamed maple binding/trim... finish is exceptional, but the large peghead with the "KingFisher" inlay is absolutely stunning!
Gotoh tuners... aged brass and a Vance bridge... it's all good.
Appearance Rating: 10
Reliability Rating: 10
This my THIRD custom from Colin... so... 'nuff said.
Customer Service: 10
Colin added a matching walnut armrest which is contoured and super comfortable... and tunneled the 5th string (gratis)! i really do appreciate those "touches".
Components Rating: 10
Not much more to say other than i would enthusiastically recommend Colin Vance to anyone looking to invest in a custom, which will last a lifetime and bring great enjoyment. The wait is well worth it. Colin really strives to understand what you desire both from an aesthetic and sonic perspective. He is a true artisan in every sense of the word.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased:
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: 2350 ($US)
All the tones are there... low - mids - highs... good volume and sustain... full, rounded notes.
Sound Rating: 10
The action was reasonably low just as received from Colin... well setup.
Setup Rating: 10
Stunning banjo... exceptional (wow factor) inlay on the peghead (Saguaro cactus)... unadorned mesquite fretboard and trim... merbau rim compliments it... and a very cool snakewood binding.
Glass-like finish... translucent skin head... aged brass hardware... a banjo you just want to pick up and play.
Appearance Rating: 10
This banjo, like my other Vance feels rock solid... and should last n' last with reasonable care. The dowel is really stout... as well as a visual plus.
Reliability Rating: 10
Colin is super friendly and responsive... very personable... a pleasure to work with.
Customer Service: 10
Aged brass hardware... GoToh tuners with ebony buttons... it's all good.
Components Rating: 10
Could not be any happier with this Vance 11" Dobson... love it!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: The Hangout Classifieds
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: 3100 ($US)
Honduran rosewood tone ring...produces incredible sound... more volume than expected... full... but bright as well... should cover a range of tunes just fine.
Sound Rating: 10
Haven't changed a thing... excellent string height for clawhammer. The neck is a tad wider than I am accustomed, but would only be an issue for someone with quite small hands.
Setup Rating: 10
I'd give it a 10+... Jason has to be among the best luthiers on the planet... impeccable finish and detail... superb inlay... and he has developed his own "aged" custom hardware and bridge.
Appearance Rating: 10
Based on a resonator model i currently own... i would dare say this banjo will last for generations.
Reliability Rating: 10
Lifetime warranty... and Jason could not be nicer.
Customer Service: 10
This banjo is top shelf in every department... the epitome of the art.
Components Rating: 10
I was fortunate to buy this banjo from someone who had ordered it... waited 18 months... but had developed a physical condition prevented him from being able to play it. I purchased it the day it was in the Classifieds!
Jason extended the warranty to me as the "original owner". The banjo is a claro walnut with ziricote fingerboard and trim... with a fanciful "day to night" inlay from peghead... to frailing scoop. It sounds as good as it looks... and it looks fantastic.
A Romero banjo is a great investment!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased:
Year Purchased: 2011
Price Paid: 2250 ($US)
Mellow full "rounded" sound with the tu-ba-phone TR... still experimenting with different bridges and undecided on best overall at this point. Colin fashioned me a nice compensated ebony bridge at my request... but i'm not sure it was the best choice... although i still go back to it on occasion.
Update 03/12... I just installed a Romero maple bridge and it now sounds just as i had hoped!
Sound Rating: 10
Setup Rating: 9
Impeccable fit and finish... the custom inlay that i specified is very special indeed.
Appearance Rating: 10
Well crafted, to say the least... built to last!
Reliability Rating: 10
Colin could not be better to work with... very satisfied in all respects.
Customer Service: 10
Colin's strengths are his artistic abilities and pure craftsmanship... i absolutely love the neck on this banjo... wonderful "playability". All the metal parts are "blued" which eliminates tarnish and gives it a vintage look and the tuners are Gotoh i believe, and are precise.
Components Rating: 10
I had asked Colin to build a maple banjo with a tubaphone TR and ebony/buckey burl trim (serial #03211)... and sent him a graphic of a jeweled scarab beetle to create an ancient Egyptian theme... and could not be happier with the result.
Update: Colin recently sent me two "replacement" bridges for the original ebony... and the tone is more focused... and a subtle improvement.
Overall Rating: 10