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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!
7199 reviews in the archive.
Have used Andy a few times for banjos and parts. Supplied me with tuners to restore my late mum's old banjolin and parts for converting other banjos .Sold me my lovely Goldtone BC350 (see the review on my page) .Great unbiased,objective advice.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Andy Perkins traditional Instruments (Andybanjo)
Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: 695 (GBP)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Rich full warm sound .Plenty of volume ,middle and bass tones,
Wide fingerboard is great and easy to get around
Smooth and easy to play no effort at all
Sound Rating: 9
well written set up instructions came with the instrument.Tape with crosses to mark bridge postion . Position was spot on. Great action .Have made no changes
Free capo spike installation
Setup Rating: 10
Vey simple and tasteful, this was one of the reasons I bought this model,just reflects my taste.
A couple of very minor finish flaws , casting flash, glue marks, but you REALLY have to search for them!
I would change tuner buttons to ebony or matt black to match the lovely ebony fingerboard. But not in a great hurry!
Appearance Rating: 9
Early days, looks pretty robust. Will let you know!
Update- 8years down the line .This instrument has required no repairs or re-setting. Some very minor pitting on the fingerboard which is honest wear, frets still good Apart from new strings and a dusting every so often it has needed zero maintainence. Upgraded reliability to 10!
Reliability Rating: 10
Andy banjo 's servce was exemplary. Lots of pre-purchase questions answered prompmtly online. I live a long way from his work shop (600miles or so!). He even played a range of banjos to me over the speaker phone!
delivery was by FedEx who were to be frank ,very poor .They could not deliver the item in the time they promised .They should not offer their customers a service they cannot guarantee .Not a difficult thing todo .Arrived safely .
Update: A crack appeared on one of my tuner buttons and eventually prpagated and I needed to replace the button.Andy Perkins sent me a full set of buttons free of charge! Thanks Andy.
Andy Banjo 10 Fedex 2
Customer Service: 10
For the price I am very happy . The only thing I'd change is to matt black buttons . But that is a matter of taste
Update: Apparently the tuners have an unusual shaft size and alternatives are not available . Will have to be happy with what I have .I have no intentions of swapping tuners as they work to my satisfaction.
Update 2 Replacement black ebonite type buttons for the BC 350 now available from Elderly music. Another of the white pearl buttons was beginning to crack so I ordered up a set. I think it looks much more elegant.
Update 3. Changed the tailpiece to a Pisgah Hawktail as a 'tone' experiment .I must say I'm very happy with the very subtle change >maybe slighytly more clucky. No issues with fitting new tp. Very handsome.
Components Rating: 9
A good choice for that more ancient old timey sound. Not too punchy.This is my first decent banjo and hope we'll travel many miles together before one of use has to retire!
Overall Rating: 9
