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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!
7210 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased:
Leon Ballard from UK built handsome custom banjo with a beautiful tone . We find his talented skill in all the parts of the banjo .
I have ordering different size of bridges for my different steel strings banjo ( one for my Ballard and one for my Goldtone)
i specially recommand the laminated/compensated bridges which give a very good warming tone with my goatskin head
I have try in the past Bat Veerman bridge so i can compare difference . Ballard's bridge is really the best for me .
highly recommended !!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Directly from Leon Ballard (UK)
Year Purchased: 2014
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Very sweet and lovely tone .Presently with light gauge strngs
Sound Rating: 10
Perfect .
Setup Rating: 10
It's a beautifull and elagant banjo.
All black walnut with walnut burr peaghaed overlay
Special select goatskin from John Balch ( very beautifull)
I have the same true pleasure to look or to play this banjo
Appearance Rating: 10
Reliability Rating: 10
Leon Ballard replied very quickly to all my questions before and during procces of creation and suggest me interesting improvement.
Very good customer service
Customer Service: 10
Nothing to change except perhaps the light strings for medium to suit my style
Components Rating: 10
I was looking for simple but beautiful banjo , quiet and lovely tone .
I am pleased to be the possessor of a such beautifull banjo .
Ballard's skill and John Balch 's hide head create a true piece of art
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: on line - new
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: 1409 ($US)
Mellow anw warm , very good projection . Hidehead with nylgut
Sound Rating: 9
The setup was bad , big buzz problem on the 4° string , it was impossible to play in good condition , very frustrating . I bring the banjo to a luthier for a good setup . The strings nut was aslo very too high. Wayne send me 4 other bridge with different size for remove buzzing . Now i use the highest bridge . i have buzz when i tune the 4 ° string down to C . The neck is not smooth but bumpy. It's disappointing
Setup Rating: 4
Beautifull , skinhead stain with tea , carved heel . Just a big crack on the ebony tailpiece and a little spot on the heel without varnish
Appearance Rating: 9
seems ok
Reliability Rating: 9
Wayne make his job when he try to help me for resolve buzzing problem and i know that he try his best for have contented buyer. He was ok for refunding the cost of the banjo but i will lose too much money in this case ( the shipping for france + tax ). Wayne refund me the cost of the luthier and send me 4 bridges and a new tailpiece (ugly compared with the beautiful but cracked original tailpiece) for free.
Customer Service: 9
seems ok
Components Rating: 9
it's a beautifull and lovely banjo , i am very frustrated with buzzing probleme . It's a riskiness to ordering instrument far from his own home ...
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: Nate Calkins
Year Purchased: 2011
Price Paid: 650 $ ($US)
Warm and round , very pleasant to me
Sound Rating: 10
nylgut strings, goatskin , all is ok .
Setup Rating: 10
beautiful, you can see picture in "photo" . I specially love the look of the goatskin
Appearance Rating: 10
Reliability Rating: not rated
Nate reply me for all my questions and quickly .
Customer Service: 10
i don't know , seems all ok , I never had any problems
Components Rating: not rated
I play very often and love this banjo , look and sound . A true pleasure .
Tonight , i don't know really why , the skin was especially loose and find the sound more sweet than ordinary ....so it's time for submit my little review .
Overall Rating: 10
