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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!
7201 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Elderly
Year Purchased: 2016
Price Paid: 2350 ($US)
The sound is excellent for my taste. The L1 has a brass tone hoop, Mahogany neck, and Granadillo block rim. It has a mix of a rich with bright tones. I have it set up with a John Balch skin head. Just my preference. A bit clearer than a renisance head.
Sound Rating: 9
Set up was perfect. I just decided to change the head and I decided I prefer the sound of the J.B skin head.
Setup Rating: 9
Mahogany neck, Grandadillo rim. Clown style peg head with moon and stars. Dots on the fretboard. All very nice looking.
Appearance Rating: 9
Every part of this banjo is excellent quality. It's built to last and will be able to depend on it for my life time.
Reliability Rating: 9
I spoke with Tim Gardner via email. He answered my questions promtly. I purchased the banjo from Elderly. I decided to buy from them becasue their was one avaialble and they offer a 30 day return policy. I felt safe trying it out while taking my time.
Customer Service: 9
Components are of high quality. No cheap parts on this banjo.
Components Rating: 9
I'm very happy with my Cedar Mountain Banjo. I scored 9 on everything as I'm not sure I know what a 10 is at this point in my playing. I can say I have tried many banjo's returning some and needing to sell others. This CMB L1 will mostly likely be my everyday player for a very long time.
It's not easy to find them for sale with dealers so be patient or have one made if you choose to give one a try.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: MM Download
I recently downloaded another MM video, Kickstart Your Jamming. I have many other MM videos. They are all good but I wasn't connecting the dots between learning solos and jamming with others.
Kickstart gave me exactly what I needed to know. What to play when its your turn to take a break. Granted it's very basic and for beginners (as it's meant to be) but it gets you playing with others quickly.
I was quite nieve thinking that I would have to learn all the songs that were played at a jam to play along. That wasn't Murphy's fault but mine. It was an assumption that for some reason stuck with me, until I viewed the Kickstart video. I'm not all the way done with it yet but I am understanding how it all relates and fits in with the tunes I was learning. There are pieces of every tune that can be played as a break.
I'm now starting to go to jams with less fear and something to build on. Thank you so much Murphy and Casey Henry.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: MM Download
I recently downloaded another MM video, Kickstart Your Jamming. I have many other MM videos. They are all good but I wasn't connecting the dots between learning solos and jamming with others.
Kickstart gave me exactly what I needed to know. What to play when its your turn to take a break. Granted it's very basic and for beginners (as it's meant to be) but it gets you playing with others quickly.
I was quite nieve thinking that I would have to learn all the songs that were played at a jam to play along. That wasn't Murphy's fault but mine. It was an assumption that for some reason stuck with me, until I viewed the Kickstart video. I'm not all the way done with it yet but I am understanding how it all relates and fits in with the tunes I was learning. There are pieces of every tune that can be played as a break.
I'm now starting to go to jams with less fear and something to build on. Thank you so much Murphy and Casey Henry.
Overall Rating: 10
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