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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!
7203 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Little Mountain Music - Free Trial
I installed the recieved BanjoMate in my 2005 Gold Star GF-100. This banjo has a Huber compensated bridge, GHS PF140 strings and a Fults 1934 tailpiece on it. This has been my main banjo for the last 4 years. It has very good tone now (for what it is), but if I could improve anything would be the clarity of the notes up the neck.
I installed the BanjoMate at 1.25 inches as suggested by using rolled up masking tape. I really didn't hear much difference at that setting. I then moved it up to 1.75 inches and could immediately tell the difference with a strum. I was definately hearing a bit more of a ring to the sound. Played it a bit and really liked it. The mahogany banjo was sounding a little more metallic and brighter. Also a bit more volume. Not much. The clarity of the notes up the neck was slightly improved. Not as muddy.
I then moved the BanjoMate up to 2 inches. Everything I had was lost and it was even more muddied. Interesting. Went back down to 1.75 and velcroed it in. Off to band practice.
Our bass player (who has our best ear) said he could hear the difference and that the banjo was cutting thru the other instruments very well and he could hear every note I was playing. That is a pretty good endorsement right there. I'll be leaving the BanjoMate in my Gold Star. As others have stated, I don't think this product would make that much difference on a high end banjo, but on middle of the road models (Gold Star, RK, Goldtone) I think it would be $20 well spent.
Thank you very much for the opportunity Doug!
Overall Rating: 8
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