DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device.
Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher.
Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more.
Premier Sponsors
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!
7228 reviews in the archive.
I'm in the Twin Cities area for the winter and have a banjo I wanted looked over, so I contacted Tom Nechville through the Hangout to ask him about doing the work. He told me to bring it by when I got into town, and I finally got around to it today.
The shop is nice and small and pretty intimate. Just a couple front offices, and couple back offices for luthiers, a showroom and the production area. I don't know what exactly I had expected, but it was a smaller operation than I thought it would be. Which is cool. No assembly line here.
Anyway, Tom was on the phone so I was led back to Jeremia to look over my banjo. They already had good knowledge of my banjo (an old Goldstar) and how they tend to sound. He asked what I didn't like, and what I was going for, and gave me all sorts of options including a new head, different tone ring etc., but didn't push any of them. He just mentioned them, then went about setting the banjo up based on what sound I like. While he was working on it, Tom stopped in to check on us, and decided to go make a bridge for me.
I'm very interested to get playing my banjo and listen to the sound really close. Their bridges are made from much less dense grain, so they're cut extra thick to get up to the weight they want them. So it's definitely different to look at. I'm excited to see how it plays.
Basically, an overall really cool experience, an explanation of everything they were doing and why, and a good result. I need to play the banjo for awhile before I come back & update this review, but I just wanted to get it posted while it was fresh in my head.
Nechville banjos are pretty darn cool, too, if you haven't been around them (I hadn't). Some day when I have more time I'm going to check them out a lot closer. Very innovative design, and I'm not a guy who's stuck on tradition.
I only give a 9 instead of 10 because they didn't take me out to lunch and drinks and send me home with a free blemished banjo.
:)
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Banjo.com
This is a good, strong, light case. For a great review, check out Paul Hawthorne's website. Sounds like only Mastertone style banjos fit, not Deering, probably not Stelling (peghead size).
The inner compartment is smaller than average, but you can squeeze a set of extra strings in there.
I'd say this case is more protective than an average plywood, TKL case. The buckles and other hardware are not as strong. The handle, unless they've fixed it recently, is very uncomfortable and very unbalanced. But it holds the banjo very snugly.
Overall Rating: 7
I had an old Gold Star shipped to me, and the neck broke at the peghead. I shipped it to John, even though I'm in Montana, because his price qoute was at least $100 less than the people I talked to locally, who I don't think have the level of skill John does. The break is invisible, and the peghead actually looks better than it did before I sent it to him (not just because it's no longer broken :) , he cleaned up some sloppy glue work the original factory worker had done).
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Greg Boyds
Year Purchased: 2007
Price Paid: 2150 ($US)
The sound is great. This model is one of his Masterclones, and it sounds as good as the best Gibsons. Seems to be able to sound great with many different set ups, whether you like tubby or bright, it sounds great any way you mess with it. I like mine just slightly on the tubby side, and it's got a nice deep 4th string and still nice bright highs. It's as loud as any banjo I've played.
Sound Rating: 8
It was set up great when I bought it. Good action. I raised the tailpiece slightly when I got it, just because I like the more mellow sound. It responds really well to slight set up changes.
Setup Rating: 9
It's not a fancy banjo, but not too plain either. I'm not a fan of the fretboard inlays, but they're fine, better than a Sierra, which is in the same price range and definitely not in the same quality range..
Mahogany banjo with rosewood fretboard. The peghead has a really nice unique Prucha shape, and really nice tasteful inlays.
No flaws that I can see, the fit and finish of the banjo is top notch.
Appearance Rating: 7
It is built to last. Prucha supplies most US builders with their hardware, so it's as good as anything out there.
Reliability Rating: 9
Haven't needed to deal with the company yet, but Greg Boyd has been great. He'll email or give advice over the phone. I drove over on a weekend and he checked everything on it and did some set up stuff for free, and explained everything he was doing along the way.
Customer Service: 8
Nothing on this banjo needs to be upgraded. I was set on changing the bridge as soon as I brought it home, but I just kept playing it, and finally realized there's just no reason to switch out the Prucha bridge or tailpiece. I'm sure I'll eventually experiment with another bridge just because, but the Prucha bridge makes it sound great.
All the hardware & components look, feel and sound top notch.
Components Rating: 9
I highly recommend this banjo. Looking at what else is on the market in this price range, I just can't believe people pay what they do for some other brands..
I love the banjo, especially the sound. I really love the peghead design. When I went in to buy a banjo, I knew it would be a Prucha, but I was thinking of getting a cheaper model. Even the banjos that cost as much as $600 less sounded just as good. The only reason I got this one was because I could still afford it (kind of), and I figured why not get something that I'll not only be happy with the sound of, but also the looks. That way I won't be tempted to "upgrade" for a long, long time. I've never played banjos from a company that had more consistent sound from model to model. No matter if you pay $1600 or $5500, the sound will be professional quality. I'm honestly no longer jealous when I play the $5500 banjos. I may be a bit jealous of the looks, but not the sound. Mine sounds every bit as good as those models.
1 year + update:
Keeps getting better. It's got a nice open sound to it. Sometimes I just play and do what I do, but every few days when I pull it out of the case & play it, I just really can't believe how great it sounds. It makes me plant myself in front of a wall so I can hear it better and I play way longer than I had planned on, just so I can listen to it more. Someday I'll get a different banjo, but not really as an upgrade. Only because I'm a bit in love with the Diamond Point inlays. Or maybe I'll just put a new neck on this one with those inlays...
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Hangout from private member
Year Purchased: 2007
Price Paid: 900 ($US) (bought USED)
It sounds great. I had a Deering which I wasn't too happy with, and this has the sound that my last banjo was missing. Not sure how it compares to new Gibsons, but I've played around a couple pre-war and a 50's Gibson with it. It's not the same as them, but it's really very similar. Great bass and volume, good crisp sound. You can get a more full and rich sounding banjo, but not in this price range.
Sound Rating: 8
Set up was great, but Arthur Hatfield went through the entire banjo and shaved the neck heel, adjusted the tone ring fit etc, so what else could I expect?
Setup Rating: 8
Looks very nice. Still understated, but I like the double cut peg head and the inlays. Fancier than my Deering Sierra, but not overy fancy. Very tasteful.
Appearance Rating: 7
Should hold up well. I'll be using it at gigs. Would be a great backup if I had a really really nice banjo.
Reliability Rating: 7
NA
Customer Service: not rated
Tuners and tailpiece should be upgraded. Mine already were. Otherwise, everything seems very high quality. The attachment for the tailpiece is somewhat off center, so the tailpiece screw has to be at an angle from the flange to tailpiece..hopefully that doesn't affect the sound. The resonator screws have a tendency to loosen up, and the nuts on the resonator they screw into are a bit off center. I was surprised at how fast the armrest began to tarnish. It was almost immediate, where with my Prucha it took well over a year to start to look obviously tarnished.
Components Rating: 7
For the price, these banjos seem incredible. Better (if you're looking for pre-war Gibson sound) by far than my Deering Sierra, which cost much more. It seems as though, if you want one of these, you need to be prepared to upgrade the tailpiece, tuners, and have the neck to rim and tonering to rim fit looked at by a pro set-up person. Once those issues are taken care of, the banjo is great. I've been playing a ton lately just to hear the way it sounds. I really really like it. The fit and finish are not what they could be..there aught to be better quality control on these. I suggest either playing one (rather than internet buying) and looking it over to make sure it all fits together right, or getting a used one that's had any issues addressed by a luthier. Otherwise you should not be surprised if you need to spend some $$ getting everything right. If you get a good one, or address any issues, they are then great banjos..
Overall Rating: 8