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!
7200 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Elderly
Year Purchased: 2015
Price Paid: 2375 ($US)
My Lee is has a 12" cherry pot with integral wooden tone rim, renaissance head, cherry neck with ebony fretboard and a long Texas scoop.
I was looking for a particular sound, and it turns out that a 12" Lee woody makes it.
I had played several Lee (and other) banjos locally with a variety of tonal systems. I had also watched online videos and listened to Zepp sound files.... It turns out that the banjo sound from the Zepp sound files for wood tone rims are accurately rendered and consistent with the sound of my banjo.
The sound is full, warm, happy, clear....up and down the neck. I did not realize a wood banjo could sound like that, but I am delighted by it.
Sound Rating: 10
Perfect from the get-go. Just needed to tune up the strings.
I added an A position spike for the 5th string.
Setup Rating: not rated
There headstock and neck are completly unadorned except for simple position dots. However, the long texas scoop and the naturally finished cherry make this a beautiful instrument.
Appearance Rating: 10
This banjo feels very well-crafted and sturdy but not at all cumbersome.
I also like the feel of the geared Waverly tuners.
Reliability Rating: 10
I exchanged email and calls with Chuck Lee and Elderly instruments. Everyone was friendly, thoughful and generous with their time.
Customer Service: 10
The cherry neck is so perfectly made and easy to play. Every note sounds terrific.
The 12" cherry pot has nicely rounded edges so it is very comfortable sitting on my lap.
Components Rating: 10
This banjo has exceeded my expectations. It is a delight to play with a wonderful sound. Since purchasing the Lee, I have played several other very nice banjos in my local acoustic music shop (Rickard, Ome, Deering, other Lee's, etc) and this Lee easily remains my favorite.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Music Emporium
Year Purchased: 2014
Price Paid: 1350 ($US)
My first nice open-back banjo. It has a warm pretty sound. Nice lows. Lovely middle range. The extreme highs aren't amazing.
Sound Rating: 9
No changes since purchase. The banjo was perfect right off the rack.
Setup Rating: 9
This banjo is not flashy, but it is clearly well-made. All the details are nicely finished.
Appearance Rating: 10
Yes. This banjo sits in the middle of a busy house with kids and a dog, and it gets jostled a fair amount. So far so good.
Reliability Rating: 9
N/A
haven't needed anything from BR.
Customer Service: 10
The neck feels great. Plays easily and feels good to the touch.
Components Rating: 10
This is a great banjo. Sounds great, feels great, looks like a banjo should. I recommend as a good all-around instrument that will never let you down.
I give it 9 stars instead of 10 because there are obviously banjos out there that are more beautiful or sound a little better... but not at this price point.
A great value.
Overall Rating: 9
