In my experience, in whatever price point you are looking at, the Recording King is great bang for the buck.

Thanks Eric, I'm serious considering that one.

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Originally posted by motocross066

Thanks Eric, I'm serious considering that one.

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If you go that route, get it from an outfit that will do a good setup on it, like www.banjoteacher.com, instead of some sketchy website that does nothing but forward it untouched from China.

Yes to the recording king but I would go to a dealer in person to set up your banjo...Jack

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Originally posted by Eric A

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Originally posted by motocross066

Thanks Eric, I'm serious considering that one.

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If you go that route, get it from an outfit that will do a good setup on it, like www.banjoteacher.com, instead of some sketchy website that does nothing but forward it untouched from China.

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Welcome to the Hangout. Looking at the specs, all 3 banjos look very much alike. The Ibenez has a block rim, which "might" be a slight adavantage. Washburn site does not mention block construction, while the RK has a multi-ply rim. Recording King banjos are well thought of here on the HO. If you go to "More" on the left side of this page, click on "reviews", then you will be able to find reviews of different banjos.

You might be interested in a used banjo...go to "Marketplace" on the left side of the page, enter search terms (including your price range) and you will find used (and new) banjos within your budget. This is my personal opinion, but it seems that prices for used banjos have gone up quite a bit in the last year, so don't expect to find any bargains...again, that's my opinion.

Thank you guys all great advice. That's why I posted because you guys know what your talking about!

Welcome, we're so glad you're here and picking the banjo!
Not to complicate anything further, but just reiterating that the marketplace here is potentially a good source for this. I have got many excellent things from trusted members here (just be careful, as always!).
On the marketplace right now, I see two potential banjos along your description that are "upgrades" in some way from the models you specified. They might be in the ballpark of the new prices of the models you mentioned (I do not know these members at all! Just what I see):
Washburn B-16 $600 ("upgrade" from B-11 insofar as it has a tone ring, etc.):
banjohangout.org/classified/98278
RK-35 $785 ("upgrade" from RK-20, though heavier and whatnot):
banjohangout.org/classified/97431

Keep an eye on the marketplace here and patience may reward you. However, I also believe a banjo in your hands is worth a lot more than a theoretical banjo! Just make sure whatever you get can or has been set up properly to avoid frustrations.

Open back or resonator? I love my resonator banjos but they sure are a bit heavy!

Welcome aboard !

All the advice above is solid and sound.

Best of all as mentioned above is try and play as many banjos in hand before you buy. If your retired now, try hunting around in local music stores and pawn shops for good quality used instruments that you can play. You mat be surprised what you will find. Facebook Marketplace is also a good place to look for local. You might actually find someone who knows banjos selling off a nice used instrument at a good price.

If getting your hands on an instrument is not possible, then as said, all the advice above is solid.

I would also recommend the Recording King. I've played several different versions and they all sound good, are easy to fret and pick. They may be a little bit heavy if you have a good tone ring, but that's what makes a bluegrass banjo sound so good: the tone ring.

There are several used ones in the classifieds. Go here: banjohangout.org/classifieds/ and look on the right hand side of the page under Popular Makers, scroll down to Recording King and click on it. That will bring up all the for sale/used ones for you to peruse and maybe find one that fits your budget.

If you want to play bluegrass, you definitely need a resonator banjo. Open back banjos can't be heard in a jam situation.

I recommend Deering Banjos, made in the United States, and great customer service.

The options you listed are not significantly different from the Jameson you're currently playing. The first thing you must understand is that there are very few actual banjo makers, and nearly all brands are made by the same companies and just have a different label on the headstock. I'm quite surprised nobody has pointed this out yet. 

With $600-$800, you should buy a USED banjo from the BanjoHangout Marketplace (link to the left of your screen).

Mint Recording King RK-35 - Banjo Hangout <<<<<------ THIS IS YOUR BEST OPTION.

Do not buy a "new" banjo to replace your current banjo. It will not be an upgrade, it will be a waste of money.

If you can get an RK-35 for less than $800, GET IT!

This is as close to a professional-quality bluegrass banjo as you can get for under $1000. (Some would say it IS professional quality; personally, I'd have no issues playing one on stage.)

banjohangout.org/classified/97431

I second the RK R35, it's a killer banjo.

This is what I currently play and I'd say that it's enough to satisfy a serious musician.

Now I wouldn't go recommending overspending right now. If you can get it used and withing your budget then that would be ideal.

Hi John, congratulations on your retirement and welcome to BHO. Your wife has the right idea so follow her advice (usually a wise choice) and occupy yourself with a banjo!
As referenced above, I would find a lightly played, previously experienced Recording King RK-35 (Maple) or RK-36 (Mahogany) same banjo but with different neck and resonator wood. Maple generally sounds brighter while mahogany generally sounds a bit mellower and less shrill. There is usually a specimen lurking in the marketplace section of the BHO. $700 - $800 is a fair price.
Good luck and enjoy!

The RK35 didn't show up in my search, as I set the numbers between 500 and 750$. The RK35 is probably the most recommended for those looking for a step up/intermediate level banjo. Probably could be a "forever" banjo as well. Because the RK35 is so respected and recommended, they hold their value well.

All great advice and great links to the marketplace. I think I'm going to go the used rk35 or something similar. So glad to have found you all and really happy I found this

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Originally posted by motocross066

Thank you guys all great advice. That's why I posted because you guys know what your talking about!

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The major plus of the RK line for me is that there are designed with Standard(non-metric) parts and dimensions...very friendly to US -made parts.

Good to know that Bob. I just dealt with that ordering a bridge for my Jameson. I don't have a way to measure mm and ended up buying a 1/2" when I actually need a 5/8" never got that lesson in school back in the 70s lol

motocross066 the Recording Kings have a different personality behind them, he is a member here.
He is not a jobber when he's not on tour visiting their own real estate acquisitions. 

IF you can find an RK-R35, then remember they weigh a ton 3 hours later, don't get turned off by the weight at your entry level.

Ask why they are selling such a fine value. Huh?

The RK-R20 competes with all others at that price point with a full set of adult adjustable hardware, just a lesser rim, lighter weight.
But you can set them up to play slinky just fine. They share the same SAE parts as the other RK's.. 

The comment: If you go that route, get it from an outfit that will do a good setup on it, like www.banjoteacher.com, instead of some sketchy website that does nothing but forward it untouched from China.

Let's say more info will help.   All these factory banjos are set to specs.  Many of us build to 5/8" bridge with neutral rim rods. 

Well so do Gold Tone and Recording King. Both of whom as importers still maintain on shore American jobs

These banjos are set to be able to be played right out of the box. And what you save on imported banjos can go to employing on shore luthiers and banjo people for a few dollars more to dial it in, or you can learn to do so here with us. .   That's Greg Rich's attitude and RK sells out.

And no, they are not all made in the same factories, there is some contractor truth to that, but they are not all the same.

I do rim changeouts, I know who don't wear no yes I do's.  I know who tried to match RK, but just can't.  Meanwhile forests of Apitong  or Nato or other commercially exploitable fibers are surging into new product as we speak together in a convivial forum.

I would start with the RK-R20, I've played them.   Music stores smell like inventory and are not always banjo familiar or sympathetic. 

There will be a real banjo builder or repair close to you. 

This guy reduced his price for you to $500.

banjohangout.org/classified/98278

I had this banjo and it is a solid intermediate banjo and cheap at that price.

It's made in Korea (instead of China) if that matters to you.

There's a ticket. The Japanese burned out on factory soul killing repetition, so did the Koreans, so now the Chinese are repeating the one guy one task model unlike, say progressive VOLVO where workers rotate like volleyball and do different tasks to keep quality up and burnout down.
Recording King with Greg Rich has a completely different attitude and struggled like everybody else during COVID.

I have three banjos. The first one was a Deering Goodtime, no resonator. My teacher recommended getting a resonator banjo and I got a Deering Deluxe. I liked it because it was lighter than most other resonator banjos and I'm a small person. Then I got a Gibson Granada banjo that's even heavier than the Deering Deluxe. The one I play all the time is the Deering Goodtime because it's light and I've got it set up so it sounds good to me (small towel in the back). I never play the two resonator banjos because they'r too heavy for me.

Dont underestimate your Jameson. I tightened the head with a drum dial, repositioned the neck upwards, fixed the poor setup truss rod with minor adjustments to get inclination, shaved the bridge down and put elixer strings on...lights. Replaced nut with bone. It sounds as good as many expensive jos Ive played. Truth in lending, I do have a Gibson i mostly play.

i had a rk35 with the right strings great bang for the buck