Hello,
I have been playing banjo for around 4 years and want to change up my Goodtime 2 to something else. Partly as I would like something less beginner-like but also because Goodtimes are ubiquitous and now that I am starting to go to jams I would like to have something a little different to the "noob" banjo everyone seems to have where I live in Europe.
I was hoping to save a bit of money to get something nice. However, I'm not in a position to do that yet and a Recording King RK-R25 has just come up second hand and I wondered if these are considered better than the Goodtime 2 or are they of a similar build / level? In other words would I just be swapping like-for-like or would it be a upgrade in your view?
Let me know your thoughts! ??
Compare the components of the pot of both banjos. I am not familiar with the specifics of either but there really won't be an upgrade unless the RK has a full tone-ring versus a hoop type. Three ply shell versus multi-ply. What the hardware consists of. I would expect the necks on both to be of similar quality so the difference in the pot is going to be the determining factor, if there is enough difference to make it an upgrade.
Bobby
I had an RK-25 that I sold. Wish I had it back. It doesn’t have a tone ring, but it sounded nice and was really lightweight. I’ve been looking for another one, but they don’t come up for sale very often.
Honestly, not a real upgrade. Both good banjos. But I would not spend money thinking that someone will respect you more for playing one banjo over another. If they are gear snobs, then your jam sucks to begin with. A Madison-level RK banjo or a Goldtone Mastertone level banjo would be an upgrade. Much better to save up for something like that.
Thanks. I thought as much and I'm not going to go for it, considering it is a 6 hour round trip to collect.
Will continue to save some cash!
Appreciated - thanks.
There is nothing the matter with the goodtime, I play mine for years at jams sessions and gigs even though I have a Recording king RK35 with full tone ring but if you fancy another banjo then go for it. The RK 25 dont have a tone ring but although it is a good banjo its not an upgrade.
I would recommend an RK35 or RK36 for approx £900, both great prices, full tone mastertone type rings one is maple the other mahogany and are super banjos. they are very heavy and very very loud which you can learn to control the volume with the way that you pick it.
there is a very nice cheap deering calico on ebay for £2k, and a Gibson RB250 for £2.7k
I would keep saving then next year get to some jams and try some peoples banjos first.
UK banjo pickers are a strange lot and dont bother selling their unused banjos but a lot do sell if asked
Goodtime [Deering] has banjos with steel tone rings- I don't have one [ I had a Good time 2 with a resonator but NO ring] but a friend of mine had one with the tonering IT was a great sounding banjo- Loud, Sharp, NICE sound.
Just have to ask. When was the last time you tightened the head tension on your Goodtime? After 20 years of banjo, I’m still fascinated at how good these simple bare boned minimalistic banjos are. When I hear about someone growing out of their Goodtime, I like to ask if they’ve tightened it up, tensioned the head, and given it some TLC. I’ve actually come full circle, and have grown back into my Goodtime.
I'm sorry for being blunt, but quite frankly anyone that claims that a Goodtime 2 and a RK-R25 are similar or that the R25 isn't an upgrade, doesn't know what they're talking about. They're two completely different banjos. I seriously doubt anyone saying that, actually has personal experience playing both of those banjos side-by-side.
The Goodtime has no tone ring of any type with the head resting directly on the rim, a hook-shoe system with a faux flange plate, a single co-rod, basic un-notched tension hoop, a simple maple neck with no fretboard or truss rod, and in general low-quality hardware across the board. The RK-R25 has an integral woodie flathead rim/ring, a real-deal two-piece flange, dual co-rods, notched tension hoop, and maple neck with a fretboard and dual action truss rod, and typical RK hardware that you find on all their other high end models. They're in completely different categories of design/construction and not comparable at all. In fact the RK-R25 is one of the ONLY woodie flathead banjos that you can find, unless you do a new custom order or find a used Turtle Hill.
If it's an actual RK-R25, with the integral woodie rim/ring, it's the better option without question. The RK-R25 is one of the best banjos out there for what it is. Get it if you can and you won't regret it. They can be fairly rare on the used market and the most recent one I saw was listed for $850 before being sold within the week. The stand toe-to-toe with the 35/36 models with the heavy tone ring, in fact I fooled a few people when I had them both. I sold the 35, I sold the 36. Heck I even sold my Stelling. But I still own the R25, and I will never sell it. It's probably my most played banjo because I bring it everywhere because it's so light and sounds better than it has any business sounding for a banjo that retailed for under $300 when it was still being made. Also, as a bonus, the R25 flange plate is drilled such that you can remove half the hooks and convert to open-back without completely removing the head, whereas the Goodtime requires you to to completely remove all the hooks (and retension the head in the process).
Be sure it's actually a R25. I've seen a lot of used R20 Songsters listed as R25s online.
Also, to clarify. The RK-R25 IS a "Madison" model banjo. It's was sold right alongside the R35, along with the R30 BGM (heavy tone ring, 2 piece flange) and the R50 (woodie ring, 1 piece flange).
Edited by - KCJones on 12/10/2024 12:52:02
I played a RK-25 and was very impressed. It was set up nicely and sounded great and good volume. Surprised the hell out of me!!!
Slammer!!!
I can attest, the R25 is quite a banjo.
I second everything KC Jones says. The long-discontinued RK-25 is superior to the Goodtime. Absence of a tone ring does not make it any less of an upgrade. I played an RK-25 in a shop back when they were still being made and couldn't believe it didn't have a tone ring. Only the weight convinced me.
I regret that I didn't buy one during the big close-out about 10 years ago.
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