I agree. Have to say…pulled a good number of my absolute best finds over the decades from just wandering into random Guitar Centers across the country on business trips and finding something they either knew nothing about or just sat there not selling and they were selling at a highly discounted price.

Sounds ironic, but outside of banjos, almost all of my prized vintage guitars came out of the used bin at guitar center. Before the internet, seemed as if no one in the stores knew anything about any instrument that was not electric and more than 5 years old.

Best banjo score…very early ‘25 mint condition to the point it looked unplayed Gibson TB-4 with an incredible 20-30’s Pick Guard ala Snuffy Jenkins. Was a number of years ago, but Payed less for it than what I could sell the pick guard for.

Congrats on the score.

Under $1000 is a great price for a Sierra. Even the original dot-inlay model. Is it by chance 2006 or newer? If so, you'd have the current tone ring and suppsoedly looser fit.

Either way, enjoy!

Yup. Sometimes the rocker kid who makes the listings has no idea what he has and has it badly under priced.

You might have to lay low for a while after a steal like that! Dang!

I prefer to buy from stores that know banjos. I want them to be there tomorrow.

And people wonder why GC only gives 50-60% for trade ins. It is because of cases like this. Sometimes what you trade to them ends up sitting and they have to try and just get rid of it to make room to recoup some money. GC isn't the place you go to for customer service or knowledge staff but it is a place you can get some deals.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

Congrats on the score.

Under $1000 is a great price for a Sierra. Even the original dot-inlay model. Is it by chance 2006 or newer? If so, you'd have the current tone ring and suppsoedly looser fit.

Either way, enjoy!

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Thanks Ken! I have no idea how old it is, but doubt it's newer than 06. I owned one prior to then, and of the 14 banjos I've owned, that old Sierra was the best, the one that got away, and selling it was my biggest regret. Which is why I've been hunting the classifieds for awhile. My memory is fuzzy from back then, but wasn't 06, when they introduced the new tone ring, the same time they started adding in some inlay and styling to the Sierra, among several models? I've got some experience loosening up the older tight tone rings, and have no problem with an overhaul/inspection/set up. I'm old and retired now, and looking foreword to making this my own, and probably a lifer. If I pull it apart and find an 06 ring, it will be icing on the cake! 

I brought a banjo to my local GC with a loose fret . The tech took it right away , dripped the CA glue in there and Walla as the say .
$20 , 10 minutes.

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Originally posted by Dean T
I have no idea how old it is, but doubt it's newer than 06.

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Deering serial numbers are fairly easy to decode.

There will be a string of seven or eight numbers usually followed by a hyphen then four characters (originally all numbers but more recently letters and numbers) matching the four numbers on the back of the peghead.

The two digits immediately before the hyphen (or before the final four characters in the absence of a hyphen) are the year. The first two digits are the month. The three or four (or more?) digits between month and year are the ordinal number for this banjo in the run of its model. So a serial number such as 01234599-xxxx (made up) would be a banjo made in January 1999 and would be the 2345th banjo of whatever model it is.

The serial number should be handwritten on a label on the inside back of the resonator

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Originally posted by Dean T
My memory is fuzzy from back then, but wasn't 06, when they introduced the new tone ring, the same time they started adding in some inlay and styling to the Sierra, among several models? 

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I think the inlay revisions came a little later. My recollection is the Sierra still had dot inlays through 2008 and maybe 2009. I think around 2010 it got a slight upgrade in inlay with floral petals (were they in wood?) surrounding the dots. This design was very short-lived. By 2013, perhaps as early as 2011, the Sierra received its current engraved inlays evoking designs of the late 19th-early 20th century. These inlays are acrylic imitation pearl, not real MOP.

The Deluxe was similarly upgraded with its own fancy inlays. It was later switched from mahogany to walnut. Then discontinued.

Thanks Ken… FANTASTIC information! The banjo is in transit, so I should have it in the next couple days, and I’ll give an update here. You sparked my memory, and now I remember when Deering tooled up for new inlays on existing models, and completely remodeled the Goodtime line with different peghead shape and inlays. That did all happen around 2008-9. I could be wrong, but I also believe the wood petal inlays went from the Sierra to the Boston models, when the Sierra went to their newer fancy inlays. Looking at the Deering webpage, the Boston still uses the petals today.

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Originally posted by Dean T

. . . the wood petal inlays went from the Sierra to the Boston models, when the Sierra went to their newer fancy inlays. Looking at the Deering webpage, the Boston still uses the petals today.

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And that's something I didn't know. Just now looked at the Deering website and, yes, those are exactly the petal inlays I remember from the Sierra.

Glad I helped with the serial number info. You would have eventually found it yourself on the Deering site. That's where I got it.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

Glad I helped with the serial number info. You would have eventually found it yourself on the Deering site. That's where I got it.

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Update: I got the banjo today, and I'm really happy. All there, and In great shape. And an 06! The tone ring is a nice slip fit and fell right off. Also bonus spikes at 7, 9, 10. The set up was AWEFUL and possibly why it was traded in. Tailpiece a mile high, head very loose, bridge terribly sagging, and the lower co-rod loose and spinning. Action was excessively high, and the neck was quite bowed. The first thing I did when I got it apart was try the truss rod, and it turned perfectly, and easily straightened the neck. From the looks of the cover and nut, it had never been touched. I've got a new head and bridge coming from Deering, and hope to have it back together and playing this weekend. 

Nice buy Dean! I still have my old Calico which I love.

Rick

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Originally posted by rvrose

Nice buy Dean! I still have my old Calico which I love.

Rick

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Thanks Rick! I liked my old Calico, but aside from the weight, I had a hard time with the gloss neck in the Kansas heat. It was also along the same time I bought into the Mastertone peer pressure... we all make mistakes... but my back is a lot healthier now and I'm looking foreword to putting it to the test! 

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Originally posted by Dean T

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Originally posted by rvrose

Nice buy Dean! I still have my old Calico which I love.

Rick

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Thanks Rick! I liked my old Calico, but aside from the weight, I had a hard time with the gloss neck in the Kansas heat. It was also along the same time I bought into the Mastertone peer pressure... we all make mistakes... but my back is a lot healthier now and I'm looking foreword to putting it to the test! 

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I know what you mean about the heat. We pretty much quit doing outside midsummer gigs cause were all to old for the heat.  Enjoy that Deering!

Rick

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...I know what you mean about the heat. We pretty much quit doing outside midsummer gigs cause were all to old for the heat.  Enjoy that Deering!

Rick

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Same here, we haven't done any of that since before COVID, and don't plan to do anymore. I remember those hot gigs and we made a mess with baby powder trying not to stick to the neck. 
 

The Sierra is up and running! I decided to try a Skyntone head first, and give it a few weeks. I've also got a new frosted head for it. Sounds great, plays very nice