This could be an interesting situation. Even with a company like Deering, who builds their banjo in the USA, I can’t help but wonder how much of their wood and parts are sourced from outside the country. I could also see this effecting the used market in a big way, if things get too crazy.

In general expect the price of NEW Chinese banjos to go up "somewhat". It remains to be seen if the manufacturer will eat any of the tariff, if the wholesaler will eat any of it, if the importer will eat any it and if the retailer will eat any of it. If all of these folks decline to eat any portion of the tariff, then the price to the consumer will go up "some" to "a lot".

Now if consumers politely decline to pay more for Chinese banjos (mean they just stop buying them), then all those folks in the supply chain have to decide if they want to stay in the American market at a lower profit, or just say good-bye to the American buyers. If this is multiplied across ALL the goods and services the Chinese provide, one would imagine they'd have to rethink their stance on the tariffs THEY had in place prior to this year. That's the political game, in theory. If they reduce their tariffs, theoretically we reduce ours and thinks re-balance, someday.

In the short term, expect price/availability of Chinese banjos to get "stickier" for a buyer to navigate.

And all other foreign goods and services too. I'm more interested in how this will affect Prucha (Czech) banjo parts and Asian banjo parts.

If Chinese banjo prices go up, all over banjos will provide go up some also -- American-made, used imported, vintage, etc.

I’m not the least bit concerned. Let the pot stew for a couple months then make an educated decision on the matter. If you don’t have a banjo and can’t afford an American made one go ahead now and get one if you just got to have one.

There are plenty of quality and cheaper used banjos out there for sale. Why buy a banjo from some Asian company. There are better things to think about than tariffs on banjos like learning a new song.

In theory, 100% of imported goods should begin costing more. Why wouldn’t they?

No one alive has any idea of how "the tariff situation" is going to affect, well, anything yet, because "the situation" has not played out yet. Yes, learned experts will lecture us about cause and effect, but they, and we, do not yet see the big picture. And, it is very possible, that nobody does!

I would never have thought of the impact of tariffs on banjos. I mean, I get it. But I would not have imagined it. I suppose there is a lot of metal. Wood is probably not imported much. Metal ingots and bar stock and certainly the threaded parts if international will be impacted. The custom makers will probably be affected in raw material costs.

On the used market: I think we live in the bubble of banjo collectors and that’s probably a finite and quite static (and sort of loony) population. I have my doubts that anything will happen to radically shift the prices of used banjos in the USA. The old ones will continue he to get older and more valuable for the desirable ones while the high quality luthiers will continue to have value just because they are quality.

What will probably be affected most are the bottle cap and lower market mass produced tone ring instruments. That will probably affect people just starting out playing.

I’m betting with the high end custom ones you’re paying a lot more for the craftsmanship time than just the materials that went into the thjng.

I don't understand (as one person posted) how this will impact the used market. Maybe foreign parts for repairs but how much do you spend on parts for a used banjo ? and will that fee you pay be added to the value when selling ?

I have imported four banjos from Japan recently. I paid 5.3% Duty on each one. So let's say on a $1,000 banjo I paid $53. If there was a 25% Duty I would have paid about five times as much or $250.

My understanding is that MANY domestic builders source their laminated wood rims from China. (A maker of block-rim banjos told me that ALL of the builders of laminated-rim banjos do this, but maybe he exaggerated a little.)

The sorry truth is your going to have pay taxes on imported goods. Whether it is Banjo's, Scotch, Gas or power from Canada.  This tariff tax is not confined to China, Canada, Mexico but world wide and by the looks of things ordinary Americans will suffer badly as I see it. I could be wrong only time will tell.

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Originally posted by OK-4

My understanding is that MANY domestic builders source their laminated wood rims from China. (A maker of block-rim banjos told me that ALL of the builders of laminated-rim banjos do this, but maybe he exaggerated a little.)

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I think he exaggerated a lot. Even though I'm unfamilar with USA builders there isn't a Chinese source of three ply rims (unless everyone has a deal to import Goldtone parts or Recording King or Saga rims) and the cheap multiply rims are not going to be used by anyone other than someone putting together a cheap parts banjo at home.

Assuming the president does as he says he will: The cost of Chinese banjos and parts will go through the roof; European banjos (e.g. Prucha) and parts will significantly increase in price. Any banjos using overseas parts will increase in price—how much depends on the parts they use. Canadian instruments—Rickard and Romero notably, will increase in price—how much is uncertain. Ditto Rickard parts. Everything’s in flux, but it is highly unlikely costs for imported banjos and parts will not go up, in many cases, significantly. Uncertainty abounds.

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Originally posted by gbisignani

I don't understand (as one person posted) how this will impact the used market. Maybe foreign parts for repairs but how much do you spend on parts for a used banjo ? and will that fee you pay be added to the value when selling ?

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Theoretically--if foreign content in banjos drives up prices, used banjos will be more desirable  because of lower cost. As the demand for used banjos increases, so will their price, but those prices will remain below banjos whose cost is driven up by foreign content. At least that's the theory. 

Even if a banjo is entirely American made its cost is going to increase because we’re about to see a significant rise in inflation. The market for banjo’s is likely to shrink because we are all headed for a recession!

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Originally posted by Dean T

This could be an interesting situation. Even with a company like Deering, who builds their banjo in the USA, I can’t help but wonder how much of their wood and parts are sourced from outside the country. I could also see this effecting the used market in a big way, if things get too crazy.

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Does Deering outsource their maple? Maple is pretty common in the US

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Originally posted by RDP

I’m not the least bit concerned. Let the pot stew for a couple months then make an educated decision on the matter. If you don’t have a banjo and can’t afford an American made one go ahead now and get one if you just got to have one.

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Agreed. There are plenty of banjos sitting in closets that may surface. If he's got a good one, why is he worrying? Personally, I think one should choose to buy American first. If one must buy Chinese, secondhand partially sidesteps the ethical dilemma of supporting slave labor. For what it's worth, I own two Deerings and really like the Americana with the 12" pot/scoop neck. The Goodtime (11" pot) is an excellent starter at a reasonable price.

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Originally posted by Spudwheat

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Originally posted by Dean T

This could be an interesting situation. Even with a company like Deering, who builds their banjo in the USA, I can’t help but wonder how much of their wood and parts are sourced from outside the country. I could also see this effecting the used market in a big way, if things get too crazy.

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Does Deering outsource their maple? Maple is pretty common in the US

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Here's an article that tells about Deering's materials, manufacturing & sourcing. https://countryinstruments.com/where-are-deering-banjos-made/

OMG!!! ...the sky is falling!!!! Inflation!! Recession!!! Banjos don't care about tariffs so keep plucking , picking and jamming away.

Everything in the world will go up in price no matter what country they're from.
All markets on the planet are suffering needlessly and we are all going to pay.
Some can afford to pay (as it was in the Great Depression) while most will suffer and have to figure out how to survive and go without anything that isn't a necessity.

More taxes are collected as prices go up.

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Originally posted by banjobob36

OMG!!! ...the sky is falling!!!! Inflation!! Recession!!! Banjos don't care about tariffs so keep plucking , picking and jamming away.

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Banjos don't have a brain.

Yes, banjos will increase in price. Tariff PLUS duties will apply to imported ones.

Let's not forget reality: banjos aren't excactly popular. Used ones take many months of being for sale until they finally get sold. Some don't even sell at all. Also, the age group of many BHO members is over 60. When they pass on, there will be a huge number of banjo becoming available on a market that has very, very, very few buyers. Why go through all the time & trouble to learn how to play an instrument when all you need is a rhythm box and AI.

My guess is that used banjos, regardless of whatever kind, will become substantially cheaper in the near future as the heirs of their owners will try to get rid of them...

Not that I have any particular insight aside from knowing a kick in the balls if/when I'm on the receiving end:

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Originally posted by martyjoe

The market for banjo’s is likely to shrink because we are all headed for a recession!

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Conversly, If folks are spending more time at home instead of going out to spend money, we could have a repeat of what happened 5 or so years ago during the pandemic when folks who were not able to get out of the house ordered that banjo or guitar (or other) that they always wanted, and then took the time to learn to play it.