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We've reached the end of the line... Recording King kicked the issue back to guitar center as "the quickest way", guitar center says they wont have one back in stock until the second or third week of may optimistically... So I will return the Roadkill King to GC and I am now in the market for a different banjo... I was hopeful given the contact info grich gave... but here we are.
I was going to post the same advise as someone else did, the other day, but buying from a reputable dealer, who knows what a banjo ?? is for one, knows how to set it up, and inspect, and ship, is a world of difference between them and GC
Not once have I ever walked into a GC and seen a banjo ready to go, one big name I won’t mention, seems to never have a bridge on there? Where did the bridge go? This was supposed to be inspected and set up before shipping out, why is the string action sky high, who are you talking to at GC? It’s someone who doesn’t know, what else to say probably other than let me get you my manager, who doesn’t know jack about banjos either
Now sweet water I’ve dealt with a few times, I have a guy when I need something , they actually do the work, make the inspection, tune it, play it, before it’s ever for sale and goes through another process similar when it’s sold for final pack inspection and ship
Big difference and worth the extra money
I would guess your chip came from someone putting it on the wall or off the wall, the binding that’s clearly a manufacturer screw up
Since your new, wouldn’t you rather pay a bit more and know your getting a properly set up and playing instrument? I would
Edited by - the-fish on 04/24/2025 17:49:01
In fact , for me, my first tonering bluegrass banjo I thought was great, cause I didn’t know any better, I thought that’s the way it’s supposed to be, sound like , play like
Bridge in wrong spot, tension rod holes drilled off center, twist in next due to it, head was too loose, etc
Had to figure it out, thanks to the help here, and a local guy I met, through here helped me get sorted out, if that didn’t happen I would have spent hundreds on a set up guy that wouldn’t increase the value of your banjo anyway, sound and play better sure! But it should have been that way to begin with
I’d get a goodtime, learn to play, read here and watch YouTube on tips and tricks and when your ready for a better more expensive instrument you will know what to ask and what to expect AND you will have a back up camp banjo or porch picker
Also, the bridge “sinking” is because the banjo head is too loose on the one you were playing
quote:
Originally posted by the-fishI was going to post the same advise as someone else did, the other day, but buying from a reputable dealer, who knows what a banjo ?? is for one, knows how to set it up, and inspect, and ship, is a world of difference between them and GC
Not once have I ever walked into a GC and seen a banjo ready to go, one big name I won’t mention, seems to never have a bridge on there? Where did the bridge go? This was supposed to be inspected and set up before shipping out, why is the string action sky high, who are you talking to at GC? It’s someone who doesn’t know, what else to say probably other than let me get you my manager, who doesn’t know jack about banjos either
Now sweet water I’ve dealt with a few times, I have a guy when I need something , they actually do the work, make the inspection, tune it, play it, before it’s ever for sale and goes through another process similar when it’s sold for final pack inspection and ship
Big difference and worth the extra money
I would guess your chip came from someone putting it on the wall or off the wall, the binding that’s clearly a manufacturer screw up
Since your new, wouldn’t you rather pay a bit more and know your getting a properly set up and playing instrument? I would
The chip came form the factory, it was new in box and shipped from the GC warehouse. I dont mind paying a little more for set up, though I dont find the setting up of banjos to be terribly complicated atleast from what Ive seen on videos and I did buy a drum dial for head tension. I did not know that they were sagging heads on some of the banjos as I didnt dial them at peoples stores obviously, I figured it was some other unknown issue a cheap head or the like. The only fault I can lay at GC is not inspecting them for damage before shipping them out, on the other hand though shouldn't Roadkill King ship them out undamaged to begin with? GC is too big to inspect all of them and at one point you have to trust the manufacturer that you buy from. Thats ok though, we've gotten through it and Recording King dubbed Roadkill King by my son is apparently not for me. They did reach out, it took 2 emails to get a hold of them, Im three weeks into messing with this over the course of 3 banjos and its time to walk. Would I get a better Roadkill King from Sweetwater? Perhaps, but that may be due to them sorting out the bad ones before sending out a good one, there is some subjective speculation though on the overall quallity of the Roadkill King and any later warranty issues that may arise. I'm sure Gibson and Fender both send out a turd or two from time to time, but back to back? Apparently Roadkill King does so there is that.
Time to move on to another brand as I now have 3 brands I wont buy. Deering is a flat out no for me, the Scientology aspect of their business is a no go for me. Im sure they are fine people all in all, but the Good Lord wont let that one slide, I aint even trying to get that one by him. If I had not known about that,well then that would be done in ignorance, but I aint ignorant of it, and Im surely not going to due it willfully. That being said I am sure they are fine instruments, I just can't do it and I am ok with it. It just means keep looking, the right banjo and the money will be there. I just got to be patient and wait on the Lord.
Ive seen a couple of Hubers for sale that I am considering, there is a Sullivan at Elderly that I might go take a peek tomorrow if I can get the time.
Good luck
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