Anyone here have experience with Brooks Masten banjos? I've watched some videos online but it's hard to judge from those. I have an option to buy one and am interested in any thoughts on quality and tone? How would they compare to other brands in that price range, like Pisgah? This would be for clawhammer. The one I am considering is maple, Dobson ring, 12 inch calfskin head.
Brooks is a well established and respected banjo maker. He makes every piece of his banjos by hand, including the hardware, and the final product is top tier. I picked up a 12" a spunover dobson of his second hand many years ago and still feel lucky to have come across it. I like the Pisgahs, but between a Brooks and a Pisgah with similar features, I would go with the Brooks every time. One aspect of the tone I can comment on is that, having played a number of banjos with the dobson tone ring over the years, Brooks banjos that incorporate that ring really do seem built to emphasize its unique tone. Mine sounds satisfyingly nasally with a clipped high end and a resonant midrange, not like any other banjo I own at all.
What David said. Brooks’s instruments are superb, and not readily available.
I visited his shop a months ago and was impressed how he makes pretty much everything. He loves what he does. I’m waiting for a fretless banjo of his. It’s on order!
I think the question is what sound do you want, where will you be playing? What kind of neck feels good to you?
If you know the sound you want, brooks will build you a banjo with that sound. I have an 11 and 12 inch brooks. The sound and feel really different from my Deerings. Not better but different.
I love the feel of a Deering neck. I also love the sound of Ome banjos.
So for me a banjo has to sound good in a jam and feel good in my hands and stay in tune.
We get hung up on builders and specs. What's important is sound and feel. If your banjo is comfortable to play and sounds great thats the one to get.
I have a jam banjo that for.me sounds great with a fiddle. You most likely will own a few for playing in different settings. They have their different personalities.
Does this help of make things more confusing?
Mark
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