Hardly "lesser known",but my two Cox banjos ('29 tb-2 double conversion) and new in 2008 Maine walnut "Kentucky 5" are as good as any other banjo,as far as I know.

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Originally posted by earlsgranada

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Originally posted by lazyarcher

Not really lesser known anymore, but still a smaller boutique builder..Tim Davis banjos.
I have a Davis VT4 that I purchased as a backup banjo to my Granada, and its become my go to instrument 95% of the time. Absolute amazing quality, fit, finish, and possibly the fastest neck Ive played. Volume and tone that matches any of the prewars Ive owned..the clarity is stunning.

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Tim is an incredibly gifted craftsman, every Davis I've played is superior to just about anything on the American banjo market. I'm a fan of his speed necks as well, Lincoln Hensley & Tim collaborated together with Greg Rich & Sonny Osborne in building the KRAKO banjos that have been popular recently, each being as close in feel and weight to Sonny's 1930 Granada which he bought from Tom McKinney in 1978. 

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I agree completely. Aside from the stellar fit and finish, the tone that these banjos can produce is astounding. The Vintage tone rings Tim produces produce a clarity that I havn't found in ANY other banjo..I wonder what his formula is for them?? All of this in a boutique instrument that is far less $$ than anything comparable. 

Kyle Smith is not well known today, but he was better known 20 years ago. I have one of his banjos that I got from Steve Campbell. If I could only keep one of my resonator banjos, that would be it. His workmanship was excellent. Prucha parts, TN 20 ring, Pass thin skirt rim. All good stuff. I was going to sell it once, but could not even get what the parts are worth. I'm glad I kept it.

A real sleeper...
Great sound n feel...

I’ve had an AE Smith, with an internal “Bacon” style resonator for nearly 50 years.

I bought it mail order from Elderly after Mike Ramsey played it for me over the phone. It takes a heavier string set, I’ve changed the bridge a couple of times and switched the Remo head to a fyber skin 2.

It still sounds great.

Jimmy Cox made wonderful banjos. Great sounding and beautiful workmanship. I have a Fairchild model, and although it's not my main instrument, I do love it. 

I' ve played two really nice banjos over the years, an early '70's Ruby (made in Toronto, Ontario) and a '78 Allison (made in Providence, RI by Michael Allison).

I have the pleasure of acquiring Wildwood and Cox banjos. Both top shelf.

Fitch

Bob Rock banjos made in Pennsylvania are well constructed and sound great. Unique with their arch top aluminum tone rings

buddy of mine had a ibanez artist back in the late 70s that was a great sounding japanese banjo... looked just like a gibson but built better then the gibsons of the 70s.

I have a Harry Lane Banjo Grande model (from Savanah, GA). I bought it around 1978. I will match it against any 5-string resonator model.

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Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

At IBMA some years back I briefly played a Hopkins walnut-chrome banjo--basically an RB-4 copy. (I believe Paul Hopkins was behind the LouZee brand.) It was the only banjo I can recall playing that made me think I was feeling what Earl felt when he was playing in the '50s.

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My DP Hopkins Maple Gold Deluxe is among the best in balanced sound and clarity that I have heard. It literally is music to my ears. Paul Hopkins gold tone rings are indeed spectacular!

Years back, in my folk days I played a Christy long-neck, followed by a Vega PS long-neck which got stolen. Left me for a long period without at banjo. Finally acquired a Wildwood, and then on to my present Stelling Master's Cross.

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Originally posted by steve davis

Hardly "lesser known",but my two Cox banjos ('29 tb-2 double conversion) and new in 2008 Maine walnut "Kentucky 5" are as good as any other banjo,as far as I know.

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My Cox Kentucky 5 mahogany resonator banjo is one of only a few that Jimmy built using his hand made two piece tone ring. This banjo really shines when played at medium volume as the sound is clear and delicate while being well balanced in bass, mids, and trebble and has even volume between strings. It has good sustain without being overly ringy and has limited sympathetic overtones.

The neck on this banjo is the perfect profile with a 1-1/4" nut. Very enjoyable banjo to play. 

I'm not as experienced as 98% of the rest of you here- my first banjo (I'm learning clawhammer) is a Gold Star GE-1 Prospector I got for $595 new... I now also own a Pisgah Rambler Dobson and an Ome Jubilee- and I will still say that Gold Star Prospector is not only a great starter banjo- it's a great banjo period. Not up to my other two- but only cost about 1/5 the price of the other two! I've smoothed up the neck & fret ends on it, swapped out the original chrome hardware for Rickard Bronze Hardware and added an 1/8" thick walnut trim ring to the back of the pot- after removing 1/8" from the back- to keep the same rim depth,
Have Balsh Cowhide heads on the Gold Star and Pisgah, awaiting one for the Ome.

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Originally posted by Pick-A-Lick

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Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

At IBMA some years back I briefly played a Hopkins walnut-chrome banjo--basically an RB-4 copy. (I believe Paul Hopkins was behind the LouZee brand.) It was the only banjo I can recall playing that made me think I was feeling what Earl felt when he was playing in the '50s.

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My DP Hopkins Maple Gold Deluxe is among the best in balanced sound and clarity that I have heard. It literally is music to my ears. Paul Hopkins gold tone rings are indeed spectacular!

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paul hopkins has one the bst tone rings period... you slap one of those nickel or gold rings on a pre war rim and 99% of the time you got something special.

Eric Sullivan's American Classic. Of all of the banjos I have had or played, this one is by far the best and has become my absolute daily go to. I don't know how he did it, but it gets peoples attention. Since I bought this, I quit looking, that's how perfect it is to me anyhow.

I love my Will Fielding custom Rooster open back. Awesome sound. And with Will’s untimely passing, there just aren’t many out there.

I believe Jimmy Cox banjos are great because of two things.
He was as good a player as he was a machinist/builder.

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Originally posted by steve davis

I believe Jimmy Cox banjos are great because of two things.
He was as good a player as he was a machinist/builder.

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Correction to my previous post: I errantly stated Jimmy Cox built his own two piece "TONE RING". I meant to post "TWO PIECE FLANGE". (My brain skipped a beat).
As I understand it; Jimmy personally manufactured by hand almost every part of every banjo he built. The quality is definitely readily apparent when examining any of his banjos. 

Jimmy started by building 100% of the banjo including scratch built tuners,machining every piece as in cutting the gears and threading the tiniest of screws from square stock.
He later bought other folks' tuners because they were taking so much time away from building the banjo.

Jimmy invented what he called a "Nibbler" for removing resonator veneers for recovering.

His early "Palm Pedal" mechanism for raising and lowering strings ala a pedal steel is quite something.

His 2 piece flange "locks" together by careful matching.

I like my Ruby banjo so much, I bought it twice. The person I bought it from both times also bought it twice.

I believe the Ruby company built about 160 banjos in Toronto.