Given these choices, The Prucha for sure. It is a hand crafted banjo from a world renowned builder at an excellent price. As you know it is from the Czech republic. Prucha is a supplier of high quality parts for other builders including many US builders.

The Deering is a fine American made banjo. It is factory made. The price is about what you'd find it for here in the US.

If you have the resources, grab both. Otherwise, my opinion is the Prucha is the way to go. I believe you'd be happy with either.

Welcome to the hangout . That is a really cool story . Maybe the only Stelling in China . That’s crazy . If you can play both of them that’ll help make up your mind ? Best of luck and thank you for promoting bluegrass music.

I second the Prucha. That’s a great price for a great banjo!

That is a great price on the Prucha.  

It looks like the Prucha is a wood? tone ring compared to the bronze on the Deering and your Stelling.  It will be a nice compliment to what you have instead of a repeat.

Yeah. The Prucha.

First of all, welcome! Second, Prucha for sure. They are great banjos, and that is a great price.

The Prucha is more universally interchangeable. Finest quality and durability.
As stated, the Deering is a fine quality factory banjo.

Keep these instrument(s) in the cases when not playing. Wipe finger oils away for longevity.

Thank you all for your replies, I really appreciate how welcoming you all are. I’m still learning my way around this forum, and I look forward to sharing more stories about bluegrass music in China in the future.

If you have a chance to play both of them, do so and maybe have someone play so you can hear what they sound like both in front of you and when you are playing the banjo.

Decide which one you like best, is easiest to tune and keep in tune, has the banjo sound you're looking for. Then make up your mind which one to purchase.

Banjo sound and feel is something personal and what I might like, you might not so..... personal choice, not what we would do.

Since the tone between the two banjos and going to be rather different, and you want a different tone from the Stelling and can play them both, go with the tone you like the best between the two if unable to purchase both. Both would be quality banjos to add to your stable.

Bobby

The Prucha is the better banjo.

if you are looking for something with a different tonal character the prucha will fit the bill and is built very well.... and at that price it would be hard to pass up.

If you can be patient, you could buy a bluegrass banjo on one of the auction sites in japan. Like https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/.

From time to time, a Tokai T1200R will appear for purchase on that site.  Try to get from 1978 to 1984 - those are good.

You can use "BUYEE" to buy the banjo, repack it and ship it to you.  I have bought 4 banjos in that way.  Even after the cost of shipping, it can be very affordable.

The Japanese yen is low now.  I am assuming they will ship to mainland China.

If you stay with your original question, I would choose the Prucha.

For commenters:   Prucha banjos are superb banjos, and one has been my main banjo for the last 19 years.

You can't compare the poster's available Prucha to the ones being made in the last 20 years.  And here is why:  Mr. Prucha worked with and learned from Mr. Stelling.  The first picture -- the 1995 Prucha -- shows the Prucha rim on the poster's Prucha.  You can see that the side of the rim is slanted.  This is the "wedge fit" design that Stelling created and used.  We don't see or know what sits on top of this -- something has to be there.  Wood?  Metal?  Stelliing-type ring?  It would be helpful to see a picture.

The later Prucha banjos have the straight sided tone ring, as does mine.

With this different early design, the Prucha can't be said to be more universally interchangeable or at a good price or different from the Stelling.  There is simply no evidence one way or another.  Prucha currently makes two designs:  The first is his own design of rim, tone ring, and flange.  Can differentiate this because the holes in the flange are the same shape as the outline of the peghead -- something Stelling does too.  And these will have Prucha design inlays.  The second design is the Gibson design, marked by Gibson style flange holes.  And these will have Gibsons style inlays.  I don't believe the parts are all interchangeable between the two designs.

If the Prucha were the later, current design, and the unique Prucha design (as mine is), there would be no contest.  Prucha -- world class.  Deering Sierra -- pretty good banjo.

So I'd ask for another picture of whatever sits on top of the rim, before making a recommendation.

Hope this helps.

from what you've said I'd go with the Prucha for $1,400

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alex Z

For commenters:   Prucha banjos are superb banjos, and one has been my main banjo for the last 19 years.

You can't compare the poster's available Prucha to the ones being made in the last 20 years.  And here is why:  Mr. Prucha worked with and learned from Mr. Stelling.  The first picture -- the 1995 Prucha -- shows the Prucha rim on the poster's Prucha.  You can see that the side of the rim is slanted.  This is the "wedge fit" design that Stelling created and used.  We don't see or know what sits on top of this -- something has to be there.  Wood?  Metal?  Stelliing-type ring?  It would be helpful to see a picture.

The later Prucha banjos have the straight sided tone ring, as does mine.

With this different early design, the Prucha can't be said to be more universally interchangeable or at a good price or different from the Stelling.  There is simply no evidence one way or another.  Prucha currently makes two designs:  The first is his own design of rim, tone ring, and flange.  Can differentiate this because the holes in the flange are the same shape as the outline of the peghead -- something Stelling does too.  And these will have Prucha design inlays.  The second design is the Gibson design, marked by Gibson style flange holes.  And these will have Gibsons style inlays.  I don't believe the parts are all interchangeable between the two designs.

If the Prucha were the later, current design, and the unique Prucha design (as mine is), there would be no contest.  Prucha -- world class.  Deering Sierra -- pretty good banjo.

So I'd ask for another picture of whatever sits on top of the rim, before making a recommendation.

Hope this helps.

---

Thank you for your advice. Here are more component photos of the Prucha banjo, including the tone ring.

I too thought that the tone ring was missing from the Prucha!!! And that the wedge fit shape of the rim meant a wedge shaped metal tone ring should sit on top of it. Your final picture shows the entire arrangement.

It is "possible" that the wedge fit rim/tone ring, being similar to the Stelling design, plus being made of maple wood like your Stelling Sunflower, the Prucha and Stelling might sound more alike. Compared to the mahogany Sierra with a Gibson-like rim and tone ring. Your desire seems to be for a different sound compared to your Stelling.

Now Stellings are well known for their loud strident sound. You my find the Deering Sierra to be a bit softer sound, somewhat warmer.

The only way to know is to play both banjos and choose the one you like.

As said many times here, both are good banjos. Based strictly on price, the Prucha is more of a bargain for you. You must decide which you like better for its sound.

Good luck! And welcome to the Banjo Hangout.

Hello Jason and welcome to BHO.
Those are two great looking banjos. Play and A/B compare them together if possible, then choose.
My two resonator banjos are Deerings - an early maple neck Hartford and a walnut GDL. I'm happy with both, but have always wanted to try a Stelling and a Prucha.
You already have the Stelling. I'd go go the Prucha, especially at that price as long as there are no issues.
I hope the new banjo helps you become one of the banjo evangilists in China. Good luck !

Does anyone think that either the tone ring or the rim that is on the Prucha is not original?  Would Mr. Prucha or Mr. Stelling ever design something this way -- Stelling style rim with Gibson style tone ring?

The tone ring shown is certainly not a "wedge fit" to the rim shown.

Now that you mention it Alex, the photo showing the tone ring fit to the rim, seems to show the two are not the same diameter? From that photo it looks like I see some of the wood rim top exposed on the inside?

So you're saying this is a flathead ring trying to live on top of a wedge fit rim? If that's true that changes the calculus a little...

Are you saying you've "fallen in love" with the Prucha?

Well, in that case, the choice is obvious. Get the instrument you'll love.

"So you're saying this is a flathead ring trying to live on top of a wedge fit rim? If that's true that changes the calculus a little..."

Exactly.  And I'm not just saying it -- I am pointing to the helpful pictures that the poster sent.

And, I'm asking the question to commenters:  Do you think that both the rim and the tone ring are the way that Mr. Prucha originally built the banjo?

Myself, looking at the care and precision with which Prucha banjos are built, I don't think Mr. Prucha did this.  And thus all the good attributes and tone and value of current Prucha banjos can't be attributed to this instrument automatically.  

Just trying to help the poster make an informed decision, since there are few banjos available for him to try in his country.