DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device.
Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher.
Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more.
Premier Sponsors
The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
7232 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Cedar Mountain Banjos
Year Purchased: 2017
Price Paid: 2300 ($US)
sounds great accompanying my wife on the fiddle. has a very rich and warm tone. I put a John Balch goat skin head on it and it has plenty of volume but is nice and plunky.
Sound Rating: 9
The banjo was shipped from the shop. It was set up nicely. The bridge was not in place in order to remove tension for shipping but the head was marked. after placing the bridge, tightening the head and bringing the strings to tension the banjo just what i hoped for.
Setup Rating: 9
Flawless!
Appearance Rating: 10
The hardware is very nice
Reliability Rating: 9
10
Customer Service: 10
no changes are necessary to the banjo. i will likely upgrade the case.
Components Rating: 9
Working with Tim for the last few months has been a great experience. The final product is just what i'd hoped for. I really enjoyed the personalized service and the quick resposes to my queries.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Elderly
Year Purchased: 2016
Price Paid: 2350 ($US)
The sound is excellent for my taste. The L1 has a brass tone hoop, Mahogany neck, and Granadillo block rim. It has a mix of a rich with bright tones. I have it set up with a John Balch skin head. Just my preference. A bit clearer than a renisance head.
Sound Rating: 9
Set up was perfect. I just decided to change the head and I decided I prefer the sound of the J.B skin head.
Setup Rating: 9
Mahogany neck, Grandadillo rim. Clown style peg head with moon and stars. Dots on the fretboard. All very nice looking.
Appearance Rating: 9
Every part of this banjo is excellent quality. It's built to last and will be able to depend on it for my life time.
Reliability Rating: 9
I spoke with Tim Gardner via email. He answered my questions promtly. I purchased the banjo from Elderly. I decided to buy from them becasue their was one avaialble and they offer a 30 day return policy. I felt safe trying it out while taking my time.
Customer Service: 9
Components are of high quality. No cheap parts on this banjo.
Components Rating: 9
I'm very happy with my Cedar Mountain Banjo. I scored 9 on everything as I'm not sure I know what a 10 is at this point in my playing. I can say I have tried many banjo's returning some and needing to sell others. This CMB L1 will mostly likely be my everyday player for a very long time.
It's not easy to find them for sale with dealers so be patient or have one made if you choose to give one a try.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Cedar Mountain Banjos
Year Purchased: 2016
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Just how a 12" southern Appalachian banjo should sound. Big, rich with a tone on the mellow side. Has a nice plunk and doesn't seem to suffer from excessive overtones many larger banjos have. Works great with a fiddle, loud enough to be heard but not competing or too brash. Just gorgeous tone all the way around the fingerboard. It rings in a way all the musicans near me would refer to as "round peak" with a little twinkle in their eye.
Sound Rating: 10
I added the usual slight stuffing in the back. The banjo came from Tim properly set up. Action is perhaps higher than some other banjos, but in a way that is very accommodating to my approach to banjo playing. It appears to be very adjustable to suit any player
Setup Rating: 10
Pretty damned gorgeous. Some of the best figured maple in a neck I've seen. Rim is block rosewood with nice marquetry strip. Ebony board is jet black with a nice moon and 7 stars inlaid. Hardware has a nice polish and the wood finish is very handsome. It's a beautiful piece of work.
Appearance Rating: 10
It's new but is built very well. All materials look top notch. The finish may be thinner than some other banjos but appropriate for what this banjo is and not lacking in quality. It's a mountain banjo for a mountain player. Doesn't need a thick gloss on it
Reliability Rating: 10
Top notch. Tim answered all my questions promptly and the build time was only 6 months. I'll deal with him again.
Customer Service: 10
Like I said, it's a real solid banjo. I don't plan on upgrading a thing, and I'm usually one to tinker with things. It's just right.
Components Rating: 10
I'm glad I own this. I hadn't owned a 12 inch banjo and this definitely satisfied that need. I can't really see it getting any better than this.
Overall Rating: 10
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.