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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: ebaY
Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 300 ($US) (bought USED)
This banjo is awesome! It is a, short-scale, 4-string, melody banjo. It is like a banjo mandolin but with four strings not eight. It has a clear, very piercing tone that really works well in a string band.
Sound Rating: 10
I replaced the head (fiberskyn). I had to file grooves in the aluminum band around the rim of the head so it would fit under the hooks (that was a chore). I added a Kelly Emerson sweet-power bridge (awesome). It plays and sounds great!
Setup Rating: 9
Very simple, no frills...all performance!
Appearance Rating: 8
All original 90-year old hardware. I replaced the missing tailpiece with a correct period part. The old chamtion style tuners are hard to use...but I'm leaving them in place.
Reliability Rating: 8
Not Available.
Customer Service: not rated
Everything is great...except the tuners. I could replace them...but I'm keeping this banjo original for now.
Components Rating: 8
I love the sound of this banjo. The lower tension of the 4-string design means the neck has survived without the problems often seen on banjo/ mandolins from the period. It plays fantastic. It is one of the most fun banjos I have.
Overall Rating: 10
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