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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!
7233 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Atomic music Beltsville Md
Year Purchased: 2013
Price Paid: 260 ($US)
Been playing now for 4 months and had a Beginning Fender banjo. I traded it in for the Morgan Monroe Rocky Top. This is a GREAT beginning banjo! I can't stop playing it. The sound and the action is SO MUCH better than the Fender. It's really a pleasure to play. Hammers and Pull offs are much clearer. Dynamics on the banjo are also much better. You can play soft but it had the ability to be very loud and rich.
Sound Rating: 8
It seemed to be perfect out of the box.
Setup Rating: 9
Great . Reddish rich type wood.
Appearance Rating: 9
Seems very reliable. it is staying in tune much better than the beginning Fender I had.
Reliability Rating: not rated
haven't dealt with CS.
Customer Service: not rated
Components Rating: not rated
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Banjo Hut
Year Purchased: 2002?
Price Paid: About $800 New
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Very good quality starter bluegrass banjo for the price. Great bang for yer buck banjo! I eventually changed out the tonering and the bridge and it made a heck of a difference in the quality of the tone but it actually sounds pretty darn good from the star right out of the box.
Sound Rating: 8
Not set up at all when I got it.. I had to do it myself.
I swapped out the stock tone ring with an old Stew-Mac archtop conversion ring and it really made that banjo scream! Changing the original head, tailpiece and bridge really helped out too!
Setup Rating: 5
Very nice inlay and wood work on this banjo ..and the choice of woods used are beautiful!
Appearance Rating: 9
Nice finish! Cheap Tailpiece though. ..and I would recommend upgrading the tone ring. As far as gigs go.. I used it for a few years for every gig I played with no back up and it held up quite well.
Reliability Rating: 8
No experience there.. Never had a need..
Customer Service: 5
Cheap tailpiece for sure, could use a better tone ring but it's really not necessary for a beginner. This is a great overall bluegrass banjo for the price.
Components Rating: 6
Highly recommended bluegrass starter banjo for the price! I have since sold mine to make room for my new Nechville Banjo.
This is not the highest end banjo out there but it is made very well and it can really hold it's own in a bluegrass jam! If you're looking for a descent quality and cost friendly bluegrass screamer then this is a good start!
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: Folk of The Wood (online)
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: 350 ($US)
Sounds very good to me - bright and crisp. My banjo instructor likes it as well. Of course I am new, but this should serve me until I save enough for Deering's Calico.
Sound Rating: 7
Sorry to say I don't believe it was set up. They adjusted the action and tightened a few things at my music place.
Setup Rating: 5
I think the banjo is very pretty considering the price I paid for it. The inlay is beautiful IMHO. No appearance flaws - the armrest was dented slightly - it was obviously banged around a bit before it was packed up.
Appearance Rating: 8
Very solid. No complaints.
Reliability Rating: 9
Seems like other people have had better luck with this company than I have. I doubt they take an order for this cheap an instrument seriously. They didn't mind shipping me a (slightly) dinged up one. Again, not too big a deal really. I'll leave it at that.
Customer Service: 3
The tuners are very good and the instrument is all around solid. Considering it is an entry-level model under the $500 range, I have to give it a 10.
Components Rating: 10
I would recommend this banjo to another entry level student. I haven't tried the entry level Gold Tones, which are also supposed to be good.
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: Mac's Music and More Shelbyville Indiana
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: 499.00 ($US)
I pick Scruggs Style Bluegrass. Can't yet afford that Gibson and was highly impressed with the Morgan Monroe. To me It doesn't have the sound of a Gibson as some say but it's a heck of a lot closer than you might think for the money. It is a lot louder than I thought it would be when I got it and keeps getting louder as I learn more about setting it up properly. (it's only 2 months old now) a bright enough sound but not as crisp as I like. A little heavy on the bass side to me. One problem I am having is when I play while using a capo I always have to retune the 2,3,and 4 strings. I know some retuning in common but on this banjo it really seem like a lot more than I've ever had to before on several different types of Banjos.
Sound Rating: 8
It was not set up at all when I got it. No fault really of Mac's, he is just getting into the bluegrass side of music and really trying. A GREAT guy to do business with. I had to tighten the head (and still don't have it just right) and adjust the action a bit. I was getting tons of buzz at first from all over the neck but now only occasionally between 3 and 7. maybe she is
Setup Rating: 1
The most beautiful one i've seen in ages. I'm really in love with the looks of it. Go to www.Morganmonroe.com and look at then for yourself. The MNB-2 is a better sounding banjo (10 pound tone ring only difference i think other than appearance) but the mnb-1 is a lot prettier i think.
Appearance Rating: 10
She's only 2 months old right now but I don't see why it won't last forever. i'll probably never use the lifetime warranty but it's great to have it. I'll let you know if it changes. The case was a great deal too. Came free with the Banjo and is a sturdy, hardshell with Morgan Monroe emblem and all. I love it.
Reliability Rating: 8
I haven't dealt with the company yet but I'm not afraid to. I've talked to a few people in this area who have had to contact them and were really surprised at the great service. one guy damaged the instrument himself, told them that, asked for suggestions, and they sent him a new one !!!
Customer Service: 10
I'll have to
Components Rating: 9
Definately !!! Last year (and still) all I heard about was Gold Tone Banjos sounding just like Gibsons but for under $1,000. I never saw one under $1,000 and i saw and played alot of them. They are awesome banjos, really, but for 50% of the money I got maybe 85% of the banjo. I will be upgrading to the MNB-2 next month. it's about $100 - $200 more but WELL worth it. I've been playing on one down at Mac's. . . . . hahaha
I would recommend the mnb-1 to anyone from beginner to
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: nashville new and used music
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: 600 ($US)
i play bluegrass and this banjo is the best i have heard, i have had many gibson owners say it sounds beeter than there's
Sound Rating: 10
action is nice and low with no buzzing very easy to play
Setup Rating: 10
maghanoy neck and maple resonators has a clear remo head gold hardware italian reef abilon inlayed fretboard
Appearance Rating: 10
it will last for a long time as long as it not abused like any instrutment only thing I would worry about is breaking a string
Reliability Rating: 10
the warranty is a liftime along as it has not been abused
Customer Service: 10
gold hardware
ablon inlay
remo head
Components Rating: 10
for the price and guality I would recommend it to everyone expierinced and beginner, I love this banjo better than any gibson I have played or any one for that matter
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Picker's Paradise (AL)
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: 500 ($US)
Just learning to play and it sounded the best out of the selection he had..(especially for the price)...Using it to learn bluegrass style of playing ( Only dissappointed that it was made in Korea)
Sound Rating: 8
Everything was set up when I bought it and haven't had to make any adjustments. Except for tightening the head.
Setup Rating: 7
3-ply solid blocked mahogany rim, 14" mahogany resonator, Rosewood tipped maple bridge, rosewood fretbaord, Abalone Heart pattern inlay
Appearance Rating: 8
Rolled brass tone ring, 10 to 1 gear ratio Ashton Bailey planetary tuners
Reliability Rating: 8
Customer Service: not rated
22 nickel silver frets, 1 piece flange, rolled brass tone ring
Components Rating: 8
Looking forward to learning with this banjo as it seems to be a great beginning banjo.
Overall Rating: 8
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