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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: Zepp Music
Year Purchased: 2011
Price Paid: Don't Remember
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This is my first banjo. I have played guitar for 40 yrs and bass/mandolin for 10 yrs. I was only familiar with the Gibson banjo used in my bluegrass band... it would peel paint. The Enoch has a pleasing woody tone but still has a good bit of volume for an open back. Luckily i am at a point in life where I could spend what I wanted... the Enoch stood out, although I also heard a Reiter that I liked.
Sound Rating: 10
Banjo came set up very well... to my ears/eyes/hands. Again I have limited banjo experience but this seemed easy to play. The scooped neck allowed me to attack the strings in a manner which seemed comfortable. The action was certainly higher than my guitars but the banjo is very playable. I only gave it a 9 due to my lack of experience in evaluating banjo setups.
Setup Rating: 9
It is a very clean and basic looking instrument. Very well constructed and has a good solid feel. I have bought enough high end guitars to know a good string instrument when I get one in my hands so I am confident in giving this a 10.
Appearance Rating: 10
Hardware appears very durable and tuners are nice and tight. Finish is great and I would definitely be confident, as confident as I could be with any instrument, gigging without a backup. As nice of a banjo as it is... someone could still knock it off the stand and break something... always carry a backup.
Reliability Rating: 10
I called Kevin Enoch before I made my purchase and he was great. Spent all the time I wanted on the phone and answered all my questions. Kevin offers a lifetime warranty. I had a very hard time finding an 11" Enoch Dobson. I finally found one at Zepp music and they were very accommodating. Gave me a fair trade on an old Gibson guitar and I was good to go.
Customer Service: 10
Components seem solid... no problems. If I had one concern it would be offering a gigbag as opposed to a hardshell case. Raise the price and only sell it with a hardshell case. It is too nice of an instrument to ship or carry in a gigbag. I ordered a hardshell case with mine and that is how it arrived. Gave it an 8 only because of the gigbag.
Components Rating: 8
Great instrument. I realize I am fortunate to be able to start learning on such a nice instrument. In the past I would buy a lower class of instrument with the knowledge that I could upgrade later on. I now realize I am already at later on. This banjo should do me while I am here on this earth (I am not sure if they allow banjos, or accordions, in heaven). Bought instructional DVD's from Dan Levenson, Patrick Costello, and David Holt. All the DVD's are good in their own way.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Directly from Kevin
Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
As others have commented, this model has a unique voice, which is what attracted me in the first place. Had an opportunity to play one at a banjo gathering and that was it--decided to order one almost on the spot. Now that I've had it for a few months, I've really come to appreciate the difference in tonal colors this banjo offers compared to my other instruments. I would agree with the other reviewers that this isn't a loud banjo, but that's actually an asset as far as I'm concerned--makes me work a bit harder to dig out the potential of the instrument.
Sound Rating: 10
I discussed setup with Kevin when I ordered the banjo, and it arrived exactly as I had specified: relatively thick skin head and medium strings; the combination really seems to work well with this tone ring/pot. I haven't done a thing to it, other than occasionally fool around with a chunk of foam stuffed under the head, just to play with different tonal possibilities. Have to admit, I invariably revert to the way I received it.
Setup Rating: 10
There is a lovely simplicity to these banjos that's hard to beat. I really like the round shaped shoes--something about that choice just works, to my eye at least. Additionally, the walnut used in this particular banjo neck has a bit of figure, which was a nice bonus.
Appearance Rating: 10
I've been playing this daily for the last few months, and don't see (nor do I anticipate) any issues at all. All of the hardware seems to be nicely plated and polished, and the finish on the neck simply gets better (i.e., a bit more glossy) with playing.
Reliability Rating: 10
I received the banjo in the middle of what turned out to be a very cold New England winter, which means our house was quite dry from the heating system. As a result, there was a bit of shrinkage in the fingerboard after a couple of months, leaving the fret ends protruding just enough to be noticeable while playing. I knew I was going to be in the DC area, so called Kevin who invited me to swing by his shop. I had expected that I'd need to leave it, but he and Pete Ross took care of it while I was waiting. Can't imagine better service than that.
Customer Service: 10
None that I can find. It strikes me that everything on the banjo is very well thought out, with no apparent cutting of corners. If there were anything about the whole package that I might change, I suppose it would be the gig bag, which was clearly designed for an electric guitar. But frankly, the case's flat, narrow profile has made it easier to get the banjo on a plane and in the overhead bins, so at some level I guess I should consider the case an asset.
Components Rating: 10
I was looking for a banjo with a different sound than the other instruments I own or have owned in the past, and the Enoch Dobson model has provided me with that. I should add that I also played a 12" Dobson, and for my needs, the 11" was a pretty clear winner. Nevertheless, the differences were subtle, so I would advise interested parties to play both size pots and choose for themselves if at all possible. And finally, if something were to happen to this banjo, I'd call Kevin immediately and order another one without hesitating.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Directly from Kevin Enoch
Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: 1295 ($US)
The sound is very clear with good note definition. It isn't particularly loud, and the tone isn't particularly deep or full, but there is something just very pleasing about the tone. It's hard to describe, but it's kind of a warmth, clarity, and smoothness rather than the twang or metallic quality of most banjos.
It has a nice range of tones from playing over the head to playing over the scoop. It sounds great throughout that range, but I especially like the tone when played over the scoop -- it just sings.
I tried a heavy Moon bridge that I happened to have, and it added some additional warmth and fullness to the tone. A nice improvement.
It is set up with a renaissance head, but I plan to try a calfskin head in the future.
Sound Rating: 10
Excellent setup. My Enoch Tradesman came setup a little too high action for my liking, but the Dobson model is perfect. Kevin said that it was set up more for the melodic style playing that people seem to like this instrument for. Great fret work, very comfortable neck, good action. No tweaking necessary.
Setup Rating: 10
Some of the early ones had a walnut pot, but mine is the current maple pot that is painted black. Fretboard is ebony. Headstock has an ebony overlay, but it is dark brown with visible grain instead of solid black. It looks great. There is a star inlaid on the headstock which has some exquisite engraving. The neck is walnut, but is a very dark brown. I think it might be stained, but I'm not sure. The very dark brown looks great to me -- enough of a contrast from the pot, but not too much. There is some visible unfilled grain on the neck, but it still looks good and feels great. The bracket shoes are the round style, which looks great on this guitar. The black tuning knobs also go nicely with the black pot.
Overall, it has a very simple appearance, which is what I like in an old-time banjo.
I think it would look really good with unplated brass hardware instead of the nickel-plated stuff.
Appearance Rating: 9
Everything looks to be of great quality. Tuners work great. Other hardware seems to be very solid.
The Dobson tone ring is a little rough at the edge, a result of the spinning process, but it doesn't cause any problems.
Reliability Rating: 10
Kevin lives about 20 minutes away, and I deal directly with him. He is super helpful and friendly and provides great service.
Customer Service: 10
No weak parts.
The main standout component is the reproduction Dobson silver bell tonering, made by Bill Rickard.
Nothing needs to be upgraded, but I felt that a heavy Moon bridge improved the depth and fullness of the tone. I also plan to try a calfskin head. And, I think that unplated brass hardware and an unplated Dobson tonering would look great on this banjo.
Components Rating: 10
I like it a lot, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes the Dobson tone. It isn't super loud, so it might not be the best choice for a very loud jam.
I compared it to my Chuck Lee 11", which has an ebony tone ring. The Lee is louder and has a deeper fuller tone. However, the Enoch Dobson has better clarity and note separation and I think the tone is just more pleasing overall. I also think that the Enoch Dobson will get better after it has been played for awhile, and I still need to experiment with head tension to optimize it to my preference. Both are great banjos, but somewhat different. I think the Enoch would be my choice for playing at home or in a small group, and for recording. The Lee would probably be my choice for a bigger louder jam. The Enoch is also better suited to more melodic playing.
Overall Rating: 10
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