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: from Mr. Menzies
Year Purchased: 2021
Price Paid: 895 ($US)
Really nice! Warm and earthy tone with great bass response and sweet high notes. Volume is good—not too quiet or too loud. Playing hard gives it a cool growly tone. Most of the sound exits through the porthole on the side of the gourd.
Sound Rating: 10
Plays effortlessly. Action is superb. Neck has a silky smooth finish and a good shape to it—not too thin or too bulky. I also like the nut width (1 3/4") and scale length (26"). Gives plenty of room for double frailing, and makes for easy chords.
Jeff recommended tuning it to D, D#, or E at the highest. Could go as low as C though.
Banjo was very carefully packed for shipping. Arrived with the bridge down, so just needed to pop that up and tune it.
Setup Rating: 10
This is the exact banjo I got: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMfm-bVBf3Y/
Beautiful instrument! Clearly crafted with care and expertise. Has a clean, natural look. Slightly darker than it appears in the photos. The neck has a nice shape, and the finish brings out the grain well. I also like the color and pattern of the head, which goes nicely with the other components of the instrument.
Materials are: figured almond neck and dowel stick, purple heart tailpiece and tuning pegs, bone nut & 5th string peg, goatskin head, brass tacks, and gourd pot (duh). The bridge is tied on to the protruding end of the dowel stick with sinew. Wooden components and gourd exterior finished with Tru-Oil. Gourd interior is unfinished.
Appearance Rating: 10
This is a solid instrument. I expect it to last a very long time. I don't foresee it needing more attention than a typical banjo. When I asked Jeff about maintenance, his advice was just to keep the instrument out of the rain and direct sunlight, and flip the bridge down when not in use if it's very humid out. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I was worried about gourd banjos and skin heads being fragile or temperamental, but my experience thus far (admittedly not a long time) suggests otherwise. There is nothing flimsy or fragile about this instrument.
Reliability Rating: 10
I contacted Jeff via his company email about purchasing the banjo. He responded quickly and was happy to answer all the questions I had. (Most of the technical details I've included in this review come from our conversation.) Overall we had a meaningful and friendly correspondence. I wouldn't hesitate to contact him regarding the instrument in the future.
Customer Service: 10
Every component of this banjo is handmade, beautifully finished, locally sourced, and of excellent quality. Nothing cheap or shoddy. The gourd is rock-hard and shows no sign of bugs or rot. The friction pegs do take some getting used to, but they work well.
Components Rating: 10
If you can't already tell, I really like this instrument! I wanted something unique yet functional, and this is definitely it. It was more expensive than most gourd banjos I found online, but I feel my money was well spent. I'd definitely recommend Jeff's instruments based on my experience with this particular one.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Menzies Stringed Instruments
Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Wow what an outstanding instrument to play! If you play a banjo now, you need to check out the sounds and playability of one of Jeff's banjo's. I play the 3-finger picking style myself, and I have never had more fun. It has a deap yet full sound, and each string is a new world of tones.
Sound Rating: 10
I pulled it out of the box, flipped the bridge upwright, smiled and started playing. The only issue I had was me at first trying to beat it to death with my picks. This instrument gets louder the softer you play it.
Setup Rating: 10
Flawless! A picture paints a thousand words so take a look for yourself at: www.menziesinstruments.com
Appearance Rating: 10
It will be around for a long time. Who needs a backup?
Reliability Rating: 10
I now consider Jeff a good friend! Fast and easy!
Customer Service: 10
Handcrafted to perfection! Everything from the tuners to the gourd itself is crafted as if by a watch maker.
Components Rating: 10
No other banjo compares to the gourd banjo as it has it's own limitless range of sounds. If it was stolen, I'd buy another. It is the neatest thing to play. As a collector/player of vintage banjo's I can sum things up in two words-Thanks Jeff!
Overall Rating: 10
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.