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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!
7234 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Guitar Tex
Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: $200ish ($US)
First off, I looked on Gold Tone`s website and couldn`t find anything that looked like my model. It`s an open back and obviously one of their cheaper models. It sounds very mellow. Not loud at all. Buzzed from the beginning on the middle open G string. I started itchin` for another banjo after only 3 mounths of playing it.
Sound Rating: 2
The fifth string wasn`t geared, and was almost impossible to tune. Like I said, it buzzed a whole lot.
Setup Rating: 3
Their were no flaws on it, but it was way too simple. Just plain dots on the fret board and a very basic peg head.
Appearance Rating: 2
Well, the good thing about this banjo is that as soon as you buy it, it can`t get any worse.
Reliability Rating: 10
I just bought it from a small store. No complaints.
Customer Service: 10
(see setup) Besides those, there isn`t anything else.
Components Rating: 4
For a beginner banjo, it`s okay. But if you want a great beginner banjo, read my review for the Iida Aluminum Classic.
Overall Rating: 2
Where Purchased: ebay
Year Purchased: 2006
Price Paid: $162 ($US) (bought USED)
It is a very loud banjo, and extremely clear. Bang for buck, it`s hands down the best banjo I`ve ever played. This sounds crazy, but when you capo up to A, there is no discerable difference between this banjo and JD Crowe`s. If you want the Crowe sound, this is the closest you can get. lol, for $150. Seriously. It`s only weakness is that when you go way up the neck it gets pretty quiet.
Sound Rating: 10
Before, it still sounded good, but it had a non-geared 5th string and some other minor problems. Took it to a luthier and got some rail road spikes installed and the fifth string fixed. But hey, I spent $162 on it.
Setup Rating: 6
Boy, this is it`s weakness. A very, very ugly banjo. It looks like they ran out of ideas for the neck inlay and just put squares. Which, actually, they did. But don`t let this keep you from buying one. The sound is what matters. At least the appearence is at the top of it`s $150 class.
Appearance Rating: 2
So far, so good.
Reliability Rating: 10
N/A
Customer Service: not rated
There are cheap parts, (such as a non-geared 5th string) but nothing that keeps it from sounding any better.
Components Rating: 6
This is the ultimate starting banjo. I`m not a professional but am not at all a bad player. This banjo is cheap enough for a beginner and sounds good enough for anyone short of Bella Fleck. (well, almost)
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Hill Country Music
Year Purchased: 04
Price Paid: $470ish ($US)
It sounds pretty bright. I tightened the head and that made it a brand new $700-sounding banjo. A Snuffy Smith bridge sweetened the deal. It sounds a lot like Mike Scott`s banjo, if you`ve ever heard some of his recordings. Or, if you move your right hand closer to the neck, it sounds like Mike Jones` banjo. For the under-$500 price range, It gets a 10. But it`s no Gibson.
Sound Rating: 8
Yeah, all I did was tighten the head and change the bridge. But that`s a personal taste thing.
Setup Rating: 10
It looks like a classic banjo, with shiny-looking chrome parts and flower inlay. About the same thing as a Scruggs standard, but no pretty wood finishes.
Appearance Rating: 10
I`ve played it for one and a half years with out a backup. I play hard at least one hour a day, and go to jams every week.
Reliability Rating: 10
It was fine. I know the owners of the music store. But I`ve no expirience with Hohner themselves.
Customer Service: 10
Everyone told me I had a junk light-weight tail piece on it, so I "upgraded" to a heavier one. All that did was dampen the sound, so I put back the origanal "junk" tail piece and it sounded better. Heavier parts are not always the answer.
Components Rating: 10
This thing sounds like a $700 to $800 banjo. You could probably get it for $300 used. I love it. It`s a great upgrade from the $150-$200 class.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased:
Year Purchased:
Price Paid: over $2000
historic exchange rates / currency converter
Has got alot of punch to it, with good bass. When you capo from frets 2 to 5 it sounds alot like a RB-75 Crowe, and almost just like the one one Crowe`s CD. Very very clear
Sound Rating: 10
N/A
Setup Rating: not rated
This one`s gold plated, but that`s not standard. But even if it were standard nickel it would look great.
Appearance Rating: 10
Time will tell, but so far, no complaints.
Reliability Rating: 10
N/A
Customer Service: not rated
Everything is top of the line.
Components Rating: 10
There are alot of great banjos you can get in this price range. (2400`s) I`ve played several Crafters of Tennessee banjos and they all have a great distinct sound. This is a cheaper model but sounds as great as the rest.
Overall Rating: 10
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