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: Elderly
Year Purchased: 2023
Price Paid: 2950 ($US) (bought USED)
I bought this knowing that it probably wouldn't be the best bluegrass sounding instrument, but I use it for that anyway. The sound from this is loud and incredibly rich, especially in the low end register of it. My instructor has mentioned he's never played a banjo before with such a heavy sounding bass. It suits my needs and I'm very happy with where it is.
The banjo is fitted with the original No. 2 style tone ring with the holes in it and the sound is ample and suitable.
Sound Rating: 8
This banjo would probably be one of the most valuable banjos I've ever owned, it's a 1980's 5-string conversion by Henry Lea and Renee Karnes. While it's not at the same level of filigree that Renee is known for her work, the neck built to match the original 1925 neck is of exceptional quality and the woods picked out even surpass the original for its figuring.
Elderly did an awesome job setting up the banjo for sale to the perfect action height. Previous owner replaced the head with a skin J.D. Balch type and the original 4 string Otteinger with an ABM 4555 type tensionator for five string. Sadly, the Otteinger was not included with the hardware, but the original plectrum neck and the knee mute was. I've re-installed the knee mute but I have very little use for it in bluegrass style music, but it is a fun effect to play with and sometimes, it can be nice to use for emphasis or dynamics.
The only real change I've made since purchasing other than installing the knee mute is to put keith style tuners on this. The headstock is much thicker than you would find on normal banjos as this most likely is fitted with a permanent fixed stainless steel rod rather than a traditional truss rod. So the neck is not really adjustable except to switch out bridges.
Setup Rating: 10
This banjo is absolutely gorgeous, the quality of craftsmanship of the 1920s pot is unsurpassed, except by the modern neck work by Renee. The wood and inlay are beautifully done and the neck is a real beauty. The flaming on it is excellent and the inlay work on the fretboard is really well done. All the details from the original banjo neck have been captured including the strap.
Like all banjos unfortunately, the metal chromed hardware likes to oxidize, but this is all still just surface stuff, and hopefully nothing to really worry about. Maybe down the line it would be worth it to pull it all apart and polish, but for now it is perfectly fine by me.
Appearance Rating: 10
The original hooks and nuts are fine, the finish is a little on the sticky side, I am a little used to more smoother necks, but I do keep a thing of fast fret in my case. As I traded in my Gold Star towards this, it is the only five string I have to take to jams. My only worry is if I'm ever in a warm humid environment, the skin head is incredibly reactive. I may swap this out with a frosted drum head in future.
Reliability Rating: 9
not applicable
Customer Service: not rated
As the neck was a new(-ish) build from the 1980's, the original neck was removed with the original grover tuners which I still have. The new neck was fitted with five-star planetaries which are fine if not a little bit sticky. Keith tuners are perfectly fine on this excepting the headstock thickness so the washer was not used.
The bridge fitted here is unknown, but I most likely will swap it out with a Huber type or have a few on hand in future.
Components Rating: 10
This is a 1980/1 5 string conversion of a 1925 Bacon and Day Silver Bell No. 1 by Renee Karnes and Henry Lea. It is an absolute gem and beauty of a banjo to play. The neck is thicker than I'm used to but it's not chunky in any way, but nestles perfectly into my hand.
While purists are likely to say, "That's not the right sound for bluegrass", I think it's got a really forward pushy sound that makes it unique and stands out from the traditional twangy sound with a much sweeter voice with a deep throaty bassy end. I have been on the search for my own bacon and day since 2006 and only after 17 years of waiting do I finally get to have it. I know my previous review I said I would probably keep the Gold Star GF-85, but when presented with the opportunity to own my personal grail banjo, I couldn't turn down the chance.
It's probably likely I'll acquire another banjo in the future, one I wouldn't be afraid to camp with, but this one is staying put in my collection.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Marc Silber Music, Berkeley
Year Purchased: 2021
Price Paid: 795 ($US) (bought USED)
This is my first intermediate level banjo and sound wise it is a great improvement over my beginner banjos. The sound is rich and and projects very well. My banjo teacher has mentioned what a great sounding instrument this is. Lows and mids are crisp, however as you get higher up the neck, some of the notes become a little difficult to voice, but it can voice pretty well in that range.
Sound Rating: 8
The banjo has had an unknown number of previous owners prior to my purchase from Marc Silber. It is most likely Marc's setup on this banjo as it has been spiked for the 7-10th frets and well dressed. The tuning pegs have also been swapped out from stock ones and replaced with a set of Waverlys which are far superior to any asian-made banjo I've ever owned. The stock bridge has been swapped out for a 5/8" Huber which puts works very nicely with the setup of the neck.
Setup Rating: 10
Inlays are simple and very much reserved. They have held up well to nearly daily playing. I very much prefer the darker brown this one is finished in over the more orange-ish color that subsequent years have been released in.
This banjo is #41 of the original 100 of the 2003 re-issue so the rim and resonator were provided by Jim Cox rather than Saga made. I believe this may be one of the reasons that this banjo may outperform its regular Asian made counterparts in terms of fit and finish. The only real flaw I can find is that the flange is not a perfect fit into the resonator, however this probably can be attributed to the age and any shape changes that the resonator may naturally take on.
As to quality of plating, there's not much I really can mention as this instrument came into my possession fairly well patinaed. However, in its 20 year life span, there are no wear spots to note on the arm rest or around the hoop.
Appearance Rating: 9
Most of the hardware has been swapped out. The flange, hoop and tone ring are a very good fit and finish for this instrument as there are no visible gaps or poor fitments anywhere on this instrument. This is definitely a hard wearing banjo as it has 20 years of wear on it and the only real issue is a small crack in the finish of the resonator.
Reliability Rating: 10
I have tried to reach out to Saga directly for some possible information, however they are not very responsive.
Marc Silber is a great shop seller, however he is very much getting up in age and it is becoming more and more difficult to get ahold of him sometimes, but he still continues to run his business. I have not had the need to reach out for any repairs so far, however this may be difficult as I have no moved out of state.
Customer Service: 10
Like with all banjos I've owned, the bridge would probably be the first to go, but as someone has put in a Huber bridge, this one has provided excellent service and longevity. It would almost be unfair to compare this instrument to a stock GF-85 as this, comparatively, came to me with so little stock parts. I'd probably give this a slightly lower rating as so many parts have been swapped out, so I can only assume the stock items may be inferior. But if setup just right, this parts can make up a pretty good banjo. No complaints about the hoop, flange and hooks, etc.
Components Rating: 9
Overall, it would be an unfair comparison say this is a true representation of a Gold Star GF-85 as this is one of the 100 first reissue models. But overall it is a good banjo, quite reasonable for the price and still are if you can find one with a serial number between 030001 and 030100. It is loud and will definitely cut through a classroom of Gold Tones and the weight is definitely one that would prepare you for a professional level banjo. Just as easily this could be the last banjo you buy as the quality and workmanship is very high on these particular banjos. Sadly the GF-85 is no longer produced as Gold Star only produces an open back and the rest of the resonator lineup are all variations of the GF-100 series set at a higher price point than these. It probably would not be hard to still find a few of these floating around on the second hand market and possibly the demand would be higher for the ones with the Cox rim and resonators.
As I always seem to have a perpetual case of instrument-acquire-itus, I don't think this would be my last banjo, but I would certainly have to give serious thought if I were to ever sell or trade this one in.
Overall Rating: 10
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