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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:
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: Don't Remember
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This banjo has a unique sound. Hartford designed it to have 24 frets, and the little bit of extra length of the fretboard allows the bridge to be moved closer to the center of the head. Consequently it has a very full, rich sound with a lot of sparkle but a really rich, warm midrange and deep bass. Unlike the John Hartford #1 it has a bell bronze tonering and thus more of a bluegrassy sound. So like the standard Deering sound on their upper end models (with the tapered resonator) but bigger, deepr and warmer - with two full octaves of access. I just love it.
Sound Rating: 10
It was a great setup, but the action was a little low for me. I raised the action to suit my preference, and switched the bridge.
Since there's no real place to say this, I think Deering necks are the best I have played -- for my hands. They are very quick and confortable.
Setup Rating: 10
I think it has the prettiest inlays I've seen, ranking with the Wreath and Whyte Laydie for beauty.
Appearance Rating: 10
Hand rubbed tobacco colored stain on the maple resonator. Extremely durable laquer finish on the neck. Outstanding finish and super dependable.
Reliability Rating: 10
Deering is great.
Customer Service: 10
Mostly good, but I want to upgrade the tuning pegs. Kind of cheap. Otherwise top flight hardware.
Components Rating: 8
It's a really unique, professional quality banjo. Great for bluegrass but with a special sound different from the classic pre-war flathead, although close enough that it's good for FMB, etc. It's particularly great sounding for backup. Just listen to JH, this was the main model banjo he played in his later years.
I would certainly buy another one. It's equal to my Timeless Timber, which has the classic flathead sound and power, just different. More people should try these banjos, I think they are some of the best banjos available, Hartford put a lot of thought into this model.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Privately
Year Purchased: 2003
Price Paid: 2500 ($US) (bought USED)
I have just had the banjo a few days, so consider this a preliminary report to be updated. It has a very pre-war sound, by which I mean it sounds somewhere in between Butch Robins' RB4 sound and J. D. Crowe's sound, i.e. a little more trebly than Crowe but full and rich. It has that sort of ring and husky clack that I associate with the classic pre-war mahogany sound. Obviously there are pre-war banjos with very different sounds. But an amazing approximation of the sound. I understand Bela Fleck and Alison Brown have bought them. Bela certainly knows what a good RB-75 sounds like.
BUT it doesn't necessarily sound better than my R&T with a Pass rim and Kulesh ring -- that has a more melodic sound - just different. I love the classic bluegrass sound so I'm addicted.
Sound Rating: 10
Great setup, although I may fiddle withthe head tension. The fellow I bought it from included a bridge he made that is actually better than the TT bridge (also included).
Most comfortable neck I have ever played, made by the great Robin Smith. Radiused, great meaty frets.
Setup Rating: 10
Really well done, great inlays etc. BUT the ring inlay on the back of the resonator is not quite perfect, i.e. there's a slight gap where the ring comes together. Not what I would expect from perfectionist builders. But... it reminds me that it's handmade.
So two ratings averaged -
Smith's Neck 10
Resonator 6
Appearance Rating: 7
Great finish and hardware. Very dependable.
Reliability Rating: 10
Robin Smith and Bill Stokes are very, nice fellows. I bought it used though
Customer Service: not rated
The major standout part is the chrome Hopkins tonering which the previous owners replaced the stock McPeake ring with. Good gosh this thing rings. From what the previous owners say the difference was very dramatic. This is not to dis the McPeake ring, it may have been fitted a bit too tight and apparently the Hopkins had a somewhat looser fit on the rim. But y'all have got to hear this ring ring.
On the other hand the TT bridge doesn't sound as good as the one I replaced it with so 10 for the Hopkins tonering 8 for the TT bridge.
Components Rating: 9
Absolutely. This thing is a steal. But don't steal it from me! As I said previously it's not really better than the R&T with the Pass rim, just different. But if you want the classic prewar sound at an affordable price this is your ticket.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Privately
Year Purchased: 2002
Price Paid: 1700 ($US)
Fantastic rich -- LOUD -- bluegrass sound. Great variety of sounds based on picking positions, picks and touch. Clear up and down the neck. Didn't really show all it could do until I got a Tony Pass Old Wood Rim and Kyle Smith set it up.
Sound Rating: not rated
Well set up, but whatever Kyle did to it achanges it a lot, and the Pass rim was key. It has the Kulesh ring, and I have no hankering to upgrade it.
Since posting this review I have heard a Hopkins tonering. It is superior to the Kulesh in my estimation, and in the Timeless Timber banjo I heard it in gives a better sound then my R&T with the Kulesh.
Setup Rating: not rated
Beautiful, not very flashy but well finished.
Appearance Rating: not rated
Good finish. Added D Tuners.
Reliability Rating: not rated
No longer exists.
Customer Service: not rated
I must say the best component is probably the new rim!
Components Rating: not rated
I would certainly recommend it, and have. The best modern banjo I have played, until I heard a Timeless Timber with a Hopkins tonering. But that's a lot more expensive.
Overall Rating: not rated
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