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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!
7235 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: not out yet
Year Purchased: not for sale yet
Price Paid: Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
I played this today and played just about every style of music I know of.... worked great for all of em. Wonderful even tone up and down the neck.... Sullivan said he was tryin to get a prewar sound.... i think he got a bit better than that.
Sound Rating: 10
Banjo was set up great. Like anything from first quality.
Setup Rating: 10
It has a nice homey look to it.
Appearance Rating: 9
all good here
Reliability Rating: 10
First Quality has always been very helpful to me.
Customer Service: 10
Everything is very nice here, nothing that needs to be upgraded as far as i can see..... Although If it were me I think i would maybe someday get a wooden arm-rest if i bought this just because i think i got a bit of an allergy to nickel or id wear flannel shirts with long sleeves.
Components Rating: 10
Note I do not own this, but, This banjo is gonna be one heck of a banjo when Sullivan puts these things out for sell. Like i said, its not out yet. But its a very nice banjo that is going to please lots of people.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Ebay
Year Purchased: 2005-06
Price Paid: Don't Remember (bought USED)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
This banjo doesnt have a bad sound, thats for sure. I have gotten several compliments on the sound of it, one guy also said he liked the tone of it for clawhammer too. A fairly versatile sound range on this banjo. Althouhg for my style, i would like a bit more sustain on it, especially up high. and a deeper bass sound would be nice too.
Sound Rating: 8
The setup when i got it was actually pretty good. The action was good for me. It was slightly used, so it has probably already been set up before they shipped it. I have changed a few things though, i prefer frosted heads, so i changed the clear head out after about a year, also i changed to a snuffy smith bridge. The bridge it came with didnt seem to good. Now though it is fine.
Setup Rating: 8
This banjo is very easy on the eyes. that's for sure. This thing has a wonderfully carved heel, and peghead. The clear head it originally had also showed off the gold plating on the tone ring. Although the frosted head makes it look good too.
Appearance Rating: 10
The hardware on this thing is decent. like i mentioned above, the brdge wasnt very good. And there are a couple of cheap parts on the inside of the thing. But nothin that is terrible. The only real big complaint i have about it is the very thin gold plating on the metal. It wears away too easily.
Reliability Rating: 7
(does not apply to me)
Customer Service: not rated
there isnt anything that stands out about the parts really, but there are a few cheap parts on this banjo.
Components Rating: 7
This was my first "good" banjo, (used a goodtime 2 for a couple years, which wasnt really bad either) and Ive had it for about 2 to 4 years now. This is definitely a good beginner banjo that will hold its own well enouhg in jam sessions and whatnot. Especially good for the price we got it for off of ebay. (around like 450 dollars) If this banjo were stolen though, id upgrade to at least a deering sierra, if not try to go for something better.
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: fqms
Year Purchased: 2007
Price Paid: 749 ($US)
I have owned this thing for a year now, and it is a good electric banjo. It does work good below the 12 fret with distortion, which can be a problem for solos, and it is totally super sayan (in other words, awesome) clean. I use this in my rock band as my axe. It has a very jazzy sound on one extreme, and a countryish sound on the other extreme, and in between, you can get a good banjo sound out of it, The only complaint i have is the tone knob, which messes up the volume of the first 2 strings, this is very annoying sometimes.
the versatility on this is much easier to get to both extremes to than the crossfire, but the sound you get isnt quite as good through a totally dry amp, that can be fixed thouhg as you mess with the volume settings on the amp. i prefer to turn the treble almsot completely down, but leave the bass and middle cranked.
Sound Rating: 9
The banjo was set up very well when i got it, i havent had the need to change out anything major on it so far, except, of course, strings, to keep it sounding nice. The only problem ive had is the screw for one of the strap things became stripped, but it was easy to fix, and havent had a problem since. good action too.
Setup Rating: 9
This banjo is beautiful. thats all i can say.
Appearance Rating: 10
yes, the hardware looks like it is built to last on this, i dont think ill have to replace anything on here. only problem is the case aint bad... althouhg ive stood on it once or twice without hurting it.
Reliability Rating: 9
i emailed goldtone with a couple questions, and i got answered within a day or two. very good there, and the people at fqms are very freindly, and helped me with everything i asked for. they even
Customer Service: 10
very good.
Components Rating: 9
i would recommend this banjo for the price. It is a really good deal for 750 bucks. If you have the 3500 dollars to spare thouhg, dont bother with the deering crossfire, id go for a nechville meteor without a second thought.
Overall Rating: 9
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