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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: Elderly
I have an ACRI with the brass band, and although I had to do considerable "surgery" [i.e cut kerfs and bend the band] to make it fit my tapered thumb, I like it so well I ordered the "new and improved" one with a stainless steel band...expecting I'd have to taper it as well. Indeed it comes with parallel sides, BUT the stainless band is so flimsy, and has 3 holes in it [which isn't part of the catalog description], and they're in exactly the same places where "surgery" is required. Plus "lick and stick" doesn't work at all with the SS band [Edit: a layer of "liquid electrical tape" seemed to remedy that.] Can you say "very disappointed"? The plastic [delrin?] blade seems fine, so I rate it a "3."
Edit: I solved the "flimsy" by getting the fit just right, then drilling a small hole through the overlapping ends of the band and using a small nail as a rivet. It fits okay and is comfortable though I doubt that most would want to put that much frittering into it. Probably up the "rating" a couple of points??.
Overall Rating: 5
Where Purchased: mfg. / online
I've only ever tried modestly priced picks, so that's the basis for my comparisons. After a lot of adjusting and tweaking with needle nose pliers, the Saddle brand fingerpicks are the most comfortable picks I have,...and they stay put!
I had an email exchange with the inventor/manufacturer, and our ideas on how the pick is supposed to fit don't mesh. Having said that, I went with what I think is right for me. The "retainer ring" idea behind the design is advanced far beyond the design of conventional picks. Unfortunately, IMHO, the inventor didn't capitalize on this to it's/his best advantage, Using the "retainer ring" to overcome the main drawback of conventional picks is laudable... leaving some other fairly easily achieved improvements unaddressed [eg. thin material and "wings" that are a bit narrow] is less impressive. It changes what could have been a 10/10 into a 7 or 8 out of 10. Having said that... my underlined comment above might be worth re-reading.
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: stew-mac
...if the "stem" was 1/8" longer it would allow some adjustment of the viewing angle of the face, to reduce/eliminate reflections/distortion. I ended up making my own, by taking the stem from a clip-on Snark and attaching it [pins and epoxy] to a strip of poly that slips under any adjacent J-hooks... works great, but not nearly as simple/elegant looking. But, as my mom used to say "A blind man on a horse...". My purchased adaptor now lies resides in the pick tray.
Overall Rating: 7
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