Best banjo under $500?

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£ Î Z @ R Ð wrote:
> I don't know if this is the best newsgroup to post this in, but anyone have
> any recommendations for a good banjo under $500?
>
> What should I be looking for in a good banjo? Are there different types?
>
>

there are Banjo newsgroups
when faced with this decision personally I decided the Goodtime banjo
was the best for me at under 500$
george

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

in article 7MudnXhmH67PvkncRVn-pw@adelphia.com, at wrote on 12/30/04 7:48
AM:

> I don't know if this is the best newsgroup to post this in, but anyone have
> any recommendations for a good banjo under $500?
>
> What should I be looking for in a good banjo? Are there different types?
>

Deering Goodtime banjo. Last I looked about $350 or so. They figured it
out - use quality materials and solid construction technique and totally
avoid any frills. This banjo will engage a beginner well and continue to be
a worthwhile banjo well into playing with a band years later.

There are different types - clawhammer players who do old-timey music tend
to prefer a fatter neck and slightly wider string spacing than bluegrassers.
They also prefer a different tone ring and either a genuine skin head or
faux skin head - warmer, softer tone. Classical banjo players prefer the
old-timey style banjos but strung with nylon strings for an even softer
tone.

If you're set on bluegrass, only one style of banjo and head and strings
will do. If you're open to other styles, and are just starting out, I
recommend trying out nylon strings. Much nicer to play and listen to, and
sounds great playing alone.

The Deering Goodtime banjo will work with any of these styles for a
beginner.

Go to Elderly musical instruments. They are a mail-order place with - what
- 25 years experience. Absolutely to be trusted with advice, and their banjo
selection is second to none.

www.elderly.com

Carlos

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

£ Î Z @ R Ð wrote:

> I don't know if this is the best newsgroup to post this in, but anyone
> have any recommendations for a good banjo under $500?

I've been out of the banjo market so long I wouldn't attempt to make a
recommendation based on a price point. If you find something used within
your budget, Stelling, Gibson, Deering are good brands.


> What should I be looking for in a good banjo? Are there different types?

For bluegrass, a bell bronze tone ring (as opposed to pot metal) would
certainly be nice. a rim made of fewer & thicker plies is good.

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"£ Î Z @ R Ð" <jattea@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:7MudnXhmH67PvkncRVn-pw@adelphia.com...
> I don't know if this is the best newsgroup to post this in, but anyone
have
> any recommendations for a good banjo under $500?
>
> What should I be looking for in a good banjo? Are there different types?

No such thing. Make sure it's all wood though, it'll burn better than cheap
bagpipes. :> ))

You had to expect some abuse, certainly.

Happy New Year!

John

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>
> I don't know if this is the best newsgroup to post this in, but
anyone have
> any recommendations for a good banjo under $500?
>

My answer assumes that you're interested in Old-Time banjo and need an
open back. I'm far too familiar with open backs but wouldn't pretend to
know enough to make recommendations for resonator or tenor banjos.

For less than $500 I've had good luck with the Stewart Copy by Saga. It
has a tone ring, unlike the Goodtime, and is not so ugly that you'll be
afraid to take it out of the house. I suspect that Deering makes them
that way so that people will be forced to upgrade as soon as they gain
enough sophistication to know how a banjo should look. I have one of
these that I need to sell, actually. I'm not driven by that, however. I
talked to the folks at elderly when buying one and they agreed that the
saga had a leg up on the Deering.

If you can stretch your budget at all, you can get into a Mike Ramsey
or Kevin Enoch banjo, which will make you very happy.

One of the best deals I know in old-time banjos is Mike Ramsey's Amish
model, available from Zepp.
http://www.zeppcountrymusic.com/
They are $650 but include a nice case. Mike makes these plain (thus the
name) with no inlay to speak of and a square peghead. The functional
aspects of the banjo are uncompromised. The sound is far meatier than
any of the common lower end models.

Kevin Enoch makes a line called the tradesman banjo that go for 625
with frets (I have the fretless). They're very nice with a dark sound.
No tone ring and a Dobson style peghead.

I own both of these and am very happy with them. I recently recorded
both on a cd, the Ramsey can be heard at
http://www.ericmerrill.com/clips/brightsmile.mp3

Good Luck.
Eric

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in article 1104474846.066668.37160@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com, Eric
Merrill at eric_merrill@yahoo.com wrote on 12/30/04 10:34 PM:

> Kevin Enoch makes a line called the tradesman banjo that go for 625
> with frets (I have the fretless). They're very nice with a dark sound.
> No tone ring and a Dobson style peghead.
>
> I own both of these and am very happy with them. I recently recorded
> both on a cd, the Ramsey can be heard at
> http://www.ericmerrill.com/clips/brightsmile.mp3
>
> Good Luck.
> Eric

These are very nice banjos that Eric is suggesting - the expert makers of
old-time banjos. If the original poster does indeed want an open-back banjo
for old-timey stuff, these would be the way to go. Also consider Bart
Reiter banjos, although I don't know what his are going for these days.
Eric, I have two of Bart's banjos, one of which is his ~$600 fretless
open-backs and can attest to the quality and sound. Hated the satin finish,
though, so I spent about an hour rubbing hard with a rough dishrag and fixed
THAT problem.

Carlos