Gold Tone CC-Mini Cripple Creek Banjo (Five String, Maple) Review

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(More customer reviews)For a small travel banjo the Gold Tone CC Mini-Cripple Creek Banjo is very playable up to about the 12th fret or so. Higher up than that, the neck heel gets in the way of the palm of your left hand. They should have scaled down the neck heel instead of leaving it standard size as there's no need for a large neck heel on a small banjo. Additionally the banjo's action is a little too high. Or at least for me. I play Scruggs 3 finger and chromatic style. You could frail on it the way it is. I will eventually sand down the nut so the strings are closer to the neck and set of the angle of the neck to the pot with the rod in the back so the strings don't get higher off the fingerboard the higher up the neck you play. Having said that, it's still a very playable banjo. I did have to remove the arm rest and re-install it in the correct location on the tension hoop as the way it came, my forearm rested on the edge of it and not in the center. When I reset the arm rest, some of the chrome peeled off one of the tension nuts. They are chrome plated but not copper and nickel plated first so the chrome won't last as long. Don't let my comments scare you off as it's not uncommon to have to adjust a new banjo to your playing style. I would consider buying another Gold Tone. Mine is fully adjustable and well made. The gig bag it came with is well constructed and features a zippered pocket where the T nut (included) is also stored. Keep on Picking!

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The Cripple Creek Mini (CC-Mini) has similar features as popular Gold Tone Cripple Creek line in a short-scale version. This mini banjo has a perfectly straight neck and low action to maintain consistent tuning. The openback design is light and portable. The CC-Mini features an 8" maple rim and brass tone ring, guitar-style geared tuners, a geared 5th string tuner, it has great plunk for old time and the brass tone ring provides enough punch for bluegrass.The CC-Mini is tuned to open-C but if playing with others and need to tune to standard G, the string gauges may be changed to the following: .016, .034, .024, .019, .016.

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Vega Old Tyme Wonder 5 String Banjo by Deering Review

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(More customer reviews)Deering banjos cost more than some other brands but make no mistake - the quality and sound are very apparent. The Old Tyme Wonder was my first openback banjo and it will be my last because I've found nothing that surpasses it. As a female player, I wanted that special old timey sound - rich, full, mellow and never tinny. I got it in this banjo. It's lightweight, pretty, solidly made, and very comfortable to play. Deerings are made in California and their customer service is excellent. On several occasions I've emailed them with questions on set-up, string type, etc. and have always received a prompt, personal answer. Carolyn Bridges from Deering is extremely knowledgeable. If you want a quality, great sounding openback banjo from a company that backs up their products, you should definitely consider this one.

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The American made Vega Old Tyme Wonder banjo is THE classic banjo for clawhammer style picking.Clawhammer players often prefer plucking their banjos over the fingerboard where the pot and the neck join.Deering builds in a traditional scoop for fingers and thumb to pluck the strings without hitting the fingerboard.A fiberskyn head, no-knot tailpiece and planetary tuners re-create the old fashioned sound and appearance. The maple rim and neck are based on the Vega Little Wonder but designed specifially for Old Time Players.The best of history made new today.

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Rover RB-45P Plectrum Resonator 4 String Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)This 4 string banjo was made in China. I thought I was getting an American made model.It`s pretty to look at but cheep strings & the bridge was missing when I receive it. Also the fret dividers have a sharp feel as you run your hand up & down the neck. Too bad because it was made with somewhat quality materials. I sent this item back. buyer beware.

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Rover banjos set the standard for value and make truly professional level banjos available to any player'whether just starting out or a seasoned pro! The key to the entire Rover line is that each instrument adheres closely to traditional standards for material quality, dimension, and overall workmanship assuring that every banjo plays well and will last a lifetime. From the comfortable bound mahogany neck, to the cast aluminum rim with integral tone ring, each feature can be found on even the most costly instruments. the Rover RB-45P is a Resonator Plectrum banjo.

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Washburn Banjo, 5 String Review

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(More customer reviews)Review for Washburn B-9 5-string banjo. I have played guitar for eight years and wanted to try banjo. Having never owned nor played a banjo I decided to purchase this one. Here are the facts...
The Good - This banjo came well packaged. It is attractive for an inexpensive banjo and carries the Washburn name. It can sound much better than the way it does straight out of the box with proper setup. It took me half an hour to fully check and adjust banjo. With the head properly tightened the banjo has a snap and crisp sound that I wanted for bluegrass sound. Most all the components are nicely fit together and the chrome pieces are very attractive. It carries a warranty from Washburn also. Tools for adjustment included as well as instructions for some basic setup. I was pleased with the sound and look of this banjo.
The Bad - After two weeks of daily playing the sound that I had worked to get from this banjo would slowly be gone. Investigation led me to the bad news. The pot wouldn't stay tightened. Apparently the vibrations caused many of the 30 brackets to loosen and cause the banjo to lose all snap and crisp sound. I tightened the head twice in the five weeks that I owned this banjo (Yes, I sold it and purchased a 'quality banjo') Adjustments are necessary but complete readjustment is a problem on these china made banjos. Also the 5th string fret was cut into while grooving the pip during manufacturing. This caused buzzing which I corrected by flipping the pip over and letting it ride above the fret. The aluminum tone ring is a component of cheaper banjos and sounds tinny regardless of setup. And finally, the tuners were not able to hold tune well, and one was not properly seated fully, half of the shaft was visible out of the wood.
The Ugly - Here's the dilemma you are in (perhaps as I was). I wanted to get a cheap banjo to test the waters and see if I'd like it. Didn't want to spend 1000+ for a nice banjo. So I purchased this one. The banjo was a perfect starter banjo and even with all the negative it sounded okay for learning on. The moment I realized banjo playing was definitely in me and I wanted to continue learning and playing more often the flaws of this banjo really surfaced. Cheap tone ring, poor craftsmanship, sub standard components and all really turned me to it. I'm glad I learned on this one and I still think I made the right decision by not investing lots of cash in something I wasn't sure I'd commit to.
The Bottom Line - BUY THIS BANJO IF... you have a budget and refuse to spend more on a banjo; you want a decent banjo but don't care about top line craftsmanship or quality of instrument; you are okay with mediocre sounds on the banjo; or you are simply wanting to see if you'll commit to learning the banjo.
Final thoughts - I'm glad I learned all I did with this banjo. It was a great beginner banjo. The resale value was there because of the Washburn brand. It played well enough to sound decent to a beginner, though now having played a much better instrument there would be no owning one of these again. I only missed this banjo while waiting for my new banjo to arrive. Recommended only as a limited or beginner banjo.

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From workhorse to showstopper, our banjos are seen on every stage and played by some of the finest pickers in the country - or the city. See how the addition of a banjo can broaden your sonic palate and add a new dimension to your music. For traditionalists, you'll find all the tone & projection you'd expect from our world class instruments. From tone ring to inlay, it's what a great banjo should be. The B9 is an entry level banjo that will startle you with the quality of its tone and playability.

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Gold Tone CC-Banjitar Cripple Creek Banjo (Six String, Vintage Brown) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just bought a ukulele and have been learning it since then. I didn't want to spend more time learning a new instrument so I decided to buy the banjitar. It arrived perfectly though I had to go and buy a case to trasvel with it. I also bought a set of strings that were kindly prepared for me at MacCabes in Santa Monica. When I finally arrived with it in Mexico I started to play it. It sounds so much louder than what I had expected but it has the color and feel I was looking for.
I want it to write songs and to add that tone to some songs, so it's great. I had it adjusted since it had traveled a lot and all I can say is I like it very much.

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The Cripple Creek Banjitar is an entry-level 6-string banjo, tuned like a guitar, with loads of features and a small price.It allows a guitar player to achieve a banjo-like tone without having to learn the 5-string banjo techniques. With a complete setup at the Gold Tone Factory in Florida, they are durable, have low string action and are a pleasure to play. The CC-Banjitar features a hard maple neck, rim, and convertible resonator, black binding on the neck and resonator, dual coordinator rods, Straightline tailpiece, brass tone ring, and a 2-way adjustable truss rod.Whether you are new to guitar or are looking for a new sound to add to your current guitar arsenal, the GT-1200 may be just what you are looking for!

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Rover Front Porch Series RB-115 Resonator 5 String Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this banjo on a budget after a few hours of researching a bunch of different beginner level banjos. This one definitely seemed like the best value for what I needed, and having it now I feel like it definitely was the right choice. The banjo initially came with a busted tuner for the middle G string that wouldn't allow it to hold a tune, but I called the company as soon as I figured that out and they mailed me a new one right away. I just Installed the new tuner and the banjo works very well. I'll give a little breakdown of how I felt on each aspect of the banjo:
Sound: I'd give it a 3 out of 5 in the sound category. There were no problems with buzz on any frets and it stays in tune very well throughout the neck, but the sound can get a bit muddy at times and the banjo lacks a bit of warmth in the sound. That being said, it is a student banjo, so you can't really expect it will sound like a gibson.
Playability: 4 out of 5. It's really easy to play and the action was perfect for it for me. It's just a fun banjo to play in my opinion.
Looks: As far as looks, in real life it looks basically like in the picture. Sometimes student banjos end up looking much cheaper and lower quality in real life than they did in pictures, but this is a pretty solid looking banjo for the money.
Value: I'd give the value a 5 out of 5. I got it on sale here for about 195 bucks, and it sounds like it cost much more than that. I'm definitely very pleased with my new banjo!

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Our already popular line of Rover Student Banjos has been expanded to include two new 'wood rim" models. Introducing the RB-115 Resopnator banjo. The companion to the RB-110 open back banjos, combines all the right traditional features, and the new wood r

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Gold Star Model GF-100W Pro Banjo with Wreath Inlays (5 String) Review

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(More customer reviews)An amazing banjo for the price. The spec is as close as you'll get to a Gibson without paying Gibson prices. Excellent value.

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Most banjo players agree that the ideal bluegrass banjo was the flathead built in very limited quantities during the 1930's. To meet this demand and to offer it at a price any player could afford, Saga Musical Instruments introduced the original GF-100 banjo in the early 1970's. Ever since these banjos were discontinued in the late 1980's due to costly maufacturing methods in Japan, they have continued to be topics of discussion for their legendary sound and value. It's 2005 and the new Gold Star GF-100W (Wreath)is back and better than ever before. Each instrument has that same great tone that banjos players like Tom Adams are looking for.

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Rover RB-35T Tenor Resonator 4 String Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)Just plain awful sound. Not to mention one of the attachments for the resonator was bouncing around inside when it arrived. Cheap Chinese junk. I returned it and bought a Gold Tone TS-250, also made in China, but far better quality and sound. Don't waste your time and money on a cheap banjo. Spend at least $500 and get something that will not frustrate you and you end sitting it in a corner allowing it to collect dust.

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Rover Banjos look back to the late 1920's and early 1930's to some of the best known banjos of the era as the inspiration forthe RB-35T Resonator Tenor instruments. In addition, to the use of professional features and standard dimensions, the hallmark of any Rover banjo design, Saga chose to use aluminum as the rim material because of its characteristic tone, power and projection. Characteristics that cannot be found in similar style wood rim instruments.

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Fender FB-54 Banjo, Natural Review

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(More customer reviews)I love the Fender FB-54 Banjo, from the stand point of look, feel & the sound is great. The one draw back for me personally is the width of the neck at the top. It is a little narrow for my fat fingers. I'm having trouble fretting the second string & getting free vibration of the first & third. If anyone knows of a banjo that has a wider finger board I'd love to know about it. I think I'd keep the Fender any way, but I might consider a second banjo to learn on.

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There's been a huge resurgence in bluegrass over the past several years, perhaps simply because people are realizing that there's a uniquely American sound to the genre. Whatever the reason, banjos are experiencing a huge surge in popularity. The FB-54 is Fender's entry-level banjo, but it has features you'd expect in a much more expensive model-especially the mahogany resonator and neck, 27.4" scale, aluminum rim, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid inlay and chrome-covered tuners.

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Dean Backwoods 3 Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)For its price range, I love Dean instruments. They sound and feel beautiful. This is a terrific item, arrived with perfect intonation.

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Dean Backwoods 3 Banjo is best way to get into banjo playing without breaking the bank. BW3 Banjo features 5 strings, a mahogany rim and resonator, a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, open gear tuners, and a Remo head.B3 PK~26 1/2" scale~Bound Mahogany Neck~Pearl DOT Inlays~Rosewood fingerboard~Vintage Open Face Tuners~Celluliod Binding~Remo Head

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Fender FB-58 Banjo Review

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(More customer reviews)The Fender FB-58 is a great banjo for Scruggs-style players. It is loud and bright sounding. With a proper setup, it has the twang of a $2000 instrument. Note that it is quite heavy and solid. The inlays are pearloid, not mother of pearl like on the Fender FB-59, but they're still attractive. The plating on the hardware is durable, and the wood is top notch; I personally like the sunburst pattern on the back of the resonator and of the neck. My one complaint concerns the frets; they really don't hold up too well. I've played my FB-58 lightly for one year, and the frets already show visible signs of flattening. Overall, I think this is the best bet in the under $1000 class of banjos. If you have a little extra to spend, consider the Fender FB-59; it sounds the same as the FB-58, but is made of better material, such as walnut and bone on the 59 versus maple and plastic on the 58.

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Fender's professional-level banjo is the FB-58, with fine features you'd expect from such an instrument, including a flame maple resonator and neck, 26.4" scale, wood rim, chrome-covered tuners, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid inlay and die-cast metal tone ring.

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Fender FB-59 Banjo, Natural Review

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(More customer reviews)The FB-59 is comparable to banjos twice its cost in the quality of its material and its sound, that is after a proper setup by a professional luthier; out of the box it doesn't sound so good. I bought a Fender FB-58, and sold it when I came across a good deal on a Fender FB-59. The 59 is the instrument to get; it is made of walnut, bone, and mother of pearl versus maple, plastic, and "pearloid" on the 58. Note that both the FB-58 and FB-59 essentially sound the same. I can't say the same for the less expensive Fenders, as I haven't played the 300, 54, or 55 models. Overall, I would certainly buy the FB-59 again; I've been complemented on its aesthetics and sound by numerous banjo players who own much more expensive instruments.

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Our very finest banjo. The FB-59 easily competes with much more expensive banjos, and has the loud, ringing tone you need to cut through a blazing bluegrass band.The FB-59 features a walnut resonator, walnut neck with maple strip, 26.4" scale, wood rim, gold hardware, rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlay, a brass tone ring and a hard case

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Dean Backwoods Banjo, Six String Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a guitar player for over 30 years, and never played the banjo. I bought this as an experiment, as I may need it for a few upcoming shows. I wanted to get a true banjo sound, but didn't want to bother learning a whole new instrument.
This "Gitjo," for the money, is a great instrument. I had to modify the bridge slightly, having to make a slightly deeper cut for the 6th string with a utility knife (it would pull off its 6th position, and move towards the 5th) and I had to place the bridge into the right position (which was a snap, since you can check positioning against harmonics).
The neck is very clean. It plays very well, and is perfectly straight. It is machined beautifully, and the fret positions are perfect. The mother of pearl Dean "Wing" design on the 12th fret is very cool.
The mahogany body is seated with 4 inset screws that were a little loose. I took those out (by hand, piece of cake) and hot glued the insets so they would sit firm. That took a few minutes, but once again was a snap to do. Since the body was off, I took the opportunity to tighten the drumhead a bit with the tool they provided. The instrument is now absolutely solid. BTW, the body is beautifully lacquer-finished mahogany.
Finally, as a result of the experiment (for those that are curious...) the top 4 strings are absolutely indistinguishable from a banjo. The 5th string sounds like a banjo when you play it on the 7th fret or higher, the 6th string isn't all that "banjo-ey." If your going to strum this a lot, i wouldnt change much, but would focus on playing higher inversions of chords, and focus on the top 4 or 5 strings.
If you are going to pick it, I would recommend the following: Replace the 5th string "A" with a guitar "B" string and crank it up an octave to the "A" a full step above the G string, and possibly will do the same with the sixth string (using a D string) to the E above the D.
I would also recommend using very bright, nickle wound strings (probably medium gauge like those starting with a .10 E string). You might also want to buy a set of banjo strings for the top 4, and take a cheap set of acoustic guitar strings and use thinner strings for the 5th and 6th strings.
All in all, the Dean is a great buy if you dont mind doing the last minute tweaks. I think this Gitjo is a great instrument to add to my collection and sounds great!

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Dean Backwoods 6string banjo.Tunes and Plays like a guitar! Now all guitar players can play banjo with the Dean BW6. Uses 9 gauge electric guitar strings!BW6~25 1/2" Scale~Mohagany Neck~Rosewood Fingerboard~Die Cast Tuners~Chrome Hardware~Celluliod Binding~Pearl DOT/Wing Inlays~6 String

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