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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
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| 1st post....Looking for purchasing tips - Beginner Questions - Banjo - Banjo - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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okieherper Approved
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Hello, my name is Josh. I am, for lack of a better description, ignorant with music and instruments. I am slowly learning from a friend and I feel like I'm making good progress (but it is tough). I have a cheap fiddle that has frustrated me into submission so it has been loaned to a friend. Now to the point of my post... I recently had a chance to play around with my friend's banjo and I'm now addicted and looking to buy one. I have tried to look through the forums a bit and did some research on various websites, but I needed a first post, so I thought I would ask for advice. I'm mostly interested in bluegrass, but will take opinions on any style. I heard that the heavier the banjo, the better the sound. I also heard that the more brackets, the better the sound. I assume more brackets will weigh more, so these two thought are most likely related. Is this correct? Now my price range is a little more flexible than some people that have posted, but if possible I really don't want to spend more than about $300. I will be visiting a few music shops in the next couple of days too. Any tips on what to try out and even what to look for in a decent/good banjo will help. Thanks, Josh
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vrteach Approved 
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Welcome, Josh. I'm not a bluegrass player at all, I just do clawhammer/frailing, but I can respond with some opinions. In the bluegrass world there does appear to be a tendency for more expensive instruments to weigh more, and probably also sound better. But the differences are not just the weight, but what the weight consists of: heavy thick rim, large type of tone ring, resonator, flange, etc. A heavier instrument will probably get you more sustain (longer notes) so you move more toward the "twangy" end of the plunky<==>twangy continuum which is the way my mother-in-law thinks of banjos. There is also a tendency for less expensive instruments to have fewer brackets. If you look at late-19th century Sears catalogs, the banjo page shows a real clear progression from the low to high end just by counting the brackets. Weight may be part of the difference, just more metal parts causing the price to go up, and also below a certain number of brackets perhaps the head is not tightened as evenly.
____________________ Erich -- http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/bands/956/ http://vrteach.freepgs.com/banjo/ |
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Will Approved 
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As with many other instruments, a budget-minded player can find well-made affordable banjos that are imported. I don't play 5-string banjo, but I own a 4-string tenor banjo and a 6-string banjitar, both of which are made in Asia. Both have good tone and playability, and I've played them with bands and in jam sessions. One banjo dealer I can recommend because I've bought a very good sounding and playable instrument (the banjitar) from them is Banjo Hut, based in Tennessee. Check out their web site. They have a number of good-sounding starter banjo kits and a large selection of brand names and models (with sound and video clips). They sell a Mastercraft (Asian import) bluegrass resonator banjo with a brass tone ring, with gig bag, and electronic tuner for $279: http://banjohut.com/  Mastercraft Bluegrass Series All Mahogany Banjo -Mahogany Resonator & Rim -Maple Neck -Geared 5th Peg -Rolled Brass Tone Ring -24 Brackets With L-Shaped Lugs For Better Head Tension -Nickel Plated Armrest -Planetary Tuners -Rosewood Fretboard -Adjustable Truss Rod -Lifetime Warranty -This Banjo Is Professionally Setup And Tuned Before It Is Shipped Great Upgraded Banjo Package The Bluegrass Series Has Superb Tone, and Sustain. Very Fast Neck For Great Playability. Beautiful Mahogany Resonator. This Banjo Package Includes All Of The Items Listed Below, for $279: -Mastercraft Bluegrass Series All Mahogany Banjo (List $379.00) -Mastercraft Banjo Bag (List $29.00) -Chromatic Tuner (List $24.95) -You Can Teach Yourself Banjo Book & DVD (List $19.95) -Banjo Strap (List $8.95) -Finger and Thumb Picks -Professional Setup And Tuned -Free Shipping Last edited on Thu Feb 21st, 2008 01:23 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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vrteach Approved
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Hmm, I never even thought of making a recommendation. Zepps country music in North Carolina has good starter kits, and the staff there really know how to set up banjos. If you go to http://www.zeppmusic.com/ and choose the frames option, you will then be able to find a link to starter kits. Any of them would be good, I think.
____________________ Erich -- http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/bands/956/ http://vrteach.freepgs.com/banjo/ |
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okieherper Approved
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Thanks for the tips. I think I will shop around a little bit. I really like the Mastercraft that was suggested from the Banjo Hut and unless something changes, I'll most likely go with it. It pretty much fits all of my expectations and is within my price range.
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Patrick Costello Approved
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Before you buy anything take a moment to check out these two YouTube clips: Cheap Thrills: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yQOx5ptHMRY Banjo Setup: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yiilZ-PD1uQ In the first clip I take a look at two low-priced banjos & an affordable resonator guitar. In the second clip I go over, as the title implies, banjo setup. The two videos should give you an idea of what to look for - and what to do in terms of setup once you make a purchace. -Patrick
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Will Approved
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Patrick Costello wrote: Before you buy anything take a moment to check out these two YouTube clips: Patrick: Those are great videos and set-up tips, especially the ones about taping cotton balls on the back side of the head behind the bridge, and using the coordinator rod to adjust neck action. Thanks! -Will
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > 1st post....Looking for purchasing tips | |
