Submitter:

Dean (1four5)

Where Purchased
Internet (individule)

Year Purchased
2005

 bought Used

Sound

This banjo is perfect for what I bought it for. Mostly back-up classic/country/gospel/blues. I have it set up with GHS .010-.022, Grover bridge, and Fults Cumberland tail piece. I've played it for 3 months before writing this review, so I'm sure of my opinions. I began my search for a Sierra after visiting the Deering booth at the Walnut Vally Music fest in Winfield Kansas in 2005.

Sound Rating
10

Setup

Action was perfect when I bought it. The stock tail piece sucked. It's bolt hole slot was too wide for the mounting bolt, and the tail piece would tip side-ways and hit the tension hoop. A washer and lock nut stopped this, but it also had a resonating buzz from time to time I couldn't solve (tried strings/head tension etc...). With the stock Deering bridge and tail piece, this banjo had a piercing treble with Martin medium strings, maybe super for bluegrass leads, but way too much for playing rhythm with my buddys. I installed a Fults Cumberland Tail piece and Grover bridge, and now she has the sound I was searching for. I have the head tapped tuned to G# to the best of my ability. Now this banjo is a dream, so my rating of ten comes after the changes I made. I'll add that I've tried a Lamson ebony bridge, and Desert Rose Z bridge, but they were to radical for me.

Setup Rating
10

Appearance

I bought this banjo second hand, from someone who purchased it from a music store in early 2005. It is flawless. It's plain Jane, but I like that. I recieved it without so much as a fingerprint. Man...the matte neck is a dream to play. I fell in love with the Deerings when I played a bunch of super fancy ones at a bluegrass festival. I don't need the frilly 19th century type engraving stuff or gold all over my banjo, and the Sierra plays and sounds as good as any I played. I like simple. I like functional. This banjo is perfect.

Appearance Rating
10

Reliability

I've used it in a gig without back up, no swet. My gosh, I don't see how a banjo could be built any better than this. It's bullet proof, and I don't see why it won't be played by my great-great-great Grandson. I would rate this a 10, but it gets a 9 because I had to get a good tailpiece.

Reliability Rating
9

Customer Service

Have not needed to contact Deering. However, I will give them a 10 here, because their booth (Walnut Valley Music Fest) was great, the people running it were great, and I got to get my hands on some really nice banjos, because they are willing to go out and promote thier products. Our locals store only carry the GoodTimes...so had it not been for the festival booth, the seed wouldn't have been planted.

Customer Service
10

Components

This banjo is so solid, it's hard to pick a standout point. The neck is sweet and fast..I'll go with the matte neck...it's perfect. The stock tail piece mounting was very poor. The head of the mount bolt would tip in the tail piece slot, because the slot was too wide. I also had a chance to hold the Deering tailpiece and a Gold Tone tail piece (from a CC100R) in my hand at the same time, the GT's was heavier, and machined nicer, and had a closer tolerance on the mounting bolt hole. It's mox-nix though, because I installed a Fults on my Sierra, and it took care of any tail piece troubles. I would give my Sierra a rating of 20 here, in it's current set up, but I'm going to have to give it a low rating, because it's too bad such a nice banjo came with such a sucky tail piece.

Components Rating
5

Overall Comments

Oh yeah! If it was stolen, I would immediately look for another Sierra. I LOVE IT! I'm also learning a lot about components and set up, and I'm pretty sure this banjo could be set up to play any way someone wanted. I've got it just right for the sound I want now, and I know that in my music journey, I can tweek my Sierra to grow with my tastes and ability. I think the best part about this banjo is that I could get a fancier one someday...but it's nice to know that I'll never have to, if I don't want

Overall Rating
10

Last edited on Tue Jan 3rd, 2006 10:08 am by 1four5