Can Anyone Recommend A Banjo <$500?

[Clete Ritta]

Interested in Fender, Epiphone, Dean, Oscar Schmidt Washburn or others from $200~$500. Preferably with a resonator back and a pickup. Any suggestions?

Clete

b0b, I already know what you might suggest: "Dont start!" haha

[Bennett Sullivan]

Check out the deering goodtime banjo. It's an awesome beginner/intermediate instrument, and is made in America! You will probably have to get the pickup separate and install it yourself, and I would recommend a Jones-Hatfield pickup. They are pretty inexpensive, easy to install, and have a lifetime warranty if you buy it from Jack Hatfield. You'll probably end up spending around $500 total for both the banjo and the pickup.

[Smiley Roberts]

Send me the $500 first,then,I'll recommend a banjo!

[Joe Casey]

Send me only 300 bucks and I'll tell you where to save 200 bucks.

[Bo Borland]

No I won't

[Jerry Overstreet]

Interested in Fender, Epiphone, Dean, Oscar Schmidt Washburn or others from $200~$500. Preferably with a resonator back and a pickup. Any suggestions?

Clete

b0b, I already know what you might suggest: "Dont start!" haha

I'd recommend the $500

[Andrew Roblin]

Hi, Clete--

I'd look for a used "Masterclone"--a copy of a Gibson Mastertone made in Asia. Many companies have made these over the years. Some of the best were made in the 1970s by GTR (George Gruhn etc) and Iida.

I'd stay away from recent ones with chrome plating. I prefer the traditional look of nickel plating.

You'll find a lot of good info on this subject at the Banjo Hangout:

http://www.banjohangout.org/

Start by getting yourself a nice Masterclone and then look for a used pickup. I'm afraid I don't know much about them. I prefer the sound of a mic'ed banjo.

FWIW, I've played banjo professionally since 1976.

Andrew Roblin
International Sho-Bud Brother & Sisterhood
Janitor, Member #79
http://andrewroblin.com/