Acoustic Guitars

[thom]

Howdi!

I'm not even sure how far I want to go with it, it'll totally depend on how good I'll get along with the banjo. I definatelly don't want to get the cheapest piece of crap though, I'd much rather get some extra motivation and inspirtation from a quailty instrument. If I buy used I could flip it with little or no loss, so I don't see a good reason to limit myself to a $200 instrument that's hardert to play and more likely to frustrate me because it sounds lame.

Anyway, I'm totally clueless, I have no idea what specs to look for. Which materials, scale lenght, brands to avoid, etc etc...

I'd mainly use it to mess with at home, to play folky indie melancholic crap (sparklehorse, sufjan stevens, etc). I doubt I'll have what it takes to play serious bluegrass or whatever, but at this point I'd like to keep my options open, for all I know I have a huge hidden banjo talent.

So any sort of advice as well as specific 5-string banjo suggestions would be very welcome.

What are my options (A kit vs made in China vs MIA etc etc )? Thanks a lot.

[peanutroad]

I would definitely recommend Deering's lowest priced Goodtime to a complete beginner. Simple open-back model but light, well-constructed (in the US), and easy to play. And, thanks to the Deering name, they hold their resale value pretty well, compared to the many cheap imports.

Here's what an entry-level Goodtime can do:

[GW348]

The only advice I can offer is... Gold Tone brand is good bang for the buck and...
No, it don't need amplification.

[Gary Blanchard]

The Deering Goodtime and Gold Tone banjos are two good choices for a first banjo. 

FWIW, I have seen Sufjan Stevens playing a Deering Goodtime banjo. I owned one for years as my banjo of choice until I wnated a long-neck banjo; the Goodtime offers great bang for the buck. (I've been playing banjo sonce the late 60's.)

[thom]

Accepted as solution

Those two brands are the ones I keep getting from my google searches on other forums and message boards. 

I didn't mension I'm Europe though, so both does american brands aren't necessarily the best value over here. They might be, I'm just saying that usually US brands cost considerably more this side of the water, which in some cases makes some local or even asian brand a better bang for the buck. Not in all cases though, so I'll do my reserch Thanks for the help.

Oh and I almost forget...Open back = slightly cheaper and less snappy/loud/sustainy than resonator models?

[GW348]

I think you'd like the open back better. Not nearly as obnoxious. LOL.
You may find some Asian offerings over there for little $.

[peanutroad]

---

thom wroteh and I almost forget...Open back = slightly cheaper and less snappy/loud/sustainy than resonator models?

---

In general, yes. Also lighter --- the extra weight of a resonator can be a strain on the back after a while. Resonator equipped banjos are usually favored for bluegrass, open backs for more of an old-time sound, but that's not a hard rule by any means.

Btw, Gold Tones (which are a fine choice and I own one myself) are mostly not actually built in the US , but imported from China.

[Pine Apple Slim]

Gold Tones are assembled in Florida from Chinese parts.
Or at least they were when I bought my around 2003.
Good value for an import. I own the CC100. I also have a Gibson RB3 Mastertone bluegrass banjo, and the little Gold Tone gets played more. Its light and not too loud. The Gibson weighs a ton and will peel the paint off the walls.
Check out Andys Banjos in the UK. Shop has a good rep.
http://www.andybanjo.com/

My CC100. Dont rec the CC50, a little too cheap IMO

http://www.andybanjo.com/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_RB270GT

If you know how to set em up correctly and maintain them, and put on a good quality bridge, even the cheapest open backs can sound pretty good. But I would recc a wooden rim as opposed to immatation bakalite plastic or aluminum. Some kind of simple tone ring is nice, it can make the banjo a little brighter, but is not essential by any means.

The main thing to look for is a geared 5th string tuner. Dont be concerned about guitar tuners for the other 4. They usually work better than cheap planatarys anyway.

If you can afford it, I recc the basic Deering Goodtime. Made in USA. Quality construction and damn good sound.

[Graeca]

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thom wrote:

Accepted as solution

Does two brands are the one I keep getting from my google searches on other forums and message boards. 

I didn't mension I'm Europe though, so both does american brands aren't necessarily the best value over here. They might be, I'm just saying that usually US brands cost considerably more this side of the water, which in some cases makes some local or even asian brand a better bang for the buck. Not in all cases though, so I'll do my reserch Thanks for the help.

Oh and I almost forget...Open back = slightly cheaper and less snappy/loud/sustainy than resonator models?

---

Open back - slightly less loud, and, to me, a snappier tone...my preference, too.

If you're contemplating bluegrass, you'll eventually want a resonator banjo, but both the Good Time and several of the Gold Tones offer a resonator you can easily add on.

[jamesp]

These are helpful for the actual playing part.  

[Pine Apple Slim]

+1 on the Barnes vids. Excellent common sense series of vids.

[thom]

Thanks for that clip. I've been watching a ton of clips, but that one is golden, really helpfull. 

So far, the plan is to get one of these and than *maybe* get a resonator for it later on:

http://www.banjostore.net/index.php/banjos/five-string/openback/gold-tone-cc-50.html

Tempted to spend just 90 more, and get this one, but I'm not sure if that's overkill for me:

http://www.banjostore.net/index.php/banjos/five-string/openback/gold-tone-cc-ot.html

I seriously want to spend as little as possible if I'm buying new, and it turns out the used market on deering/goldtone banjo's is pretty much non-existants around here:s

So anyone who understands those specs better than I do: Can ya please shed a light on the main differences? Any reason in particular why I really shouldn't be stinchy here, and just go with the CC-OT?

Thank again, appreciate it.

[thom]

---

Pine Apple Slim wrote:

Gold Tones are assembled in Florida from Chinese parts.
Or at least they were when I bought my around 2003.
Good value for an import. I own the CC100. I also have a Gibson RB3 Mastertone bluegrass banjo, and the little Gold Tone gets played more. Its light and not too loud. The Gibson weighs a ton and will peel the paint off the walls.
Check out Andys Banjos in the UK. Shop has a good rep.
http://www.andybanjo.com/

My CC100. Dont rec the CC50, a little too cheap IMO

http://www.andybanjo.com/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_RB270GT

If you know how to set em up correctly and maintain them, and put on a good quality bridge, even the cheapest open backs can sound pretty good. But I would recc a wooden rim as opposed to immatation bakalite plastic or aluminum. Some kind of simple tone ring is nice, it can make the banjo a little brighter, but is not essential by any means.

The main thing to look for is a geared 5th string tuner. Dont be concerned about guitar tuners for the other 4. They usually work better than cheap planatarys anyway.

If you can afford it, I recc the basic Deering Goodtime. Made in USA. Quality construction and damn good sound.

---

Somehow overread half of your post on my last visit here, and you sorta answered most of my last questions. I'm leaning towards the Goldtone CC100 at the moment, bang-for-the-buck and availability whise. Thanks for the info

[Pine Apple Slim]

The models & features have changed a little since I bought mine. Actually those cc50s dont look to bad to me. Seems they've upgraded them a bit from when they 1st came out. The hardware on those look a little better than I remember, csnt see much diff between those and the CC100.
The main dif I see in the CC100 is the dual coordinator rods and bone nut. Rest seems cosmetic, color, inlays.
Altho its possible the fretwork is better on the CC100 than the CC50, I kinda doubt it. The dual cordinator rods give you a little more fine tuning ability on the action, a little more adjustable. Plus two rods are more sturdy than one.
THe main diff on the first 2 you posted, the CC 50 vs the CC OT is the OT is set up to favor clawhammer style, it has a frailing scoop on the neck, and different style tailpiece and head for a plunkier mellower sound. The CC50 is set up more for all around use, which might include picks and fingers scruggs style.
Look at the neck closeup on the OT at the upper frets and see how its scooped out. Makes room for frailing but you give up the upper frets. Seems to me the frailing scoop and the stars on the inlays is the main reason for the price diff.

[Pine Apple Slim]

The basic Goodtime is the same price as the OT, and a little less than the CC100.

I would recc it over the OT or the CC100, even tho I own the CC100. Back in the day, Goodtimes had an unusual shaped "gumby" headstock, which I found just too ugly, the main reason I bought the CC100 instead. Newer Goodtimes have a more traditional headstock. It has some cost saving features vs the CC100. No fretboard, pressed in frets on a maple neck like a Fender Telecaster, and no tone ring.
But, the hardware is higher quality, and also the maple rim is higher quality. Goodtimes can be set up to sound great and Ive seen them used by professionals. Reasale is better, as you found out there arnt many used ones available.

[Pine Apple Slim]

Heres the old style Goodtime  "gumby" headstock vs the newer one.
Charming, but ugly. I just couldnt handle it at the time. 

[Pine Apple Slim]

Heres the Goodtime rim vs the CC100

Note the Goodtime is thicker. It has better wood in it too. Dont be too concerned about 1 rod vs 2. Plenty of good banjos just use one rod. 2 rods are just a little easier to fine tune adjustment.

If cost is a primary concern, get the CC50. If you can afford a little more, get the Goodtime. Its worth it for the rim alone.

The only reason the buy the OT is the set up. If you plan to concetrate soley on clawhammer, its already set up optimally for that. Most clawhammer players like to play ove the end of the neck for the tone it gives. THe scoop gives you a little more room for that. But you can still do it on a reg neck, just need to raise you action a bit above waht would be normal for 3 finger playing. Simplest way to do that is just get a taller bridge.

Its no big deal to do the OT mods on a Goodtime should you decide to someday.  Ive seen plenty of em modded this way. Fiberskin head costs $15-$20 bucks, same for the old timey "no knot" tailpiece on the OT. If you ever want a frailing scoop, its simply a matter of taking the neck off, pulling a few frets, and sticking it on a spindle sander to scoop it out.

[Opa John]

Damn! I think I feel a gas bubble coming on and I thought I was past that sort of thing.

BTW, I kinda like "Mean Mary". Buck teeth and all!!

[bigald18]

Funny thing, I just ordered a banjo from The Banjo Hut in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Their house brand, Mastercraft, is an excellent starter banjo.  They have several models in the $200-$300 range.  They also sell Recording King, Deering, Morgan Monroe, Savannah and others with excellent pricing and they are famous for doing excellent setups on the banjos they sell.   Visit the Banjo Hangout website and you will find just about every banjo reviewed.  It's a great site.

BigAl 

[Pine Apple Slim]

Heard good things about the Banjo Hut Mastercrafts, but I've never seen one. 

We expect a full report Al !!