5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Closed Solid Back and Geared 5th Tuner

This is a great banjo!Amazing Quality in all areas of construction, playability & sound!I’m a teacher and professional player. I purchased this instrument as a ‘knock around camping ‘ banjo.I am extremely happy with the unexpected high end construction and the low cost! It compares well with banjos double its price.The maker takes great pride in providing an instrument that will serve the test of time.It is packed for shipping with the greatest care and needs no set up other than a tuning tweak to be playable out of the box. The vulnerable, chrome areas are sealed and the fretboard covered to protect the beauty in shipping.I am highly recommending this banjo to both my beginning students & those advanced that want a backup instrument!Thank you!

Liked:* High-quality look (beautiful polished wood back and neck)* Good sound* Holds tuning well* Lowest priced, best value real banjo on Internet and in stores* Shipped by UPS with no damage, arrived in perfect condition from several states away* 5-stringed (don't get the 4 string, because eventually you'll want the 5 string anyways, and it's easy enough to play it as if it were a 4-string without the high drone 5th string because it's set slightly lower than the plane of the other four)* Resonator or closed-back design is louder, better than open-backed banjos, very loud, strong sound* I found it straightforward to learn basic skills with my guitar background(it's string tunings and configuration are different, but techniques are similar)* Not too heavy (some banjos I've picked up felt like a sack of bricks)* Comes with chord chart printed on a piece of paper, a tuning guide with a piano for reference (for most common G-tuning or gDGBD), a diagram of the banjo parts, and a little tool* Neck and string spacing is not to narrow, it's standardDisliked:* Some frets may be a slightly off (I tuned it, but fretting the 5th fret produces a noticeably sharp note that my tuner confirms), or perhaps the bridge is misplaced by a millimeter or two on mine, but I'm not experienced enough to precisely place it for accurate notes-playing all the way up the neck. However, this is not a big deal as you only notice if you have a good ear for pitches, and for the price it's to be expected.* The tuning peg for the highest drone string that's halfway up the neck is really hard to turn, and doesn't turn smoothly like the other 4 tuners on the head.Conclusion:* Buy it. If you want a low-priced, good-quality banjo to start learning and continue playing for years, this is a good find.* I'm very happy with my banjo, and I don't foresee any repairs needed, and I don't expect to feel the need to upgrade to a pricier instrument.* I d also recommend buying a banjo strap, finger picks, a clip-on tuner for guitars/banjos, and possibly a beginner banjo book to get started.

I have to add my voice to the others praising this banjo. Of course, this is just a first impression. Things like instruments will either live up to the initial rush or not. This banjo arrived pretty much set up perfectly except for tuning, which I did not expect anyway. Out of the box it took about five minutes to tune (using a Snark, which I recommend) and since I am not a beginner (or a professional) I was able to pick out a tune almost immediately. All strings will take a while to settle in, and this is no exception. But after an initial "break in" period, it seems to hold tune well. Intonation up the neck is good as well. This has been a bane of my experience with inexpensive banjos. Glad to see it doesn't seem to be an issue here. I would recommend this banjo to anyone just starting out, or who wants to add a banjo "voice" to an existing repertoire without having to invest in a five hundred and up banjo. The geared fifth string works well and I am glad to have it, having dealt with friction tuners in the past. I'll be back to update this as I experience this instrument more. UPDATE: It's eight months or so later. I still like this banjo and I'm learning a lot. I'm also learning that better banjos ARE worth the money. I played a really pricey banjo (an ODE) and wow, is there ever a difference. So, this one is good to learn on, but if you have a chance to play a really good banjo, that may spoil ya. UPDATE: I still think this banjo is excellent, although I wouldn't put light gauge strings on it. I did put some LGS on it and it changed the tone completely. Light gauge also tended to buzz as well. I'll be going back to medium gauge, which is what I'm sure the banjo came with, they just felt more substantial. Of course LGS will be easier to "choke" and bend, but you'll pay in terms of tone and that buzzing. Anyway, the banjo is fine. But I'm getting the itch for a more upscale one already. UPDATE: As I expected I have outgrown this (I was guitar player for many years, finger-picking so the rolls came more easily it seems. I'm no prodigy by any means, but I've advanced to intermediate more quickly than some) and am buying a Huber Workhorse or equivalent soon. I will relegate this banjo to the "clawhammer" style that I'm going to tackle next. Oh, one thing. This banjo DOES NOT have a tone ring so it will NEVER sound as good as a banjo with one, unless you like a duller sound. (Some people do, for clawhammer and the like.) FURTHER UPDATE: Forget what I said about a duller sound for clawhammer. That was foolish. Get a decent banjo for both. I still stand by this as a good beginner banjo, but if you have a real love for the banjo you'll quickly outgrow it.