Good mid-level BANJO?

JohnnyCrash · May 3rd, 2008, 02:22 PM

I've got about $500-$700 to spend.

I'd like some tips on some GOOD mid-level Banjos in this price range (as well as perhaps some pickups for them).

I'm running my acoustic guitars and my mandolin through Fishman pickups into an L.R. Baggs preamp/DI...

Valvey · May 3rd, 2008, 03:11 PM

Gold Tone makes very good banjos in that price range.

studio1087 · May 3rd, 2008, 09:26 PM

Deering Goodtime Models................

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/GOODTIME.htm

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/CGOOD.htm

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/CSPGOOD.htm

I play acoustic in a Folk circle every other week at the local conservitory..(don't giggle...some of the old guys are amazing!)..there's an older guy with a Deering Goodtime who sits in with us. Great tone. Simple construction. Loud as hell.

Deering banjos are pretty popular and easy to find/try.

Big Tony · May 3rd, 2008, 09:28 PM

First, mandolins!

Now, banjos!

What's next? Bagpipes!

/ Tony

mellecaster · May 3rd, 2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valvey

Gold Tone makes very good banjos in that price range.

That would be one of the better choices in that price range...I agree

blue metalflake · May 4th, 2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Tony

First, mandolins!

Now, banjos!

What's next? Bagpipes!

/ Tony

Maybe Ukes first!

Tim Bowen · May 5th, 2008, 01:14 AM

If you're animated onstage (moving around a bit) and/or you'll be using the instument in several different situations at different volume levels, get an electric banjo. Mic'ing an acoustic banjo, or placing a pickup within such, is a bit like doing same with dobro. It's cool if volume levels are tame, or if that's the only instrument you need to get a handle on. If you simply want to pick up the thing and treat it as an additional texture and 'go', get an electric. Otherwise, you'll likely be subjecting yourself to a world of hurt and inconvenience.

A bandmate uses the same Deering electric that Bela Fleck plays, and it is indeed the bee's knees. I don't have that sort of smack available for an electric banjo, so I gig with a Gold Tone. If you go with something like a Gold Tone, understand that the inherent 'amplified' sound is a bit "midrangey", at least with regard to traditional banjo tones, and as compared to the aforementioned Deering, the output is a bit low. Hence, you might want to boost the highs and output with an outboard device, such as the Baggs.

Robin Nahum · May 5th, 2008, 02:57 AM

Mandolin Brothers had a huge selection of banjos when we visited a few years ago....

www.mandoweb.com

...and it looks like they still do.

And you won't get any banjo jokes from the wife and I. We really enjoy Bela Fleck and Alison Brown.

Rizo · May 5th, 2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

That would be one of the better choices in that price range...I agree

That's what I was going to say, but first, do you want an open back or closed back banjo?

Go over to banjohangout.org and poke around the classifieds, maybe get some ideas.

JohnnyCrash · May 5th, 2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Tony

First, mandolins!

Now, banjos!

What's next? Bagpipes!

/ Tony

HAHA

Oh cr@p! Bagpipes... that sounds like a great idea (seriously)!!! One thing at a time though :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue metalflake

Maybe Ukes first!

HAHA

Strange and ironic you should mention it, but I pulled out my Uke yesterday. I was going to tune it up and start learning on that as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

Mic'ing an acoustic banjo, or placing a pickup within such, is a bit like doing same with dobro. It's cool if volume levels are tame, or if that's the only instrument you need to get a handle on. If you simply want to pick up the thing and treat it as an additional texture and 'go', get an electric. Otherwise, you'll likely be subjecting yourself to a world of hurt and inconvenience.

...understand that the inherent 'amplified' sound is a bit "midrangey", at least with regard to traditional banjo tones, and as compared to the aforementioned Deering, the output is a bit low. Hence, you might want to boost the highs and output with an outboard device, such as the Baggs.

My main concern is a good acoustic sound for recording.

My band is a rock band, so my amplified concerns are for the future, possible side projects, or working gigs or something - if I ever get good enough for that to be a possibility.

Otherwise, I record music for licensing stuff on the side and I'm trying to branch out what I can record... so it's gotta be great unplugged for mic recording.

Coincidentally I did a lot of acoustic blues gigs with a resonator/Dobro I installed a Fishman in and my Mando has a Fishman I put in as well. I understand that piezo/pickups will always be a compromised sound, and never "natural," but I don't mind it. I use a Baggs for preamping all of my acoustic/electric gear :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizo

That's what I was going to say, but first, do you want an open back or closed back banjo?

Go over to banjohangout.org and poke around the classifieds, maybe get some ideas.

Open or closed? I'm thinking closed, but I am new to Banjos, so I'm hoping I can learn about all of that and you guys can help me? hehe

Any thoughts on either one? It'll be for recording, so is one more old timey style and the other more bluegrass or something?

JohnnyCrash · May 5th, 2008, 11:40 AM

By the way, I do NOT want to support Deering Goodtime banjos. They had a habit of sending their Scientology literature with their warranty cards in the past.

So no, please. No L. Ron Hubbard banjos for me.

Rizo · May 5th, 2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

So no, please. No L. Ron Hubbard banjos for me.

I don't blame you there, I can't stand those Goodtimes. I don't care if they are good for money, they're just plain ugly. FYI, Deering also owns Vega now.

As far as open vs. closed back goes.... open backs are an older design. I play one of these "clawhammer" style (all downpicking, very old time-y). These are more mellow sounding and are often outfitted with skin heads and used to accompany old time string band stuff and fiddle tunes.

Closed back (or resonator) banjos are usually played by bluegrass types with finger picks. These are much brighter and more piercing sounding. Also, very loud and really heavy. They're a little much for me, but to each their own.

Of course there are exceptions to these rules... I think you'd do well to pose this question in the shopping adive forum over at the Banjo Hangout.

Something to consider though is banjo-guitar, or banjitar (One guy in Old Crow Medicine Show plays one of these). Six strings, tuned like a guitar, played like one, but with a banjo body. It gets you the sound without the learning curve. (Although banjos are commonly tuned to open "G" so that's not too big of a deal, I like to use modal tunings).

Gold Tones are decent for the money if shopping new, but plenty can be found used. Stay away from banjos that have "guitar" style tuners on the headstock.

Colt W. Knight · May 5th, 2008, 02:57 PM

I think there are really only two good options in that price range that I know of for a Bluegrass Banjo. A Fender FB-58 or a Goldtone OB-250. These banjos are pretty much the same. Both make excellent banjos, and the tonal quality is high enough that you wont need to upgrade them later on like most entry level instruments. If I purchased either, I would go ahead and get a snuffy smith 5/8" bridge and waverly tailpiece. That way you don't have to mess with a sub par bridge and cheap tailpiece with that freaking clamshell tail piece. A cheap banjo sounds like crap no matter how well you can pick. Stay away from any aluminum rimmed banjos, and keep away from tuners that look like guitar tuners.

May 3rd, 2008, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,134 39 Photos	Good mid-level BANJO? I've got about $500-$700 to spend. I'd like some tips on some GOOD mid-level Banjos in this price range (as well as perhaps some pickups for them). I'm running my acoustic guitars and my mandolin through Fishman pickups into an L.R. Baggs preamp/DI...

May 3rd, 2008, 09:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,276 33 Photos	Deering Goodtime Models................ http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/GOODTIME.htm http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/CGOOD.htm http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/CSPGOOD.htm I play acoustic in a Folk circle every other week at the local conservitory..(don't giggle...some of the old guys are amazing!)..there's an older guy with a Deering Goodtime who sits in with us. Great tone. Simple construction. Loud as hell. Deering banjos are pretty popular and easy to find/try. __________________ JLG Carry On

May 3rd, 2008, 09:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Big Tony Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden, by golly! Posts: 2,388 28 Photos	First, mandolins! Now, banjos! What's next? Bagpipes! / Tony __________________ {8^)> myspace.com/tonypersson

May 5th, 2008, 01:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 47 Posts: 3,054	If you're animated onstage (moving around a bit) and/or you'll be using the instument in several different situations at different volume levels, get an electric banjo. Mic'ing an acoustic banjo, or placing a pickup within such, is a bit like doing same with dobro. It's cool if volume levels are tame, or if that's the only instrument you need to get a handle on. If you simply want to pick up the thing and treat it as an additional texture and 'go', get an electric. Otherwise, you'll likely be subjecting yourself to a world of hurt and inconvenience. A bandmate uses the same Deering electric that Bela Fleck plays, and it is indeed the bee's knees. I don't have that sort of smack available for an electric banjo, so I gig with a Gold Tone. If you go with something like a Gold Tone, understand that the inherent 'amplified' sound is a bit "midrangey", at least with regard to traditional banjo tones, and as compared to the aforementioned Deering, the output is a bit low. Hence, you might want to boost the highs and output with an outboard device, such as the Baggs. __________________ Can't say, 'cause I don't know. - Bullwinkle

May 5th, 2008, 02:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
Robin Nahum Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 56 Posts: 1,561 12 Photos	Mandolin Brothers had a huge selection of banjos when we visited a few years ago.... www.mandoweb.com ...and it looks like they still do. And you won't get any banjo jokes from the wife and I. We really enjoy Bela Fleck and Alison Brown. __________________ RN

May 3rd, 2008, 03:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Valvey Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: morgantown wv Posts: 114	Gold Tone makes very good banjos in that price range.

May 5th, 2008, 11:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,134 39 Photos	By the way, I do NOT want to support Deering Goodtime banjos. They had a habit of sending their Scientology literature with their warranty cards in the past. So no, please. No L. Ron Hubbard banjos for me.

May 5th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wyoming Age: 24 Posts: 1,420	I think there are really only two good options in that price range that I know of for a Bluegrass Banjo. A Fender FB-58 or a Goldtone OB-250. These banjos are pretty much the same. Both make excellent banjos, and the tonal quality is high enough that you wont need to upgrade them later on like most entry level instruments. If I purchased either, I would go ahead and get a snuffy smith 5/8" bridge and waverly tailpiece. That way you don't have to mess with a sub par bridge and cheap tailpiece with that freaking clamshell tail piece. A cheap banjo sounds like crap no matter how well you can pick. Stay away from any aluminum rimmed banjos, and keep away from tuners that look like guitar tuners.