I've played and loved my RK35 for about a year now. I just bought a used RK36 from the BHO classifieds. Holy cow! They tone difference is huge. Both are great. Both are near the top of the list of any newer banjos I've played. I really have the best of both worlds. Maple for Scruggs, Mahogany for Crowe. Honestly, I've never played a dud RK. My Huber just doesn't get played anymore. No kidding!
11 Comments |
 | orioletb1 says:
3/26/2015 10:35:49 PM
The ring/rim/neck fit on both banjos is as good as I've ever heard.
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 | banjoez says:
3/31/2015 6:57:53 AM
Yeah, I don't play my other "high end" banjos much anymore either. I'm still shaking my head, the RK tone and volume is just way beyond the others. I just bought a RK35 to compare to the RK76. I am interested to hear the difference.
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| orioletb1 says:
3/31/2015 7:32:11 AM
It's hard to believe how great these banjos are! They are better than any old Goldstar I've been around. I owned a 1981 GF-100W just like Tom Adams'. The old GS necks are really thick. I know there are a lot of these RKs around but I fully expect these to be more collectible than the 80s Goldstars.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my '03 Huber but my RKs are REALLY close to it sound wise. They might be as good when they get some age on them. Now most new RKs in store aren't set up to get their full potential. A good set up, as you know, makes a world of difference
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| banjoez says:
3/31/2015 7:50:51 AM
I've been playing for 40 years + and have owned lots of good banjos including an original 1929 PW Flathead. Nothing gets me too excited anymore. It seems for the past 15 years or so there has been a plateau reached as far as tone and volume with modern makers. They all reached a point of sounding good but I can't say that any have reached a point of sounding exceptionally better than the other. I have compared the tone of my 76 Elite side-by-side with Yates, Gibby's, Hatfields, Stellings and a few others and there is no doubt that it has an edge over all of them. I could play anything I wanted but the RK just sounds right. It's got that Scruggsy, big tone that others can't quite reach. It's gotta be the way they pour the rings overseas as the rest of the banjo is built like any other.
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| banjoez says:
3/31/2015 7:55:37 AM
.......another factor is the longer scale of the Elite's. I am looking forward to comparing the 35 standard scale to see if it still has similar characteristics.
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| orioletb1 says:
3/31/2015 7:57:05 AM
I would play my RKs at Carnegie Hall...just waiting on the call! Seriously though, I'm glad you're happy. I couldn't be happier with mine. I would have a house full of them if I had the room!
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 | fish carver says:
4/2/2015 9:18:11 AM
I love mine. If they were made here...the price would several thousand dollars more...
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 | Dustyman says:
4/4/2015 4:59:13 AM
I dropped a Sloan tone ring in my RK 35 and guess what ? very little difference! Swithed it back last night , played it with the STOCK ring ,it was exelent!We all suffer from 'the grass is greener' with banjos!Ive seen Joe's {banjoez]videos ,and he had the best to pick from,so his experianced opinion is good enough for me.I agree with Joe ,Im guessing the Chinese can manufacture the rings the way they were done hear BEFORE some EPA or other regulator stopped it.
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 | Glenn K says:
4/15/2015 7:03:57 AM
Never tried a 36 but after a couple years I still love my 35.
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 | TOMCAT says:
4/21/2015 6:11:17 AM
Got a new RK 30 on the way. Fell in love with the tube and plate when I got my rb800. Can't wait to see how the 30 does
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| Dustyman says:
1/12/2016 8:20:40 AM
I recently got a TB2 conversion , with a Blaylock ring.Its got great tone. I picked out my RK35 to play last night ,cause I thought the mute was in the case,I needed to be quite,after months sitting unplayed , it came out of the case in tune ,and sounded no less than Excellent!Id love to try the longer scale.
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