For 5 String Banjo Players based in the British Isles.

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Shopping for RK35

From sorefinger on 12/6/2014 6:06:41 AM

Hi All. Hope this helps buyers in the UK. I spent a long time looking to buy a Recording King banjo in the UK, in my case a RK 35, Its not possible, why? I don't know.

So I found Thomann music in Germany, they were advertising the RK 35 in stock for immediate delivery, so i ordered one on line and paid.

The next day I was informed that this banjo was out of stock, but they would send me a (B stock) that had got dings and dongs on, in other words one that had been sent back, no thank you, i will have my money back. I got my money back, but lost £15 on the exchange rate.

A few weeks later they were advertising again RK 35, so I got in touch with them, and asked if they were B or A stock, they came back and said that they would look when i ordered one, no thank you i have done that before, AND STILL WOULDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.

So if you are looking to buy a Recording King, now or in the near future stay clear of Thomann. They don't care what you get. they seem to ship them in the front door, then out the back door without even opening the box.

If you want a reliable supplier then go to, KIERAN MOLONEY MUSIC, GALWAY IRELAND. (info@moloneymusic.com.

When he says he's got them in stock on his site he has!! if not he will give you a good idea when new stock is expected.

I ordered mine with full set up, and spikes, and got it in 4 working days. A very good service and set up, and the price you pay is excellent. As for postage i went for the courier post and still only 17.50 Euros

I also purchased a very nice leather cradle strap from him that is made in Galway.

The banjo i had from him is in perfect condition. so if your looking to buy, you won't go far wrong with moloney music. Hope this helps anyone looking to buy and don't know were from. Trevor

5 Comments
	darlo says: 12/6/2014 6:14:57 AM I was fortunate when I got my rk 75 from Thomann it must have been a stock sorry to hear your dealings with them weren't good but thanks for the tip about Kieran maloney
	alfiedog says: 12/6/2014 10:17:04 AM Sorry to hear that Trevor. I got my RK35 from Thomann when they first came out (about 3 year's ago) I hadnt seen one anywhere in the Uk, so i took a gamble and got it from Thomann. Well the gamble paid off coz i paid the equivalent of £320.00 with a hardcase. Bargain of the century. When the Banjo arrived it was a dog, and needed a total setup including a new Nut, but for what i paid the extra £50.00 for the setup by Jame's Bowen was well worth it. There is no quality control with RK, there cant be, the Banjo i received was unplayable, and i have seen other RKs with the same problem's. What you get is the good part's they just need fettling up :-)
sorefinger says: 12/6/2014 10:57:58 AM Yep Alfie your right. Its the one thing that put me off buying for a long time, some of the write ups on them. And if you've got nobody close by to set it up your stuffed. I can't understand why they send such a good banjo out in that condition. It seems with Thomann, they just want to bar code them in, and bar code out, and the box don't get opened till the customer gets it, so any problems are yours, plus I don't think anyone at Thomanns would know a good one from a bad one. so to save anyone else having the same problem that may want one in the UK they have the option of moloney, as for importing from the US, much to expensive, plus import costs. Were is Jame's Bowen based, if you don't mind me asking, may need him one day?
	alfiedog says: 12/6/2014 11:09:48 AM He's in Shropshire Trev Griffin Banjo's. I would trust Jame's with any Banjo :-)
sorefinger says: 12/6/2014 1:44:45 PM Wow!! that's handy I live in Shropshire. cheers mate!!
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