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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
7232 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Mike's Banjo Mute website
I have been playing guitar for 30 years, but have recently taken an interest in learning how to play the 5-string banjo. I've been learning the three finger picking style ala Scruggs and am currently absolutely terrible at it. The banjo I recently acquired is a resonator and extremely loud, as they are designed to be of course, but this has brought about the need for a banjo mute to save my family's sanity. The banjo came with a mute that was ok, but not very effective at bringing down the volume enough to allow me to practice late at night (the only time I have available to practice). After searching this forum I stumbled upon Mike's Banjo Mute. This mute has proven to be very easy to use and most importantly, very effective at bringing down the volume to where I can practice without my family hating me. I can highly recommend it if you are in the market for a mute. Even someone like me, who has no clue what I am doing yet, can figure it out and get good use of it and that's says a lot about the quality.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Robert Smith
I was curious about what this was when I saw one on KSB's banjo. A number of members pointed out that it was a tuner from Robert Smith of Van Wycke, S.C. I found some endorsement videos, and reached out to him. What a great guy. Tuner was about $89, which at first sounds pricey. But this product is built on a UniTune clip noir tuner, which works really well. The magnetic attachment Robert developed works great on several banjos. The magnets grip the tension hooks really well. There is no slippage once they latch on. The screen pops up. The tuner is very good and provides a tight reading (none of the jumping around you get from older digital tuners). And this can stay on the banjo without causing any problem with fit for case closure. Since it attaches to metal parts, there is no worry about it discoloring anything like a tuner left on a headstock. Robert is a joy to deal with. Very trusting and interested in feedback. He has already put his phone number out there, so I don't mind repeating it: (704) 634-5776. There is no web site or e-commerce. You mail him a check, and he'll mail you a tuner.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Richard Smith
I recently purchased a TC Electronic Unitune Clip Noir tuner with a magnetic base designed to fit on the bracket hooks of a Mastertone style banjo by Richard Smith of South Carolina. He was easy and pleasant to deal with and the tuner/base arrived quickly with no problems.
His magnetic base works great. The magnets are strong enough that the tuner shouldn’t ever come loose, yet is easy to remove or reposition. It is attractively made, unobtrusive and allows the tuner’s angle to be adjusted, if desired. For me, it works best flat on the brackets aiming straight up at my head. Having it on the brackets seems to pick up the pitch very well and the banjo fits in the case with the tuner in place and the strap around it.
The tuner itself works very well. It is quick to respond and accurate. It has two modes, chromatic and strobe. The chromatic is accurate to .5 cent and the strobe to .2 cent. I’ve defaulted to the chromatic setting, which is intuitive and easy to use. The tuner senses which way is up and automatically adjusts the display. It is bright enough to use outdoors and has an auto-shutoff to save the battery. It takes a CR2032 battery, and is advertised as supplying 18 hours of charge.
Richard charges $85 plus $10 shipping. The tuner normally sells for around $35. I was happy to pay the difference for his inventiveness and craftsmanship. I certainly couldn’t have made one myself. I have no relationship with Robert and am just a satisfied customer.
Robert has no website and these are not available elsewhere. If interested you can contact him at Robert Smith The Tuner Man (704) 634-5776.
Please see photos at the links below:
http://judithgeiger.com/saltmartians/img/Tuner1.jpeg
http://judithgeiger.com/saltmartians/img/Tune2.jpeg
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From Mike’s Banjo Mute website
Just put it on today, to try it out, didn't need to play quietly or anything. I might never take it off now! First, really easy to put on. It's compact. It's simplicity itself. It doesn't look bad either. Looks pretty good as a matter of fact. As for the sound, definitely lowers the volume significantly; just the perfect amount, i would think. I will be able to play the banjo with Mike's Banjo Mute on and not have to worry about anybody else hearing me. But i will be able to hear myself just fine. Finally, i love the sound it creates! It's very intriguing. If i really knew what a Dobson tone ring sounded like, which i don't, i would say it sounds like a beautiful Dobson tone ring, or some other sort of famous bell-like tone ring. It also kind of sounds like a dobro, a bit, to me. I just love the sound. And i love how it reduces the volume, the perfect amount. It's cool. I highly recommend one.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From Mike’s Banjo Mute website
Just put it on today, to try it out, didn't need to play quietly or anything. I might never take it off now! First, really easy to put on. It's compact. It's simplicity itself. It doesn't look bad either. Looks pretty good as a matter of fact. As for the sound, definitely lowers the volume significantly; just the perfect amount, i would think. I will be able to play the banjo with Mike's Banjo Mute on and not have to worry about anybody else hearing me. But i will be able to hear myself just fine. Finally, i love the sound it creates! It's very intriguing. If i really knew what a Dobson tone ring sounded like, which i don't, i would say it sounds like a beautiful Dobson tone ring, or some other sort of famous bell-like tone ring. It also kind of sounds like a dobro, a bit, to me. I just love the sound. And i love how it reduces the volume, the perfect amount. It's cool. I highly recommend one.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: At Mike's
A marriage saver, they call it. But too late. Have had my banjo for two years, before I bought this mute.
Anyways, now I can play and practice day and night without disturbing family and neighbors. I have not tried any competing mutes, but I really like the soft sound it puts on the banjo. It is as easy to attach to the banjo as a capo. Though it is attached near the the bridge.
Now back to practice...
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Banjo Ben
I picked up some Cockrum Studios scalloped and compensated roasted maple bridges for two open back banjos. After a couple weeks of play, I'm really happy with improvements to the sound of each instrument - increased volume and 'pop' being very noticeable. To my ear, there's also more definition to individual notes, probably as a function of the changes I just noted. I'll be sticking with these and have ordered another for a third instrument.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: https://mikesbanjomute.com/
This was a GAME CHANGER. I received the mute 2 days ago and I've been able to triple my practice time, very important especially since I'm a newbie at banjo. I highly recommend Mike's Banjo Mute, not cheap but well worth every penny. Now if only they can make a mute this good for my bagpipes, LOL.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From maker
Well made and easy to use. Not like the others I have used in the past. I can see why everyone gives it a perfect score of 10 - highly recommend!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Direct from the manufacturer
As a mostly clawhammer player, I've been using Mike's banjo mutes for at least ten years and have just purchased two more. By far my favorite mute. They hold well to the bridge and have sufficient weight to enable the tone to come through clearly with no buzz. The sound is different but has a beauty all of its own -- often an ethereal tone that combines bell like clarity with a roundness while also being much quieter than the un-muted version. At times I'll use the mute just to access the mood it produces and play with the sound. Highly recommended.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From website
Been using one of these for several months now and just ordered another one to keep on my 2nd banjo. Best mute ever. Nothing else is even close in my experience.
Overall Rating: 5
Where Purchased: directly from Mitch Meaders
I have a 1962 RB250 Bowtie with an original 4 hole archtop tone ring. I love the banjo style and design, but I prefer the flathead sound. I gravitated to playing my more modern flathead and left the bow tie sitting in its stand. I recently purchased Mitch's tone ring mate. Wow, what a difference! It was a perfect fit on my original archtop ring. And the tone is a major improvement. I love that I didn't have to change out the ring or modify the banjo. This is the best of both worlds. I get to keep the original banjo in tact, but get that beautiful flathead sound. So happy that I gave Mitch a call!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Eagle music, England
Just a quick shout out for Silvio Ferretti and his Scorpion bridge. I recently fitted one to my Stanley tone and I have to say it has exceeded my expectations. Very clean all over the neck, booming D sting and very balanced.
A very, very good bridge. Highly reccomended.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From Mike's t'internet site.
Well, just to add yet another paean to the numbers of positive reviews of Mike's Banjo Mute. I bought it direct from the USA and it was shipped to Blighty. It arrived very quickly indeed (a week from purchase!!) so top marks to Brad who handled my purchase ... and the US postal service which usually measures its service to the UK in geological terms.
The mute came with a wee posh bag, and a spare screw just in case the fairies come at night and steal away one of them (don't scoff, it can 'appen). It fits on to the bridge very easily indeed and aesthetically looks industrially cool. I like it lots, even though it cost me (gulp) £34 with £15 postage (that postage is okay). So after the initial trauma of purchase (being Scottish, this matters) I can say that the mute is definitely worth the money.
Oh, and by the way, you might be interested to know that it works. Nice quiet ringing sound. I live in a wee hoose, so for the neighbours ... and my wife ... this is important. Much better than the tissue paper shoved into the neck side of the bridge.
Go one. Buy one. You know you want to.
Malcolm
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: mikesbanjomute.com
Saw this mute recommended on this forum. What convinced me to order is the member who actually used a decibel meter to see how much less sound there was with the mute on. Was looking for something to use so that I don't annoy the neighbors when I pick on the porch. I did have some difficulty getting the mute on initially but contacted the owner who helpfully told me I had a nonstandard bridge size! It still worked, just takes a bit more wrestling to get on but WOW - what a difference. Makes me feel more confident that I can whale away without causing pain to anyone else's ears. What a great practice tool.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: online Mike's site
Okay--here's another believer. I just received my Mike's Mute in the mail and tried it out on my 1930's Gibson with the Sullivan tone ring. The brutal loudness was tamed and it still had a nice tone. And I didn't have to wear earplugs when I played! Huge.... This purchase was long overdue.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: www.mikesbanjomute.com
I bought Mike's Banjo Mute- Standard 5-String model. I have been using for three days now and I really like it. Simple to put on and remove from the bridge. My banjo still sounds good but is now quiet enough for late night practice. I think it's worth every penny and I highly recommend Mike's Banjo Mute.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: www.mikesbanjomute.com
I was hesitant to spend the money for a Mike's Mute but after reading all the positive reviews I decided to take a chance. I'm glad I did! This high quality mute does exactly what it's supposed to do. The best part is I find myself playing more knowing that I'm not bothering anyone else. The purchase of this mute was money well spent.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Amazon
Crossrock Fiberglass Banjo Case-Fits Mastertone & Most 5-String Styles, with Interior Compartment, Backpack Straps, Hygrometer, TSA Lock-Black (CRF2023MBJBK)
I saw this case offered on Amazon with a very attractive price and free returns, so I ordered one to try out.
It arrived in good condition with the exception of the hygrometer bezel , which was detached and loose in the case. It is attractive and mostly well-designed. This case seems as sturdy as my similar-appearing Superior fiberglass CF1530B case and the body was about one inch deeper. It weighed nine pounds empty compared to the Superior’s 8.2.
The fit on my Mastertone was good with the exception that when I stood it on its nose and shook the body end of the case from front to back there was an audible bumping sound. The lid strap was a little short, so the lid did not stay securely open. The handle seemed placed a little too far forward, causing the case to assume a nose-up position when carried.
The latches and lid alignment were good. The storage compartment is 10.5” long inside. The case cannot accommodate a banjo with a capo left at the second fret, behind the nut is fine. There is no peghead support.
All in all, if something happened to my Superior fiberglass case I would consider this as a replacement. Since it was not an improvement over my present case, I returned it.
Overall Rating: 7
Where Purchased: Mike’sbanjomute.com
After receiving this mute I am wonderfully surprised at the ease of installing and removing it. The quality seems very good and most importantly the sound quality while muting is most acceptable. Brad, at Mike's Banjo Mute website, was excellent in delivering great advice and prompt service as well. I highly recommend this mute if a noise factor is an issue for you. It does its job.
Overall Rating: 10
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