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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: Josh Turknett - Brainjo Academy
Year Purchased: 2023
Price Paid: 1500 ($US)
I have 2 Brainjos - one with "Roscoe" set up and one with "Tommy". Each separate banjo suits beautifully the style I am reaching for, clawhammer (Roscoe) and 2-finger (Tommy). I'm very pleased with both. I don't give a rating only because I don't know what best would be without playing all the banjos possible. ??
Sound Rating: not rated
Set up very well. Took it out of package, tuned it, started playing, and big grins appeared! I love these banjos.
Setup Rating: 10
Beautiful instrument and well constructed. I am a wood worker, my grandfather was a wood worker, and my great grandfather was a wood worker. And, in my opinion and experience, these 2 Brainjos are wonderfully done.
Appearance Rating: 10
It all seems fine. I don't know how to rate reliability without the passage of sigficant time.
Reliability Rating: not rated
Excellent service. Tim was very accessible, kind, and prompt on some questions I had and some changes I wanted. Couldn't have been better.
Customer Service: 10
I agree with the comments made by prior reviewers. All is made very well.
Components Rating: 10
I think my above comments capture it. These are fine banjos and a pleasure to play.
[About "overall rating" below - I would choose not to respond because it just doesn't make sense to me. Reminds me of Amazon's "as expected" rating !!! But, I have to put in something to submit this. So, I did. ]
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Clawhammerbanjo.net
Year Purchased: 2020
Price Paid: 1350 ($US) (bought USED)
I purchased the Tommy set up with my Brainjo. I play clawhammer style and working on two finger thumb lead.
The Brainjo is bright with the Nickle plated strings, VERY BRIGHT. I replaced them with GHS phosphor bronze light strings and now the sound is more full and rounded. Still with good sustain. More appealing to my ear.
Love the Banjo. I like the clean and simple look of the model, no frills, just a solid sounding and good looking Banjo. Solid workmanship.
Sound Rating: 9
Banjo was set up perfectly for me.
I would recommend replacing the nickel plated strings. In general they can be a bit tinny and overly bright.
Setup Rating: 9
Clean look, solid craftsmanship. Very attractive.
Appearance Rating: 10
3-piece cherry neck with matching dowel, rosewood fingerboard and peghead overlay
maple thin rim, 11?
25.5? neck scale
2-way adjustable truss rod
frailing scoop
high-quality nickel hardware and tuners
bone nut, 1 5/16? width
side dots at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, and 17
Reliability Rating: 9
Tim at Cedar Mountain make a timely repair on my banjo rim. Actually he replaced it. Turn around was 10 days from the time he received the Banjo from me to when it was back in my hands. that included 2 days of shipping.
Customer Service: 9
3-piece cherry neck with matching dowel, rosewood fingerboard and peghead overlay
maple thin rim, 11?
25.5? neck scale
2-way adjustable truss rod
frailing scoop
high-quality nickel hardware and tuners
bone nut, 1 5/16? width
side dots at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, and 17
Components Rating: 9
Great workmanship, good service, stands behind their warranty. Sound is excellent, looks are clean and simple, which I find very appealing as I do not like a lot of decoration. If you want a good sounding solid banjo at a great value, take a look at Cedar Mountain Banjos.
For the complete line go to:
www.cedarmtnbanjos.com
To review the Brainjo check it out at:
www.clawhammerbanjo.net/the-brainjo/
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: web order
Year Purchased: 2017
Price Paid: 1500 ($US)
Because i already have a tuba phone tone ring open back, i wanted to try the more elemental, perhaps rooty sound of the Tommy, which has no ring. there is less brilliance, less sustain, and more punch and to my ears projection and note clarity.
Sound Rating: not rated
out of the box all i did was tune it. . one bracket was slightly loose
Setup Rating: 10
i deliberately chose the branjo for its simple appearance. nothing on the pighead, no inlay on the fretboard, and just some location dots on the side of the neck. on the other hand, the craftsmanship of the instrument is perfect, and the lack of adornment lets the woodworking and wood shine.
Appearance Rating: 10
yes to all of the above. nicely finished, good quality tuners and tailpiece. everything looks sollid. tim has a reputation for not skimpy on any of the hardware, which someone says is all US made
Reliability Rating: not rated
Tim was easy to reach and responsive.
Customer Service: 10
Components Rating: 10
everything i wanted in this banjo and indeed exactly as described by Josh Turknett when he first put up the sale. a simple, relatively low cost instrument that sounds and plays as good as anything you can find. i used it for its first gig tonight and I had no disappointments and second thoughts
Overall Rating: 10
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