Submitted by banjers51 (see all reviews from this person) on 4/11/2009

Where Purchased: Directly from Greg Galbreath/builder

Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

I've been a bit hesitant to take the plunge into the 12" shorter scale world, but this banjo has made me a convert. The tone is a fine blend of "plunk" and clarity, and that's the case anywhere on the neck. I have a fairly light touch, but have no problem getting a very big sound out of this beauty

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

Greg and I discussed setup briefly in advance, and he agreed to refit the banjo with a nice skin head and medium strings. Let me simply say that he nailed the setup perfectly. The action was right where I would have set it myself, although he included two extra bridges (different heights), making it very easy to change. Since I live in New England where our summers are humid, this was a particularly nice consideration.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

The emphasis here is on simplicity, which is very much in keeping with my own preferences. The finish is flawless, and lends a nice golden hue that contrasts well with the ebony fittings. There is a small vaguely leaf-shaped inlay on the Bay State style peghead and simple dots in the fretboard, but it's quite clear from Greg's website that he's more than capable of doing much more elaborate inlay work if that's what you're after.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

I've only had the banjo for a few weeks, but there is nothing about it that would suggest that it won't last longer than I will. I have a feeling I won't ever change much other than strings. As mentioned above, this banjo has lots of volume potential, even for someone like myself with a relatively light touch, so I wouldn't hesitate to use it in group settings, either in jam sessions or gigs.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I first contacted Greg via email, and we followed up with a phone call or two. Since I knew I was going to be in VA on business, I decided to make the drive down to Eggleston and pick it up myself, which was well worth the time. Greg and his wife, Cindy, are most gracious hosts, and their place up in the hills makes me envious. Additionally, they're both fine musicians, as I found out later that evening, when I accompanied them to a gig.

Customer Service: 10

Components

All of the components are of high quality, and work well together, both functionally and aesthetically. The hardware is nicely polished and Greg uses ebony buttons on the tuners, a very nice touch.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

I can't possibly remember how many banjos I've owned over the years, but this one is quickly becoming a favorite. I usually keep a couple of banjos readily available, and find myself reaching for the Buckeye on a regular basis, both as an obvious alternative to my 11" instruments and on its own merit. Greg's banjos are under priced in my opinion, but I doubt that this will be the case once folks discover what he has to offer. If someone were to ask me about a similar purchase (i.e., 12" simple pot), I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Greg as my first choice.

Overall Rating: 10