Stone Banjo Company: Open Back 5-String Banjo

Submitted by stevekvt on 2/28/2025

Where Purchased: Stone Banjo Company

Year Purchased: 2025
Price Paid: $1320 shipped ($US)

Sound

With its 12 inch pot and wooden tone ring, this has a beautiful mellow sound for clawhammer. Of course, it has a little more bite as you move back toward the bridge, and the scoop provides for a great sound without the thump of hitting the head. For someone investing in his first open-back banjo beyond the $300 beginner instrument, this is truly inspiring to play.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

The setup was spot on. Steve's string selection is interesting and really effective, using slightly different gauges than you'd find in a set (10,12,13,24,10). Intonation was spot on and he marked the bridge location so it was easy to flip it up and be ready to play. I rounded off a couple corners on the nut and have no desire to change anything else at this point. The neck shape is very comfortable and the natural finish on the neck feels great.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

It's a beauty. I wanted something woody and rustic looking. The combination of persimmon fretboard and peg head cap with the walnut neck, pot and dowel is beautiful. The walnut arm rest really stands out. I love the aged brass hardware. The inlays are simple dots. There were no appearance flaws.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

It feels like it's well made and that it will wear as any well-made instrument should. I wouldn't worry about having it as my only instrument on a gig. This is a very organic-feeling instrument - everything is natural and there's nothing shiny to wear down.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

Steve was a pleasure to deal with. He even sent photos of the production of this instrument while I was waiting for him to get it ready to ship. UPDATE: Have had a couple questions about the instrument setup since purchasing and Steve has been phenomenal in his willingness to talk and follow-up. He was on the phone as I was in my shop making adjustments. This is the ultimate in personal customer service.

Customer Service: 10

Components

The handcrafted neck and block constructed pot are both lovely and well designed. The walnut neck feels great and the fretwork is excellent. The walnut arm rest is a bonus. Its curvature is super comfortable and it looks great. I appreciate the wider nut - that's made playing clawhammer much more comfortable for me.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

I was looking for an upgrade.  Learning clawhammer on my resonators wasn't really working since they aren't set up for it.  The inexpensive RK was OK, but I wanted to step up.  I'm so pleased to have stumbled onto a Stone Banjo as an option as I looked for a domestically crafted upgrade.  You can't possibly beat the quality and buying experience for the price.  I am inspired to learn and play more and more with this instrument.  I wish I needed another banjo so I could order it from Steve all over again!   Maybe I need a fretless.....

Overall Rating: 10