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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: 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: 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: Amazon
Crossrock 5-String Resonator Banjo Flight Case, 100% Carbon Fiber Hard Shell with Backpack and Protective Cover(CRF6020BJBK)
From the Amazon listing:
6. 6lb carbon fiber flight case for 5 strings resonator banjo.
Genuine leather handle.
Heavy duty latches and hardware with TSA lock.
Deluxe padded backpack straps and thick padded case cover.
Super thick high density padding and extra reomvable padding comes with silk-like blue lining.
Designed for 5-string Resonator Banjos. Inside Dimensions: Overall length : 100cm (39. 37"); Body length : 36. 5cm (14. 37"); Lower bout : 36. 5cm (14. 37"); Body height : 13cm (5. 12"); Bridge height : 15. 5cm (6. 1"); Net weight : 3kg (6. 6lb); Kindly reminder: please always measure your instrument before purchase to ensure a proper fit.
***
I had been wondering about these cases for a while but their $998.00 price kept me away. On 4/13/22 Amazon listed two or these cases for $598.00 with free shipping and free returns, so I ordered one to check it out. Here is my review:
The case is nicely shaped and finished, with a carbon-fiber pattern matte surface. There is a large Crossrock logo on the lid, which I wish wasn’t so obtrusive. The latches seemed adequate, if not as heavy-duty as the ones on a Calton. It also features a TSA lock and two keys. The inside is lined with an attractive blue velvet-like lining. The lid stayed open when opened and fit nicely together when shut. It also came with two straps for backpack use. It weighed in empty at 6.7 lbs on my digital bathroom scale. The handle was comfortable but with a banjo inside it balanced with the peghead-end up at a 45 degree angle.
The case was supposed to come with a padded case cover, two strips to fill the space around the resonator and a pad to go at the rear of the resonator to make it fit a Mastertone-dimension banjo. The case cover, which I assume is necessary to prevent marring the case’s finish – or to prevent the latches from accidentally opening – would add something back to the total weight of the case, somewhat negating one of its selling points. The case is otherwise oversized for a Mastertone-style banjo (possibly the only kind expensive enough to warrant a case this costly).
My case was delivered missing the case cover and the pad. When I tried my Gibson RB-3 with no padding it had about a quarter-inch of gap all around the resonator and the back of the resonator sank so deeply into the case that the neck of the banjo was over one-half inch up off the neck support at the peghead-end of the accessory box. By putting one of the two strips at the butt end of the case and the other across sideways behind the resonator I was able to get the banjo to sit fairly level. I latched the case and stood it on end and shook it, finding that both the body and especially the peghead were loose enough to clunk loudly back and forth. This appears to be because the lid of the case lacks enough padding to keep the instrument from moving. No matter how strong the shell of the case may be, if the banjo is not held firmly from moving inside the case it can be easily damaged.
Summing up, this case was expensive, yet would not protect a banjo. Crossrock has been making cases for twenty years. I can only assume that no one in their design department knows anyone who plays banjo. If this case were sized correctly, with padding added in the right spots — and was available at a reasonable price, they would have an attractive and light-weight product. This one, however, went back to Amazon.
Overall Rating: 1
Where Purchased: www.mikesbanjomute.com
Great product and communication, quick shipping. Really nicely made. Best mute I have tried in my 40+ years of playing!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Poky's Music
Year Purchased: 2005
Price Paid: 2200 ($US) (bought USED)
Great sound! Very loud! Very nice pop up the neck. Kulesh tone ring sounds fine.
Sound Rating: 9
Bought used. Changed head to Remo high crown top-frosted, bridge to Snuffy Smith I, 11/16". Set Presto all the way down touching the tension hoop and the head fairly tight. Plays and sounds fine. Came with spikes at 7,8,9,10 & 12.
Setup Rating: 7
Very nice mahogany and finish. My favorite inlay combination, leaves and bows peghead with flying eagle fingerboard. The rosewood fingerboard has some figure to it. Beautifully made Greg Rich-era instrument.
Appearance Rating: 9
Still seems to be in good shape after 15 years. Some minor dings and wear to the plating. The fifth string tuner is a little worn.
Reliability Rating: 9
Stover Mayhew at Poky's Music was a pleasure to deal with. I got a great sounding and playing banjo at a fair price. Gibson's guarantee was only for five years at the time this was made, now long expired.
Customer Service: 9
Very nice components, nice wood. Tone ring matched to rim.
Components Rating: 9
I played one of these at McCabe's back when they were new and have always wished I bought it. Anyone looking for a quality banjo should consider a Gibson from this era. I feel like I got a great instrument at an affordable price, and one that will likely hold its value. I'm really happy with it.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: EF Productions
Year Purchased: 2005
Price Paid: 1085 ($US)
Great sound! The sound is the best feature of this banjo. Right out of the box it sounded good, deep, throaty, with crack and pop. And loud, louder than my TB-2 conversion with Huber ring. And that was before any setup. I then stripped it down, took the adjustment screw out of the “presto” and put on light strings, my preference. I left on the 5/8” bridge it came with and tightened the head to where I like it and added fifth string spikes. I then took it to a friend of mine, a professional musician and producer who plays all stringed instruments, including banjo. I told him I had a new banjo and that I wanted his opinion, but that I didn’t want him to see it so it wouldn’t color his expectations. I had him turn his back and picked it a little. He said “Well, that’s your old banjo, isn’t it?” After we both played it a while we agreed it a very good sounding banjo and a stageworthy instrument. Later, I put on a Snuffy Smith 11/16” bridge. It got even better. It rocks! It sounds good capoed, too. Here's a sound clip: http://www.judithgeiger.com/banjo/mp3/GF100FE.mp3
Sound Rating: 9
It was very nearly in tune right out of the box. The tailpiece was adjusted way down, but other than that it was playable as is. The frets are well finished, no sharp ends, no buzzes. The head tension was good. It sounded good with the medium strings it came with. The bridge was set correctly and the intonation, relief and action were good. The first string stuck in the nut slot and the nut had glue? on it. Both the nut and the fifth string nut had sharp edges. I cleaned these up and filed them smooth.
Setup Rating: 8
Nice finish on the wood with good curb appeal. The stain is a little lighter than I prefer, but nicely done. The neck is one piece, except for a 1/4” wide strip visible on the back of only one side of the peghead! On the resonator there is a noticible flaw in the finish where there is a dent in the purfling rings. The inlays in the ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay were neat and tight. Small asymmetries in the inlays make me think they are hand cut. I had expected laser-cut. It has the bell-shaped truss rod cover, which I like a lot more than the one on the GF-85s. The pearlescent tuner buttons have visible seams and look kind of cheap. Even my wife remarked on them. The resonator had an area of stain inside. There are slight imperfections in the flange plating. It came with a very nice looking case.
Appearance Rating: 8
It looks durable. Ask me in a year.
Reliability Rating: not rated
I haven’t tried to use it yet. I understand that warranty issues are handled through the seller, who was professional in my dealings with him, except for his "no return" policy. The banjo didn’t come with any warranty papers, so I’m not sure what is covered or excluded. Inside the banjo the label says “Gold Star banjos are guaranteed to the original purchaser without time limit under the terms of our warranty.” UPDATE 9/11/05: I emailed EF Productions regarding a cracked tuner button 30 days ago and have gotten no response.
Customer Service: 1
First, the 9.5 lb. case is very nice. It was marked with a tag, Golden Gate CD-1530. It is not to be confused with the CP-1530 Deluxe ABS molded case or the CV-1530 Vintage plywood one. I’m not sure what it is made of. It is covered with a black pebbled leatherette covering and nicely finished. The top and sides flex somewhat, yet were strong enough that I could stand on the top and sit on the side without any damage. The top is molded into an arch. It has five brass-colored latches, one locking, and comes with two keys. It has feet on the bottom, side and the butt. The inside is lined with dark green plush velvety material and nice padding that fits the banjo very well. The top has an extra ring of padding above the tension hoop to hold the banjo securely without putting pressure on the bridge. A very nice feature is the two ramps of plush-covered foam held in place by Velcro to support the peghead. They are somewhat adjustable by repositioning them forward or back. There is a very roomy storage pocket. Inside were the lug nut wrench and an allen wrench for the truss rod. It has a comfortable handle that balances very well from front to back, but the loaded case hangs slightly sideways toward your leg at the bottom.
The resonator is well constructed, smoothly finished and lays flat. The sides are 1/8" deeper than on my TB-2. It makes a nice pop when tapped.
The bottom edges of the rim are not rounded off and there is one place that you can feel the joint between the laminations. The rim and tone ring are both marked “28.” The 20-hole ring easily slips on and off and is well fit to the rim. The ring has some casting flaws up in the inside groove. The outside of the sloping face is machined somewhat unevenly and shows plating imperfections. It rang brightly when struck, as did the tension hoop. The large coordinator rod nut was frozen on the rod. When I got them apart I oiled the threads and they went together smoothly. It came with a Remo head. The tailpiece and armrest are lighter and thinner than the originals. Overall the banjo weighs 11.5 lbs., 1/2 lb. more than my TB-2 conversion.
The neck is well constructed, with medium frets with the ends finished over the binding. The neck is thicker and wider than I am used to, but playable, even with my small hands. The tuners seem adequate. The neck starts to thicken slightly at the first fret below the volute. Somehow, Inspector #42 did not notice that it has an extra side dot at the 21st fret! Of course, this makes mine a one-of-a-kind custom job and more valuable.
Components Rating: 7
All in all this is a very good sounding, good playing banjo with a very nice case. I bought it as a backup, but think it would be a suitable instrument for any intermediate or even a professional player. I’m not ready to retire my TB-2, but if this one had a little slimmer neck, it would be a keeper. And you would have to spend a LOT more to get one that sounded any better.
Overall Rating: 8
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