Down Home Guitars - Frankfort, IL

Submitted by Svenn on 2/18/2015

Overall Comments

Went to a bluegrass fest in Frankfort last summer and stumbled into this place....largest selection of high end acoustic guitars, banjos, and mandolins within several hundred miles.    They had new Stelling, and a bunch of used and vintage Gibson, Deering, Stelling, et al banjos.

If your in the Chicago area, check them out.   Also host a couple of weekly jams.

 

 

Overall Rating: 8

Cases (Soft, Gig Bags): Durafoam Shaped Case

Submitted by Svenn on 5/29/2013

Where Purchased: Musician's Friend

Overall Comments

Musician's Gear Durafoam Shaped Banjo Case - $59 at Musician's Friend (free shipping).

Pros - Light weight and solid construction, lots of padding, good thermal protection.

Cons - Bulkier then the original hard shell case, back pack straps were cheaply made.

Much stronger then my gigbag....lighter then my ohsc. A good compromise. My Grenada fit's in it like a glove....openback needed a little padding around rim (strap and towel worked ok).

Overall Rating: 7

Cases (Hard, Flight): Karura Sentinel

Submitted by Svenn on 5/29/2013

Where Purchased: Used

Overall Comments

I've got a couple of older Calton cases and thought there were no better until I came across this Karura / Dormer carbon fiber case. Equal in strength to Calton, but much lighter. Not easy to find....but like gold when you find one.

Overall Rating: 9

Straps: Lakota Banjo strap

Submitted by Svenn on 5/21/2013

Where Purchased: Online Direct

Overall Comments

Didn't expect to find a comfortable way to hold my new (old) 1/4 ton banjo until I acquired a 3" Buffalo hide cradle strap. Picked until bedtime much to the dismay of my neighbors.

Price was more then fair considering the quality and the savings on future Chiropractor fees. And the fact they make them on the Pine Ridge Lakota Sioux Indian reservation (the poorest county in the US). They say "The purchase helps provide income for people on the reservation. Truly a 'cottage' industry, Lakota Leathers straps are assembled in living rooms and on kitchen tables of the people who make these wonderful straps."

Planning on buying additonal straps for my guitar, dobro, and mandolin.

Overall Rating: 10