Your choice of banjo brand can make an important impactful statement about its sound quality and playability, so picking one with quality craftsmanship and components should help give you peace of mind.
Gibson banjos are well-regarded for their superior craftsmanship and historical relevance, with bluegrass musicians often opting for their Earl Scruggs Standard model.
Deering
Deering banjos are known for their quality and craftsmanship. Offering various styles for both beginners and professionals alike, Deering instruments are durable enough to withstand regular heavy use while producing rich sound tones. Unfortunately, however, Deering instruments may be expensive so before purchasing one it is wise to conduct extensive research before purchasing your banjo. Read reviews carefully in order to gain insight into its strengths and weaknesses.
Construction materials of a banjo play a critical role in its quality. High-grade woods and metal parts contribute to both sound production and durability; choosing brands using these high-grade materials ensures long-lasting instruments; banjos made of cheap materials may become damaged easily, so spending more money on one with higher build standards may be worthwhile.
Deering banjos are an excellent choice for beginning players, as they are both visually pleasing and easy to play. Crafted from top-grade hardwoods for maximum sound resonancy, and equipped with a geared tuner to facilitate tuning – plus available in an array of colors and finishes; Eagle Music Shop stocks Deering Cimarron Heirloom Black Diamond models!
Kala
Kala specializes in crafting ukuleles and has played an instrumental role in reinvigorating interest in these popular instruments since their revival. Since 1990, they have produced innovative models from multiple wood types; each imparting its own distinctive sound signature and aesthetic beauty.
Kala KA-15S banjo ukes are an impressive testament to their dedication in crafting quality banjo ukuleles. Boasting a solid mahogany body fitted with a Remo Weatherking banjo head, and boasting an attractive natural finish – this soprano banjo offers balanced tone, solid construction, comfort and affordability at a very reasonable price point.
This uke has a loud, percussive sound with plenty of treble – perfect for modern acoustic settings or Hawaiian band performances! Unfortunately, however, its one drawback is its lack of preamp and tuning pegs.
NuBone, an indecipherable synthetic material similar to real bone, makes for a realistic experience while this instrument comes complete with a gig bag and fluorocarbon strings for additional authenticity.
Gibson
Gibson banjos are known for their powerful sound and sturdy build quality, making them popular choices among musicians nationwide. There are various features offered that make Gibson banjos appealing; choosing which banjo suits your needs depends on considerations such as size, weight, craftsmanship etc.
Prior to World War II, Gibson offered several models including RB-1, RB-2, RB-3 and RB-4 that could be found both arch top (raised head) and flat head styles, with either raised head (raised) or flat head styles and sunburst resonators with concentric rings for sunburst tone. Bluegrass musician Snuffy Martin purchased an RB-4 model in 1940 before selling it off for $90 to a 15 year-old boy from Columbia South Carolina.
Gibson banjos during this era saw several notable modifications. One was the coordination rod system which kept necks straight when under string tension. Though not known for certain, it is widely assumed that Lloyd Loar was behind its development – often shown with mandolins or banjos on his workbench in Gibson catalogs – he may even have helped design its ball-bearing tone ring design too! Another key innovation from Gibson was their adjustable truss rod which was first introduced in 1921; this greatly enhanced stability over earlier fixed truss rods which caused neck warping due to string tension.
Oscar Schmidt
Oscar Schmidt company made many different stringed instruments such as banjos, mandolins, ukuleles and autoharps. Their banjos were well known for their great sound and ease of playing at an affordable price – particularly important prior to amplified music when blues musicians and country guitar pickers from rural areas used them without amplifiers; Leadbelly even used an Oscar Schmidt Stella 12-string guitar from this company in his performances! Today the Oscar Schmidt factory still produces banjos; their OB5 model makes an excellent beginner banjo with fantastic value!
Idealistically, saving up for and purchasing a higher quality banjo should be your goal; but if that isn’t feasible just yet, I recommend trying as many inexpensive or more costly models to see which you like best.
Gold-Tone
Gold-Tone banjos are designed with beginners in mind and offer an enjoyable playing experience at an accessible price point. Their meticulous attention to detail and use of premium materials results in outstanding sound quality and playability; one popular model being their BG-150F which features a rolled brass tone ring and flat fingerboard which enable Scruggs-style picking.
Gold Tone’s new Ome banjo line of open back models feature composite rim and neck construction that is durable against temperature fluctuations and humidity changes, while remaining lightweight and easy to tune. They also come equipped with more premium tuners that offer greater precision compared to cheaper open gear models.
American-standard threads on hooks and nuts on all its instruments is another clear sign that this brand provides high value for money. Furthermore, their Zero Glide Nut system incorporates an actual fret into bone nuts at “0,” providing equal tone between open and fretted strings as well as consistent string height across the whole fingerboard for precise intonation resulting in fuller and richer soundscapes and accurate intonation.
Luna
Luna Guitars of Florida was only founded in 2005, yet in that short time they have quickly established themselves as one of the top banjo brands. Their eye-catching visual designs make their instruments appealing to musicians looking to set themselves apart; especially impressive are their Celtic range which blend traditional looks with modern features to provide enhanced playability.
Brand X offers acoustic-electric banjos that can be played both acoustically and with an electric pickup, making these instruments perfect for newcomers to the instrument who would like the flexibility of using effects pedals to personalize their tone.
Sweetwater offers tools to make finding a new banjo easier if you’re shopping on their website, such as searching by brand, price range, body material and more – making it simple for you to locate what meets your criteria. With side-by-side comparison of products for best value for your money and discounted acoustic banjos available at discounted prices for beginners just starting out – making finding their instrument easy!
Ibanez
Ibanez is well known for their guitars, but they also produce highly affordable banjos that make an excellent starting point for beginners with limited budgets. Their instruments feature top quality materials reminiscent of 1920 banjo designs while remaining highly affordable and come in various colors to meet anyone’s taste.
Oscar Schmidt offers affordable stringed instruments designed for musicians of all skill levels. Popular models for beginners include their OB5 Resonator Banjo with its removable resonator to give an open-back sound; making these banjos ideal for beginner players due to both affordability and comfortable playing feel.
Like Deering and Gold-Tone, Ibanez offers banjos for players of all skill levels. Their acoustic models are great options for beginner players while their electric models provide advanced musicians with professional-grade options. Both Ibanez’s acoustic and electric banjos feature high-quality components for professional use; you’ll find plenty of these brands’ models available at Sweetwater where their sales engineers will help find an instrument tailored specifically to your set up, goals, and budget.