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 Good BANJO for a beginner?
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| Author | Topic: Good BANJO for a beginner? |
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Fred Kinbom Member From: Brighton, UK |
posted 09 December 2005 09:30 AM
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Hi all, I'm thinking of getting a 5-string banjo. I'd like to learn bluegrass-style playing. I can do fast fingerpicking on a guitar, so I think I could learn the banjo, but I don't want to spend too much money in case the banjo turns out not to be "my thing". Since I will have to ship it to the UK, I'd rather not pay more than $100-$120 for the actual banjo. Do you have any recommendations for a decent beginner's banjo? I've seen a few cheap ones on eBay - both vintage and new. How about Kay or Checkmate for old ones, and Washburn for new? Is it better to get a cheap brand new one, or a cheap vintage? Any advice would be much appreciated! Have a good weekend! Fred [This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 09 December 2005 at 09:32 AM.] |
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Kenny Burford Member From: Lexington, Missouri USA |
posted 09 December 2005 10:47 AM
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Danvilles aren't too bad for the money, but it will need to be set up when you get it. |
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Gavin Dunn Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
posted 09 December 2005 10:53 AM
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Hey Fred, I would avoid getting an old used banjo...i work on alot of them (harmony's, kay's and such) and find nothing but frustration in doing so. Most new starter banjos will save you considerable grief and won't hamper your learning. gavin |
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b0b Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA |
posted 09 December 2005 11:26 AM
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I'd avoid getting an old used banjo too.  |
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Andy Jones Member From: Chunky,MS |
posted 09 December 2005 11:47 AM
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Fred,I understand your plight.I started with a new $45 Kay in 1970,frustrating me just enough to buy a new $200 Alvarez in 1971.The Kay was pitiful.After having the Alvarez set up by a man who knew what he was doing,it played and sounded pretty good.I learned to play well on the Alvarez,but I needed something better.In 1974 I went to Nashville and bought a 1928 Gibson TB-4(tenor banjo)and had a 5-string neck made for it,making it a Mastertone conversion,for $650.I still have it today.To sum it up,you can't get a decent banjo very cheap.$150 probably won't get you much,so spend $300 or more if you are serious about playing.Cheap instruments will only discourage and frustrate you.If it's not for you,you can probably get most or all of your money back.Don't give up! Andy |
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Charles Davidson Member From: Alabama, USA |
posted 09 December 2005 03:18 PM
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Fred, Your living on the edge talking about the banjo on this forum,just wait untill J.W. reads this.On the serious side,buy the best you can afford,at least try to find one with a brass tone ring.A cheap banjo is as bad as a cheap guitar or steel,will make you want to give up before you get started good. If a banjo does not pull your arm out of the socket when you pick it up,It's just a snare drum on a stick. |
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Chuck Cusimano Member From: Weatherford, Texas, USA |
posted 10 December 2005 09:10 AM
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Fred PLEASE do us all a favor, and when you take up the Banjo, Get VERRRRRRY GOOD AT IT before you come to sit in. Be prepared for a STRING of BANJO JOKES...."whats the difference between a Banjo, and a Trampoline?...." Difference between a Banjo and an onion?... All those worn out jokes, "Whats the definition of an optimist..? You WILL hear them all before you're through. True story: I was playing an outside job (Truck stop parking lot) in Ok. City a few years ago, and this guy comes up to the front of the Flat Bed Trailer we were using for a stage, and requested "Don't Come Home A Drinkin", (and we DIDN'T have a girl in the band) before I could tell him we didn't play that song, he tells me he plays a BANJO. I didn't want to be rude, and although I knew we needed to kick off the next song, I said.."Oh!...That's nice...Is it a Four string, or Five string..?" He looked like he was trying to remember what year the war of 1812 was fought, and finally said.."well, it's five for a little ways.." The whole band fell out!.. We couldn't help it. We laughed for days over that "Catch Frase"... "It's five for a little ways" Seriously, I'm not putting down BANJO, or BANJO PLAYERS, but be prepared.. Best of luck! |
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Gary Boyett Member From: Colorado |
posted 10 December 2005 04:12 PM
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I hope you have a good dentist. Something about the vibration makes your teeth fall out. |
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John Poston Member From: Albuquerque, NM, USA |
posted 10 December 2005 06:23 PM
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I unfortunately don't remember the model number for it anymore (I think it was B4 or B6), but my first banjo was a new Washburn I spent just over $100 for. It had a metal rim instead of wood, but the neck was good, it stayed in tune and it was suitably loud and annoying. In the realm of cheaper banjos, I've played Washburn, Epiphone, Fender and Alvarez and think any of those would be decent enough to get you going for a year or two. I personally would avoid the Deering Goodtime banjo. Their higher end banjos are nice but I didn't like the Goodtime very much. Also, I think a great beginning book is Janet Davis' 'You Can Teach Yourself Banjo'. Don't tell anyone I told you |
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Frode Bjoernstad Member From: Oslo, Norway |
posted 12 December 2005 02:19 AM
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Hi ! I'm a beginner at banjo myself, and I bought a Gold tone Cripple Creek R100 from a forumite a couple of weeks ago.. I think this is real good "beginners" banjo.. I also have a 60's Kay open back banjo, but don't even think about buying one… These are kinda useless , and requires a lot of work and parts to get decent sound/action.. I have also tried the Deering goodtime banjo, but I think the Gold tone is a much better banjo… Frode |
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Smiley Roberts Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075 |
posted 12 December 2005 10:41 AM
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"GOOD BANJO" ??? Wouldn't that be considered an oxymoron??? ------------------ |
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