Sound

I have tried both Eras and Wreaths. I liked them both. I went to try this one and it had a full sound, very well balanced. It plays the same anywhere on the neck, holding tone and volume. It lives up to everything Deering advertises and more. It has that vintage sound that has been so elusive. It has the response and sound like maple with the sweet touch of mohogany. Nice balance indeed.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

This banjo had a neck which really has gorgeous wood. It has a little movemement in the grain, similar to curl in maple. Just an impressive piece. The resonator is just as pretty. The Mother of Pearl catches everyones eye. The guys I jam with, my teacher along with others cannot get over the pearl. And the copper flashed tone ring is such a touch to the look of the instrument. If I did not know better, I would believe this was a custom build by Deering.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

The people at Deering were very helpful with questions prior to my purchase. They freely gave me information and suggestions on what to look for. I cannot say enough about them. Great Company to work with. Lifetime warranty (See Deering site for warranty terms).

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

The feel is natural to me and the sound is what I have been searching for. My other instruments are very good, and very dependable and playable (just not quite like this one). This banjo just has it all. Looks, feel, sound, she is a winner for sure.

I spent a year looking and trying. It has been well worth the effort, and I highly recomend trying before buying to anyone. If you are looking at upper line instruments, get out and play them, make sure they are the one you have been searching for..

I did not list a price as I believe this is a private matter between myself and the store.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

An order is not received in full by me! Mark Bramlett has adopted the cause and in a short time I received the rest of my order!
I can "Banjo.com" for purchasing highly recommend!

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Great and loud sound for the cheap price. Not too much clear but so great for a beginner!

Sound Rating

7

Appearance

The finish for a beginner is a great good looking. It looks a really good quality instrument. But all of that thinking disappears when you got or see a really banjo.

Appearance Rating

7

Customer Service

Well...not really helpful!

Customer Service

3

Overall Comments

Is a really great choice for begginers that don´t want to spend too much of their money, but If you can afford some more money for a better one will be great! that´s my advice!

Overall Rating

5

Overall Comments

I won a bridge from Tim here on the hangout. Even though I live in New Zealand, he was quite happy to post it to me free of charge. His customer service is fantastic. Even though the bridge was a prize, he custom made it to my required specs and made sure it arrived. And lo and behold, it sounds great. Thanks Tim.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I just got ripped-off for $148 bucks. I ordered a Eastman Airline guitar along with a hard case and four leather straps. It took forever to ship and when I finally opened it I was short the guitar straps. Ben finally responds with "we put them in the case" so screw you! Yeah screw me. I had to order them from myrareguitars like I should have from the beginning. My advice stay away from InstrumentAlley. I GOT MUGGED IN INSTRUMENT-ALLEY!!!!

Overall Rating

1

Overall Comments

Yet another happy camper! The mute arrived 10 days after I ordered it; a really nice email from Mike asking how I heard about the mute-then ANOTHER to thank me for my reply!

I consider myself very lucky indeed to have discovered this GREAT piece of banjo kit straight off; from what I've seen, some people have spent a lot of time and money to get to the stage I'm at now; a great sounding instrument that I can " calm down" when I need to, either for practise or for singing to ( singing some songs with a banjo is the equivalent to playing lullabies on bagpipes )

The banjo sounds great when muted - still all the tone and sustain that I want, but no projection. Yes, it's different to an unmuted banjo, but the difference does not diminish the sweet sound. Beautifully crafted - I'd like to bet mike has a drawerful of prototypes somewhere! Easy to fit: easy to remove. Easy to like. Nothing to dislike.

As I said at the start - nice one Mike!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

These picks are my favorite so far. I have been using the BP colbolts and they are great picks also. But these are much more comfortable and have great tone. I first ordered the ACN finish picks which have a bassier tone than the BP's. Then I ordered the original German Nickel Silver picks. These have a brighter tone and more volume. Just buy them both and you cant go wrong. I think the ACN's would sound better in a recording but the original's would sound better at a jam because they would cut through more. Great price also.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Sound is fantastic. I play bluegrass and I like the hard-driving loud bluegrass sound. The Deluxe is crisp and clear without the tinny twang found on my Fender and is capable of delivering in a jam with other instruments.

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Beautiful clean inlay pattern. Just the right amount, not too plain and not too gaudy. The wood finish is beautiful, and the fingerboard flawless. I particularly like the peghead inlay.

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

None better. I've spoken with Janet and Carolina several times by email and phone. I misplaced a truss rod cover screw and called Deering for a replacement. They sent several for the price of one.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

Overall one of the best for the money. I don't regret the purchase one bit. If I was going to recomend any change it would be a little engraving on the plain armrest.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I just love this strap. I initially purchased a different cradle strap and it was just too fat and bulky. Wouldn't fit in the case. I got the Lakota initially because it was thin. Found out it was tough but soft, really well made, and thin enough to fit in the case.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

This is my second one. The first one, the plastic swivel pin that holds the foot to the mounting bracket broke the day after I got it. They really should have made those from metal instead of plastic.
The thing performed so well and was so easy to use I purchased a replacement knowing that the pin was an achilles heel in the design.

Overall Rating

8

Overall Comments

Worth the $30. They fit well and stay put. No ragged edges, a smooth stainless finish that doesn't wear like the nickel-silver. I like the fact that one has the logo on it so I know which one goes on which finger without having to ghetto-rig one with fingernail polish or filing a scratch in it. If I lost one, I'd purchase another set.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I was skeptical at first. A metal thumbpick with a huge flat plastic blade riveted to it. It even looks weird. But I was also frustrated at every plastic thumbpick I had ever used got larger and larger until the strings would get in the open gap and trap my thumb. I could've spent the rest of my life heating plastic thumbpicks in boiling water and trying to reshape them. The metal loop doesn't stretch out like plastic and the plastic blade doesn't clank like the all-metal thumb picks. Really good design. Won't ever use anything else unless something better comes out. Plus it is 1/10th the cost of the bluechip, which is very very close in design.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Last summer, I started to collect together old prewar parts for a banjo I wanted to build as my banjo for life to take with me everywhere and not have to worry as much about someone stealing it. I love the prewar sound for my own personal reasons. At the time, I was working with another luthier who was very capable but was so overloaded with responsibility it seemed the patience with me was not there, I wanted someone to build a neck for this banjo put it together with skill, patience and caring. John Boulding after working on a couple of my other valuable prewars, proved to me he was the person I was seeking in this process. It turns out the banjo he put together is something I will treasure deeply for the rest of my life. The neck he made for this banjo was the most perfect piece of craftsmanship I have ever seen. On top of that he made it to fit me for I have larger hands he made the neck slightly wider. This banjo plays far better any other banjo I have ever owned, and I have owned a bunch of them. He told me it would take time to make it so I never bugged him until he called me about three months later to let me know it was getting close. The result of his patience caring and skill is something I would be proud for anyone to play and show it off to. Thank you John Boulding for making the best neck I have ever seen and thank you for your patience and understanding of what I specifically needed. I have found my lifetime banjo as a result. Only one problem, I am really nervous about is someone stealing this banjo. That is the one problem that got worse. A good problem to have.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Just got this today. Man what a difference. Asked my wife in the next room (we have hollow doors in the house) if she could hear me playing and she couldn't. But that's not the best part, well it might be for the family, what I loved is that I can hear the clear separation of notes and hear them all so I could tell if I was playing something correctly. Nice mute Mike. Love it.

Steve Hatfield

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Sound Rating

not rated

Appearance

See overall comments

Appearance Rating

1

Customer Service

See overall comments

Customer Service

1

Overall Comments

A year and a half ago I took up the banjo at 78. As a newbie I researched and decided on the Goodtime Special that came with resonator and was pleased at my decision. Deering has been wonderful in backing up their banjos and are great people. During the time I had been playing I took of the resonator, added a sponge between rod and head and added a Fiberskin head to soften the sound. I tended to gravitate to a softer, lower sound and decided to look for my ‘Dream Banjo’. Loved the Deering Hartford but a bit out of my financial range. I started listening a lot and researching and finally heard a BanjoHangout member playing a banjo which sound I liked. I contacted him and was told it was made by Luke Mercier. Mr. Mercier has a very nice website and comes with impressive testimonials and being a BanjoHangout member himself I felt rather secure in having him build my banjo.

I contacted Luke and explained that I had a budget of $1600 to $1800 and asked if he could build me a banjo with Dobson ring that had the qualities I heard but without any fancy embellishments that would take me over my budget. I told him I was wary as this would be the last banjo I would be buying and I did not want anything to go wrong. Luke assured me he could build the banjo for $1800. Decided on an open back, walnut neck and walnut rim for a mellower sound with capabilities to use both nylgut and steel strings. Looking at his banjo photos I noticed the 15, 17, and 19 fret dots missing. He said he does not usually put them on his banjos but if I wanted he would do so.

As his deadline for delivery approached he asked for more time and I gave him two more weeks. When the banjo arrived I noticed that the 15th fret dot was on the 14th fret. I called and told him he placed it in the wrong place and was informed that is what I asked. I checked my email and I admit I mistyped the 15 into the 14. However I felt that he should have called to clarify the placement as it was unusual. His reply was that a lot of people request strange things. It was finally agreed that we would share the mailing costs and he would do a repair.

When the banjo arrived for the second time and I opened the package and my heart dropped when I noticed the fret markers did not line up under the strings and that the heel of the neck was off when meeting the rim, causing the neck to be misaligned as well as the frets (see photos). As the radius is 1/8” neck is off center at the heel it throws the neck off at the tuning head at least 1”. If the radius of the neck was even on both sides where it meets the rim it would swing counter clockwise and would align the fret markers properly to the strings. I debated calling Luke for a few weeks as I am instructed not to get excited or my blood pressure too high due to a medical condition. However I just could not justify the errors and keeping the banjo. I called Luke and he said he would return my money. When I sent the banjo back he said that since I had the banjo a while he would not return the money but would put it up for consignment and when sold would return the money. I could not forsee any one buying the banjo with the built in errors. Pressing Luke it was agreed that he would refund $1000 which was the best I could get in return. He did send the check but I still could not understand why I had to forfeit $800, have no banjo and being retired have to start saving for another year or two to purchase another banjo. I asked Luke for a additional rebate of $650 feeling the his cost of mailings was covered and he had the banjo to resell.

Luke’s reply.

Running a straight edge from the dowel stick end to the 3rd string groove of the nut, it shows that the neck is in proper alignment. The bridge is exactly centered to the body. The distance from the nut to the top fret is exactly 419 mm along both edges of the fingerboard. As previously mentioned, there is more wood on the bass side of the neck than on the treble side. When measuring from the -V- of the neck to the top of the 17th fret I get 46mm on the bass side and 44 mm on the treble side which makes up for the added width on the bass side.

The banjo plays perfectly in tune therefor the frets are not out of scale. As for the fret dots, I admit that they are a little off with the travelling pattern of the strings but this is a result of centering them to the overall fingerboard widths at their given placements. If I were to alter the alignment of the neck, this would force the bridge off center to the body. There are flaws with the banjo but they are visual rather than structural. These were likely a result of trying making a banjo within your given budget.

I was taken aback by my budget as being the problem in his making the banjo incorrectly. I then suggested to settle the matter and I would post on the banjohangout.org, not use his name, and ask the group to weigh in. If the consensus was that the builder was at fault he would refund my additional $650. If they sided with the banjo builder I would just accept the decision and go my own way.

Lukes reply.

Dear Richard,

I feel that while members of the BHO and other such forums are often experienced and knowledgeable about banjos, they should not be responsible for resolving an issue that is, as far as I can see a closed case.

I’ve already paid you a refund of $1,000.00 USD on a banjo commission/transaction that was non-refundable to begin with. Understand how you must be feeling, having lost out, however when commissioning a work from a maker, it is generally understood that you have a certain time frame (usually 30 days but in some cases as little as 48 hours) in which to returnfor full refund. Please accept my sincere apologies but while you may state your case on a public forum I cannot allow the comments to dictate any further action on my part and I would prefer that this was not put up for public comment.

I have given this serious consideration and finally decided to post on Banjohangout.org and ClassicBanjo and hopefully I can prevent him doing this to someone else. I can understand someone making a mistake but they surely should stand by their work.

I have posted the photos on BanjoHangout.org at the following link.
http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/228279

Mr. Mercier now lists the banjo on his site as the LM7 as a student's banjo quite a far cry from a professional banjo sold to me for $1800.

I consider Mr. Mercier totally unprofessional and would strongly suggest getting an ironclad guarantee of full return of money including deposit should the banjo be defective.

Overall Rating

1

Sound

Loud, but with a nice tone. Not as bright as maple.

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Nice, subdued appearance. No flash or bling but the quality of the components is evident.

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

Very quick reponse to an email query.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I'm partial to satin finish, in particular on the neck for speed. Another advantage to the finish will be less fear in taking the banjo out in temperature and humidity extremes. Overall rating reflects the level of high quality components at this price point.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I recently attended a Banjo Workshop held by John Boulding in the Hatteras, NC area. Fantastic! John is a fantastic teacher and player, with great knowledge of the fretboard and different styles of playing. Great demonstration of styles, licks, etc. and how they translate into the actual music. I would recommend attending one of these workshops to someone at any skill level.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I ordered a mother of pearl truss rod cover from Ron directly for my Deering Deluxe. It arrived in a few days. Beautiful truss rod cover with outstanding craftsmanship. Engraved with my initials.
Earl's 5 Banjo Shop highly recomended.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Been a customer of Zepp for several months now. Marc is always willing to answer all your questions about anything banjo you may have. I feel fortunate to have such a resource close by!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Effective, Ingenious, A true "must have" !
Wife wonders why I don't use it all the time, son says it's the single greatest improvement to my banjo...
If decibels are your problem, this mute is the solution. Works perfectly! No question here, I'd buy it again.

Overall Rating

10