Are you thinking of buying a banjo? Banjo is among the crucial instrumental music in the country, American bluegrass, folk music and jazz. If you know how to play banjo, it will give satisfaction for a lifetime as it is fun to play.
Most of the people think that banjo and guitar are similar in their playability and construction. However, if you spend time playing banjo, you will come to know there is a huge difference. Playing banjo is an exciting challenge for musicians of all levels. Buying the correct banjo for you is hard unless you have the right knowledge. In this article, we have a guide for you to buy the right banjo.
What are the Best Banjos to Buy?
Take a look at the tips for buying the best banjo that suit your needs.
Tips for Buying the Best Banjo For Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Player
There are several factors that you need to focus on when buying a banjo. Some of the things you need to pay attention are:
Style of Banjo
The first thing you need to consider is the style of banjo. There are 2 styles of banjo, resonator and open back banjo. The resonator banjo has a closed back, the style affects your playing style. The open back banjo is used in folk style music while resonator is used in Bluegrass music.
Type of Banjo
The next thing you need to focus on is the type of banjos. The types of banjos include five string, four string, six string and electric banjo. It depends on you which type of banjo you choose.
Features
Another thing you need to focus on is the features of the banjo. You have to determine whether the banjo is of high-quality or not.
Does it seem appealing?
What materials are used for its construction?
All these things affect your choice. You must also consider how well does it plays.
20 Best Banjo Reviews and the Best Banjo Brands
Do you know what is the best brand of banjo?
To help you in your selection, we have created a list of 20 best banjos and the popular banjo brands that are most commonly used by musicians of all levels.
1) Deering Goodtime 2 5-String Banjo
One of great options is the Deering Goodtime 2 Banjo. It features a slender rock Maple neck with sealed geared tuners and 3-ply Maple rim. This banjo is of closed back style with single bound Maple resonator. It is good for offering a great projection of sound.
For the production of the Deering Banjo, quality materials are used. This makes the banjo robust and sturdy to bear the everyday usage. It can last for longer periods of time. The head of the banjo is about 11 inches.
Moreover, it has a blonde slender Maple neck with 22 nickel frets. The geared tuners allow you to have clarity in the note separation. The nickel plated armrest offer you the highest level of comfort while playing the banjo. The nickel plated hardware adds a nice touch to the body of the banjo.
The Deering Goodtime 2 has 5-strings and has easy tuning. It ensures you can get high and low notes without any difficulty. The Goodtime Banjo features a natural blonde Maple with a satin finish. The golden and warm tone of the resonator sounds amazing. The slender and quick playing neck provides a banjo that is easy to play.
The Goodtime 2 is ideal for traveling as it is light in weight.
2) Gold Tone CC-100R Cripple Creek Banjo
The Gold Tone CC-100R Banjo is among the most used banjo. This banjo has a Maple neck and Maple resonator. The tone ring is made from Maple and has a Brass Truss rod. Along with this, the banjo has 2-way adjustable tailpiece.
Furthermore, the Gold Tone Banjo has black neck binding with curly Maple headstock veneer and low string action. This provides the excellent player experience. The resonator is great for producing high and bright volumes. What sets this banjo apart is that it can be turned into open back banjo as well. This produces rich and warm resonance.
The banjo has 5-strings with tuning machine that lets you tune the banjo effortlessly. This offers you high-quality sound and tune. The banjo is lightweight as it weighs just 6.5 pounds. The armrest allows you to have a support while playing the banjo. This saves your shoulder from becoming strained and allows you to hold it for a longer time.
You can have a separate case for keeping your banjo safe. It enables you to carry it with wit ease and protect it from dust and water.
3) 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket
The Banjo by Jameson Guitars features a 5 string with the geared 5th tuner. It has a slim and compact built with fast necks that allow you to move up and down the banjo. The banjo has 24 brackets with Mahogany resonator style and it is affordable.
The Maple Bridge and adjustable hinged tailpiece offers great sound and looks fantastic. The Geared 5th tuner is better than the friction tuner and makes is a high-end banjo.
The chrome plated armrest is great as it enables you to play the banjo without any trouble. The 7-ply Maple neck with Mahogany shell provides outstanding look. The gloss finishing makes the banjo more stunning. This banjo offers all the features that can be found in an expensive banjo.
This banjo is light in weight as it weighs nearly 9.9 pounds. It allows you to play it for longer time periods without causing any strain on your shoulders. You can get a case for the banjo through which you can keep it protected. By having it in the case, you can transport it without any difficulty. The dimension of the instrument is 45.6 inches x 17.9 inches x 6 inches.
4) Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo
Next choice is the Deering Goodtime Banjo. It has 5-strings with 22-fret rock Maple neck and hardwood bowtie inlays. This Goodtime banjo has sealed and geared 5th tuners that offer easy tuning and playability. It has 5/8 inches maple and ebony bridge with flexible tailpiece. This banjo is designed with an open back that produces a vibrant and sharp tone.
Moreover, the banjo has 3-ply, 11 inches Maple rim with steel tension hoop. The banjo has a high crown head that is attached to the bridge. The single rod lets you have changes in a positive and easy way. This means you can adjust the height of the string without any effort.
The neck is easy to hold and offers comfortable playing experience. The fret system is precise that provides the correct intonation over the fingerboard. This produces the top quality sound that everybody can enjoy.
The blonde natural Maple is given a satin finish that makes the banjo elegant. The hardware of this banjo is nickel plated that improves the appearance of the Deering Banjo. The banjo is durable and long lasting that you can play every day without worrying about damaging it.
The Deering Banjo is perfect for both beginners and advanced players.
5) Ibanez B200 5-String Banjo
Next on the list is the Ibanez B200 Banjo. It features 5-string banjo with coordinator rod that has closed back style. This produces a sound that is clear and deep. The neck and the fretboard of this banjo are made from Mahogany. In the construction of the Ibanez Banjo, only quality materials are used.
Moreover, it has Rosewood resonator binding with ABS-multi inlay of Acrylic pearl block. The tuner of this banjo offers the best friction with 22 frets. The arm rest of the banjo is of chrome with etching. The bridge material is Rosewood and Maple.
The tailpiece of the Ibanez Banjo is of chrome clamshell. This makes the body of the banjo strong and durable. The banjo can tolerate the rough and tough use and it will last for long periods. The armrest provides you the highest level of comfort while playing the banjo.
The gloss finish brings a unique and sophisticated touch to the instrument. It features double rim made from Basswood block rim with 24-lug configuration. A Mahogany resonator and rolled brass tone ring produce a vintage tone while keeping things in tune.
6) Ibanez B50 5-String Banjo
If you are looking for a great banjo, Ibanez B50 5-String Banjo is a perfect choice. This 5-string banjo has 24-lug configuration. The body style has Mahogany neck, sides, and back.
The Remo banjo head is 11 inches that are coated with Weather King banjo head. The durable and quality materials are used in the manufacturing of the banjo. This makes it robust and strong to withstand the daily usage. The color of the Ibanez Banjo is natural and the gloss finishing makes it more appealing.
This banjo has open gear tuners with Rosewood bridge and fretboard. The strings give a natural and acoustic tune. The tuners help you in providing the authentic and rich tune. The 5-string Banjo by Ibanez is light, weighing 5.3 pounds. The dimensions 47 inches x 21 inches x 6.2 inches.
Furthermore, you can get a high gloss finish case separately. This will make it easy for you to move it around without worrying about destroying it. You can safely store your banjo in the case without exposing it to any element.
7) Rogue Learn the Banjo
The Rogue Learn Banjo features 18 brackets finest quality head with open back. The tuning machine of the banjo is of top-class that allow you tune the instrument without any difficulty. The Rogue banjo produces a clear and bright tone.
The rhythm it creates is perfect for any music style. The materials used in the construction of this banjo is of top-quality. This is the reason why the Rogue banjo can withstand the test of time. The Rogue banjo is durable and robust that can bear the daily wear and tear.
To make this banjo more interesting, the satin finish is given to the banjo. This banjo weighs about 14.2 pounds making it easy to play it for longer periods without any break.
The Rogue banjo is available with a padded gig bag. This makes it easy for transportation without causing any damage to the instrument. It comes with a banjo case chord book, it is useful for you to learn the basics about the banjo.
For giving you better start, 5-String Banjo DVD is available as well. It includes special interactive features that make it easy to play the banjo.
8) PYLE-PRO PBJ60 5 String Banjo
The next choice in banjo is the PYLE Pro PBJ60 Banjo. This 5-string banjo has a Remo drum head with Mahogany neck, sides, and back. The bridge is made from Maplewood and the fingerboard from Rosewood.
The PRO PBJ60 Banjo is great for delivering articulate and bright resonance. The materials used in the production of this banjo are of finest quality. It makes the banjo strong enough to deal with the everyday wear and tear. This makes it last for a very long time.
The hardware is chrome plated that gives a professional and amazing touch to the banjo. The armrest provides you a support for comfortable playing. This banjo offers a smooth and exceptional experience. The dimensions of this instrument are 4.5 inches x 39 inches x 16.8 inches.
This PYLE Banjo weighs about 7.21 pounds making lightweight to hold and play for a long duration. You can buy the case separately that will let you keep your banjo safe from all the elements. The case will help you in transporting the banjo to different places without damaging it.
9) Epiphone MB-100 Open Back Banjo
Another great choice is the Epiphone MB-100 Banjo. This banjo has a body made from Mahogany with Remo banjo head. The neck is constructed from Mahogany and has Rosewood fingerboard. This banjo is like the classic banjos with natural finishing.
It has traditional floating Rosewood bridge with Rosewood fretboard. The scale of this banjo is 26.25.The hardware of the banjo is chrome plated enhances its appeal. You can play it without any trouble, thanks to its armrest.
The Epiphone Banjo is made from the finest materials that make it sturdy. The reason is that the banjo is a long-term investment. It must be able to tolerate the wear and tear for years. The banjo’s nickel tuners provide solid reliability and tuning. It is an ideal choice as it produces the unique and mellow tone.
This banjo features an open back design that makes it light and perfect for traveling. This means that the banjo is easy on the shoulders. With a case, you can easily store away your banjo without causing any damage to it. By keeping it cover, you can easily move it around keeping it protected from elements.
The MB-100 Banjo is perfect for both expert and beginner musicians.
10) Fender Concert Tone 54 Banjo
The Fender Concert Banjo is one of the popular choices in banjos. It is aesthetically designed to offers a smooth and warm resonance. This banjo offers the ultimate player experience along with elegant looks. It features a flame Maple resonator tortoise shell binding. The brass tone ring with Maple and Mahogany neck.
This banjo offers a rich and deep tone that can be produced because of the resonator design. The steel tone is rolled that is helpful producing a clear tone with bright and great volume.
This banjo is a beauty as it has an elegant white pearl with blue green abalone inlays. This brings a touch of style and class to the fingerboard and head stock. The gloss finish of cherry sunburst makes this banjo looks more fantastic. The satin finish maple rim enhances its look.
Moreover, you can buy the case for this banjo. It will let you protect your banjo from other elements. You can move it around easily without having to ruin it. The banjo is light in weight that allows you to hold and play it for long period of time.
This Fender Banjo is of incredible for all players and perfect for playing at any event.
11) 6 String Banjo Guitar
Another great choice is the 6 String Banjo Guitar by Jameson Guitar. It features a Maple neck and Mahogany resonator with 24 brackets and die-cast enclosed tuners. The chrome plated armrest lets you hold and play the banjo for long period of time. The neck has a 7-ply Maple and Mahogany shell with gloss finish gives it an appealing appearance.
This banjo is special as it tuned and played just like a guitar, but sounds like a Banjo. This is an easy and quick way to start playing the banjo. The sound it produces is warm, bright and crisp. It has an adjustable hinged tailpiece that makes it look great. This banjo is made from high-quality materials making it durable and long-lasting.
For keeping your banjo safe, you can get a case. You can protect your banjo from all elements easily. It will enable you to carry it around without any trouble. The dimensions of the instrument are 45.6 inches x 18.6 inches x 5.3 inches. You can store it in the case without any difficulty.
The Banjo Guitar by Jameson Guitar is ideal for all players of any skill and age.
12) Epiphone MB-200 Banjo
Next on the list is the Epiphone MB-200 Banjo. This banjo has a Mahogany body, US Remo head, and Mahogany neck. The dots on the fingerboard are made from Rosewood. The brown and red banjo is very appealing to the eyes.
The banjo features a Rosewood Fretboard and a floating bridge. The scale of the MB-200 Banjo is 26.25. It made more interesting with the chrome plated hardware.
The Epiphone Banjo has an armrest that allows you to play the instruments for long period. The materials used in the production of the banjo is of top-quality. This makes the banjo robust and storing to bear the rough usage.
It can also last for many years without compromising the player experience. The tuners of the banjo are solid offering easy tuning. It helps in producing a bright and rich sound.
This is designed with open back making it lightweight. The weight of the banjo is 5 pounds that will not put a strain on your shoulders. You can get a case separately that will keep your banjo protected from dust and water. You will be able to take it anywhere with you easily.
13) Kmise 4 String Banjo Ukulele Banjo
Kmise Banjo is one of the most used banjos. The neck, side, and back are constructed from Sapele. It features 18 frets with copper fret wire with chrome tuners. This produces amazing sound while being resistant to abrasion and embroider.
The banjo has Rosewood fingerboard that is made from the top-quality material. This makes the banjo resistance to corrosion and has a smooth touch. The geared closing tuning pegs are useful in keeping the strings and tones stable.
Furthermore, the strings are pre-set with exclusive Aquilla string made from quality materials. It is a 4-string instrument that has a small body just like a banjo. It has fretted concert size Ukulele neck, the playing and tuning style is like the Ukulele. The sound that is produced is an authentic and distinctive sound of the banjo.
It comes with a soft bag that is made from durable nylon lined. It is useful in storing away your banjo, you can even carry it around with ease. In the bag, it will be protected from all elements and any damage. For easy tuning, the banjo comes with a JOYO digital tuner.
14) Fender Concert Tone 58 with Case
Next on the list is the Fender Concert Tone 58 Banjo. This banjo has a brass tone ring that is rolled because it offers a bright and quality sound. It is a great choice as it doesn’t weigh down the banjo. The design of this banjo is closed back that produces a deep and articulate resonance.
This banjo is designed to offer you deep and smooth sound with high tonal quality. The body of the Concert Tone 58 is made from Maple and the brass tone ring is made from Maple and Mahogany. The resonator is joined together with the tortoise shell to offer superior sound quality.
The Concert Tone 58 features 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard with a bone nut. This enables you to have clear and higher tone. The white pearl and blue green inlays enhance the beauty of this banjo.
The gloss finish on the body and satin finish on the rims makes it more beautiful. It comes with a hard shell case that is great for keeping your banjo safe. You can easily carry it anywhere you like without worrying about destroying it.
It is an ideal choice for musicians because of its exceptional user experience.
15) Recording King RK-R20 Songster Banjo
Next choice is the Recording King Banjo. The design of this banjo is a resonator. The banjo has an inlaid M.O.P, peghead inlay and rolled brass. The hoop tone ring and Rosewood fretboard.
The Mahogany resonator and Mahogany neck have a gloss finish. The materials used in the production are of highest-quality. It makes the banjo strong and robust to withstand the test of time. It has Kreshner tailpieces with chrome plated hardware and armrest. The armrestis great for giving your hand a support.
Moreover, the sound of the King Banjo produced is clear, rich and deep. The effortless tuning it offers is the dream of every musician. The closed back offers a brighter and higher volume sound.
The Recording King Banjo is lightweight, weighing about just 10 pounds. The dimensions of the instruments are 38.5 inches x 13.8 inches x 4.5 inches. This makes the banjo perfect for holding and playing for a long time. You can get a case for the banjo to keep it safe from dust and water. The case will allow you to transport you banjo without damaging it.
This Recording King Banjo is ideal for a long-term investment.
16) Martin Smith BJ-003 6 String Guitar Banjo
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Another ideal choice is the Martin Smith BJ-003 Banjo. This features a Remo skin head with the 2-way truss rod. It produces a premium and authentic sound. The back and side are produced from Mahogany that has a gloss finish.
The banjo is available with standard guitar tuning. This makes it easy to tune and play. It means that all the guitar players can shift to banjo without any trouble. This banjo has 6 strings that produce crisp and warm resonance.
The top-quality materials are used in the manufacturing of this banjo. The bridge of the banjo is created with Maple making it a compact and well-built instrument. This instrument is lightweight that weigh about 5.7 pounds. This allows you to play the banjo for a long time without harming your shoulder.
This Martin Smith Banjo comes with a padded gig bag. This will help you in keeping your instrument safe and sound. You can easily take it with you on the road. The bag is water and dust resistant allowing you to store your banjo away for without damaging it.
17) Oscar Schmidt OB4 5-string Banjo
Next on the list of the most common banjo is the Oscar Schmidt OB4 Banjo. This banjo has 5 strings with Remo head. The body of the banjo is made from Mahogany with a satin finish.
It features 24 brackets cast aluminum tone ring in a closed back design. The back, sides, and rim are crafted using Mahogany. The Oscar Banjo has geared 5th tuner making tuning stress-free.
Furthermore, the banjo is aesthetically designed to provide a deep and rich sound quality. It offers exception user experience for all musicians. The resonator helps in delivering a clear and bright volume resonance. To make the banjo more attractive high gloss finishing is added to the banjo. The rim with a satin finish makes it more elegant.
The OB4 Banjo has a Nato neck with 22 frets and dots inlay Rosewood Fretboard. The weight of this banjo is 8.5 pounds and the dimensions are 37 inches x 17 inches x 8 inches. You can keep your banjo safe with a case that you can buy separately. It will help you in moving it to any place with ease.
18) Dean Backwoods 2 Acoustic-Electric 5-String Banjo
One of the popular choice in banjo is Dean Backwoods Banjo. This electric acoustic banjo has 5-strings provides an authentic and articulate sound. The resonator of this Dean Banjo is crafted from mahogany. The Remo clear head of 11 inches enables you to see through.
Moreover, the smooth fingerboard is made from rosewood that has 26-2/2 inches scale with pearl dot inlays. This offers a great precision for fingering. With the open tuners brings a touch of class and style to the banjo without compromising its performance. The tuning is easy that helps in maintaining the notes in tune. It is useful in getting higher and brighter volume.
Chrome plated hardware make the Dean Banjo more appealing. This banjo weighs 10 pounds making it light in weight. You can easily play it comfortably for longer durations.
The armrest is perfect for giving support to your hand. As a result, it will not put a strain on your shoulders. You can protect your banjo by keeping it safe in a case. You can buy the case separately and take your banjo with you.
19) Morgan Monroe RT-B01 Rocky Top Hoedown 5 String Resonator Banjo
Another option for banjo is the Morgan Monroe Banjo. This banjo has a closed back design with 5 strings. It has 18 brackets with composite resonator and rim. The Morgan banjo has a Maple neck and Rosewood fingerboard. The bridge of banjo is of 5/8 inches made from Rosewood tipped Maple. The finest materials are used for the production of this banjo.
The Rocky Top Banjo features a low crown of 11 inches Remo Weather King Head. It has adjustable tailpiece crafted from a clam shell. This banjo produces an articulate and bright sound because of it closed back. The tuning machine makes it easy to tune the banjo for higher and lower notes.
The hardware of the Morgan Banjo is chrome plated that adds a touch of style. The banjo weighs about 7.5 pounds, this makes the banjo lightweight. You can play the instrument without straining your shoulder. The dimensions of this banjo are 42.2 inches x6.4 inches x 16 inches.
Moreover, you can protect your banjo by keeping it in a case. This will enable you to move it without any trouble. The case will keep your banjo safe from all the elements.
The Morgan RT-B01 Banjo is good for all levels of players.
20) Rogue B30 Deluxe 30-Bracket Banjo
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Another great choice for learning banjo is the Rogue B30 Deluxe banjo. It has 5-strings with 30 bracket design. This banjo features a wooden neck, NatoBridge and Fretboard with Rosewood frets.
Along with this, it has 20 tuners with the die-cast high ratio. The hardware of the banjo is made from chrome with aluminum rim case. This makes the banjo more interesting and beautiful.
This banjo is a resonator that offers authentic and articulate sound. The chrome plated armrest is great for providing an exceptional player experience. You can play the banjo comfortably as the geared chrome tuner will help keep you in tune. You can easily tune the banjo for better and clearer tone.
This banjo is lightweight, weighing about just 8.2 pounds. It makes it easy to hold and play for longer duration. The dimension of this banjo is 39.4 inches x 17.8 inches x 5.4 inches.
The original Remo head adds great value to this Rogue Banjo. You can buy a case to keep your banjo safe and sound. It will allow you to easily carry your banjo with you.
This is great for all levels of musician and for any occasion.
Choosing the Best Banjo from the Best Banjo Brands
In the end, there is no set formula to buy the right banjo. You will have to consider various things before making the decision. It is a long-term investment that you must make diligently.
The things you need to consider include your budget and needs. Along with this, you need to focus on the quality of banjo, its features, types, and styles. You can make a list of your requirements, so you won’t have any trouble. Besides, you can also consider adding banjo accessories like banjo case, banjo pickup, banjo capo and banjo strap to your list.
Quality of the banjo is a crucial aspect as a poor quality banjo is hard to play and tune. With these tips, you can find the right banjo for your requirements.