Does anyone have any experience with the quality of the
'Deering Good Time Open Back Banjo'?? Is it a decent entry level Tenor Banjo (quality wise) for ITM?? Still looking to find an entry level instrument. I really don't want to go the older ' vintage route'; as I'm not knowledgable enough to ascertain the quality and shape. Thus , my quest for a 'New' entry levelInstrument.
Grua mile maith!!
those banjo have no tone ring
which is essential for good sounding banjo.
every one of those banjo that I've seen
had head and neck glued, it didn't looked to good.
check out Bernuzzio's website http://www.bernunzio.com/
read a little about banjos of the golden era
perhaps you'll decide to go "the older ' vintage route';"
and I'm sure that you'll be able to find somebody in your area who could help you with that.
as well as here you'll find few people with a huge knowlegde about banjo's
all you need to do is ask
check out ebay as well. you can always ask for opinion on the banjos there.
For the money you get a fairly good banjo and I think that they make a version with a rolled steel rod tone ring. If not, you can make one yourself if you have the time and desire. But there are a lot of better banjos out there.
Padre is correct in saying that a tone ring will make for a better sounding banjo and the Goodtime banjos are made from laminated wood.
If you go to the classified section of the banjohangout you might find a reasonably priced used tenor.
I have an old Vega (late 1930s) Tubaphone. In a recent session another banjo player with a GoodTime and I took turns playing each others banjos. I'm sure I'm biased about the tone - I thought the Vega sound much better - but even a lot of bias could not explain the huge difference in volume. The GoodTime was much quieter. When we started playing in the session, I could hardly hear the other banjo - of course I'm right on top of my banjo, and could thus hear it well
I would advise you to find someone who knows about banjos to help you and then get an older Vega, Paramount, Bacon&Day, or even a Slingerland. You'll get more sound for your money.
perhaps not at the moment
but very often on ebay you'll find
Vega Little Wonder or Style N
or Orpheum
they are really good banjo
great for a start
and even if you'll decide you don't want to learn or you don't want to keep it
you can always sell it.
If you're uncomfortable about a vintage banjo and want a good inexpensive tenor, I would look at Gold Tone. I think their Cripple Creek Irish 17 fret with a removable resonator sells for under $400 new with a gig bag. A pretty safe choice and good value.
I can only add that a friend of mine bought a Goodtime 5-string, and has come to recognize his mistake over the course of the succeeding year. Better to look elsewhere.
the tone rings on Goodtime specials are not rod type rings - they're made of 3/16 spun steel and have the same section as a cast mastertone flathead clone ring.
They aren't just as sweet as a cast bronze or brass tone rings but they're loud and clear (and nearly as heavy).
Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
Does anyone have any experience with the quality of the
'Deering Good Time Open Back Banjo'?? Is it a decent entry level Tenor Banjo (quality wise) for ITM?? Still looking to find an entry level instrument. I really don't want to go the older ' vintage route'; as I'm not knowledgable enough to ascertain the quality and shape. Thus , my quest for a 'New' entry levelInstrument.
Grua mile maith!!
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by Fir na tine
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
those banjo have no tone ring
which is essential for good sounding banjo.
every one of those banjo that I've seen
had head and neck glued, it didn't looked to good.
check out Bernuzzio's website
http://www.bernunzio.com/
read a little about banjos of the golden era
perhaps you'll decide to go "the older ' vintage route';"
and I'm sure that you'll be able to find somebody in your area who could help you with that.
as well as here you'll find few people with a huge knowlegde about banjo's
all you need to do is ask
check out ebay as well. you can always ask for opinion on the banjos there.
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by padre
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
Here is a video of a Goodtime banjo (http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/videos.asp?m=d&catID=0&id=1387&styleID=0) and you can see for yourself if you like it.
For the money you get a fairly good banjo and I think that they make a version with a rolled steel rod tone ring. If not, you can make one yourself if you have the time and desire. But there are a lot of better banjos out there.
Padre is correct in saying that a tone ring will make for a better sounding banjo and the Goodtime banjos are made from laminated wood.
If you go to the classified section of the banjohangout you might find a reasonably priced used tenor.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by mikeyes
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
I have an old Vega (late 1930s) Tubaphone. In a recent session another banjo player with a GoodTime and I took turns playing each others banjos. I'm sure I'm biased about the tone - I thought the Vega sound much better - but even a lot of bias could not explain the huge difference in volume. The GoodTime was much quieter. When we started playing in the session, I could hardly hear the other banjo - of course I'm right on top of my banjo, and could thus hear it well
I would advise you to find someone who knows about banjos to help you and then get an older Vega, Paramount, Bacon&Day, or even a Slingerland. You'll get more sound for your money.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by dfost
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
perhaps not at the moment
but very often on ebay you'll find
Vega Little Wonder or Style N
or Orpheum
they are really good banjo
great for a start
and even if you'll decide you don't want to learn or you don't want to keep it
you can always sell it.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by padre
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
If you're uncomfortable about a vintage banjo and want a good inexpensive tenor, I would look at Gold Tone. I think their Cripple Creek Irish 17 fret with a removable resonator sells for under $400 new with a gig bag. A pretty safe choice and good value.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Steve L
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
I can only add that a friend of mine bought a Goodtime 5-string, and has come to recognize his mistake over the course of the succeeding year. Better to look elsewhere.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Deering 'GoodTime" Tenor Banjo for ITM
the tone rings on Goodtime specials are not rod type rings - they're made of 3/16 spun steel and have the same section as a cast mastertone flathead clone ring.
They aren't just as sweet as a cast bronze or brass tone rings but they're loud and clear (and nearly as heavy).
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by millionyears_bc