Beginners looking for their first banjo should consider investing in a resonator banjo as an economical yet quality sound option. It offers more cost savings while still producing good tone quality.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that this instrument may not be suitable for bluegrass style playing due to the volume restriction imposed by its resonator.
The Deering Goodtime
Deering’s Goodtime Banjo is an accessible, cost-effective banjo ideal for beginners. Teachers around the world recommend it, with its natural finished violin grade maple rim providing a vibrant ringing tone and lightweight yet durable design making maintenance simple – plus, it comes complete with its own soft gig bag!
Contrary to cheaper Chinese banjos, the Goodtime features a maple fingerboard which has been pressure-stained so the stain penetrates entirely to protect it from scratches. Furthermore, this model also boasts a more elegant headstock engraving as well as sophisticated fret markers made using technology developed by Deering for their higher end professional banjos.
Deering realized some Goodtime fans wanted a resonator to achieve that classic bluegrass sound, so they released two variations with one and without one: Goodtime Special 2 with Resonator (resembling Goodtime Classic but with different aesthetics) as well as backless Goodtime Special. Both versions feature planetary tuners and spikes for easier pitch adjustment on fifth string tremolo.
The Recording King RK-R35
The RK-R35, also known as the Madison, provides banjo players of all levels an affordable opportunity to own an exceptional sounding resonator banjo with great features including classic Mastertone-style bell brass cast tone ring and one piece flange construction; as well as maple resonator featuring hand-rubbed brown satin finish finish.
The maple neck features a comfortable padauk fingerboard and comes equipped with dual coordinator rods and gear 5th pegs for professional setup. A Remo Frosted head, classic Presto tailpiece and nickel-plated hardware complete the package while visually appealing Seagull inlays and Ivoroid binding add further visual appeal.
This banjo sounds amazing and is super-easy to play – the best value banjo of this price point by far!
The Rover RB-20
Designed after the classic Harmony student banjos of yesteryear, the Rover RB-20 openback banjo makes an excellent entry-level model. Its lightweight composite rim makes it easily portable while its fast playing mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard features inlaid dot position markers and an adjustable truss rod make for smooth playback; standard guitar style geared tuners and friction 5th peg round out this banjo’s features.
No banjo can sound great without some careful setup, but at this price range the quality of its neck and overall construction are crucial considerations. Banjos that arrive from the shop with warped, twisted or otherwise unplayable necks typically cost more to fix than their worth.
At this price level, one must also bear in mind that most banjos with metal tone rings typically weigh three pounds; those featuring bell brass cast rims, such as this Recording King model may weigh up to 14 pounds.
The Boss BB-10
Bass distortion pedals may be more prominently featured on guitarists’ pedal boards, yet are less widely adopted by bass players. BOSS’ newly launched BB-1X hopes to address that imbalance with an offering tailored towards bass players – it was recently introduced in the US market and should become widely adopted over time.
The BB-1X offers an optional Line Out jack that goes beyond its regular DI output, providing direct sound optimized for reaching larger audiences through PA systems. It preserves your signature stage tone while providing natural-sounding distortion that adds definition without muffled low end.
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