Violins and other instruments - http://www.theglassviolin.com

Editor's picks

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  Vintage Banjo

  Music (Mary Z. Cox)
  

  Rating (2 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  Clear and beautiful and instructional banjo

  I am a Big Mary Z Cox fan and was lucky enough to meet her right about the time she was coming out with this album, so I heard her explain it to a group of banjoists at the Florida State Fiddling Convention right after this was made. She this was a meditation on the C tunings, especially the open C tuning, or the double C tuning and was a lot of music she first put together sitting on her back porch playing the banjo. Wish I was her neighbor! Everything sounds deceptively easy, deceptively clear, deceptively delightful. You think you can see the tab for these tunes or the notes go by on the page she is so clear and precise. Even playing fast dance music or in competitions, Mary seems to know that music is about sounding good, sounding clear, sounding pleasant, and saying something rather than proving how fast your fingers and your mind can be going or how tricky your fingerings, your tunings, or your right hand work can be. This is clear lovely... 5/5 Tony Thomas (SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Vintage Banjo (Audio CD) I am a Big Mary Z Cox fan and was lucky enough to meet her right about the time she was coming out with this album, so I heard her explain it to a group of banjoists at the Florida State Fiddling Convention right after this was made. She this was a meditation on the C tunings, especially the open C tuning, or the double C tuning and was a lot of music she first put together sitting on her back porch playing the banjo. Wish I was her neighbor! Everything sounds deceptively easy, deceptively clear, deceptively delightful. You think you can see the tab for these tunes or the notes go by on the page she is so clear and precise. Even playing fast dance music or in competitions, Mary seems to know that music is about sounding good, sounding clear, sounding pleasant, and saying something rather than proving how fast your fingers and your mind can be going or how tricky your fingerings, your tunings, or your right hand work can be. This is clear lovely... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 1, 2005

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  I like Vintage Banjo By Mary Z. Cox

  I have play Scruggs style banjo for about 30 years and decide I would like to look into my heritage by learning to play claw hammer banjo. This CD is require listening if you are in anyway interested in old mountain banjo 5/5 Ernest R. Barker "ER Barker" (Athen's Georgia) - See all my reviews, August 16, 2007

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  List Price: $15.99
  

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  Guardian Vintage Hardshell Open Back Banjo Case (Black Tolex Exterior, Crushed Emerald Velvet Interior)

  Musical Instruments (The Music Link (AXL))
  List Price: $179.99
  Price: $134.99
  You Save: $45.00 (25%)

  Leather Handle

  Crushed Emerald Velvet Interior

  7-Ply Cross-Grained Wood Construction

  20mm High-Density Padding

  Ultra Strong Archtop

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  Gold Tone Bob Carlin BC-120 Banjo (Five String, Vintage Brown)

  Musical Instruments (Gold Tone Musical Instruments)
  List Price: $798.00
  Price: Too low to display
  

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  Gold Tone BUT Tenor Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown)

  Musical Instruments (Gold Tone Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (6 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Problematic Gold Tone BUT Banjo Ukulele

  This is what I sent to Goldtone. It pretty much tells the story...I just got one of your Banjo-Ukes tenor in vintage brown today, new from Amazon.com. I have a few suggestions:1. Use better strings like Aquila.2. Make sure your easy-string tailpiece is deburred, since mine cut right through the cheap original strings upon bringing up to tune. The strings had been knotted on a no-knot tailpiece which contributed to them breaking. I bought some $10.00 Aquilas after spending an hour de-burring the tailpiece and restringing without knots. Directions should have been provided explaining the proper stringing on a no-knot tailpiece.3.If you ship with the bridge flat, some directions should be included as to placement, intonation, etc. Perhaps a a slip of paper under the strings.4.The resonator back has a filler piece in the binding like someone cut it too short. The resulting joints should be finished more smoothly. The wood has waves and indentations which... 3/5 R. Mayer (California) - See all my reviews, June 20, 2010

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  Gold Tone is HEALED!

  I originally low-rated the Gold Tone Tenor Banjolele, and am taking back what I said. It had been shipped to me in less than ship-shape. I took it to a really good instrument expert (at San Antonio's GUITAR TEX), and it came back TOTALLY improved! It DID get a new and better set of strings, along with some other adjustments. I'm VERY pleased. It's a keeper! 4/5 Pres in S.A. "Pres in S.A." (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone BUT Tenor Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown) (Electronics) I originally low-rated the Gold Tone Tenor Banjolele, and am taking back what I said. It had been shipped to me in less than ship-shape. I took it to a really good instrument expert (at San Antonio's GUITAR TEX), and it came back TOTALLY improved! It DID get a new and better set of strings, along with some other adjustments. I'm VERY pleased. It's a keeper! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 20, 2010

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  Gold Tone Tenor Banjolele

  I love this instrument. It's my second Gold Tone instrument. First was a tenor guitar. The neck is solid and weights a little more than most ukuleles but that is fine with me. It has a great tone that even won over my wife. It projects sound with good volume. Almost too much volume for my soft singing. A roll of tissue under the strings and behind the bridge quiets it down a bit when needed. I intend to use it to augment my tenor banjo playing in my dixieland bands. It came in a very good solid case. It was shipped in it's case, in a box, in another box. You can see this banjolele being played on my you tube channel "jazzbanjorex" if you are curious about it's sound. I may buy the baritone and tune it like a tenor banjo and just use the pair for performances. Hmmmm, that a thought. 5/5 jazzbanjorex - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone BUT Tenor Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown) (Electronics) I love this instrument. It's my second Gold Tone instrument. First was a tenor guitar. The neck is solid and weights a little more than most ukuleles but that is fine with me. It has a great tone that even won over my wife. It projects sound with good volume. Almost too much volume for my soft singing. A roll of tissue under the strings and behind the bridge quiets it down a bit when needed. I intend to use it to augment my tenor banjo playing in my dixieland bands. It came in a very good solid case. It was shipped in it's case, in a box, in another box. You can see this banjolele being played on my you tube channel "jazzbanjorex" if you are curious about it's sound. I may buy the baritone and tune it like a tenor banjo and just use the pair for performances. Hmmmm, that a thought. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 18, 2011

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  List Price: $498.00
  Price: $373.50
  You Save: $124.50 (25%)

  Grover Style Metal Gear Tuners

  Maple neck and Resonator

  Rosewood Fingerboard

  EZ String tailpiece

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• Sweet and twangy: vintage banjos and dulcimers from the hills of Appalachia carry untold stories from decades gone by. Today, they're fascinating ... An article from: Antiques Roadshow Insider

  Book (Belvoir Media Group, LLC)
  List Price: $9.95
  

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  Gold Tone CC-100+ Cripple Creek Banjo (Five String, Vintage Brown)

  Musical Instruments (Gold Tone Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (1 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  An amazing amiunt of banjo for the money

  I think this banjo is remarkably good for what it costs. It's a very plain banjo. It doesn't have fancy abalone inlays, it's not gold plated, it's not made of exotic yub-yub wood that grows only on top of a mountain in Ethiopia. All those things add glitz and cost but do nothing for the playability or the sound. The 100+ concentrates on playability and sound and quality of construction.The neck and rim are made of maple -- a non-glamorous wood that happens to make excellent banjo necks and rims. Both are nicely made. The rim is laminated construction. I expected to see the laminations when I looked at the bottom edge of the rim...but I didn't. The bottom edge of the rim is finished off with a ring of veneer, hiding the laminated construction. It's like hiding the edge of a piece of plywood. It's a detail, but typical of the attention to detail evident in the construction. The headstock has a nice piece of curly maple veneer on it. The fingerboard is rosewood, hard and... 5/5 sasgw (Maine) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone CC-100+ Cripple Creek Banjo (Five String, Vintage Brown) (Electronics) I think this banjo is remarkably good for what it costs. It's a very plain banjo. It doesn't have fancy abalone inlays, it's not gold plated, it's not made of exotic yub-yub wood that grows only on top of a mountain in Ethiopia. All those things add glitz and cost but do nothing for the playability or the sound. The 100+ concentrates on playability and sound and quality of construction.The neck and rim are made of maple -- a non-glamorous wood that happens to make excellent banjo necks and rims. Both are nicely made. The rim is laminated construction. I expected to see the laminations when I looked at the bottom edge of the rim...but I didn't. The bottom edge of the rim is finished off with a ring of veneer, hiding the laminated construction. It's like hiding the edge of a piece of plywood. It's a detail, but typical of the attention to detail evident in the construction. The headstock has a nice piece of curly maple veneer on it. The fingerboard is rosewood, hard and... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 28, 2011

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  List Price: $678.00
  Price: $508.50
  You Save: $169.50 (25%)

  Straight line tailpiece

  Curly maple headstock veneer

  2-way adjustable truss rod

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  Gold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek Banjo with Resonator (Five String, Vintage Brown)

  Musical Instruments (Gold Tone Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (2 reviews):

  (4.5/5)

  

  VERY nice beginner banjo...and maybe more

  This is my first banjo. (At some point in their life, every man has to face up to his "inner banjo player" and decide what to do about it. I have decided to learn to play the banjo....) I looked around quite a bit after relatively quickly deciding to stay away from the various catalog "banjo kits" for beginners that you see for <200 bucks. Gold Tone makes excellent banjos at affordable prices for beginners...and you don't end up with a banjo that sounds bad or is real hard to learn to play on. I've since compared it to other similar price banjos, and it really looks to me to have the best overall combination of feature set and material quality for the price range. I bought it for a beginner banjo...but I don't feel any need to upgrade to a nicer banjo any time soon. I expect this Gold Tone Cripple Creek CC-50RP to last me for several years to come.... 5/5 Kirk (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek Banjo with Resonator (Five String, Vintage Brown) (Electronics) This is my first banjo. (At some point in their life, every man has to face up to his "inner banjo player" and decide what to do about it. I have decided to learn to play the banjo....) I looked around quite a bit after relatively quickly deciding to stay away from the various catalog "banjo kits" for beginners that you see for &lt;200 bucks. Gold Tone makes excellent banjos at affordable prices for beginners...and you don't end up with a banjo that sounds bad or is real hard to learn to play on. I've since compared it to other similar price banjos, and it really looks to me to have the best overall combination of feature set and material quality for the price range. I bought it for a beginner banjo...but I don't feel any need to upgrade to a nicer banjo any time soon. I expect this Gold Tone Cripple Creek CC-50RP to last me for several years to come.... Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, April 10, 2011

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  Great Gold Tone Banjo Deal!

  Thanks Amazon, The CC-50RP Cripple Creek Banjo arrived on time, undamaged. That's all I could ask for, a quality instrument at a fair price. Thanks again. 4/5 BillyJoeBanjo - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek Banjo with Resonator (Five String, Vintage Brown) (Electronics) Thanks Amazon, The CC-50RP Cripple Creek Banjo arrived on time, undamaged. That's all I could ask for, a quality instrument at a fair price. Thanks again. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, January 23, 2012

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  List Price: $578.00
  Price: Too low to display
  

  Single coordinator rod,

  A brass tone ring

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  Gold Tone CC-OT Cripple Creek Openback Banjo (Five String, Vintage Brown)

  Musical Instruments (Gold Tone Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (4 reviews):

  (4.8/5)

  

  Excellent open back banjo for beginners that you will enjoy for a long time

  I've played guitar for almost 20 years, and recently I decided to wander into the world of banjo after enjoying music from Sufjan Stevens, Mumford & Sons, Sandra McCracken and many others artists who play banjo. I've been doing research for several months and decided first that I wanted an open-back banjo because I wanted a mellower sound for the folk and experimental folk pop I am writing. I also went to several stores and played banjos from all sorts of companies: Goodtime, Gold Tone, Rover, etc. Lastly, I was on a budget. I really didn't want to spend more than $300, but was willing to go up to $400 to get something that was pleasing to my ear, stayed in tune, easy to play and felt right in my hands. I narrowed it down to this banjo the Gold Tone CC-100 and Deering's Goodtime open-back 5 string banjo.Man, am I impressed with this banjo! I purchased it from the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for $299, and it came with a padded gigbag, a strap, an... 5/5 Jdub00 "Jdub" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gold Tone CC-OT Cripple Creek Openback Banjo (Five String, Vintage Brown) (Electronics) I've played guitar for almost 20 years, and recently I decided to wander into the world of banjo after enjoying music from Sufjan Stevens, Mumford & Sons, Sandra McCracken and many others artists who play banjo. I've been doing research for several months and decided first that I wanted an open-back banjo because I wanted a mellower sound for the folk and experimental folk pop I am writing. I also went to several stores and played banjos from all sorts of companies: Goodtime, Gold Tone, Rover, etc. Lastly, I was on a budget. I really didn't want to spend more than $300, but was willing to go up to $400 to get something that was pleasing to my ear, stayed in tune, easy to play and felt right in my hands. I narrowed it down to this banjo the Gold Tone CC-100 and Deering's Goodtime open-back 5 string banjo.Man, am I impressed with this banjo! I purchased it from the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for $299, and it came with a padded gigbag, a strap, an... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, August 5, 2010

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  Can't beat it for the price!

  This is my second Gold Tone product.I also own a Gold Tone BUC Banjo Uke.Love them both.If I uprgrade to a more expensive banjo later, I'll keep this around. 5/5 C. Blood (Central Illinois USA) - See all my reviews, December 28, 2011

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  Light weight banjo

  I love this banjo!! I have an older Vega, which I love and will never give up, but after a bad accident and surgery on both shoulders, my Vega was just too heavy to use full-time, so I ordered this Gold Tone. It's wonderful, light weight, great tone..I'm very happy with it. 5/5 Diana L. Mackenzie "Banjogranny" (Bend, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews, November 30, 2011

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  List Price: $518.00
  Price: Too low to display
  

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  Gold Tone BUC Concert Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown)

  Musical Instruments (Gold Tone Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  I've always wanted one of these, and now I'm happy.

  I bought this one used from Amazon for a pretty good discount. It arrived promptly, but with a minimum of packing care, a broken string, and a strong aroma not unlike cotton candy. I'm certain that if the instrument had been more fragile, it would not have survived the delivery.That being said, once I found a nice set of strings (Aquila), this is a fun instrument to play. Nothing buzzes, the action is good, the geared string tensioners work well, and etc etc etc. It's got a wood resonator (not the deluxe version), which I didn't really care about one way or the other, and I have no idea how it affects the tone, but it looks nice.I'd do it again, but I'd make sure that the shipping department put some packing material in the box. 5/5 King Barber Shop "King Barber Shop" (Richardson, TX USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone BUC Concert Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown) (Electronics) I bought this one used from Amazon for a pretty good discount. It arrived promptly, but with a minimum of packing care, a broken string, and a strong aroma not unlike cotton candy. I'm certain that if the instrument had been more fragile, it would not have survived the delivery.That being said, once I found a nice set of strings (Aquila), this is a fun instrument to play. Nothing buzzes, the action is good, the geared string tensioners work well, and etc etc etc. It's got a wood resonator (not the deluxe version), which I didn't really care about one way or the other, and I have no idea how it affects the tone, but it looks nice.I'd do it again, but I'd make sure that the shipping department put some packing material in the box. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, August 3, 2010

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  great sound and workmanship

  Saw some banjo-ukes on YouTube and wanted to try. Guitar chord shapes work, but high thumb note gives very different feel. It sounds wonderful and is loud. Have played smaller soprano size but concert size gives more fret room and still has that conventional uke pitch (GCEA)Comes with nice hard case. Yes! (P.S. mine is not electronic) 5/5 gray haired guy - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone BUC Concert Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown) (Electronics) Saw some banjo-ukes on YouTube and wanted to try. Guitar chord shapes work, but high thumb note gives very different feel. It sounds wonderful and is loud. Have played smaller soprano size but concert size gives more fret room and still has that conventional uke pitch (GCEA)Comes with nice hard case. Yes! (P.S. mine is not electronic) Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, November 23, 2010

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  Absolutely Wonderful

  Amazon you are amazing, ordered this Banjolele on Thursday night and the following Tuesday it arrived on my doorstep in AUSTRALIA, normal shipping!!I am by no means an expert and just started learning the ukulele a few months ago but have discovered that these things are addictive, I have a Lag Soprano, Tanlewood Cove Creek Soprano, Kala Travel Soprano, Greg Bennet Concert and Ohana Concert, but wanted to play around with a Banjolele. I had a small windfall so jumped straight onto Amazon, read some reviews and decided on this one. It is a beautiful instrument, the pictures don't do it justice. The sound and build quality and great, it comes standard with Aquilla strings, and has a sturdy hard case, all in all it's a fantastic package. Within 1/2 hour of opening the box I knew that this would become my favourite instrument - I can't wait to show it off!!The banjolele is a bit heavier than I expected but nothing too much, I will use it with a strap so the... 5/5 Evelyn - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gold Tone BUC Concert Banjo Ukulele (Vintage Brown) (Electronics) Amazon you are amazing, ordered this Banjolele on Thursday night and the following Tuesday it arrived on my doorstep in AUSTRALIA, normal shipping!!I am by no means an expert and just started learning the ukulele a few months ago but have discovered that these things are addictive, I have a Lag Soprano, Tanlewood Cove Creek Soprano, Kala Travel Soprano, Greg Bennet Concert and Ohana Concert, but wanted to play around with a Banjolele. I had a small windfall so jumped straight onto Amazon, read some reviews and decided on this one. It is a beautiful instrument, the pictures don't do it justice. The sound and build quality and great, it comes standard with Aquilla strings, and has a sturdy hard case, all in all it's a fantastic package. Within 1/2 hour of opening the box I knew that this would become my favourite instrument - I can't wait to show it off!!The banjolele is a bit heavier than I expected but nothing too much, I will use it with a strap so the... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, March 13, 2012

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  List Price: $458.00
  Price: $343.50
  You Save: $114.50 (25%)

  Includes hard shell case

  Features a maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, geared tuners, a single adjustable coordinator rod, and plate-style resonator

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  Epiphone MB-100 Banjo, Vintage Satin Brown, Chrome Hardware

  Musical Instruments (Epiphone)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (4.3/5)

  

  Amazing for a beginner banjo.

  I borrowed this thing from a friend for about 2 months and fell deeply in love with it. This banjo has a deep, dark tone, and being a medium priced beginner's banjo it sounds AMAZINGGGGG if you know what you're doing. I'd experimented with a vintage head on it and threw on some nylgut banjo strings and man this thing can chime better than anything I've heard. If you've got the right set of strings it CAN do a tinny sound for a banjo if you play close to the saddle, but other than that it's dark as can be. I'll upload a video eventually of just a few chords. 5/5 Mÿnspÿnnÿ Bogas - See all my reviews This review is from: Epiphone MB-100 Banjo, Vintage Satin Brown, Chrome Hardware (Electronics) I borrowed this thing from a friend for about 2 months and fell deeply in love with it. This banjo has a deep, dark tone, and being a medium priced beginner's banjo it sounds AMAZINGGGGG if you know what you're doing. I'd experimented with a vintage head on it and threw on some nylgut banjo strings and man this thing can chime better than anything I've heard. If you've got the right set of strings it CAN do a tinny sound for a banjo if you play close to the saddle, but other than that it's dark as can be. I'll upload a video eventually of just a few chords. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, December 28, 2011

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  Banjo Review

  I don't know much about banjos, I've only been playing for around a month. I purchased this banjo due to good reviews and the inexpensive price. I am willing to believe that some my issues with it were due to my lack of experience. No matter how hard I tried I had difficulty producing nice chords with this banjo, I kept muting the strings with my fingers. It almost felt as if the strings were too close together. I took it back to the music shop which I purchased it from and exchanged it for an entry level Deering. I now have no issues with muting strings when playing chords and after playing on another banjo the Epiphone felt almost toy like. Granted this is instrument is a good amount cheaper than the banjo I ended up trading it in for. Overall I do think it's a good value for the price, but maybe suited for someone with more experience playing stringed instruments or smaller hands. 3/5 Laura I Ybarra (Tucson, Az) - See all my reviews This review is from: Epiphone MB-100 Banjo, Vintage Satin Brown, Chrome Hardware (Electronics) I don't know much about banjos, I've only been playing for around a month. I purchased this banjo due to good reviews and the inexpensive price. I am willing to believe that some my issues with it were due to my lack of experience. No matter how hard I tried I had difficulty producing nice chords with this banjo, I kept muting the strings with my fingers. It almost felt as if the strings were too close together. I took it back to the music shop which I purchased it from and exchanged it for an entry level Deering. I now have no issues with muting strings when playing chords and after playing on another banjo the Epiphone felt almost toy like. Granted this is instrument is a good amount cheaper than the banjo I ended up trading it in for. Overall I do think it's a good value for the price, but maybe suited for someone with more experience playing stringed instruments or smaller hands. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, February 17, 2012

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  Low price, high quality

  Most instruments that come at such a low price for beginners look, feel and sound just as cheap as their price tag. The MB-100 however sounded AMAZING right out of the box (after the required bridge setup and tuning). I'm new to the banjo and I'm sure a seasoned banjo player would be able to find things they don't like, but I sure can't. It is a little on the quiet side, so if you're looking to really project, you may want to pick up a model with a resonator (the back) but for what I'm doing, this is perfect! Hope you all enjoy yours as much as I do! 5/5 N.J. - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Epiphone MB-100 Banjo, Vintage Satin Brown, Chrome Hardware (Electronics) Most instruments that come at such a low price for beginners look, feel and sound just as cheap as their price tag. The MB-100 however sounded AMAZING right out of the box (after the required bridge setup and tuning). I'm new to the banjo and I'm sure a seasoned banjo player would be able to find things they don't like, but I sure can't. It is a little on the quiet side, so if you're looking to really project, you may want to pick up a model with a resonator (the back) but for what I'm doing, this is perfect! Hope you all enjoy yours as much as I do! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews&nbsp; Was this review helpful to you?&nbsp;, February 15, 2012

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  List Price: $298.00
  

  URemo Head top

  Rosewood fretboard

  26.25 scale

  Mahogany body

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