5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Closed Solid Back and Geared 5th Tuner

I was in the market for a beginner banjo, and really didn't know where to start. In the interests of full disclosure, I am a veteran guitar player. I used to play banjo many, many years ago, but I played it like a guitarist. This time around, I wanted to learn to play it as a banjoist, as it should be played, so for all intents and purposes I am a beginner. I don't know anyone who plays banjo, so I couldn't get any recommendations from friends or family. After considerable Internet research - a lot of which involved checking out Amazon reviews - I settled on this Jameson instrument.Many of the "name" brands in the music stores seem to start in the $250 range and go right up to the $700s and $800s, and I even saw some over $1,000. Even the $250 range was beyond my budget. In Amazon (rather than the music stores) there were instruments within my budget in the $150 - $200 range, but none of the names was familiar to me. Then again, I admit, I don't know enough about the banjo world to really know the names.Anyway, to make a long story short, I am really glad I decided on this instrument. It is a beautiful piece of workmanship, really attractive and nicely put together, and it sounds great. During my research, I had seen several reviews of other brands where people had said not to expect your banjo to arrive ready to play. You would have to install the bridge, the strings and so on. Not so with this Jameson - it arrived nicely packed and ready to play. It only needed minor tuning, which is of course understandable (for which I recommend the Snark SN-5 Tuner for Guitar, Bass and Violin, which works fine for banjo even though they don't mention that). It even included a tuning and chord chart.Note that this instrument has a (removable) resonator back, which is a bonus in this price range, since a resonator back usually hikes up the price. Another nice bonus is that Jameson provides free basic lessons on their website ([...], which links to [...]).I noticed that in the questions above, one answer said it was made in USA. However, mine was made in China. This is not an issue for me and shouldn't be for you (unless you are of the "buy-only-American" persuasion); it's a beautiful instrument regardless of where it was made.All in all, I highly recommend this banjo, especially (but not only) for beginners. It is an excellent value for a really fine instrument. Five stars without any reservations!

I'm a complete beginner who decided on a whim that I should learn to play bluegrass banjo. I got this banjo five days ago, have played it every day, and just love it so far. It has a nice sound and seems to stay in tune well. It doesn't look or feel like a cheap instrument. It's substantial with a nice finish, classy enough to leave out in my living room as part of a particular kind of decor. It also arrived securely packaged, which is lucky -- the outer box it came in looked like it had had a difficult journey, but the banjo itself was in fine shape. Of course, after five days I can't speak to its durability, but honestly I feel like for the price of a few evenings out in the city this banjo is well worth it as a way to get a feel for the instrument. If I play it enough that it breaks, I'll know I can justify an upgrade.UPDATE: I happily played this banjo every day for about three months before I got antsy and bought a fancier one (Recording King RK-20 Songster). Now that I have a point of comparison, I can say that the RK, which includes a tone ring, has a lovely, loud, ringing sound, with a richness the Jameson lacks. The RK is clearly a nicer instrument, and it's my new favorite. But you know what? I still play and love the Jameson too. It continues to stay in tune really well and sound good. And it's lighter than the RK, so easier to travel with or just take out to pick on the patio. In sum, you can get more banjo for more money, and it might make sense to do that if you're ready to commit. But I still think this banjo is a great deal for the price, and having two banjos rules, so even after upgrading I plan to get good use out of it.

Liked:* High-quality look (beautiful polished wood back and neck)* Good sound* Holds tuning well* Lowest priced, best value real banjo on Internet and in stores* Shipped by UPS with no damage, arrived in perfect condition from several states away* 5-stringed (don't get the 4 string, because eventually you'll want the 5 string anyways, and it's easy enough to play it as if it were a 4-string without the high drone 5th string because it's set slightly lower than the plane of the other four)* Resonator or closed-back design is louder, better than open-backed banjos, very loud, strong sound* I found it straightforward to learn basic skills with my guitar background(it's string tunings and configuration are different, but techniques are similar)* Not too heavy (some banjos I've picked up felt like a sack of bricks)* Comes with chord chart printed on a piece of paper, a tuning guide with a piano for reference (for most common G-tuning or gDGBD), a diagram of the banjo parts, and a little tool* Neck and string spacing is not to narrow, it's standardDisliked:* Some frets may be a slightly off (I tuned it, but fretting the 5th fret produces a noticeably sharp note that my tuner confirms), or perhaps the bridge is misplaced by a millimeter or two on mine, but I'm not experienced enough to precisely place it for accurate notes-playing all the way up the neck. However, this is not a big deal as you only notice if you have a good ear for pitches, and for the price it's to be expected.* The tuning peg for the highest drone string that's halfway up the neck is really hard to turn, and doesn't turn smoothly like the other 4 tuners on the head.Conclusion:* Buy it. If you want a low-priced, good-quality banjo to start learning and continue playing for years, this is a good find.* I'm very happy with my banjo, and I don't foresee any repairs needed, and I don't expect to feel the need to upgrade to a pricier instrument.* I d also recommend buying a banjo strap, finger picks, a clip-on tuner for guitars/banjos, and possibly a beginner banjo book to get started.