I have a question for any banjo players out there. My daughter is thinking of buying a 5 string banjo. The model is a Como and it is used. I would think it is about 20 years old and is in excellent condition. The question is what is a fair price. It is listed at around $300.

My problem is I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find if this is a fair price. Thoughts.

From what I've seen of these they are probably either Korean or Japanese (depending on how old they are). I don't have tons of banjo experience but if it's in good shape and sounds reasonable it seems like a decent price for a 5 string banjo. I've certainly seen affordable 5 string banjos go for more.

Being cheap by nature I would offer $250 but that's just me :)

Price really depends upon condition and tone and personal preference. $300 isn't a bad price for a 'beginner' banjo (or any beginner instrument), but like any musical instrument it's hard to tell until you live with it for a while. Will it keep it's tuning? 'Excellent condition' means different things to different people. How well does it fit her? Is this a new instrument for your daughter or has she tried Banjo before?

If she's played before she really needs to try it out.

We can get name brand 'beginner banjos' around here for less, though, but you generally get what you pay for. (I once had a violin that wouldn't keep its tuning - I spent more time 'tuning' than actually 'playing'.)

I'd probably take it to a luthier and get it looked at before I'd part with any money if you're not familiar with the particular instrument or maker.

Mleh, I play a pretty good level of banjo, and this one holds it's tune and has a traditional blue grass neck and sound.

Fair enough. I'd buy based on your personal experience and not worry about the brand name.

Mleh, I play a pretty good level of banjo, and this one holds it's tune and has a traditional blue grass neck and sound.

Given that I think it's likely reasonable. I've seen a LOT of banjo's that don't hold their tune sell in that price range or higher too :D Some of the older made in japan instruments are pretty well done. In the guitar/bass world some of the older MIJ stuff is actually better than a lot of the name brand stuff of the same era.

We have a mix of 'name brands' and 'never heard of 'em but they sound good' instruments in our family.

For instance, we have a (4 string) Banjo that's labeled 'Humphrey', but can't find anything on the internet about it. It was bought in the '30s at the same time as the Gibson guitar we also have, so was probably $25 at the time too. Pretty, but not particularly good tone. Keep it more for sentimental value than anything else. It's probably worth $300!

(The Gibson has more value now, but my daughter actually prefers playing the 'abandoned because the action was too high' Yamaha my mother gave her to take to University because we were worried the Gibson might not stand up to the rigours of University dorm life.)

First I would only buy the banjo if you can play it. If you can get to see it check to make sure the neck is straight (look at it at eye level) and check the drum for tightness. From what I researched, Como guitars and banjos are made in Korea. Oddly I could only find Banjitars made by Como online. Sure it's 5 strings not 6?

JCCanuk, I noticed that as well, could only find references to a six string banjo,but this is a five string. Quite nice really. But if the six strings are built in Korea I'm sure this one is as well.

JCCanuk, I noticed that as well, could only find references to a six string banjo,but this is a five string. Quite nice really. But if the six strings are built in Korea I'm sure this one is as well.
Go for it! I use to have a banjo and loved it. Darn thing was LOUD and clear! I'm hearing impaired so that was a bonus! But stuuuupid me tighten the drum too much and "twang", the end of my banjo career. Back to the guitar, actually the digital piano now (headphones a plus and my acoustic guitar to loud for two studying teenagers, go figure).

If you want to hear a young kid who can really pick a banjo, check out the video on my website today.

Serious Banjo, amazing live group, wonderful musicians. This is a great song too.
Goodbye July by Shred Kelly
Shred Kelly on CBC Music - Free Streaming Radio, Videos, Songs, Concerts & Playlists (http://music.cbc.ca/play/artist/Shred-Kelly/Goodbye-July)

Go for it! I use to have a banjo and loved it. Darn thing was LOUD and clear! I'm hearing impaired so that was a bonus! But stuuuupid me tighten the drum too much and "twang", the end of my banjo career. Back to the guitar, actually the digital piano now (headphones a plus and my acoustic guitar to loud for two studying teenagers, go figure).

A suggestion for you, then: I avoid playing even my acoustic guitars late at night because I'm in a semi and I like my neighbours - that and my wife often rises early for work. So what I often do is play my electrics unplugged - lets me hone my chops and I can hear them well enough. Not as tonally juicy as when plugged in, sure - but that's OK. I save that fo the daytime. 98% of the time I'm playing electrics unplugged. I know quite a few players who do the same.

But what I was going to suggest is that you could buy a used electric with a piezo pickup option. By jacking the guitar directly into your Mac and wearing a pair of headphones, you could 'voice' the guitar in Garageband by choosing a suitable acoustic guitar tone and there you'd be off to the races. Sure, a piezo-equipped solid body guitar's sound is not quite the same as a true hollow body acoustic, but it has a sound all its own and it's neither acoustic nor electric - but it does sound refreshingly organic and lively. The only downside is that piezo-equipped guitars are rarely cheap. I have a lovely Godin LGX which is my go-to guitar when I want to record acoustic tones without making a lot of noise in doing so. I bought it used but it was still seven hundred bucks. A great investment though. Nowadays I marvel that I hadn't gone this route years ago.

9u8VZj1uvTU

Best rendition ever...

^

That was really good! :clap:

9u8VZj1uvTU

Best rendition ever...

Wow!!! I really liked this rendition.

If you want to hear a young kid who can really pick a banjo, check out the video on my website today.

I couldn't find the banjo on your website when I looked, was this the one you posted?

GXcRI0BdioE

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys :clap:

I couldn't find the banjo on your website when I looked, was this the one you posted?

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys :clap:

Sorry, it would be in the archives for the day I posted it, same kids, but here it is:

HBxKEmDwyuA

A suggestion for you, then: I avoid playing even my acoustic guitars late at night because I'm in a semi and I like my neighbours - that and my wife often rises early for work. So what I often do is play my electrics unplugged - lets me hone my chops and I can hear them well enough. Not as tonally juicy as when plugged in, sure - but that's OK. I save that fo the daytime. 98% of the time I'm playing electrics unplugged. I know quite a few players who do the same.

But what I was going to suggest is that you could buy a used electric with a piezo pickup option. By jacking the guitar directly into your Mac and wearing a pair of headphones, you could 'voice' the guitar in Garageband by choosing a suitable acoustic guitar tone and there you'd be off to the races. Sure, a piezo-equipped solid body guitar's sound is not quite the same as a true hollow body acoustic, but it has a sound all its own and it's neither acoustic nor electric - but it does sound refreshingly organic and lively. The only downside is that piezo-equipped guitars are rarely cheap. I have a lovely Godin LGX which is my go-to guitar when I want to record acoustic tones without making a lot of noise in doing so. I bought it used but it was still seven hundred bucks. A great investment though. Nowadays I marvel that I hadn't gone this route years ago.
Thanks, that's an interesting and cool way to play a fake acoustic I guess you can call it. By the way I have a Gibson J-50 from about 1986. Needs some work but still plays great. I also have a Simon & Patrick Woodland acoustic guitar (your Godin is part of S & P family) a few years old which my son has or should I use to, it's mine now. Awesome guitar for $600 bucks and all natural wood. My wife might divorce me if I get a banjo :yikes:

Actually JJ, it's the other way around - Simon & Patrick is part of the larger Godin family - which includes Norman, Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Richmond, Godin, Art & Lutherie... I might have missed one of the family members, too - all of it headed up by the patriarch, Robert Godin. A fabulous Canadian if ever there was one.

I understand about your wife's reservations. i have to play the same game... it's touch and go sometimes but all in all, my wife is very understanding and she's fallen in love with some of the guitars I've scooped up over the years. I try to ease the pain by usually buying used - the savings can be substantial. Now I'm getting to the point where if I want to purchase a new addition, one in the present collection must go... otherwise it becomes rather silly.

Now go get that J-50 looked after! That thing is solid gold.

Actually JJ, it's the other way around - Simon & Patrick is part of the larger Godin family - which includes Norman, Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Richmond, Godin, Art & Lutherie... I might have missed one of the family members, too - all of it headed up by the patriarch, Robert Godin. A fabulous Canadian if ever there was one.

I understand about your wife's reservations. i have to play the same game... it's touch and go sometimes but all in all, my wife is very understanding and she's fallen in love with some of the guitars I've scooped up over the years. I try to ease the pain by usually buying used - the savings can be substantial. Now I'm getting to the point where if I want to purchase a new addition, one in the present collection must go... otherwise it becomes rather silly.

Now go get that J-50 looked after! That thing is solid gold.
My bad, I knew the two guitars were related somehow. Oh yeah took the J-50 to Long & McQuade, the ol' guitar drew a crowd. One of the repair guys played my guitar like a dream. Unfortunately he said they can't do the work required but recommended some experts. "Don't sell it" the man said. I shan't I said, someday I will get it fixed.
Thanks for the info Max!

JCC, there are some really good buys on banjos out there. When I bought my first one my wife stood there stunned when I brought it home. She hated the sound of the thing... So I adapted and just picked the thing with my bare fingers... You certainly can keep the volume down that way.... But it drove my Bluegrass instructor nuts that I refused to use finger picks.......

Yeah, I think perhaps a desire to preserve my marriage also made me decide on a new guitar rather than a banjo. Bless her I know she'd actually put up with me if I got one. But I also know she's no real fan of the genre.

JCC, there are some really good buys on banjos out there. When I bought my first one my wife stood there stunned when I brought it home. She hated the sound of the thing... So I adapted and just picked the thing with my bare fingers... You certainly can keep the volume down that way.... But it drove my Bluegrass instructor nuts that I refused to use finger picks.......

LOL! Can't keep everybody happy eh? Speaking of that I remember Steve Martin, another great banjo player, saying it's hard to play a banjo and not be happy. Steve attempted to play some sad songs but kept breaking out into a happy tune no matter how hard he tried. So true!

I must say Martin can certainly hold his own.... He's no Bela Flecks but he is better than most.