Deering Goodtime Banjo

Subject: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:30 PM

I'm thinking of getting a banjo. Can anyone tell me if the Deering Goodtime Banjo is any good? I don't have much money to spend and I don't know anything about the pariah of instruments.

Oh, and don't let Charley Noble know. I've spent the last 10 years telling banjo jokes to him. I'm never going to live this down....

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:32 PM

Yes!

~S~

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:35 PM

Isn't that what Bonnie has?

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: CarolC
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 10:15 PM

Ohhh... Tis a slippery slope you're sliding down now Brett. First it's banjos... next, accordions. Where will it all end?

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Melani
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 10:17 PM

Where will it all end?! Saxophones?

Seriously, congratulations and go for it. My dad LOVED banjos.

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:16 AM

It ends with a bombarde!!!

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: kendall
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 07:43 AM

the bombarde! alias the "Yugo" of musical instruments.

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 08:13 AM

I bought one as a birthday present for my friend who is very pleased with it - Hmmm can't say the same for his neighbours who I think if they knew who gave the gift....!!!

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 08:58 AM

It ends with the Boombah.

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:32 AM

Frankly, I'm not too enthralled with the Goodtime. I suppose it sounds all right, but it sure looks cheap, cheap, cheap. Depending on where you are, I think you can do better for the money.

How much is "not too much money"--that is, what's the outside amount you could afford? And where are you located?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:53 AM

Hi Brett. For three or four years I eagerly reccommended the Deering Good Times banjo to students and others. Not anymore. Check out the Saga frailers. They're much more solidly constructed, sound better, and have a re-enforced neck. Much better value to my eye and ear.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:12 AM

I bought a Bombarde this last Summer - Where do I go from here? ;-}.....

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Gypsy
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:37 AM

Vegas are mighty nice. And in polite company, when you refer to your Vega, someone might think you are talking about a mandolin. Stock up on that fifth string....its not a session unless our binjoist breaks at least one. got him 3 dozen one birthday.

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:41 AM

I just got one, Brett - a gift. But it only has four strings and I can't find where to put the fifth!

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Jim Krause
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 01:48 PM

Where might banjo playing lead? Well, I went down the road not to sind & degradation and accordians. Oh, no! much worse, OLD TIME FIDDLIN'.
Jim

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:51 PM

Thanks guys. I don't have much more than $300-$400 dollars to spend from my income tax refund. The Deering bajo seemed like a good idea. Are the Saga banjos in that price range? Any other ideas for where to go for an instrument?

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:10 PM

Mary, after hearing what Bill Sables can do with only four strings on a banjo I wonder why they bothered to put a fifth one on them at all.

Dave, I am in Maine for another year then overseas to Italy for a few years.

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 03:20 AM

Ah Geoff the duck you are doomed to the bottom of the pond! Quack quack!

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 11:17 AM

Yup Brett, that's why I mentioned it. You can of course go higher, but after playing a couple of Vegas this month and several Sagas, I'd still go for the Saga.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 12:36 PM

Thanks, Rick. And one more question. How do I learn to play the damned thing? I wonder about the videos. I don't know if there is a teacher in the area, other than Charley Noble. And this is a secret...

Subject: RE: Psst! Don't tell anybody but...
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 01:55 PM

Naemanson
quietly.......