Deering - The Scientology Banjo???

Subject: Folklore: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 04:09 AM

Folklore exists to the effect that people who buy & resister Deering banjos find themselves recipients of Scientology 'information leaflets' thereafter.

Can anyone confirm or debunk?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: BanjoRay
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 06:53 AM

Total crap.
It doesn't happen in the UK. America - who knows?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: caitlin rua
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 08:04 AM

Thought it sounded like one of those urban legends but there's nothing on Snopes. There is, however, this Mudcat thread from 2008

banjo high strangeness

in which one of the posters there writes that Greg Deering's own website states that he and Janet are scientologists. But does this mean their customers get paper-spammed? (Other question it makes you wonder about is, do they tithe? Not going to spend time looking it up, but if I were in the market for a banjo, it would give me pause.)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 08:17 AM

My sources are from the UK...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: caitlin rua
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 08:51 AM

I know from experience that plenty of Scientology snailmail spam gets bombarded at people in the UK too. Constantly, whether they want it or not. (This was a few years ago, though: I have no recent knowledge, thank God).

Maybe some local Org or other got ahold of the Deering customer list, or were given it? This has certainly happened in Britain in other non-banjo-related situations. All anyone needs is an address.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 09:37 AM

Maybe the owner is a scientologist?

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:24 AM

Greg Deering's own website states that he and Janet are scientologists.

'Nuff said! See also:

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/banjos_and_scientology/

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:34 AM

I'm disappointed - the thread title is misleading...

My hopes were raised and then cruelly crushed.

I had expectations of being amazed by images and youtube footage
of a bizarre & astonishing banjo equivalent of John Travolta's "Battlefield Earth" !!!!????

I really wanted to see The Scientology Banjo...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: caitlin rua
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:45 AM

LOL!!

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Artful Codger
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:45 AM

The Scientology Banjo is guarded in a deep cave whose location is known only to the keepers of the sacred banjo. Many have searched for it, believing that it holds the ultimate power: to stay in tune. Rumor has it that when the perfect player plays "Cumberland Deer Chase" upon its platinum strings, it will signal the mothership that the time has come.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: caitlin rua
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:47 AM

It probably plays Cumberland Deering Chase even better...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: BanjoRay
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:50 AM

If you need a Deering banjo in England, the main Deering dealers are Eagle Music in Huddersfield. Best ask them if Scientology crap is included with the banjo before buying, Personally, I don't think so - Eagle Music is a good knowledgeable helpful shop.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 12:02 PM

Many long suspected an evil side to banjos.

But is there a good one?

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 01:09 PM

As the OP do I have right to veto the banjo jokes? I should have known better - every time folkies see a banjo it's the same old dreary litany by way of ritual observance. This is mariginally worse than having the entirely legitimate Folklore prefix removed by some Idiot Mudgoon who obviously thinks they know better than me. For shame.

*

We got our Deering 5-string in a sale in Promenade Music in Morecambe* - it's a fine instrument with no evidence that it has anything to do with Scientologist, but as has been reported elsewhere this comes when you register your ax with the company.

* No Morecambe jokes either please - there's a separate thread for that HERE.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 12:40 PM

Folklore exists to the effect that Morecambe Bay is where music lovers go to bury banjos in the mud at low tide. However, evil Scientologists come later and harvest the instruments, purge them of their thetans then sell them to unsuspecting punters.
You may find while playing your banjo you have an irresistible urge to burst into Staying Alive, start pointing at the ceiling and donate your worldly goods to the Temple of L Ron Hubbard.
Beware Banjofield Earth...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 02:22 PM

Right. Thanks for the heads-up. Would you be kind enough to indicate where?

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 03:01 PM

Glad to oblige 999. Here is one of those evil alien scientologist Morecambe Bay divers playing a banjo dragged from the mud

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 08:22 PM

Thank you, John. He sure dresses funny. Any idea what song he's playing?

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,john in hamilton
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 08:43 PM

I bought a Deering deluxe in Toronto about 5 years ago. I sent off the registry, and they asked,"would you like our guide for better living?". I ticked it off with a yes. Sure enough, there was a little booklet with my registration and my maintenance manual about the benefits of Scientology....I like the banjo, though...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 02:50 PM

When I bought my Goodtime II back in 2004 I got a scientology phamplet. Pretty weird. Needless to say I'm looking to Gold Tone these days.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 12:51 AM

Nice banjos. I could put up with a bit of spam for a banjer of that quality.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Musket
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 03:24 AM

I was in Eagle Music the other day.

The only revelation I left with was thinking how run down Huddersfield looks these days...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 04:04 PM

"Bit of spam" may be an understatement. I attended one $10 Scientology class sometime in the 1970's, and I left in the first half hour of the first session because I could see they were nuts, but I still get about a pound of mail from them every week.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 05:59 PM

I see a market for a combination clip-on tuner and E-meter.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Ernest
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 12:10 PM

Their newest feature is a Cruise Control.

Of course that means you are controlled by Tom.....

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 12:16 PM

Deering makes good banjos but except for the Goodtime they seem to be overpriced. Kind of like the religion.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 02:06 PM

Would this have worked if it hadn't been a Deering banjo?

Playing the banjo during brain surgery

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 06:42 AM

Hope it doesn't become compulsory...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 09:02 AM

Speaking of banjo jokes, there was a good one in cartoon form in the New Yorker recently: Too Much Banjo. You have to click on the image to make it larger. There's a lot of detail.

And then there's the old Trapped in an Elevator.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 01:53 PM

Scientologists eh..... how can anyone be so clever (re banjos) and so gullible at the same time?

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,ohya
Date: 15 Nov 15 - 12:40 PM

I was an employee at Deering. Yes they're most definitely Scientologists, but they mostly keep their business apart from their belief systems.

They were sending out their guides in every purchase of a Deering banjo, but they realized that it irritated a lot of people so they stopped doing it (more or less).

Janet and Greg, the owners, while they have their odd religion--are super super nice, friendly, 'mom and pop' kind of people. Really, they're ridiculously nice, normal people and in my experience, never tried to push anything Scientology related on me.

The quality and workmanship of the products is amazing--they pay incredible attention to detail, and having seen their process from the inside--they really do a super job.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 15 Nov 15 - 04:23 PM

Deering's banjos are very well made, sound great and play like butter! I presently have a couple of their instruments and love them. No church petitions from them here in Canada.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: BanjoRay
Date: 15 Nov 15 - 05:59 PM

Apart from the Goodtime, they're still overpriced.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: EBarnacle
Date: 16 Nov 15 - 06:47 PM

Part of the beauty of the Scientology banjo is that it needs no strings.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Amos
Date: 16 Nov 15 - 11:20 PM

This is codswallop. Vegas aren't referred to as Protestant Banjos, are they? Why would anyone give a flying f**k what denomination of philosophical persuasion a banjo maker was?

Jeeze, man! Reallllly.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 02:36 AM

I doubt anybody asked about the faith, superstition or hobby of the owners. A question was asked as to whether they use their customer base to mail shot in the name of their church creed or whatever it is.

I have a Deering, I haven't had any literature about Scientology as a result. The price here in The UK is a bit steep given the excellent competition but Eagle Music did me a good deal so I am well happy.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: BanjoRay
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 06:26 AM

The Vega name is owned by Deering nowadays, so I presume Vegas may be considered to be Scientology banjos...... (joke)

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 06:57 AM

If Johnny Vegas is a scientologist, sign me up. Or at least give me a pint of what he is on. I like his little world.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 04:20 PM

it makes me difference to me, have you encountered the Scientologists,

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 06:02 PM

I read the original articles, published in Astounding Science Fiction in the late fifties. They were a load of useless twaddle then and they are a load of useless twaddle now.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: Rookery4
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 07:17 PM

I bought a Deering Goodtime about a year ago- no Scientology bumf so far, just odds and ends of Banjo marketing and info.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 Nov 15 - 07:27 PM

I had a talk with Campbell once, shortly prior to his demise. His premise was that he would include interesting articles in Astounding and Analog whether or not he agreed with them.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Bristol Blue
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 07:04 PM

Bought my Deering Goodtime in the UK Dec 2015. No religion stuff in the mail yet. Until reading this tonight ,I had no idea of any of their religious beliefs. It's not evident in any of the many videos on YouTube I have seen. I have commented on loads of their videos and had really nice replies back from various staff members and nobody has rammed religion down my throat so far!
Also I would like to say that IMO they are not overpriced in the UK. They are a quality USA banjo and you get what you pay for as the saying goes...

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: GUEST,Turtin1
Date: 11 Jul 23 - 07:49 PM

https://www.scientology.tv/series/meet-a-scientologist/deering-banjo.html

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: PHJim
Date: 12 Jul 23 - 08:19 AM

I assume that gillymore has not priced Gibson or Stelling Mastertone style banjos. By comparison, the Deering Mastertone-style are quite reasonable.

Subject: RE: Deering - The Scientology Banjo???
From: gillymor
Date: 13 Jul 23 - 11:48 AM

I don't know about that, PH, I'm only interested in open backs and owned a Deering Vega Wonder which was okay but I moved on to Brooks Masten, Omes and Ramsey banjos (after sampling a Deering Tubaphone and a Senator) which I found to be a better buy. Just my opinion, though a friend has a Goodtime that he payed about 500 for and it still kicks ass.
This Deering Jens Kruger model is pretty pricey.