Getting Your NEW Banjo Ready to Play - With the Recording King Dirty 30s 

What a brilliant video. Thank you for showing this. As someone coming to banjo as a beginner this is excellent.

Just got my Recording King in the mail haven't played in 30 years and have forgotten almost everything thanks for showing this I am going to start over.

Hey Jim, I'm a new viewer and had been watching your videos in preparation of receiving the first banjo I've ever touched. Its for my younger brother, but thanks to you, I knew exactly what to do and how to set it up for playing. We like your style-- You have my thanks; Wishing you health and happiness always

Got my Recording King RKH-05 today based on this recommendation, the tone is beautiful as well as the build. I was playing on a used Ibanez B50 and now it feels like I wasn’t even playing banjo compared to my new Recording King! I didn’t even know this brand existed, thank you for suggesting it!

Been watching your videos in preparation of getting into Banjo for the first time! Your passion is infectious and absolutely love your videos. Thanks from the cold northern reaches of Canada!

My brothers and kin get together on weekends to play mountain music after a week of work in the sawmills. My brothers seem to be busy with other things to teach me how to play the banjo!..but thanks to jim im learning the banjo...dont take me wrong I love playing the guitar but sense ive picked up the banjo its been a blessing thanks to jim, but I still have a long road ahead of me several more lessons to go....from the Appalachian mountains of ky, thank you mr. Jim for everything my friend...

Thanks Jim, got a new one coming Friday. Really helps to know what to expect.

Brilliant stuff. I am on the brink of buying a banjo. I think you may have saved me a lot of time and tears. Thank you and God bless. UK Steve

Great video Jim. I used this video along with your video for changing strings when I pulled out an old banjo that had been stored for several years. Sounds like a new instrument now. Thanks!

I'm just about to buy my first Banjo & you have answered all of my questions in one video. Thanks!

Thank you for the lessons and all the great information,love watching your videos,,Ian learning so much,thank you again.

I think I'll be having a look at my bridge setup again, thanks for posting

Getting my first banjo today, thanks for helping me transition some of my guitar luthier skills to the things I had no idea about with a banjo! ;) Love your channel!

Love your work Mr. Pankey, just got my first banjo via freight and this vid is packed full of top advice. Darwin, Australia.

Hey there Jim! I’ve been watching your videos since late last night anticipating the delivering of my beginner banjo tomorrow! I will admit that setting the bridge scared me until I watched this video. Thank you so much for the information. I can not wait to start the beginner courses tomorrow! I was an 8th grade US History Teacher for 14 years and I have to tell you that I LOVE your teaching style! Wish me luck!

Hey Jim, thanks for all of the great advice on this video, you're a star! I have found it at just the right time as I am waiting for my new banjo to arrive in a few days time, it's only a cheap one but you have to start somewhere don't you. Looks like I will be going through this video again to set the Banjo up when it arrives to see how good I can get it to sound thanks to your help and advice.

Another great learning session video . Thank you Jim !

Hey Mr Pankey, I know you will be happy, I just received my new Recording King 0T25 banjo today, hard case comes next wed, they say.. Will take it slow on setup, cause this is my first one. On this one, the bridge is standing up already.. Going to buy a few new wrenches tomorrow, that will help with adjustments... Focusing on claw hammer style.. be watching your videos over & over many times.. Thankyou for all you do , to help folks with there instruments and the beginning steps...😊😊😊 Will keep you informed as I learn & make small adjustments when needed..

Just tightened up my drum and was playing much better! Thanks!

That was fascinating.. I didn't think there was so much to do when setting up a new banjo but its also handy to know when buying a second hand one... Im going to dig mine out from behind the couch and have a look at everything you just did in your video.. Thanks so much..

Very helpful video! I got my banjo at Guitar Center and this video helped position the bridge properly and tighten the head. It’s much more playable now!

I changed my bridge on my banjo with a compensation bridge. It helps my banjo make make the notes more accurate. I also use a drum dial tuner on the head to get more even pressure on the head to produce the best tone possible.

Beautiful banjo

Hello hello hello, it sure is an awesome opportunity to find you doing this great videos on banjos. I just received my very first banjo and started out with your lessons as well. Iv asked about the bridge setting on BanjoHangout and received a few different reply’s than this video. But now I Know. But something very particular happened to me as I removed the resonator from my GT CC 100+-- I like the way it sounds when I tried claw hammer strumming. Oh Yeah, that’s just beautiful right there. And to add to that- my social finger and pinky are bent in due to separate accidents, can’t straighten them out. Which leads to trouble placing one or two fingers on the head for picking. I’m glad I caught this video- all kidding aside- I like your approach and teaching of the banjo and had to hear this one too. Thx- Hooties playing banjo

Great help! Thanks Jim!

Hi Jim excellent video, easy to follow with your dialogue

Good info Jim. Thanks for the great demo.

Got this banjo!!! Just for Christmas! I am so excited because the other was a loaner.

Great video Jimbo, I've a couple of deering goodtimes, one open back and the other not. The resonater one I've had for 3 years and has lost a bit of its punch. I change the strings regularly and have been changing brands to see if lifts it a bit. I'll definitely be adjusting the head. Many thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge, Davy.

This is super helpful. I’m waiting on my banjo to be delivered!

I remember unboxing my Deering Sierra few yrs back. Man what thrill openin that case for the 1st time and just seein it after a 3 month wait.. Nothin like it!! Little tunin and she was rdy to go..

Hello I started your beginer banjo 2 days ago and it's the best I have found to help me

This solved every problem I had. Thank you, sir.

Great unboxing video! Real-world!

Just got a new banjo, this video was perfect. Helped to set it he baby up right. Mine came set up ok, but the bridge needed adjusting (everything went # on the 12th). Thank you immensely for showing how to do that. Be well Jim! Best, -gregory

Nice case! I "upgraded" a Fender bottlecap with a DAM Bridge and a Presto Tailpiece, adjusted the action (sounds a lot better than stock now) and just now starting lesson 2 after 10 years of cheap banjo 'ownership'. Broke my left elbow and wrist and it's hard to supinate my wrist so I have to fret with the neck almost vertical, but your method seems easy enough to accomplish! Maybe if I can get better I'll buy an RK! :D THANKS for the lesson videos! I Love your style of teaching sir...

Hey Jim! I was getting ready to ask for a "maintenance" video from you. I recently replaced strings, snugged the head, adjusted the tail piece and adjusted the truss rod. I sure would have appreciated a Jim Pankey video explaining all of this to me before I started. Luckily I did not kill my banjo in the process. Great video! Thanks!

Your videos are great!! Keep them coming! 😊

The paper on the neck/ strings is a special paper that keeps moisture and humidity away . Same kind of paper is on a lot of machined metal parts I used to receive when I worked at a Caterpillar dealership . Great video as always sir !

Your a superstar!!!! Thankyou so much for this video!!!!...got my first banjo yesterday..I play guitar so now I'm on the Sunnyside hahaha

hi jim and thanks for the info

mine just came., after 20 years of open bcks, I am going on the dark side thankful to have jim here for my "unboxing.?"

I got a banjo for my birthday

at 13:06 that's some very helpful information. tuning your D string at the 12th fret. to see if it's in tune. never knew that!

It looks like my RK-R20 around the resonater . Sounds good. My bridge isn't straight either. That's fine. As long as it rings like a bell.

Brilliant video!

Hi Jim, I’m here following your advice😀🌷

This was so helpful thank you!

Very educational. New player. This is very helpful! 😊 thanks!

I remember when I ordered a banjo thru amazon and when I took it out of the box the neck was broke at the headstock. They made it good though. Had to wait a few more weeks. The box it came in looked like it was either thrown in the shipping truck or crushed somewhere in route...

Santa brought me that banjo today! I’m off to the Pankey lessons!!

Hey again, Jim! Just got my RK Dirty 30s today 😁 this video was instrumental (literally) in my choice. Thanks again, sir, and a Happy New year!

the best i,ve seen so far .thank you

Marvellous, very informative, well done Jim. Still can't get my head around frailing, sounds a load of rubbish when I do it.

thank you this was so so helpful

Your banjo videos are awsome

Merry Christmas!

Legendary! Thanks man you are awesome

I happened to get the same banjo but without the resonator just yesterday so it worked out that I'd find this video

Thank you so much for posting and explaining the setup. I started learning about a year ago from your you tube videos. (Yep I have purchased items from your store) I have a entry ADM banjo and have been learning without knowing things in this video. After following the setup, and a crap ton of truss rod adjustment, it is a night and difference in the playability and overall sound. Not quite as nice as a banjo in one of the local pawn shops, but not far off.

thank you. you're new banjo looks good I executed as you suggested and found tape in places I had not thought to look. "what else do you need?" maybe a neck strap if you intend to stand up? I appreciate sowing how to change the tension on your bongo to make it a banjo

So informative Jim, thx man

Mr + Mrs Sheridan Thanks for the video Mine is from Binghamton.- New York Mrs. S

Hey man i have a old ibanez 70s ish and ive rebuilt it but i.e head tension hoop tailpeice bridge etc... but had no clue how to set it up in the slightest but this helped alot and its nearly there

Hey Jim, tightened the head, really popping again, thanks, Davy

thank you for this video!!!

Jim your the best!

Thank you I got way too much space in between I don't even know how you say it I'm just still figuring this out but the neck and the strings

Great music

Love This

I just received my first banjo yesterday - a Deering Good Time II. I've only just tried to pick according to your Beginner Bluegrass Lesson 1 for a couple of minutes so far. This weekend I'll sit down with it and check all the fitment and tuning as you describe here. I'm wearing my finger picks just trying to get used to them on my fingers. I feel like the blade of my thumb pick (Dunlop) is too long. Do they come in shorter lengths? Or do I just need to get used to it? Thank you for producing these videos!

GREAT! -just what I was looking for: bridge, tailpiece, head, truss rod (relief), and coordinator rod (action). I’m left wondering how to manage dual coordinator rods, but hey this is the first vid I found and includes 90% of what I need to know. Much appreciated, Jim.

The brown paper is probably impregnated with an anti-corrosive compound (or light grease / oil) that prevents the strings from rusting.

Hi Jim .. That was a great video on a banjo set up, I have been doing lots of your lessons and am still just a beginner and learning from you, you are a great teacher and you have been recommended from other banjo players whom I met up here in Canada. I have decided to upgrade from my beginner Banjo (Fender) and am getting a new Recording King RK76 Elite next week from Mhyers Music in Edmonton Alberta Canada, I have been waiting months for it. I am hoping it will be set up professionally when I get it however your video has advised me what to check for but am very afraid to try and set it up myself, if required I will have it done by a professional. Just one question with the RK76 having a longer neck than a standard banjo should the bridge still be measured to the 12th fret of the neck. Any other advice you can offer on the RK76 would be appreciated.

I always look forward to your videos , im curious about your tuner, what brand is it

Takes me back to when I got my new banjo over the summer. Even after I got it set up to the best of my abilities, it still sounded kind of dead for a few days. Maybe because it had spent a while not being played regularly.

Ordered mine today🙂

Thanks, just what the doctor ordered! I just got another banjo after selling one for bills and missing it. Also: I keep wanting to know what kind of shoes those are (the person shoes you have on your feet, hehe). I keep seeing them and don't know what they are. The unlikely dad-superhero even wears them in the movie "Secret Headquarters" (when he's not in his extraterrestrial costume).

The paper around the strings will be anti corrosive, the inside has rust/corrosion inhibitors added to the paper

The paper around the strings acts, to a degree, as a humidity barrier during transport probably.

Hey Jim!! How you doing? Question: when you capo at say the second fret do you also need to retune the 5th string? And how good are the 5th string capos? I don’t like raising and lowering the tuning on 5 and risking breaking the string.

Hey Jim! Well I’m getting a bit better at this, but I wonder if you can tell us how to tell if the action on our banjos is two high. Seems to me I get dead notes a lot around the 5th fret and watching other play on RU-vid, they don’t push all that hard on with their pinky and still get clear notes.

Jim, do you anything differently with the setup for playing clawhammer? The only thing I'm thinking might be a little different is the string height and maybe a tiny bit less tension on the head to get a mellower tone.

Question. When you measure at the 12th do you measure in the middle? Also, when I’ve set scale length but then recheck tuning at the 12th I often have to adjust the bridge. Then it’s not exactly“half” the scale length, but sounds good. Am I doing it right? Also, I use a cloth tape, a bit less cumbersome. Thanks!

I have a Washburn B8k banjo, and It look like that, except the white trim is black and my resonator holes aren't honeycomb!

well shoot, there you are. I got the least expensive banjo I could find on amazon, to replace my dropped banjo. I got the kmise open back, which reminds me of my first cheap banjo, a trinity river, It was really light, and easy for someone to walk off with. My new cheap banjo, came with a broken bridge. I was wondering, what you think of replacement banjo bridges, and about two footed and three footed bridges, compensated bridges? and what do you think about plastic nuts, and bone nuts? do you know those open tuners aren't cheap, unless they are cheap? I had no idea those things can cost more than a cheap banjo. thanks for the video.

This is a very useful video! I'm considering if to purchase a Dirty 30s open back, I would like to know your opinion on this one

Hello Jim, could you tell me what’s the name of the orange tuner and the brand your using in this video? received my RK-05 today and looking forward to learning how to play it. I bought a tuner but it is frustrating trying to use. Thanks

Hey Mr Pankey, so I purchased a very very inexpensive 5 string mini banjo to see if I liked it and would stick w it before I invested more money on a decent one. My question for you is, do u have any recommendations for a decent beginner banjo that doesn't break the bank? Or is that like looking for a unicorn? I like the mini for its ease of picking it up and trying to practice when I have a few spare minutes between looking after my little ones. But if there's no such thing as a decent, affordable mini, I'd take recommendations on a full size starter. I love your style of teaching by the way. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us :)

The brown paper keeps the strings from rubbing the fretboard during transit.

Jim. Is there any real notable difference in the recording King open back with and without a tone ring?

What’s the best type/brand of banjo for a very beginner who just wants to learn to play. But a durable banjo that you can bring on the road and can last.

Hey Jim, how do you feel about Washburn banjos? I am mainly interested in comparing the Washburn Americana B7 open back to the Recording King RKOH-05 open back. Do you have an opinion as to which would be a better choice being that they are so close in price?

Hey Jim, I'm wanting to build myself a banjolin. The price of rim, head, rings is dreadfully expensive. I mean over 500 bucks. Hell, I could almost buy a bjlin for that price and save myself the work. Also, what sort of compensation rod(s) do I need ? As an aside, the neck blank I have made up is a 5 piece laminate that is gonna be so stiff a truck could drive on it. Cheers, my friend. Bob in Montana

Hi Jim, thank you . You said the action should be about 1/8th" at the 12th. Fret, what should the action be at the 1st. Fret ? I'm new to the Banjo. I bought a DEERING Artisan but It won't arrive (In Canada) before May 13, 2022 (Yes, 2022) . Meanwhile I bought a bottom of the line Epiphone MB100 open back just for practicing. The action at the First Fret almost touching. Not a bad banjo for that price, but as a beginner I'm finding it hard to fret. What's your thoughts about the height of the action that I mentioned. Thank you Jim.

I would have liked to watch this one first, as I have been chasing my picks all over the tune up(or they are chasing me). it doesn't want to stay in tune I took the resonator off and some the the lugs were not even finger tight. those I turned to resistance, the other that had tension I turned 1/2 turn!!

Greetings from the UK! What would you go for between the RK Dirty Thirties open-back Vs Gold Tone AC-1 open-back?

Hi Jim! Thanks for all your vids! I know you mostlky do bluegrass stuff on here, but you ever feel like teaching some Irish tunes? I know strictly, it's not usually done an a 5 string, but maybe there is room for some 5 string players to join the party.

Nice. Very helpful, sir. Would this be a good beginners Banjo?

My deering goodtime came setup with the bridge already straight up. However I wasn't super impressed with the packaging it came in. Great video