OK, you sold me. I'm a fiddle/mandolin player in a festival band but I don't have enough instruments so I gotta buy a workable banjo without spending as much as I would for my main instruments.
from my research so far, the deering is a better banjo.But i think you can get a new dirty 30's for around $ 300 or so , while a new deering is around $ 500 . If I had the dough I would get the deering, but I don't so
Deering is better....BUT....big downside to many cheaper Deering models and budget series banjos is that Deerings don't come with a hardwood finger board overlay. The finger board is the same wood as the neck which makes for a very comfy playing experience but this makes Deerings prone to having the neck Warp over an extended period of time...and Deering does not cover this possible warping. Especially if you're like me who likes to play a lot in outside environments this is a serious consideration. This is also why Deering recommends only using light to medium-light Guage strings. Do not put medium steel strings on a Deering. If you're into old time playing and sound with steel strings, a lot of guys prefer the thicker, medium Guage strings which provides a deeper tone and base. All that said, Deering has a work around and their brand of "light" strings are actually between a medium and light and sound really good. BUT.....the shipping is more expensive than the strings which are also expensive if you live on the other side of the country from Cali! ☹ Things to consider.....
I just opened up my RK75 to clean it and change strings etc. What I found was oblonged holes drilled n the rim, the threaded rod in the heel of the neck was drilled off center. It literally looked like a child put this together. 1700 dollars and I am stuck with a complete piece if junk. If you thought Greg Rich would never let this happen at RK after all he went through at Gibson, then you got another thing coming. Terrible quality control. Awful.
