What Banjo Should Beginners Buy? | Cheap Vs Expensive 

I you are a beginner, I recommend refinancing your house to get the most expensive banjo possible. Nothing quite warms you up as playing your banjo on the sidewalk after the bank takes your home

Just bought a Rogue B30 for my first banjo. I have wanted a banjo for 40 years. My husband bought me one for Christmas. I’m 58 and just starting to play. I love it!

My first banjo at age 28 was a Kay, made in the 40s, then a few years later, I graduated to a Orpheum, learned to play a little on that, then at age 50, my son gave me a Deering black diamond for my birthday, then when I retired, I started playing in nursing, and assisted living homes with a gospel bluegrass band, I bought myself a Gibson RB3 wreath design, that has been my banjo now for almost 20 years, yeah, I’m old.

I played a $20 pos from a flea market (Lotus plastic/wood garbage) for 25 years until just now when I finally bought a big boy instrument. More than night and day; it’s a whole new universe of my potential.

It took me a LONG time to hear the difference, but I finally hear the difference in tone. I had been saving money for a while, and just decided to get a pretty decent one to start off with. I have the RK-35 and I'm pretty pleased with it.

I am beginning to play banjo and I am very grateful for your information! Thank you so much! I am watching you from Germany!

Mason, that OB250+ is sounding better every time you play it! Great video with very useful information!

First off great video Mason. You covered everything a new player needs to know going into a shop or second hand store looking for banjo. Myself I really enjoy the middle of the field instruments. The majority of them can be modified into a great instrument that's custom to what you want. I also think the most important part is how comfortable the instrument sits on your lap while you play it.

Thank you. I've been on the fence on getting a banjo.

Great videos dude!

Oh, that is so satisfying when you play them back to back! That Rouge looks just like the harmony banjo I started out with. Except mine had no arm rest!😁

Great info Mason, and well videoed. I'm on the cheaper end with a Washburn B-9 at the mo, but as you explained, it does me well for what I need to achieve for the basics first, and I guess I'll know when it could be time to move forward a bit (hopefully..). Cheers Steve👍🏻🪕

Great advice once again!!! Keep it up young man❤

Man I'm a Jew from New England but the sound of a banjo just makes me feel at home. It's the sound of hard working good people and I love it.

Great video, thank you for creating and posting.

I heard an old Gibson banjo that projected with so much volume that it needed special mic settings compared to a second banjo. I asked the artist what he thought. He did not know why the years had been so good to that banjo. I am a guitar player and I have experienced how they change tone as they age. It's why old Italian violins can sell for a million dollars. I thought you were going to explain every part of the banjo that makes it cheaper and more expensive. What kind of wood, frets, tuners, plastic, metal, decoration, inlays, bridge, diminisons, precission fit, resonater details, weight, and lastly the tone differences from each component.

Mason, thank you for that comparison. I'm subscribed to Gold Tones emails, so have watched their B-stock list often. A couple weeks ago, I picked up a Gold Tone NOS B-stock AC-5 and with that substantial discount ordered an armrest from Gold Tone. Maybe the missing armrest made it B-stock, but I am very pleased with its tuning stability and getting back into learning the instrument after dropping out of that first Coronado (a Gambles store brand?) bought used ca. 1985 and requiring tuning every time I picked it up. Older and wiser, now's the time, and we'll have grandkids interested, too. Thanks!

Awesome video. Thanks for the tips!

To me as a Pianist, Guitarist and Singer I love your content keep up the good work man ❤.

Thank you so much for the informative video!

In august 2022 i bought a 5 strings banjo ! It was a dream which come true for me after 40 years... I am a 55 y.o guitar player and an inconditionnal fan of Bluegrass Music. I am French. Since i have my Banjo i can't help playing it even before my first cofee !! I bought a cheap one, 183 euros a 3rd avenue banjo (ah ah ah amazing unknown for ya'll i bet ! ) to be sure i would not be tired to fast. Goaaaaal !! love it ! thank you Mason for your video and lessons ! Much Love from France (south Macronia..)

Brilliant sound love the banjo subscribed buddy 👍

My first banjo was a shel tone it sounded awful but I learned to pick on it, forty years on I have played my Gibson RB250 for the last 39 years I improved so fast on the Gibson, if you are serious about playing buy the very best you can afford it will pay you back ten fold 🪕

I started out on a B30 and still have it. Ended up picking up a Gold Tone along my travels too.

I couldn't tell the difference until I visited the Huber Banjo shop down in TN. The "playability " was key for me. Every strike, fret, hammer on, pullout, was effortless, with superior tone and sound.

I own Taylor and Martin acoustic guitars primarily and Gibson and Fender electrics. So, I feel it’s best to get an instrument that won’t disappoint me. Learning the banjo, my own ineptitude is disappointing enough without additional obstacles being added from a poorly constructed instrument. As Laertes was instructed by Pelonius about clothing, “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy”. I chose a Deering Artisan Special for my first. As I said, my only disappointment so far is me. Lovin’ the banjo and having a ball learning it.

I started with a Dean BW5! still sounds and plays great 13 years later!

I just came across your video. I’m gonna watch more. I’m one of those who have a banjo that I really wanna play.. i’ve actually had it long enough to be proficient at it. I love banjo music. My relatives are from the Hills and haulers of Kentucky. And some of my relatives have even played. And your banjo looks a lot like the one I bought. I was going to buy an inexpensive one like you said to learn how to play it. And the one I ended up buying was at a super big reduction in price. So instead of buying a $300 cheap one, at the time I bought the $1300 one for $300 instead at the time I bought it nearly 20 years ago . What a blessing that was for me.. I plan to watch your videos and learn how to play. Blessings.

Nice video Mason! Thinking about upgrading my Morgan Monroe MNB-1 to a Recording King RK-35.

My first banjo was a Chinese $150. Took the resonator off , put on gut strings. Lots of fun. Stays in tune for months. Then I got a recording King bgm bench model, stellar! No hole tone ring and ebony finger board.

I hear the difference, but it doesn't make a difference. They're just different and both sound good in your hands. Playability is important. That's why I love my Les Paul Custom. I'm starting Banjo with an Ibanez. We'll see how it goes. Looking forward to learning.

Good time II my first. Love the sound.

I have a goodtime, I like it. It has a nice tone for the price. I do notice the difference between the 2, and I agree that for a beginner, that banjo it will take you right through intermediate stage.

Great advice, thanks

some awesome tips and advice there. I think cos i have a little history with instruments - not the banjo, but in general - actually i could hear a definite tone difference between the two, i would say the more "advanced" experience banjo had a richer tone, the cheaper one sounded tinnier, if you get what i mean! marvellous video.

It is fascinating even the wood used would make a difference in the sound. 😊 I guess the more adept one gets at playing the banjo, the more nuanced one hears the sound.

Great demonstration. I actually think that the duller tone works better with cheaper recording equipment. But the other one is way cleaner

So helpful, well done. Much appreciate. Thank you!

Bought a Good Time 2 for my first. Took me seven years to step up and buy a 1964 Vega speed necked w/a 1924 Whyte Laydie pot. Great vid 👍

Never give a bad instrument to someone who intend to learn to play. Otherwise, you may kill the mood to learn. I know it! A good instrument is the first stepstone

I've have no experience with the banjo whatsoever, but man can I hear a difference. That Gold tone sounds way better. Maybe its all those years playing Banjo-Kazooie on my old N64

The same thing goes for guitars. Another suggestion is if you by a cheaper guitar or banjo, get a pro to set it up for you. Lots of people don't stick with a string instrument because it has a poor set up and is much harder to play.

Great video!

All Goldtone instruments are very good. I originally moved up from a banjo similar to a Goldtone CC-50 RP. It’s a better quality entry level instrument. Since them I’ve moved up to better instruments with a decent quality tone rings. They truly make a difference in sound. I would recommend any Goldtone instrument to anyone. Everyone I’ve heard is good. On the plus side also, they are all set up to play when you get them in. You can’t beat that.

I've played guitar and bass since I was a young kid in many bands n have just decided to learn to play banjo...I bought a cheap one just to learn on but my biggest issue is the sound quality difference as I'm used to playing on high quality instruments but that being said, it's best to learn something new on something inexpensive vs expensive....I will say that there is definitely a learning curve. Trying to retrain my fingers from playing bass and guitar 5 finger to three finger banjo is a chore...lol. Just a matter of patients and practice

The Gold Tone has more snap and ring to it. But the other one still sounds decent. Playability is improved with the Gold Tone I'm sure. I have been playing for a long time. I bought an RB 250 new in 1979, and I bought a Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard about 20 years ago. I think I'd like to get a moderately priced banjo to take to camp fires and such. I go through hot and cold phases with my playing, am coming out of a cold phase now. You play good and am an inspiration to me. Thanks.

Big difference in tonal quality and projection. I started learning years ago, then life took over. Never lost the desire to play, never will. I would love that gold tone, it really sounds great. Thank you for useful information!

Wow, what a difference those two are it’s amazing. Actually, I’m just starting to get back into playing the banjo from when I was a kid significantly older now.

You can for sure hear the difference. The tone of the gold tone is way more metallic sounding.

I'm thinking about getting one Mason ... 👍🏼❤️

I’ve only been playing just shy of a year and I can definitely hear a big difference. Mine is an older cheap banjo and it sounds just like your B30. I didn’t realize the potential difference there can be.

Man, I like the sound of the Rogue better than the Gold Tone. Thanks for the video, I'm looking at picking up the banjo

I'm getting a rogue B30 later this year (in December) and I am so excited

An old Kay Silvertone is a good starter. I also had a Conqueror, I think they were made in Japan by Teisco? Pretty good. Both need a little set up and may need some TLC depending on what kind of condition they're in. The Silvertones are often helped by a shim behind the heel of the neck, which tends to slip as the wood shrinks abit over time sometimes. Some quality planetary style machine heads are are a good improvement too, but economy ones are ok after you get used to them. Worn ones won't stay in tune. A new hardwood foot style bridge is a good improvement, so is a presto style tailpiece. These things can make an old cheapo a nice banjo, and those old Kay Silvertones AND Conquerors both play well, are quality made, and sound great for low budjo banjos

Thank you mate.

When you want to hear about a thing then you gotta hear from ssomeone who knows their subject...this is excellent insight...many many thanks from Ballinteer Dublin..

Im left handed never even played a guitar or banjo but im going to be getting one soon as i absolutely love the sound

Nice video . Well done .

Hi from the UK, Mason 👋 I guessing I could be slightly, cough, cough, older than a lot of your subs. However, what has made me take up the pen, ok, stylus, is apart from I love listening to good banjo playing (I fell in love with the sound & the look of the banjo due to a Scottish comedian, Billy Connolly) it is the warm, friendy and polite way you host your videos. It makes a wonderful change from listening to some of the brash, abrupt and faux superiority that I, and I suspect others, receive from our IRL interactions. I really enjoy listening to your playing but it is the measured advice you give that has made me pull the trigger to buy a banjo and sign up for lessons. This is a great channel. It is informative, wonderful to listen to and friendly such that it feels oddly like hanging out at a club. Great work, Mason. Your folks must be super proud of their talented Son. I wish you all the success you deserve. All the best, Dave

Thanks for all the insight. I have been looking at both the closed and open back banjo. What is you preference? Thanks for the great videos. Keep it up 👍

I'm a month in an on a Rogue B30. Thank you for not making me feel like a loser for playing it lol!

I had a Rouge guitar for years, I paid $50 for it new, and it came w/ a case and stand w/ free shipping.. It's in the closet now, replaced by a Martin D42. I bought my Gibson RB100 for $1000 used - 30 years ago and it's still going strong.

Through the video recording your first banjo still sounds great and I would have been wondering whether to try and upgrade it with a substantial further outlay would have been wise. I've been playing for 40 years now and for the past 25 have settled on a cheapish at the time Gold Tone MC150. A mate 'upgraded' his same 150 to a GT White Lady and it really didn't improve his sound in our ears for the big difference in price. Maybe if I played out to crowds I'd start thinking differently...👍

6:39 That’s why I am listening through headphones, which (imo) makes it easier to hear sound - and the differences.

Big difference in sound. However if I could play like you do that Rogue would work just fine. 😊

Playability and do what makes you happy but not homeless!!! I now play a Rover RB-20 that I paid $200 for, and it is light weight, so it doesn't hurt my back, plays well and sounds just fine for what I do with it. When I started playing years ago, I went thru my share of flashy trash banjos. I do love the sound my old Avarez Whyte Eagle arch top, but it's just too heavy.

I’m planning on buying up - from my $50 pawn shop Silvertone to a $300 Washburn or Recording King. Despite being able to play some styles pretty OK, that’s hitting the top of my financial limit. I think of some old blues guys blazing trails on cheap no-name guitars (e.g. Hound Dog Taylor)

I don't even play the banjo. I have before, but it was a homemade mountain banjo that my great great grandpa made. I do play a lot of other instruments, but the one that I play all the time is the accordion.

I still play my rogue a lot. The bridge is the big problem, so I actually put a bone bridge and new pegs… since then, it’s still my favorite.

My 1st banjo was a RK/R20. Now I have a GoldTone Orange Blossom . 550bucks for the Recording King 1175 bucks for the Gold Tone, even though I got it for 500bucks. I have both and play em both. Both are good sounding 5strings. The Gold Tone is a powerful five string for the cash.

all things considered that rogue doesn't sound half bad. i find the bottle caps like that can have a pretty good tone to em especially in comparison to a banjo with only a wood rim

My mom got me a used Deering Goodtime for 250 for christmas since she found a good deal on it

I'm a guitar player and useless at 5 string banjo...I bought a Deering Good Time open back which I pick up once in a while when I get the urge. I don't own any other banjos to compare it to , but to me it sounds good , has a comfortable action and never goes out of tune .

i play gold tone ob300 orange blossom (goldplated) and i have two deerings also, the ob300 is amazing like your 250 my impression is soon as the banjo reaches about 1200 usd they're all good no matter the make

Right, I started out in the weirdest way lol, I started out with a 1987 Alvarez 5-string then moved to a Oscar Schmidt then got a fender cheap banjo, then got my expensive Morgan Monroe! I went from expensive to cheap the expensive 😆 but it all depends on your playing level and if you like the banjo like you said, I love the banjo and I enjoyed playing it so I kept progressing till I got me a good one, my family couldn't recognize the tone difference until they heard it in person! Is definitely a different sound between each one of them

I bought a Harley Benton banjo from thomann and it is just as good as any high dollar banjo. You need to try one1

I've got a rogue like that and they are good for me price! But yeah l can tell the difference A LOT! But you're right 👍

just bought a used Gold Tone CC-100R for $250, here we go!

Sorry, me again. I totally forgot to say, I can clearly hear a difference between the two banjo's. The Rouge, whilst a nice, mellow sound, was, for me, ellipsed by the bright, alive sound of the Gold Tone. Great comparison. Certainly has helped me. Cheers, Dave

I like the advice of going inexpensive. I consider myself at best an intermediate. I play 30finger style....who doesn't? I'll play my banjo now and again, and set it aside, get it out after abotu 5 years and play some more. I find it relaxing. I've got the resonater varity., fivbe string. i'm not the type of player that can go to bluegrass festivals and join in with teh band.

I started pickin guitar and mandolin, and ALWAYS wanted to play banjo, so I DEFINITELY shouldn't have gotten the Gold Tone EB-5 LMFAO...I was more worried about being able to play LIVE, that I didn't look hard enough and got antsy...TOTALLY should've went for the Gold Tone OB-150 right away, that sound is in my opinion, THE BEST AND CHEAPEST approximation of that "prewar fathead" sound!!!! Thanks!!

You should buy the best for them. If it frets good and doesn't hurt their fingers they will stay with it. I bought my son the Earl Scruggs edition 185 signed by Earl. My daughter got a good Martin guitar. They are still playing bluegrass today. Buy the best.

Sounds amazing and a lot of clarity, may i ask what kind of strings do you use....thank you

i play the guitar like forever, borrowed a crappy banjo from friend for a month, got hooked and now i got a deering goodtime 2. worlds apart. got it used (12y) for a fair price.

I'm starting out on a Deering Goodtime. Once I log 1000 hours of practice, I will be looking to treat myself to something nicer...probably a Nechville Galaxy. But for now, I am really enjoying my Goodtime.

+1 on the Recording King, it will keep you happy for a long time.

Stopped in while morning coffee brews. Well said. A top of the line instrument won't make you sound or play better, it comes with experience over time. The flip side is a well experienced and proficient player can make a cheeper banjo sound better than the beginner but it's the experience your hearing not the sound difference which as you stated, is more noticable with time. There are many instruments collecting dust because it turned out to be a passing phase, someone thought it was easy and instant and it requires effort and consistency daily. Starting out I strongly suggest the purchase of a banjo mute, it may save a 🏥 bill, broken banjo, marriage, parental mental breakdown. In a apartment, pick a time the closest neighbor is out to play or go for a drive with it. Speed comes with time, don't be the guitar player who thinks they are going to learn to shred in a week and it ends up wall art. There are good slower picking tunes to start with like Irish Washer Woman, a few older gospel like Leaning on the everlasting arms, etc. It's my opinion many beginners are picking or given tunes that require more experience, end up frustrating them and they quit. Clinch Mt. Backstep , was my fourth tune and Fireball Mail, next. Pick 12 tunes that go from easy to progressively harder. Can't make 12 don't buy that banjo it may be a phase.

To get a banjo that projects loud enough to be heard requires a very heavy instrument. Which to me doesn’t encourage me to pick it up as much. I went ahead and got a deering good time banjo. Great tone and playability. It’s Lightweight but doesn’t project in a jam setting.

6:21 So can I - without ever playing a banjo (I’ve just tested one out), but just listening, I can hear the resonating in the background of the Gold Tone, which the Rogue doesn’t have. It sounds so much better. That’s why I would want to spend a little more money on an instrument - as it is likely to encourage you to play it more. For example, lets say that you go and buy the cheapest instrument (I like the mandolin, and so I am looking for my first one [the banjo is nice, too, btw]). Now (let’s say) as you are playing it, the tone is harsh - and you don’t like the sound - so as a result, you end up deciding that that instrument isn’t for you. This is the reason that I believe you SHOULD spend A LITTLE more, even for your first one of that instrument. That way, you will know that it isn’t the instrument, which you might end up blaming - but it is your technique. You will (potentially) be spending hours with the instrument, so you should make sure that it has a sound/tone you enjoy - otherwise, why bother playing it, as opposed to something else which you do enjoy the tone of?! This is just my perspective.

Thank you, for your commentary! Could you please do a comparison of the 4-string vs 5-string banjo??... I really like "OLD/Folk style sounds (Not the "Modern, highly polished, LOUD", style instruments!...

I learned on an old early 1900’s Stewart open back with skin head I now have a Gibson Grenada that I bought from one of Bill Monroe’s banjo players

I dont play Banjo but i wanna get into it. I think I heard the difference in sound. The more expensive one was louder and sounded more clear in the high frequenzys. But to be honest I didnt realy like the louder high frequenzys. To me the cheap banjo sounded nicer. Maybe my taste will change over time when I learn to play it. Looking forward to buy a cheap beginner one in the near future :)

Definitely buy Chinese, there will be a factory somewhere turning out banjos as good as my Sierra at less than half the price. I have a sax, a double bass and some ukuleles from China, and I run my farm with their equipment - it´s all good.

I have always found that sticking a rolled up sock between the head and the dowel stick or rods up near where the rim meats the head always makes any cheap banjo sound better.

Thanks for your insights -- very helpful. Considering what you know now, would you still choose the Rogue as your first banjo if on a limited budget?

My 1st banjo was a Recording King RKR20. Then I know I have a Goldstone Orange Blossom . 1st cost 550 new. The Goldstone was 1195m But I got it for 600 bucks!! The difference is so obvious!!

Thanks... I listened to this and it's good advice and all... but my Dirty 30's only has 12 hooks and it's discouraging the way any strummed chords currently sound like dissonant garbage. Not a big deal picking but I like to hear chords. My generic Asian old falling apart banjo has 6 hooks and doesn't do this. I know the hooks on the RK are tight enough because it's tuned just under G, unless maybe that's true but the tension is uneven... I think I'll order more hooks and install them, and get a tension tool. I am in a position to buy a nice banjo but I'm afraid of wearing out the frets still doing basic practice, so I mean to still practice on a cheapie and do recording projects and treat playing on the nice one.

Hi and thanks for the video. Is a cheaper banjo any harder to play? Maybe the neck could warp or even not come real straight. Just don't want to be disappointed with the performance. Thanks so much!!

What is ur thought on the Gold Tone 50 RP Cripple Creek Edition? I'm wanting to get bk into Bluegrass. Thanks, and I enjoy the videos.

It it was guitar's or banjo or whatever I'd buy quality second hand as the resale value will still be there and you will play an instrument that will help the learning process and if you give up playing you get your cash back.