Are you planning on buying the best banjo for you? Banjo is an important instrument in country, folk, American bluegrass, and jazz music. If you learn how to play your banjo, you will indeed be content for a lifetime because it is a pleasure to play. The clawhammer technique is the earliest documented style of banjo playing.

Moreover, if you have a little bit of musical sense and you invest quality time practicing the Banjo, you will notice a significant distinction and it’s a thrilling challenge for instrumentalists of all skill levels. Buying the best Banjo for yourself is complex unless you have the necessary expertise. This piece will serve as a guide for you to get the best Banjo, be it the best banjo under 3000 or best banjo under 300, we got you covered.

The below-mentioned best banjo products are well-known for their dependability, value for money, and high quality. There are plenty more excellent banjos available out there, however by beginning with these products, you will eliminate several lower-quality models.

Best Banjo – Buying Guide

What To Consider Before Buying The Best Banjo For You?

1. Style of Banjo: Banjos influence your playing approach and are classified into two types: Closed-back resonator (in bluegrass music) and open-back (used in folk-style music). The first thing you need to think about is the banjo style.
2. Type of Banjo: The types include six-string, five-string, four-string, and electric banjo. Your choice depends on yourself that is which type of banjo you want to play.
3. Ease Of Playing: Determined by a variety of factors; how carefully it is built, how upright the neck is, and if the frets are well dresse, the next important thing to look for is the fretting motion. It must be easy to obtain a clear sound.
4. Scale length: Influences not only the quality of sound produced but also the ease of playing. Depending on your choice of brands and models, Banjos can have strings of different lengths but are always tuned to the same musical notes. So choose the best banjo for you keeping it in mind.
5. Cost: Most newbies are concerned about price, and if you shop around, you can get a new banjo that sounds good and is easy to play within less than $300. There is a range of the best banjo under 500 or best banjo under 2000, that are suitable for professional use, but the greatest instrument knows sky as its limit.
6. Adjustable features: These are a reward/bonus as these features will provide you to customize the quality of sound to a certain degree.

Best Banjo Reviews

1. The Best Banjo Under 200: Jameson Guitars 5-string Banjo

Performance:

This is the best banjo under 200 that you may start playing right away. This Jameson 5-string banjo is a nice complement to any musical instrument compilation, regardless of whether you are an entry-level player, a professional, or performing among your friends or family.

Description:

Style: Closed Back Resonator

Type: 5 String

Wood Material Used: Mahogany Back

Overall length: 38

Manufacturer: Jameson/Davison Guitar Company

Comparison:

This instrument at such an affordable cost, will give you years of musical pleasure as soon as you grab it up and start playing and as a plus point, it not only sounds pleasing, but it seems stunning too!

Usage:

You may rest assured that when playing this Jameson Five-string banjo, you will savor memorable and immeasurable hours of satisfaction.

Pros:

• Affordable: Low-cost Banjo with not-so-low features.
• Features include geared 5th string tuner and a chrome-plated armrest.
• This Banjo features 24 brackets, a maple bridge with Nut Width of 1.25 inches, and an adjustable tailpiece.
• Resonator: Mahogany hardwood, high gloss shine to top it all off.

Cons:

• Manufacturing Defects may be found.
• Requires maintenance.

What’s New?

One major feature that might often solely be achieved on high-end expensive banjos, is the geared 5th string tuner that provides a major upgrade over the regular frictional tuner and brings more out of it.

Why should you buy it?

If you’re searching for your beginner banjo, undoubtedly try the Jameson 5-string banjo, it is a sized banjo under 300 with superb sound and an inexpensive price, granting it the perfect choice tag.

2. The Best Banjo Under 300: Epiphone Mb-200 Banjo, Red Brown

Performance:

The MB-200 highlights Epiphone’s 80-year heritage as a banjo design leader. This reasonably priced entry-level instrument carries on that legacy. For a real-to-its-bluegrass-roots aesthetic, the headstock is ornamented with retro inlays. The Remo head of the MB-200 provides quality sound, and chrome fittings complete the package.

Description:

Brand: Epiphone

Colour: Red-Brown Mahogany

Dimensions LxWxH: 41.5 x 17 x 5 inches

Top Material Type: Remo Head (US)

Back Material: Mahogany

Item Weight: 5 Pounds

Number of Strings: 6

Comparison:

This one of the best banjo under 300 is comparable to the MB-100 but it has a significant step up as it comes with a resonator, including all the major features of a 5-stringed professional banjo yet much lighter in weight.

Usage:

This is an adjustable banjo that lets you control the sound as per the requirement. The MB-200 by Epiphone is ideal for either budding banjo players or skilled musicians seeking a lightweight banjo.

Pros:

• A full-size resonator banjo with a loud, deep, rich, and melodious sound.
• 5 pounds lighter than others in the price category.
• The neck and body are built of hardwood mahogany and the fingerboard is made of rosewood.
• It has a beautiful flowery carved inlay work that looks like the best banjo under 2000 costing pretty little.

Cons:

• May need some fixings and setups to make the tuners operate fitly.
• Requires tuning more frequently.

What’s New?

The Epiphone MB-200 provides both loudness as well as aesthetics, a massive upgrade, and hence is a perfect option for wannabe Bluegrass music players using the best banjo under 300.

Why should you buy it?

Since every beginner will upgrade eventually anyway, this banjo will be a perfect choice if you want the best banjo under 300 as a beginner. Embrace and savor the sound of traditional bluegrass with the MB-200 by Epiphone!

3. The Best Banjo Under 500: Deering Goodtime 5-string Banjo

Performance:

This Deering Goodtime 5-string Banjo has recorded playback for 20 years in the industry. Because of its simplicity of learning and performing, several professional banjo players at present once began with this best banjo under 500. It possesses 16 brackets to make easy replacements or adjustments of heads with the normal standard rim diameter.

Description:

Brand: Deering

Colour: MultiColored

Top Material: Top frosted mylar

Back Type: Open-back

String Material Type: Alloy Steel

Item Weight: 4 Pounds

Number of Strings: 5

Comparison:

Strings of this best banjo under 500, are very immediate to the fingerboard, making it comfortable for you to press or push the keys up and down effortlessly, which is a feature that is usually found in the best banjo under 3000.

Usage:

It has a low-profile neck that accommodates both little and broad hands, making it suitable for all, children and teens, and adults.

Pros:

• It is friendly, easy to maintain, and delivers wonderful service.
• Guarantees high-grade coordination for the entire fingerboard while in use.
• Features a co-ordination rod.
• Comes with a six-year warranty.
• To adjust for different sounds and tunes, the Banjo is built with a robust tailpiece- simple to set and creates a variety of tones.

Cons:

• May arrive with manufacturing defects.
• Cleaning the instrument may be a hectic task.

What’s New?

This is one of the most customisable and versatile instruments available and the design is of great grade and has been modified for improvement in recent models of the Deering banjos. It can now compose anything from clawhammer to classical music since it can be played in myriad ways.

Why should you buy it?

You are not limited in what melodies you could perhaps play with this Banjo. It can perform authentic Irish music, bluegrass music, jazz, and even country music since it has five strings. This is the best banjo under 500, suited for you if you love to play instrumental music at affordable costs.

4. Best Banjo Under 1000: Deering Goodtime 2 5-string Banjo

Performance:

The Deering Goodtime 2 is the best banjo under 1000 with 5-strings and a resonator suitable for beginner and intermediate musicians because of its construction quality, excellent features, and playability. Additionally, one can enjoy the reliability provided by a brand that concentrates exclusively on banjos.

Description:

Brand: Deering

Colour: Natural

Dimensions in LxWxH: 38.75 x 13.88 x 4.25 inches

Top Material: Top frosted mylar

Back Material: Maple

String Material: Alloy Steel

Item Weight: 6 Pounds

Number of Strings: 5

Comparison:

Among concerns of design, its neck is crafted of greater-quality maple wood, which is often found in the world’s best high-end violins.

Usage:

The steel strings are lightweight, easy to press on the fretboard and can be played anytime and the fretboard is well-crafted.

Pros:

• The tailpiece is vibration-absorbent: intensifies your melody’s sharpness.
• The single-bound maple resonator: This is assertive in the fact that it propels sound and amplifies it.
• Sealed geared tuners: ensures that the banjo remains in tune for a greater time.

Cons:

• It lacks a tone ring, that would help it sound better.
• No carry case.
• Except for the maple resonator, the design is nearly analogous to the Goodtime – yet again, you’re investing for sound, not for cosmetics.

What’s New?

The rim is also composed of 3 fold maple wood, as the core soul and foundation of Goodtime’s musical output. It’s worth noting that a faulty rim can result in an unsatisfactory inferior sound.

Why should you buy it?

If you are seeking a banjo that will stay with you for a little while longer, for the value of your penny, the best banjo under 1000 is the Deering Goodtime 2.

5. Best Banjo under 1500: Deering Artisan Goodtime II 5-String Resonator Banjo

Performance:

The ultralight banjo is crafted from a 3-ply, violin-grade maple and has a maple and ebony neck and a fingerboard. The maple of the neck and the rim is strained with brilliant brown, therefore it is not easy to see dirt or scratch marks. The Banjo’s neck and pot both have a satin classic finish rendering its long-lasting durability.

Description:

Brand: Deering

Dimensions in LxWxH: 47 x 19 x 7.75 inches

Top Material: Maple

Back Material: Maple

Instrument: Violin, Banjo

Comparison:

The Artisan Two is a lighter-weight option upgraded with a Rich Brown stain and white detailing. This best banjo under 1500 is further supplied with light gauge Deering strings already strung and hence they are not to be bought separately.

Usage:

Deering has remodeled its Classic Goodtime Banjos with Deering Artisan series with all the specialized tooling present using contemporary banjo features to produce the most inexpensive high-quality banjos.

Pros:

• Portable: Lightweight and one of the best banjo under 1500.
• Easy to play since note separation is clear, no additional setup is required.
• Adjustable banjo and hence can be moderated using the coordinator rod.
• Has geared tuner for the fifth string along with planetary tuners.

Cons:

• Costlier as compared to similar banjos for beginners.
• Setup can be a bit tricky in the beginning.

What’s New?

Its bridge is made from ebony and maple and comes with a coordinator rod made from steel for adjustment purposes. The hardware of the banjo, like the armrest, is nickel-plated. Furthermore, spikes are given at the 10th, 9th, and 7th fret for alternate tuning on the neck.

Why should you buy it?

This banjo is appropriate for both, professional and amateur banjo players, who desire to play professionally or even add an aesthetic to their collection, without having to leave the features of professional-grade models.

6. Best Banjo Strings: D’Addario EJ55 5-String Phosphor Bronze Banjo Strings, Medium, 10-23

Performance:

The D’Addario EJ 55 is a phosphoric bronze banjo string made by D’Addario, a well-known banjo string manufacturer. Bronze phosphors provide your tone the required warmth, luminosity, and balance. D’Addario strings are still played by famous bluegrass guitarist Rob McCoury and by the renowned banjo artist Ralph Stanley.

Description:

Brand: D’Addario

Size: Medium, 10-23

Dimensions in LxWxH: 4.8 x 0.4 x 4.8 inches

String Material: Nickel Plated

Item Weight: 0.02 Pounds

Number of Strings: 1

Comparison:

These nickel-plated steel strings ensure longevity and render a good feel and top-class projection as compared to other branded strings.

Usage:

Beginners and Professionals both can use the strings, easy to fix and great to play.

Pros:

• Corrosion-resistant.
• Befitting for both amateurs and professionals.
• Suitable for fingerpicking style of playing.
• Have a warm, shiny, and balanced tone.

Cons:

• Need a bit of hard pressing while playing.
• May break.

What’s New?

The EJ55 features a loop-end design suitable for all types of banjo tailpieces.

Why should you buy it?

It’s a wonderful design coming from D’Addario made in the U.S.A. If you’re of the group that is endlessly breaking strings, the EJ55 is the string to have.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the best banjo under 3000?

Answer: Gold Star GF-200-1952 Banjo with Deluxe Superior Case is the best banjo as per customer reviews if you want the best banjo under 3000.

2. What price range should be preferred if you are a beginner?

Answer: You can check the above-mentioned products and get yourselves the best banjo under 500 or as per suitability.

3. What are the good brands of banjos?

The best banjo brands include Goodtime, Deering, Gold Tone, Fender, and Recording King.