Patrick Costello The How and Tao of Old Time Banjo submitted 12/21/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased FunkySeagull.com Overall Comments This book has taught me more about the banjo in a manageable format than any other. It's a must by along w/ Pete Seeger's (yes, it is that good). My only complaint is that a proof-reader, copy editor, editor is greatly needed and the format is a little bit amateur-ish. But the information is top notch. Overall Rating 10

Patrick Costello The Outlaws and Scalawags Songbook submitted 12/21/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased FunkySeagull.com Overall Comments A fun collection of easy beginner tabs (much appreciated because there isn't enough out there). The format however and production is very amateurish and the price of $24.95 is definitely not justified. The copy editing/proofreading is attrocious! Jesse James is missing the first few bars of tabs. Several times it indicates "melody tab" where it is actually the back-up and vice versa. It is a nice companion to the How and Tao book but it is only worth about $10... A poor effort on a good idea. Overall Rating 3

Art Rosenbaum Mel Bay's The Art of the Mountain Banjo submitted 12/21/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased Banjo.com Overall Comments Mel Bay's books are usually winners and this one is no exception. Art Rosenbaum's playing on the CD is worth the price alone. Excellent anectdotes, descriptions of different types of mountain styles. Great song selection and wonderful arrangements! Not for the total beginner other than to get ideas and to read and listen to the CD. This is a MUST have!!! Overall Rating 10

Harmony Sears and Roebuck submitted 12/21/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased wife's music teacher Year Purchased 1993 Price Paid 70 ($US) (bought USED) Sound It sounds decent enough. This is the Sears and Roebuck version of the plastic harmony banjo. Given the price and the really old head that is on it, better than would be expected! Sound Rating 8 Setup I set it up myself and it seems fine. Plays really well. Nice and easy for the beginner. Neck might be a little thin. Setup Rating 8 Appearance There is nothing special about the appearance. This is meant to be a learning banjo or a campfire banjo and is very utilitarian in appearance. Appearance Rating 5 Reliability It's been going for years and is pretty much indestructable other than the 5th peg falling out which was easily repaired for $15 at a local music store. That was at least 10 years into it's life before that happened however. Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service Seeing how Sears kicked Roebuck out years ago and Harmony is defunct... not expecting much (LOL). Customer Service not rated Components Cheap open guitar tuners that work surprisingly well. Friction 5th grade tuner that is also fine. I actually PREFER these tuners to the ones on my SAGA SS-10. Hold the tune nicely. Wood is garbage. Plastic pot is well um, plastic. Metal has rusted and brackets and tone ring bent easily enough but it is all very playable and sounds well enough. Components Rating 7 Overall Comments I would buy the Rover clone if this banjo was stolen. I have become very attached to it. Plays easy and is very light. I can take it on vacation with me. My favorite feature is how easy it plays. For a beginner this plays very well. Get the Rover RB-20 which is essentially the same thing with a better neck. Great for a beginner or as a campfire banjo! Overall Rating 9

Matrix SR-1050 (chromatic tuner) submitted 12/21/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased The Music Place (North Reading, MA) Overall Comments This is a very easy to use chromatic tuner. Doesn't cost too much and it works just fine. Good small size to fit in your case and an easy to read display. Overall Rating 10

Guardian Hard Shell Case submitted 11/17/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased Elderly.com Overall Comments This is a good, cheap no frills, utilitarian hard shell case that will protect your banjo. Overall Rating 7

Saga SS-10 submitted 11/15/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased Elderly.com Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid 325 ($US) Sound I play old time Seeger Style banjo and this plays perfectly for that. It has a very bright sound and is loud by OB standards. There isn't much that I dislike about this banjo although I am finding that I am partial to guitar tuners as opposed to the planetary tuners it came with. Upgraded to 10 with fyberskin head and medium strings! Sound Rating 9 Setup Banjo was set-up perfectly by Elderly.com. Action was nice and low for a beginner, head nice and tight, very nice. They were even kind enough to mark the head for me for the bridge placement. I put on medium strings and a fyberskin head and really have that old tyme sound! Setup Rating 10 Appearance Beautiful banjo based on the old SS Stewart models. Mother of Pearl inlay in the head stock (Star and Moons) as well as at the 5th and 12th frets. This instrument is well assembled. All parts meet up perfectly. No blemishes, nicks or what have you. The wood just shines. Nice thick finish. Really nice! Appearance Rating 10 Reliability I can't picture how this wouldn't last. It's built very, very solid. The finish is very good. If I had to pick a concern it would be the tuners but seriously, this thing will be around for my grandkids to play. (edit) The tuners will need to be switched out at some point. The planetaries make me miss guitar style! Top left one broke after 1 month. Reliability Rating 8 Customer Service Elderly.com is awesome! There really isn't anything else I can say about that. Saga also quickly answered my inquiries. Good all around! Customer Service 10 Components For $325 these are very good components. The pot is rimmed with 24 brackets. The wood has a nice grain to it. The M-O-P inlays are a very nice touch. The star and moons on the headstock really make this banjo stand-out. It is a really, really good looking banjo. Someone somewhere will mention the plastic trust rod cover but it was $325 not $1025 so no complaints here. Only problem is the previously noted tuners. Components Rating 8 Overall Comments For the price I paid this was an absolute steal. I would highly recommend this over the Goodtime or Goldtone based on what I know. Bang for the buck this can't be beat! My favorite features are the nice bright sound, the M-O-P inlays (you gotta see it to really appreciate it) and that is is heavy enough to feel like an instrument but not heavy enough to feel like a burder. If it was stolen I would hunt down the criminal and get it back. I wouldn't want to be that guy. I love this thing! (updated: it is a 9 instead of a 10 because of the tuners. It will be a 10 again once I get some waverly's put on it!) Overall Rating 9

Homespun Video Get Started on 5-String Banjo submitted 11/6/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased homespuntapes.com Overall Comments David Holt's enthusiasm in infectious and it pours out of this DVD for the absolute clawhammer beginner. This will teach you the basic bum dit-ty in a way that you can understand it and develop the proper technique to play it. Only criticisms are that the part on tuning is done with too much haste to be of real use (doesn't matter if you have a tuner) and the transition into the final version of Tom Dooley is too fast. A good buy for the money. Overall Rating 7

Pete Seeger How to play the 5-string Banjo submitted 11/6/2008 Submitter Banjo75 Where Purchased Used Book Store Overall Comments This is a timeless classic as the grand ol' man of the folk banjo teaches his tips and techniques on the 5-string banjo and introduces the world to the hybrid Seeger style technique. Although not best for the absolute beginner many frailers have began from this text. The bible of folk banjo and a must read for all banjo-ists! Overall Rating 10