Since 2003, we make buying a banjo easy
Welcome to the World’s Largest Banjo Store. Yep, for almost 20 years we’ve worked with beginners and professional banjo players to provide the best selection of banjos, banjo parts, and banjo accessories. We put our customers first! You won’t find any cheaply-made instruments here just so we can get a sale. Everything we stock, we believe in.
Buying your first banjo can be overwhelming. If you are new to the wonderful world of banjos, be sure to check out our Beginner’s Buying Guide where we breakdown some of the bigger decisions like how much to spend and the differences between an openback and resonator banjo. When you know what you are looking for, chances are, you’ll find it within our wide selection of beginner banjos and banjo starter packages.
Professional players and collectors will appreciate our availability of in-stock, high end banjos. We also welcome you to come to Wedowee, Alabama to our show room where you can choose from a huge selection of banjos to try out. Jam with owner and lifelong musician, Barry Waldrep. Please make an appointment if you need to meet with Barry, his schedule gets hectic.
The best selection of American-made banjos
Banjos are synonymous with Americana and American Folk so it’s no surprise the best makers are here in the United States. The American-made banjos that we carry are built from high-quality materials by people who have dedicated their entire lives to perfecting the art of banjo building.
We value our partnerships with all of these American companies. The Deering Banjo Company recently announced that we were their No. 1 Dealer in the World and we are truly humbled. We were their first Master Dealer many years ago and our partnership continues to flourish. If you are ever out in Spring Valley, California, we recommend stopping by for a tour.
As you look through our inventory, you’ll notice a few exclusive models that are only available from Banjo.com like the Bishline Coal Dust Revenge. Barry Waldrep and Rob Bishline partnered to design and build a bluegrass workhorse at a fantastic price point.
Another maker you that we are proud to partner with is Tom Nechville of Nechville Banjos. He brings American Ingenuity to the art of building banjos and produces some of the most cutting-edge designs. He owns several patents and has even inspired new trends in the industry.
Top models for beginner players
The question we get all the time, “I’m a new player and I don’t know which model is right for me.” With so many choices, this is to be expected. If you are brand new to banjos, download our Beginner Banjo Buying Guide. Quickly though, here are a few top picks and why they stand out.
Easily our best-selling model is the Deering Goodtime Openback. It’s lightweight at 4 lbs. and the least expensive model we carry. If you are thinking you want to dabble in this instrument without investing a lot of money, this is the banjo for you.
If you’ve done a little research the you have figured out that within 5-string banjos there are two major camps, Openbacks and Resonators. Beginner players who want better projection and also want to play in the Bluegrass style will want the Deering Goodtime 2. It’s still incredibly affordable and produces a nice crisp sound.
In terms of sound or tone, banjos with a tone ring produce the warmer tones you may have heard from professionals. This heavy metal ring adds power to the instrument and a certain sound that is truly unique. Not ready to drop thousands on professional banjo with a tone ring? It’s ok, you’re in luck. The Goodtime Special has a patented Steel Goodtime Tone Ring.
Are you planning on playing on stage or in a band? You’ll want to get something you can plug into an amp which is generally a Goodtime Acoustic/Electric. Keep in mind, any banjo can be an electric banjo with the addition of a Kavanjo™ Pickup System.
Best selection for professional players
It’s true, players fly in from all over the world to try out our huge collection of professional banjos. No one stocks high-end models like we do. Try out the Deering Calico or Deering Clawgrass and truly get a sense of the playability and tone. We also stock Vega, Bishline, and Nechville banjos. Since many of these high-end models are customized, the floor model that we have in stock might not be exactly what you are looking for. We can work with you and the banjo maker to get exactly what you want and at the best price. Delivery times will vary depending on banjo maker, but generally 6-8 weeks is all it takes to build something to your exact specifications.
Best deals on banjos
We go above and beyond to make sure our customers are getting the best deals on new banjos. Our banjos are priced at the minimum advertised price or MAP. This is the lowest that we are allowed to price them at. All banjos include free shipping to the Continental U.S. with competitive rates offered Worldwide and to Alaska and Hawaii.
Finance your banjo through Affirm and get low monthly payments. On each banjo model page, you can prequalify to your payment terms including interest rate without harming your credit score. Credit availability is subject to third-party credit check that we are not involved with. We do not save your personal financial information.
In addition to the lowest prices and free shipping, we offer free spiking. Every banjo we sell is professionally setup, tuned, and carefully inspected prior to shipping. When your banjo arrives, it is ready to play. The bridge is in the correct position, the head is at the proper tension, and the banjo should be in tune or very close. Not many shops have a lifelong banjo player available to play each banjo and listen for tone.
Each banjo also comes with a free starter pack. You’ll receive picks, a tuner, and a strap. There is also a DVD with lessons and a coupon to redeem a free 6-week video tutorial series taught by a Master Banjo Instructor. Everything you need to start learning and playing your instrument is in the box!
If you have any questions or there are any issues with your banjo, you can pick up the phone and talk to a real person. Excellent customer service is important to us and it is the reason we are still around after almost 20 years. We are a small family shop passionate about what we do. The positive comments and reviews we receive regularly put a big smile on our faces.
Made in USA
