TOPIC: What Banjo do you play?

I have an original 1983 Stelling Sunflower with engraving which is a real cannon.

I also have a Deering 30th Anniversary (#5 of 30) with the tenbrooks ring. It has more sustain than the Stelling and is a nice change.

Also have a Banjola (Gold Tone) which is fun for a change of pace.

Last but not least I have a Sam Ferris 8.0 tranjo. which is great for travel since it breaks apart (on purpose).

What do you play?

With a couple more purchases, you can start your own music store.

I have a Stelling Staghorn and a Gibson RB-250

I Have a Morgan Monroe Appalachia MFB 4DX Banjo.
This is A Professional 5-string 24 Bracket Banjo.
This Banjo has a fret board that is a work of art. It has a Mother Of Pearl Inlay vine or referred to as the Tree of Life design and also the headstock is inlayed as well. I fell in love with it the moment my I saw it. It has a great sound.
The down side to it is, it is not the banjo a beginner like my self should have started on. I have found that even though I love the Tree of life vine, it makes it difficult for me to keep up with where the fingers should be placed when cording. With out doubt it would be easy for an experienced player but not for a beginner.
So in retrospect it would have been wiser to wait on the purchase but alas now I just have to memorized what note is on every fret, which I need to do anyway, it just came a little early for a novice like me. But in spite of the problem I still love it and would never part with it.

I play a 1983 Deering Maple Blossom. I bought it sight unseen from the Banjo Hangout and never played before, so I was taking my chances that it would be right for me. I'm attached to it now.

If anyone has ever heard Don Parmley, I think he is my favorite player tone wise. I think he played a vintage Mastertone but tone is in his right hand too.

I tried out a couple Hubers, a homemade "Gibson", a Deering Golden Era, and a couple of Stellings and nothing really blew me away.. maybe because they were dusty and strung with nine gauge strings which killed the tone.

I have a Sullivan Bardstown custom. It's a mahogany banjo witha few custom shop additions, like a fancy abalone inlaid headstock, concentric purfling on the resonator,and some upgraded components. It has a very rare "curly mahogany" neck. It also has the Sullivan "Old Factory Floor" rim. I think it sounds magnificent.

Another Sullivan is on the way, this time a Festival model in maple. I wanted a second banjo for travel and just to have as a backup. I'm a huge fan of both Sullivan banjos and First Quality Music.

Also have a Martin HD-28, a Gibson ES-335 and a Fender Tex-Mex Strat.

-Chris

I have a Morgan Monroe MNB-1. It is a step up from my beginner’s banjo. It's fitted with some nice hardware and has pretty inlays. It is well suited for the level of play I am currently capable of. I'm looking forward to purchasing a higher quality instrument when my level of play improves. That's why I'm taking classes.