The 6 best banjo brands on the market in 2024

Picking out the perfect banjo can be tricky whether or not you’re a beginner or a bona fide expert. There’s so much to consider.

So, to save you from information overload, I’ve created a list of the best banjo brands to consider while making your purchase.

Why you should trust me

I’m a multi-instrumentalist with a penchant for strings, the banjo being one of my favorites in particular.

As a seasoned musician with 15 years of experience under my belt, I’ve had my fair share of time playing a range of instruments, from budget-friendly to high-end ones.

Over the years, I’ve had several phases in my career when I’ve preferred some brands above all others, and the companies discussed below are the names that have often topped my list.

I know how much these manufacturers and their instruments have to offer the right player.

How I chose the best banjo brands

Aside from looking at popular opinion amongst professional banjoists and enthusiasts alike, each pick went through careful consideration amongst a few key factors.

Special interest was given to the manufacturer’s quality control, the playability of their instruments, durability, cost-to-value ratio, design, as well as the quality of materials.

So, after playing a wide range of instruments and considering all the above factors, here are the best banjo brands on the market:

Gold Tone

The best all-around maker

Originally named Gold Tone Banjos, this company creates fantastic instruments for musicians at all levels.

Known for being innovative yet rooted in proven vintage designs, Gold Tone has continued to grow and expand since its beginnings in 1993.

Most Gold Tone instruments are manufactured in a Korean-owned and managed factory in China.

While this article will remain concentrated on banjos, Gold Tone also makes many other new and exciting hybrid instruments.

From banjolas and banjitars to cello banjos, the company remains at the forefront of “folkternative,” offering a huge variety for musicians looking for fresh sounds.

The Gold Tone CC-50 has made my list of the best banjos on the market. While priced at just over $400 in most stores, the quality of the instrument’s make can be sold for much more.

Like the CC-50, all of Gold Tone’s instruments are designed to play effortlessly and sound great. There is great attention to detail and craft that is apparent in every product they have to offer.

There isn’t much more to say about this amazing company, and for this, it deserves my award for being the best all-around banjo maker.

Deering

The best high-end brand

Deering Banjo Company makes all kinds of wonderful instruments, but as the name would suggest, banjos are its forte.

The company has been around since 1975, and, throughout the years, has earned a reputation for creating great-sounding, high-quality instruments.

Many of the top banjo players, such as Tony Trischka and Bela Fleck among others, have come to trust Deering themselves to always deliver well-made quality products.

The company is family-owned, and all of its instruments are still hand-made in California, where Deering was initially founded.

While most of its models tend to range on the pricier side, the folks at Deering do offer several popular models for beginners and musicians with a limited budget.

The Goodtime 5-sting banjo is modestly priced at just under $500, which is an incredible value for what you would receive.

Deering banjos are durable, easy to maintain, and come with a six-year warranty. The company takes great care of its customers and even offers lifetime warranties for purchases beyond its beginner lines.

With all this said, Deering gets my award for the best high-end banjo brand.

Recording King

The best historic brand

Born out of the Dust Bowl era, the California-based company Recording King has an unmatched legacy when it comes to crafting beautiful acoustic instruments.

A lot of great musicians, such as guitar legend John Fahey and indie star Soccer Mommy, have put their trust in this company throughout the years, and it’s not hard to understand why.

With years of experience under the company’s belt, Recording King has mastered the art of guitar and banjo-making. More specifically, the brand specializes in creating vintage-style instruments with new modern twists.

For beginners, it might be worth checking out the RKO-3S open-back banjo. Part of the Dirty 30s line, this banjo carries the perfect balance between historic design and classic sound.

Listed at $250, the Recording King RKO-3S is one of the best banjos for beginners and intermediate players alike.

The company has many other options to choose from with varying price ranges. For the more experienced players, Recording King also has its Elite line, with the Elite Flying Eagle priced at around $1800.

Almost all of Recording King’s instruments have been modeled to emulate and enhance the original designs from the 30s and 40s and have been handcrafted to share the same sound and feel as those vintage pieces.

For those of you who are interested in having a banjo with a vintage vibe, look no further than Recording King. They get my award for the best historic brand.

Ibanez

Perfect for aspiring musicians

Ibanez may be a familiar name to many musicians. Over the past decades, the company has slowly risen through the ranks of guitar manufacturers, giving titans like Fender and Gibson a run for their money.

Most Ibanez instruments and amps are manufactured either in Japan, China, Indonesia, or the United States. Although the company is best known for its guitars, Ibanez also has a great selection of banjos to choose from.

The most popular model the company has to offer is the B50 5-string banjo. It’s rather inexpensive at $300, and it would make a great choice for any beginner banjoist.

Another option could also be the B200, which is a little more expensive at around $480, however, the build of the instrument is that much more durable.

Comparing the two, the B50 comes with fewer frills than the B200, but the quality of sound doesn’t suffer. They’re both great budget options to choose from, and Ibanez holds a phenomenal reputation for making great-sounding instruments at low costs.

Beginners can’t really go wrong here, the only drawback being that banjos aren’t Ibanez’s main specialty. You won’t get the same level of craft as you would with a banjo from Deering or Gold Tone, but you’ll be off to a great start nonetheless.

Ibanez gets my award for offering perfect instruments for aspiring musicians.

Oscar Schmidt

Good budget instruments

Oscar Schmidt is comparable to Gold Tone in that they offer a large selection of instruments other than the banjo.

Better known for its guitars, the company has tried its hand in the banjo market to some success as well. The company is also one of the largest manufacturers based in the United States, located in Jersey City.

Competitively priced, one of the most popular choices is the OB5 resonator banjo. The make and build of this instrument isn’t as flush as you’d find with other brands, but it’s perfect for a beginner.

One of the interesting features of the OB5 is that it has the capability to be transformed into an open-back banjo, giving you an option of sound that most banjos don’t offer.

While this option of sound is unique and saves beginners the headache of deciding whether to buy a resonator or open-back banjo, the truth is that Oscar Schmidt has yet to put out a banjo that’s more high-end.

Furthermore, whether or not you’ve decided on taking the resonator off, the sound quality of the instrument leaves a bit to be desired.

However, if your budget is limited or you’re just looking for something to experiment with, an Oscar Schmidt banjo is a perfectly respectable choice.

Nechville Banjos

The best craftsmanship

Nechville Banjos was founded in the late 80s by Tom Nechville. Pondering how to combine his passion for banjo with his expertise in manufacturing, a friend proposed the idea of a banjo with a head that could screw on as a jar lid.

This led to an epiphany of sorts: for while a banjo head couldn’t be screwed on in such a way, the tone pot could be affixed into the “lid” of the jar. Thus, Nechville found himself with the concept of the Heli-Mount.

This idea has since revolutionized banjo design and has remained the foundational idea behind Nechville’s product line for over three decades. Transforming the tedious job of head tensioning into a three-minute undertaking.

While most Nechville banjos are well within the $4-7k bracket, the craftsmanship, innovation, and sound of these American-made instruments are worth the investment.

In conclusion

Each brand on this list makes quality instruments at reasonable prices, and sticking with them will help you dismiss the lower-grade products you might find elsewhere.

As an added benefit, most of the manufacturers here offer a wide variety of banjos, giving you the freedom to decide how many strings you want and whether you’d like an open-back banjo or a resonator.

At the very least, this list will act as a good jumping-off point when you make your first venture into the world of banjos.

There’s no blueprint when it comes to starting out, but if you stick with these brands, there’s no doubt that you’ll find your money well spent.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about banjo brands and banjo manufacturing in general.

What is the best banjo brand for beginners?

I would recommend checking out options from Recording King or Ibanez, both of which offer a good selection of highly affordable options that serve as a great starting point.

What brand banjos do the pros use?

From my experience, Deering, Gold Tone, and Nechville are the most trusted banjo brands among professional musicians.

What brand of banjo did Earl Scruggs play?

The famous Earl Scruggs played an old Gibson RB-11, I believe.

What brand of banjo does Steve Martin play?

Steve Martin has an assortment of banjos that he plays, but I’ve seen him use a Gibson Top Tension and a Deering Clawgrass 5-string in the past. But I’m sure he has dozens more.

What brand of banjo did Ralph Stanley play?

Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley of The Clinch Mountain Boys played a pre-war Gibson RB-5, namely the 1929 model.

What warranty options do banjo brands offer?

That completely depends on what brand you’re looking at. Nechville has a lifetime warranty and Deering has a six-year warranty.

Are there brands that specialize in certain types of banjos?

Not really. Most banjo brands offer a good selection for a variety of different playing styles.

How can I tell the brand name of a banjo?

Most often the logo of the brand should be imprinted on the instrument, as well as the serial of the model and make. In the absence of that there are a myriad of different things to look for.

If some serious Google searching doesn’t prove fruitful, it might be worth taking your instrument to a luthier or local guitar shop to see if they have any ideas.

Is Rogue a good banjo brand?

From my experience, Rogue is certainly not the worst brand out there, but not always great either. It’s best suited to those just starting out on their banjo journey.

Is Jameson a good banjo brand?

Jameson banjos are not for more serious or professional players, but they make a decent cheap option for beginners.

Is Vangoa a good banjo brand?

No. Vangoa is one of those brands I’d rather avoid when it comes to any serious banjo playing.

Their five-string banjo is on par with similar entry-level instruments, but since it’s a brand that makes everything from guitars to portable speakers, I expect some huge problems with consistency and customer service.