Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo

Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo Review

Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo Feature

• Low-profile, 22-fret rock maple neck with hardwood bow tie inlays
• Sealed, geared tuning machines, including fifth string
• 5/8-Inch maple/ebony Goodtime bridge with adjustable Deering tailpiece
• Six-year warranty
• Three-ply, 11-inch maple rim with steel tension hoop and high crown head

The Deering Goodtime is a great banjo at a competitive price, constructed in the U.S. The Goodtime is an open-back banjo, weighing in at just four pounds, so it's ideal for traveling, camping, hiking, or taking to the beach. It provides a vibrant, singing banjo tone, and makes a great "starter" banjo, since it's well-fretted and plays easily.

Slim Neck Profile

The Goodtime banjos have a slender, low-profile neck that is easy to finger and comfortable for large and small hands.The fret work is accurate and precise to ensure correct intonation over the entire fingerboard.

Satin Deering fiddle-shaped peghead with sealed, geared tuning machines.

Three-ply maple rims are standard on all Goodtime banjos.

Adjustable Action

You can adjust the action (string height) on the Goodtime banjo by adjusting the single coordinator rod in the pot easily and effectively adjusts the playability so that the strings are close to the fingerboard and are easy to press down.

Three-Ply Maple Rim

The Rim is the round wood drum part of the banjo: In 2009 Greg Deering finished new tooling to make all Goodtime rims in the higher grade 3-ply maple design. Prior to that they were laminated birch and maple rims. This standard 11-inch diameter rim provides a top quality sound that out performs all other banjos available in this price range. Thanks to this new upgrade, Goodtime banjos sound like they should cost far more they do.

Goodtime Tailpiece

The patented Goodtime tailpiece is extremely strong and easily adjustable to maximize tone by raising or lowering it.The standard 11" diameter rim is a 3-ply violin grade maple rim provides a top quality sound that outperforms many banjos available in this price range. The 16 brackets and standard rim diameter make head adjustments easy and replacement heads are readily available since the heads are the same size as most modern banjos (11" high crown).

Made in the U.S.A.

Deering manufactures the Goodtime Banjo in America at the Deering Banjo Company in Spring Valley, California.

Goodtime Specs

• Neck: Blond Slender Rock Maple
• Frets: 22 Pressed In Nickel Silver
• Inlays: Hardwood Bow Tie
• Tuners: Sealed Geared (Incl. 5th String)
• Neck Finish: Satin
• Peghead: Satin Deering Fiddle Shaped
• Rim: Blond 3-ply Violin Grade Maple
• Tension Hoop: Steel
• Head: 11-Inch Frosted Top High Crown
• Bridge: 5/8-Inch Maple/Ebony Goodtime
• Tailpiece: Deering Patented Goodtime
• Finish: Satin
• Back Style: Openback
• Neck Width at Nut: 1 1/4 Inches
• Scale: 26 1/4 Inches
• Rim Diameter: 12 Inches
• Overall Instrument Length: 37 1/2 Inches
• Weight: Approx.4 lbs
• Warranty: 6 Years

The American-made Goodtime banjo features a slender, rock maple neck, 3-ply maple rim, sealed geared tuners, and an adjustable tailpiece. The natural, blond maple is finished in elegant satin and the metal parts are nickel plated. The single coordinator rod makes adjustments easy and positive. The maple and ebony bridge sits on an easy to adjust 11 inch, top-frosted head.