Bishline Cimarron. This has a beautiful burl walnut resonator and walnut neck, with a matte finish. Features include a three-ply rim and a full weight tone ring made in the U.S.A. to pre-war specs. If you are looking for an American made banjo at a reasonable price, this might be it. Pics

Bishline Midnight Moon. Rob Bishline has outdone himself on this model. It is undoubtedly one of the most attractive and innovative banjos we’re received in quite a while. I’ll be surprised if you don’t agree when you see the pics. Everything about it is striking, from the colorful binding to the unusual peghead and inlaid maple resonator. As with all of Rob’s banjos, the workmanship is impeccable. And, it sounds great. This one will really stand out in a crowd! -- Pics

Bishline Rosemary. This is Bishline's newest model. We just received it, and we are impressed! It is a really nice banjo in all respects. The wood is mahogany, with a fancy resonator, and the binding is maple. Pics

Bishline Rosemary in maple. Bishline's newest model is normally made of mahogany. We recently received one, and were so impressed that we called Bishline and talked Rob into building one in maple, with contrasting maple binding. The maple has a tobacco stain, and in my opinion it is stunning! Pics

Deering Calico. This is one of our favorite Deering models. The attractive and tasteful inlays, plus a bound peghead and honey stained maple, make this an excellent value (sounds great, too!). -- Pics

Deering Deluxe with fancy inlays. Mahogany. Look what Deering has done; they’ve upgraded the Deluxe with beautiful and classy fingerboard and peghead inlays without raising the price a penny. This is a whole lot of banjo for the money! Pics

Deering Eagle II. This new Deering model has a newly designed brass tone ring, a maple neck and resonator with a dark red mahogany stain and glossy finish, fancy inlays, and bracket and shoe construction. This is a very impressive banjo for the price! Pics

Deering Sierra. Mahogany. Deering Sierra. Mahogany. Deering is WAY behind on production, and this is the first mahogany Sierra we've had for quite a while. Actualy we just received two of them. I imagine they won't last long, so if you've been looking for one, don't wait too long. These have the new inlay design, and I think it is a great improvement over the previous Sierra banjo from a visual viewpoint. It has the same tone ring, flange, rim, etc. as many of the the more expensive Deering models. Pics

Deering Terry Baucom. This new model features a combination of a lighter weight tone ring and Deering’s new red maple rim, giving the banjo great tone and excellent volume. The neck and resonator are made of straight grained walnut. Congratulations Deering; we’re very impressed! Pics

Desert Rose Wildrose "Pearly Gates." This is the actual prototype for Scott Zimmerman’s new model. It is made of mahogany, with a beautiful quilted mahogany resonator. The binding on the neck and resonator is pearloid. To describe the stunning fingerboard, I quote an email from Scott: "The fingerboard is a full 1/8 inch thick cast acrylic resin backed by hardwood, it offers stability over either rosewood or ebony and offers stability, longer life and durability FAR surpassing the cheap plastic .040 inch thick drum covering offered by other makers with a pearl type fingerboard. The fingerboard designs are hand engraved by master engraver Wayne Holcombe." Whoever buys this will not only get an attention-grabbing banjo, but also one with great tone. And, of course, from a quality standpoint it doesn't get any better than this. As a bonus, because it is a prototype it is an instant collectible! -- Pics

D. P. Hopkins Standard. There's absolutely nothing not to like about this mahogany banjo. It has great tone, and a slender neck that plays easily. And, of course, the workmanship is wonderful. To top it off, you'll probably never see a prettier mahogany resonator! Pics

Nechville Classic DLX. Maple. If you love the playability and tone of a Phantom but want a more traditional look, here it is. It has a radiused fingerboard with a regular 5th string peg, and Nechville's cyclotronic tone ring. Pics

Nechville Classic Deluxe with sapele neck and mahogany resonator. This is the perfect banjo for someone who loves the unique Nechville construction, but wants a more traditional appearance than the Phantom. It has a radiused fingerboard with a regular 5th string peg, and Nechville's cyclotronic tone ring. We love the look of the sapele wood! Pics

Nechville Meteor Electric banjo. Features include dual pickups, EMG active electronics, radiused fingerboard with hexagonal inlays, and tunneled 5th string. Not only is this by far the best electric banjo I’ve ever played, it is a lot of fun! -- Pics

Nechville Orion. Nechville’s newest model combines the Helimount pot with a radiused fingerboard neck and a very attractive new fingerboard and peghead inlay pattern. This one is maple, with maple binding. It is a great banjo in all respects! Pics

Nechville Phantom in mahogany with the optional Galaxy inlay, radiused fingerboard, and tunneled fifth string. It also has Nechville's cyclotronic tone ring. If you play this banjo, you'll want to buy it! Pics

Nechville Phantom in maple. This is one of my favorite banjos. As a matter of fact, I own one myself, and love it. You only need to play one to find out why. It has the optional Galaxy inlay, radiused fingerboard, and tunneled fifth string. It also has Nechville's cyclotronic tone ring. Pics

Nechville Phantom with Cascade inlay. The banjo is maple and has a radiused fingerboard, tunneled fifth string, and Nechville's cyclotronic tone ring. The Cascade inlay is really neat! Danger: if you play a Phantom you’ll want to own one. Pics

Nechville Phantom with Heart Blossom inlay. I saw this new inlay pattern on another Nechville model at the IBMA show, and asked Tom Nechville to build a Phantom with it. I think it is very attractive, and would be interested in knowing how others feel about it. The banjo is maple, with a radiused fingerboard, tunneled fifth string, and Nechville's cyclotronic tone ring. I own a Phantom and it is one of my favorite banjos! Pics

Ome Bright Angel Custom. This differs from the "stock" Bright Angel by having a beautiful blue finish, and inlays on the back of the resonator to match the fingerboard inlays. It also has a mix of gold and chrome plated metal parts. This is the first Bright Angel Custom I've been able to offer for at least two years; I doubt that it will be here long. Pics On Hold

Ome Southern Cross. Made of mahogany, this new Ome model features their new HG tone ring. We like everything about this banjo! Pics

Ome Sundance. Maple. This is a prototype model; Ome built six of them, but three have a rubbed finished. I had them install their new HG-50 tone ring in this one, and whoever buys it will be getting a really wonderful sounding banjo; it looks great also! Pics

Ome Trilogy. Plum Maple. I ordered it with Ome's new HG-50 tone ring, which I really like. This is a beautiful banjo! Pics

Stelling Red Fox. Maple. Stelling is at least six months behind on production, and this is the first Red Fox we've received this year. As with all Stelling banjos, ithas a Tony Pass rim. Pics

Stelling Swallow Tail. Maple. This is our favorite Stelling model, and it is the first one we've been able to offer this year. As with all Stelling banjos, it has a Tony Pass rim. Pics

Turtle Hill Bluegrass Woody. This one is maple, has a one piece flange, and of course a Tony Pass Thin Skirt rim and wooden tone ring. It is also available in mahogany. Try one; you'll like it!-- Pics

Cedar Mountain Fretless, by Lo Gordon. This neat little banjo features a brass hoop tone ring, Lo's block rim, and an attractive bird inlay on the peghead. -- Pics

Deering -- see our Deering openbacks in the Vega section below.

Gold Tone Elite Classic. This model features a maple rim with "spun-brass" overlay, dowel stick construction, geared tuners, satin finish, skin head, and a beautiful abalone tree of life fingerboard inlay. A hardshell case is included. -- Pics

Nechville Atlas. 12" pot. Walnut block rim with a built-in wooden flange. The tone ring is also made of wood. The walnut neck is easily removed for convenience in travelling. Pics

Nechville Atlas. 11" pot. Nechville's recently introduced openback banjo is available with an 11" or 12" pot; this is the 11" pot version. It features a walnut block rim with a built-in wooden flange. The tone ring is made of wood. As with all of Nechville’s banjos, this one has his hand-made wooden armrest. The neck is easily removed for convenience in travelling. The neck is walnut, with a hand rubbed oil finish. It has plenty of volume and a very clear tone. Congratulations to Nechville for a really great banjo! Pics

Old Fiddle Road A Scale with 11" pot. Mahogany neck, Macassar ebony fingerboard, and maple rim. The neck has a two-way adjustable truss rod. French polish finish. A scale banjos are fun to play, and this one sounds great! -- Pics

Ome Wizard. 11" pot. The Wizard is Ome's newest model of openback banjo. It is available with either an 11" or 12" pot. Made of walnut, this one has the 11" pot and a wooden tone ring. Features include aged brass hardware, frailing scoop, and amber buttons on the tuners. It has a slightly wider fingerboard (1.34" at the nut) and 25.5" scale length. As with all Ome's banjos, the quality is impeccable. Sounds great, too! Pics

Ome Wizard. 12" pot. Walnut, with a wooden tone ring. Features include aged brass hardware, frailing scoop, and amber buttons on the tuners. It has a slightly wider fingerboard (1.34" at the nut) and 25.5" scale length. As with all Ome's banjos, the quality is impeccable. Pics

Mike Ramsey 12" Custom Fretless. This one-of-a-kind banjo was made for me by Ramsey several years ago. It has never been played. The brass plate was engraved by Bob Flesher. The beautiful and elaborate inlays are engraved, and it has a carved heel. Expensive, and worth it! -- Pics

Bart Reiter Buckbee. This is the most recent latest addition to Bart's line and, like all his banjos, it is very nice. Features include cherry neck with frailing scoop, guitar-shaped peghead, 11" maple rim, and a rolled brass tone ring. Pics

Bart Reiter Galax. Whyte Laydie tone ring and mahogany neck. This is a very popular model, and when we get one it doesn't stay here long. When you play one you'll know why. Pics

Bart Reiter Standard. Mahogany. This is Bart's least expensive model, and it really is a great banjo for the money. -- Pics

Bart Reiter Regent. Whyte Laydie tone ring. We only get a couple of these a year, and they never seem to last long. When you play one you'll know why. Pics

Bart Reiter Round Peak. This is Bart's latest model and, like all his banjos, it is very nice. 12" pot with frailing scoop. Mahogany neck. -- Pics

Recording King California. This neat banjo features a walnut neck with maple skunk stripe, dual coordinator rods, and a no-knot tailpiece. The workmanship is great, and it is a lot of banjo for the money! -- Pics

Vega Little Wonder by Deering. If you are looking for an American made openback banjo for not a lot of money, this might be just the thing. Features include maple neck with satin finish, 3-ply rim, adjustable truss rod, and a hardshell case. The banjo has a clear, bright tone with a surprising amount of volume, so it is suitable for finger picking or frailing. Pics

Vega #2 by Deering. The pot has a Tubaphone tone ring, with bracket band. Curly maple neck. Glossy light amber finish. This one has a Remo head; it is also available with a fibreskin head. -- Pics

Wildwood Custom. This neat banjo has a wooden tone ring. The neck is wenge with maple/purple heart stringers. Wenge rim. Curly maple binding, and purple heart pot cap. Very neat, with tone to match! Pics