Hey everyone!!!

Started my Christmas shopping and my girlfriend has always wanted a banjo and I’m gonna make that wish come true this year. My budgets only about $600 and was curious if anyone had any recommendations for brands or specific style?

Thank you tons and have a good rest of ya day!

About two days ago, my banjo fell from its stand and the fifth string peg slipped out. I tried to put it back in, but I cannot insert it fully. Any suggestions? (I tried a rubber mallet, but I’m way too scared of breaking the banjo neck.)
Also, I’ve been using my banjo for the past year without a railroad spike for the fifth string, mostly because of the feel. Do you think that the tension might have had something to do with the peg falling out in the first place ?

Hi guys! Just started picking on a banjo I bought on marketplace. I have no clue the brand or anything but it seems to be older. I was watching a video on how to restring one and the guy had a clamshell tail piece. Is my banjo missing something or is this just a cheapo banjo with a crappy tail piece? Thanks in advance!!

Edit: The banjo has no markings on it whatsoever to establish a brand.

Hey folks. We're a stringband from northern California called The Oldgrass Bluetime Band. Here's some Ruben's Train by the RR tracks out in the middle of nowhere.

Hi everyone!

I currently own a Gold Tone CC-Carlin 12, which I mainly play in open G and some double C/double D tuning with a clawhammer style. I'm thinking about adding a fretless banjo to complement it, with a budget of around €500.

I'm drawn to the different sound of fretless banjos, the warmer, more muted tone of nylon or Nylgut strings, and that rustic, old-time character. I'd also like something relatively lightweight and compact that I can easily pick up and move around. My Carlin is fairly hefty, so it would be nice to have something lighter and easier to handle.

At the same time, I wouldn't want to end up with a banjo that feels like a significant downgrade from my CC-Carlin 12 in terms of sound quality. For example, I'm wondering whether the lack of a tone ring or the use of composite materials instead of wood might make a noticeable difference. Ideally, I'd like something that sounds different because it's fretless and uses nylon or Nylgut strings, rather than something that simply sounds cheaper or less resonant than my current banjo.

I'm not necessarily looking for a historically accurate minstrel banjo or anything particularly specialized. I just want a fretless that offers a genuinely different experience from my Carlin and would be fun to play alongside it.

I've been looking at the Gold Tone AC-1FL, which seems appealing because of its price and weight, but I'm unsure about its composite construction and whether there might be better alternatives in my budget.

A few questions:

Would you recommend the AC-1FL, or is there another fretless banjo worth considering?

Are there any good used or budget-friendly wooden fretless banjos I should look out for?

How much difference does the rim material make to the sound compared with the fretless fingerboard and nylon strings? The CC Carlin 12 is the only banjo I have seen and play

Would the lack of a tone ring or the use of a composite rim make the AC-1FL sound noticeably less full or resonant than my CC-Carlin 12?

One more question: does anyone here play harmonica along with clawhammer banjo? If so, which harmonica keys do you tend to use most often? I have a Hohner Special 20 in C.in a drawer and was wondering whether it would work well with the tunes I play in open G, or whether it would be worth getting another key.

I'd appreciate any recommendations, personal experiences, or sound comparisons. Thanks! 😄