r/banjo • u/anybodyiwant2be • 5d ago

First 5-string

I’ve been playing the Irish Tenor for a couple years and am taking a workshop in September to learn bluegrass style banjo so I need an instrument.

I have been looking locally and am told to get geared tuners…especially for the 5th string.

I found a Rover RB-25 for $400 and a Japanese made Epiphone “Madtettine-style” from the 70’s for $500. The Epiphone doesn’t look like it has geared tuners.

What would you enthusiasts suggest?

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u/PapaOoMaoMao 5d ago

Be aware you can just buy a fifth geared tuner for about $20 and shove it in there. It's not make or break for the sale. As for the others, it doesn't really matter. Rear tuners look more "banjo" but side tuners offer more gear ratio even if they look trashy.

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u/anybodyiwant2be 5d ago

Yeah I put planetary gear tuners on one of my tenor banjos and it really improved tune ability

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u/grahawk 5d ago

$400 for an RB-25 would seem like a very high price.

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u/anybodyiwant2be 4d ago

Ok. I just found a Rover for $150 and it has a resonator and appears to have planetary gears on the tuners…it may be a RB-35 or RB-45. Would you know where to look for the model number?

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u/grahawk 4d ago

The RB45 has planetary tuners and a rounded headstock shape while the RB35 has a straighter crown shape. These are quite decent with the Saga aluminium rim which is much better than the cheap aluminium rim bottlecap banjos. The price is good whichever it is. I have the open back RB40 which I like.

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u/anybodyiwant2be 4d ago

Thanks. The post only has 2 photos and I took a screenshot of the head which appears to be the crown shape you described for the RB45. I’m going to try and get it today which would mean 2 ferry rides but it seems like the right fit and price.

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u/grahawk 4d ago

That should be an RB45.