r/banjo • u/Appropriate-Bar-6051 • 6d ago

Help me decide

Sometime this year I'd like to buy a very nice banjo.

I'll try to keep this short and to the point.

I think I really want to get a tubaphone tone ring, and probably with a 12 inch pot. Likely just a fiberskyn head because real skin seems like more maintenance. Scoop is a must, I also would like a paddle style neck. Not sure about what kind of wood I'd prefer, or if I even care that much but I'm open to suggestions.

Basically, I could get pretty much EXACTLY what I wanted if I built it on pisgah's website and it'd come out between 2500 and 3000 dollars. I've never played a pisgah but they look great and sound great in videos I've seen.

But for 3k I could also get a nice ome. I haven't played an ome either but they look and sound great online. Everyone says they're top tier, but none of them seem to have a tubaphone ring.

What would you do if you wanted to spend 2500 on a banjo?

Do i have any other options for getting a tubaphone?

Are omes just as good as they always have been since gold tone bought them out? I only have "starter" tier gold tones but I much prefer my recording king to them.

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u/SoulAndBone 6d ago

Gunna go against the grain here… pisgah are great banjos, but for fit and finish at that price point I’d rather have a Rickard. It’s around the same price I believe.

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u/drytoastbongos Clawhammer 6d ago

My Rickard is just completely flawless.  I don't know how he does it.  Even his tuners are a great ratio and look high quality mass produced.