Starr Limited Edition 11" Walnut Rolled Brass Tone Ring 5-String Openback Banjo #086

Banjo Studio is proud to be an authorized Starr Banjos dealer. You are viewing the actual banjo that you'll be purchasing.

Starr Banjos represents exceptional value in handcrafted North American instrument craftsmanship. Constructed by luthier Chuck Ogsbury in Gold Hill, Colorado, this 11" 5-string openback features a rolled brass tone ring, a walnut neck and a matching walnut rim combined with abalone inlays. The hand-carved neck is individually shaped by Ogsbury for each instrument, ensuring consistent quality and playability. This banjo delivers the tonal characteristics and aesthetic refinement expected from a professionally made instrument, offering serious players access to superior craftsmanship at an accessible price point.

What Makes This Banjo Different

• Walnut neck and walnut rim. Most Starr Limited Editions are built in curly maple or with a cherry rim. Walnut is a denser, darker-voiced wood than maple, so it rounds off the top end and adds a woody, mellow warmth, and the matched neck and rim give the banjo a rich, dark look from peghead to pot.
• Rolled brass tone ring on an 11" pot. An 11" rim is naturally punchy and focused. The rolled brass ring adds clarity, volume and sustain on top of that, so the walnut warmth never turns muddy.
• Built for clawhammer. A side frailing scoop gives your strumming hand room over the fingerboard, and the 26-1/4" scale and 1-3/8" nut keep the neck comfortable.

The Sound

Expect a warm, woody, slightly dark voice with good punch and a clear note from the brass ring. The 11" pot keeps it tight and articulate, while the walnut takes the edge off the highs. It sits beautifully with fiddles and voices in an old-time jam.

If you don't know, Chuck has been building banjos since the early 60's and is known for his other popular banjo companies, Ode and Ome Banjos. Since selling Ome, he has been keeping himself busy creating these new banjos. If you purchase a Starr Banjo, you are getting a banjo made with the experience and dedication of a great builder of instruments.

During our visit, we asked Chuck to go over the banjos that we picked out, and you can watch his video down below. If you want to compare all three sizes of the 11", 12" and 13" heads, scroll farther down and see a demo to hear the difference.

This specific banjo has a walnut neck and a walnut rim, not the all-maple build discussed in the video below.

Why Banjo Studio Loves This Banjo

• A warm 11". Smaller pots can lean bright; walnut gives this one a rounder, more mellow voice while keeping the 11" punch.
• Handmade by a legend. Six decades of Chuck Ogsbury's building go into every Starr, with a hand-carved neck and precision-machined aged brass hardware.
• Ready to play. It comes with a heavy padded gig bag.

Best for: Clawhammer and old-time players who want a warm, woody 11" openback, with a walnut neck and rim, a rolled brass tone ring and a side frailing scoop.

Professional Setup and Free Shipping

Every banjo is professionally set up and checked by Banjo Studio before it leaves our shop, so it plays great right out of the box. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states.