Custom Deering Artisan Goodtime Banjo with Goodtime Special Tone Ring, Bronze Hardware and Fiberskin Head

Banjo Studio is proud to be a Preferred Online Deering Dealer. This banjo is part of our Custom Deering Artisan Banjos, a line we developed with Deering at their factory in Spring Valley, California. Each one is a Deering Artisan model built to our own specifications, and is a Banjo Studio Exclusive, you won't find them anywhere else. Every banjo in the line starts with bronze hardware, and each model gets its own upgrades chosen to suit how it will be played.

What Makes This Banjo Different

The standard Artisan Goodtime is a simple openback with nickel hardware, a frosted top head and no tone ring. We've changed three things:

• Goodtime Special tone ring. Deering's patented tone ring is added to the rim, which standard Artisan Goodtime banjos don't have.
• Fiberskin head. Replaces the frosted top head for a warmer, deeper, more vintage voice.
• Bronze powder-coated armrest, tension hoop and tailpiece. The warm bronze tone pairs with the dark mahogany-stained neck and Midnight Maple fingerboard for a vintage look.

The Goodtime Special Tone Ring

A tone ring is the metal ring that sits on top of the rim under the head, and it has a big effect on how a banjo sounds. Without one, the head rests directly on the wooden rim, which gives a soft, mellow sound that doesn't carry far. The Goodtime Special's steel tone ring adds mass and a hard surface for the head to vibrate against. The result is a brighter, punchier, louder banjo with clearer separation between notes. It projects better, holds its own when you play with other people, and responds more evenly whether you play softly or dig in.

On this banjo, the tone ring works together with the Fiberskin head. The tone ring brings the volume and punch, and the Fiberskin rounds off the harsh edge, so you get a full, warm tone that still cuts through. It's a balance you can't get from the stock model.

Why Banjo Studio Loves this Banjo

• A unique sound.  This exact combination is only available from Banjo Studio and offers a unique tone for the price.  Most other banjos with a tone ring is more expensive. 
• More banjo for the money. You get a tone ring, an upgraded head and bronze hardware on a Made in USA Deering, for far less than a higher-end openback.
• Grows with you. Easy enough for a beginner to play, with the volume and tone to keep up as you play with others.
• Built by Deering. This is a well built banjo that comes from the factory perfectly setup and with great care.  This also Made in the USA. 
  

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.