Pisgah Dobson 11" 5-String Banjo with Walnut Rim and Neck, Persimmon Fretboard

The Pisgah Dobson 11" 5-String Banjo combines 19th-century vintage tone with eco-conscious manufacturing process.

Tonal Foundation: Walnut & The Dobson Tone Ring

• Walnut Neck & Rim: Native Appalachian walnut offers a rich, warm, and mellow fundamental tone with a woody midrange that softens harsh overtones.  This is why it is popular on open back banjos

• Dobson Tone Ring: Recreating the famous 1880s patent, this lightweight flared brass ring adds open resonance, sweet sustain, and subtle bell-like clarity without overpowering the wood's warm acoustic voice.  This tone ring can be removed to provide a secondary tone for your banjo.  You gotta love that! 

Persimmon Fretboard & 11" Rim Platform

• Persimmon Fingerboard: Harvested domestically as a native, sustainable alternative to imported ebony, persimmon is exceptionally hard, smooth under the fingers, and adds quick note attack.  

• 11" Rim Size: The 11-inch pot delivers superior punch, quick response, and tight note separation compared to wider 12-inch rims. It maintains a balanced frequency profile—crisp highs with focused lows—making it versatile for clawhammer, old-time frailing, or fingerstyle playing.

The Pisgah Difference

• Wide Frailing Notch: Pisgah notches the tension hoop near the neck joint and fretboard scoop, giving clawhammer pickers seamless right-hand clearance without hitting their thumb or fingers against metal edges.  

• Sculpted Thumb Rest: A carved contour on the neck profile provides an ergonomic anchor for your thumb when playing higher up the neck while reinforcing the area around the 5th-string tuner.  

• Magnetic Truss Rod Cover: Snaps off magnetically for instant, tool-free access to the two-way adjustable truss rod—eliminating tiny screws and scratched headstock overlays.  

Why Banjo Studio loves this banjo: Like most Pisgah banjos, the Pisgah Dobson 11" bridges the gap between historical tone and modern playability. Between its native hardwood construction, historic Dobson voice, and player-focused hardware tweaks, this banjo offers an effortless playing experience and a rich, earthy sound built to last a lifetime.