Pisgah Rambler Special 11" Cherry 5-String Banjo with Aged Copper Rim & Goat Skin Head #4344

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This Pisgah Rambler Special was handmade by Pisgah Banjo Co. in Asheville, North Carolina. It starts with everything players love about the Rambler Special: an 11" copper spun-over rim with a Dobson tone ring, a cherry neck and low, great action that lets you play for hours. We ordered this one with our Banjo Studio tweaks, including a goat skin head, aged copper and aged brass hardware and old-time ball shoes, to give it a warm, vintage voice and a look that stands out.

What Makes This Banjo Unique

• Goat skin head. Most Rambler Specials come with a synthetic head. A natural goat skin gives a softer attack, a woodier, plunkier tone and that old-time growl clawhammer players chase. It is a real hide, so each one has its own markings and character.
• Aged copper spun-over rim. The wood rim is spun over with copper and given an aged finish, and the inside of the rim is finished in black. Copper softens the edge of the tone while keeping good projection and sustain, so you get warmth and clarity together.
• Hawktail tailpiece. This aged brass tailpiece is a traditional open-back design. It holds the strings with a firm, even down pressure on the bridge, which keeps notes clear and focused, and it looks right at home with the old-style hardware.
• JB Schall ball shoes. The ball-end bracket shoes are patterned after the hardware J.B. Schall used on his Chicago banjos in the late 1800s. With the aged brass hooks and Pisgah's frailing notch tension hoop, they give the pot a true vintage look up close.
• Short 25 1/2" scale. The shorter neck puts a little less tension on the strings, so they feel slinky and easy to fret, and the reach to the first few frets is shorter. A Black TUSQ scalloped nut keeps the strings seated and tuning steady.

The Sound

The Dobson tone ring gives the Rambler Special its sparkle and sustain, and the copper spin-over rounds that off into a warm, sweet voice. The goat skin head adds a soft, woody thump with a little growl underneath, and the 11" rim keeps the sound focused and punchy rather than boomy. The S-scoop gives your strumming hand room to frail right over the end of the fingerboard.

Why Banjo Studio Loves This Banjo

• A true old-time voice. Goat skin over a copper-spun 11" rim is a classic recipe for clawhammer, and this one delivers it with modern build quality.
• Pisgah Advantages. All Pisgah banjos have the easy truss rod access with the unique truss rod cover that is held in place with magnets. You also get the frailing notch on the tension hoop to give you more access to the sweet spot between the neck and body. A minor difference that makes a big impact. Pisgah builds by hand in a solar-powered, net zero carbon shop, and backs every banjo with a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner.
• Comfortable to play. The short scale, cherry neck with a clear finish and Gotoh tuners make it easy to play and easy to keep in tune.

Comes with an Access gig bag, PBCO Clawhammer strings and Pisgah's certificate of ownership. Made in U.S.A.

Best for: clawhammer and old-time players who want a warm, woody, vintage tone from a goat skin head, an 11" copper spun-over rim and an easy-playing short scale neck.

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.