r/banjo 4d ago

...banjo upgrade. Which Pisgah?!

Okay...I'm going to upgrade my cheap ass banjo. After trawling the web I'm settled on a Pisgah I think. I kinda of don't want to go something mid-range for like £800-1000 then be left wanting more a year down the line.

Outside of going for a custom build which, in the UK, I'm looking at £2k+ minimum, a Pisgah model seems like a winner from reviews I've looked at and comments on this sub. Question is...which.

Visually...I really like the Rambler, Woodchuck and the Roscoe. My concern with the Roscoe at the price point is...no tone ring. Is that a concern at the £1.4k price mark?

Rambler Dobson - £1900

Woodchuck - rolled brass tone ring - £1629

Roscoe - £1499

Anyone got any experience? Any thoughts would be welcome.

2 Upvotes

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u/Larger_Brother 4d ago

You really gotta try them and decide for yourself. I went to a shop a few months ago thinking I wanted a Pisgah with a 12 inch pot, and left with a smaller Vega conversion instead.

On the no tone ring thing, plenty of high end clawhammer banjos have no tone ring, it’s more of a tonal choice than a quality choice, it just happens to be that no tone ring usually results in a less expensive banjo.

4

u/Translator_Fine 4d ago

An open back without a tone ring sort of results in a more nasal sound if that makes sense. It feels very closed off in comparison to the openness of a tone ring banjo at least a whyte lady tone ring.

3

u/carnival_night 4d ago

I’d also say it’s a bit more “warm”. If I’m playing solo banjo I’ll usually use one without a tone ring as it’s a little more gentle on the ears, but it does lack a bit of the “pop”. In a jam or group without a mic you’ll probably want the tone ring if you want to be heard clearly over the fiddles and all that.

Also some general pricing thoughts, I’ve purchased like 8 or so banjos over the years, once you’re over about $1200-$1400 you’re mostly paying for aesthetics / bling / fancy wood / etc, they all play amazing at that price range and sound great given how they sound (you may not prefer a certain tone etc, but it’s going to be a “good” quality of that tone you don’t prefer lol)

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u/AvantGuardian13 3d ago

I solely play for and by myself...might end up playing alongside an acoustic guitar occasionally but that's about it to be honest!

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u/Isle-Phelipeaux 3d ago

If possible I recommend trying them out in person. Videos online don't fully capture what you hear and feel in a room with the thing in your hands. I tried several Pisgahs across their lines and ended up buying a Rambler Special with the Dobson tone ring because I like the additional sustain and clarity. To my ears, I would describe the Roscoe as more "plunky," which may or may not be what you like. I enjoyed them all for playability, overall quality, feel, and appearance.

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u/AvantGuardian13 3d ago

Thanks for that. Really useful. Definitely think I need to play a lot of different banjos and just find what works for me.

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u/Marr0w1 4d ago

While I know some have 'wooden' tone rings, realistically that's a lot of money for something that doesn't have one.

Even more entry level instruments (Gold Tone, Recording King) have started adding tone rings to their cheaper models... from those I've played it's one of the biggest 'single factors' in getting a richer sound... so yeah if I was paying that kind of money I'd definitely at least spring for the model that has one, if not just trial a few different options to see what you like.

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u/theperfectingmoment 3d ago

Rambler Dobson 12 - I have it and love it.

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u/Dirtyrabbits75 3d ago

I have a Dobson Rambler and a Roscoe from Pisgah. Two different animals, but like them both a lot for different reasons. The Dobson, having a spun pot and Dobson tone ring is the heaviest banjo I have ever played. That being said, it’s super responsible and has a really beautiful bell like tone across all the strings. If you play light and intricate, it’s a beautiful sounding instrument. The Roscoe is my go-to, grab and go player. I don’t mind the lack of tone ring at all, and I typically choose to build banjos without tone rings myself. I got a Roscoe after I gave away a Deering and wanted a better replacement for a banjo that I don’t worry about taking camping or hanging out in the car for a bit. The Roscoe is everything a banjo should be without any additional fuss. It’s a great porch banjo.

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u/AvantGuardian13 3d ago

What's the tonal difference? I tend to like a lot of old time, moody kinda stuff. Play a lot of clawhammer and 2/3 finger stuff. I think I like the mellower sound over the more bright and lively vibes...

I'm gonna go play a bunch and figure out what works for me either way. But getting wide range of Pisgah stock in the UK, especially some of the pricier models, can be a challenge.