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Have a '68 or '69 (USA made) tenor Fender...... Hands goin' south on me (neuropathy and carpal tunnel) so I just admire it on the couch.... ;o)

Was there a rim made by Okie Adams?

All 3 sounds awesome.. but the last one sounds best

Love the Stelling but they are all beautiful

The STELLING all the way.

The Stelling Whitestar was the best banjo I ever had (couldn't afford a pricier Stelling).

GT made in china gibson usa

Good pickin but them deering not brilliant tone wise really

Good pickin but banjo sounds harsh

Goldtone sounds best to my ears.

Mighty fine pickin' there!

Best pot design ever! Combine that with the superb craftsmanship and I don't think you can find a better banjo at any price.

1997 bellflower with Cooperman 3 ply for the WIN

The 1997 Bellflower Cooperman rimmed banjo sounded brighter IMHO

Just started working on this tune.

The good tone doesn't have the bite that the other ones did

You're a music king🌹👍 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Mighty fine!

Wow! That is a powerful banjo, sounds incredible!

Thanks for sharing, sounds great. I've had a 35 for a couple years now and it never seems to sound as crisp/sharp as others online. I wonder if it's that I need to tighten the head more?

Hey man, that was great Picking banjo sounds very good I have a Stelling Staghorn I enjoyed this very much I’ve been playing since 1974 keep up the good work young man

Nice playing, great banjo...

Gold Tone for me it had a sweet sound

Thanks! Joe 🎶🪕

Great video, love the Gold Tone…seems the best

I have a Tyler mountain banjo I bought around 2006 and it still has an amazing sound and they were still being made in USA back then…I don’t think they make them anymore and I think they were later made in Korea but I could be wrong

That Masterflower is to die for. Love your comparisons!

Ah! That's got' em Earl.😊

Hey Joe: Awesome pick'n. ( B-careful with those fingers!) Joe, I have a 1981 Bellflower. Besides the rims being different, Geoff was using Ebonol Fretboards until late 1983. I compared both necks with Ebonol and ebony fretboard on the same banjo. The Ebonol had way better sustain. I could really feel the notes vibrating through the neck despite having not changed out anything except the necks. Stellings are excellent banjos I can personally attest to that. Thanks for the video. GREAT JOB!

Thanks! Joe 🎶🪕

I noticed he didn't put a Deering in there....

Great video, thank you for the demonstrations, I have always loved Gibson instruments, but as i decided to start playing again after 30 years, I studied up on these newer models and went with the Gold Tone 0B-250+. I have to say, i was extremely surprised how well built they are along with a surprisingly great sound. Now i just have to break out the WD-40 on these rusty fingers and get to picking 😂. Thank you again, have a great day.

I liked the sound of that Goldtone . They are all good looking but the Twanger #1 !

Great music 🎶

Hey Joe they all sound great. I liked the sunflower best. I have a 1999 moonflower that would fit in the collection nicely. It could be for sale. Great pickin friend!

I've played a Stelling for 20 years but the Gibson edges out the other two on this comparison.

This is the same Fender Artist I own. That tailpiece has been changed from the original, right? In my case replaced it with Kershner. I love the crispy sound. Yes, it is underrated.

The Pass Rims sound warmer to me, whereas the Cooperman Rim comes across as more piercing. Definitely a matter of taste. Stelling Banjos are great. Would like to have them with wood tone rings, too.

Masterflower 😊

They're all fantastic sounding banjos.

Thanks for this! It'd be interesting to do a blind test, with a poll for folks to rank. Don't reveal the manufacturers until the poll is closed.

Thanks! Joe 🎶🪕🪕🪕

Really enjoy the banjo demos and comparisons you do. This one was very interesting and sounded great as always! My favorites tonally: Granada Stelling Gold Tone

Stelling banjo imo.

Thanks! Joe

Sigh! Everyone's hearing is different.... Some folks don't hear high frequencies as much so what sounds dull to them might sound okay to someone else and especially if you're listening to a phone or a laptop speaker. Set up is also important as a variable. In general though....... Stellings seems to have a chunkier sound with clearer note separation. Whether that is what you want for a particular song is of course up to you!

With all respect I never undestood the statement:" Good for the money!" First of all there isn't such a rule that says that a professional bluegrass banjo should have a " die cast bronze tone ring". That may be the corrent brand, but I remind everybody that Earl Scruggs first banjo didn't have a tone ring at all. Didn't it sound bad? I don't think so. Then we have John Hartford playing wonderful music on a wooden tone ring banjo. I understand Ode banjos had an all alluminium pot ( tone ring and flange all together) and it delivered a wonderful sound ( for much less money). This also very important, in my opinion, at least. Spending less money you may get an istrument with a DIFFERENT SOUND, which doesn't necessarily means worst or better, just different! Then it's totally up to your individual preference which one to choose.

Thanks for sharing the banjos. Always good to hear other sounds. Definitely not a Goldtone fan. Geoff Stelling is a craftsman and his idea how he came up with his tonering is brilliant. As for Gibson I've seen some shockers after Greg Rich left that building. Nice playing. Banjo comparisons are always value. Player comparisons would be very interesting because a banjoncan sound very different in different hands.

Hey! I know this is several years old, but what gauge strings do you play with?

Stelling then Gibson then gold tone with all of them sounding good.