4-String Banjos

If you want a top quality reasonably priced Irish Tenor banjo, this is a real find! Made in America at the Deering Banjo factory in California, the Goodtime open back banjo weighs about 4 pounds so it is ideal for traveling, camping, hiking, taking to the beach and provides a vibrant singing banjo tone in any situation. Also, light enough for children to hold and play and is the perfect banjo for a child to start out with since it is fretted correctly and plays easily. The shorter 17 fret neck reduces the length of the entire banjo to just 32 inches end to end.

Tuned in 5ths like a Mandolin or Violin (C,G,D,A), this banjo is a great crossover instrument for Mandolin or Violin players!

Learn More

If you want a top quality reasonably priced Tenor banjo, this is a real find! Made in America at the Deering Banjo factory in California, the Goodtime open-back banjo weighs about 4 pounds so it is ideal for traveling, camping, hiking, taking to the beach and provides a vibrant singing banjo tone in any situation. Also, light enough for children to hold and play and is the perfect banjo for a child to start out with since it is fretted correctly and plays easily.

The 19 fret tenor neck reduces the length of the entire banjo to just 35” inches end to end. Tuned in 5ths like a Mandolin or Violin (C,G,D,A), this banjo is a great crossover instrument for Mandolin or Violin players!

The 19 fret tenor is generally played in Dixieland or Traditional Jazz Music, the 17 fret tenor is generally played in Irish Music. But either instrument can be played in any kind of music just fine! It’s all up to your own creativity so have fun with it!

Learn More

We are proud to announce the release of the Dropkick Murphys Tenor Goodtime banjo. It's an all maple banjo with a hard rock maple neck and a violin grade maple rim for an awesome tone. It's tuned in fifths G,D,A,E just like an octave mandolin so the fingering is easy for mandolin and violin players.

Only a limited run of banjos will be available in this unique Dropkick Murphys design.

"The Goodtime open back is the most affordable Tenor banjo you can get!
It's light and very easy to play which makes it perfect for beginners.

I use it for writing and rehearsal, its' light weight makes it perfect for traveling."

It's never a bad time with a Goodtime..."
Jeff DaRosa - Dropkick Murphys

Learn More

Specially designed for Dixieland or Traditional Jazz and tuned 4th to 1st String C,G,B,D for that style of music, the term Plectrum refers to the fact that they are played with a flat pick which in the old days was called a plectrum. The plectrum banjo in more recent times has found a home with guitar players who tune it like the last four strings of a guitar in D,G,B,E and use their guitar fingering making it very easy to play.

Made in the USA at the Deering shop with the same tooling we use to make the top of the line banjos, the Goodtime banjos are the lowest priced American made banjos. They are so good many professionals have recorded with Goodtime banjos – they are simple and durable and great playing. The Goodtime 2 banjo is enhanced for more projection of sound by including the back of the banjo, called a resonator which projects the sound to the audience. The Goodtime 2 has an added steel flange which attaches the resonator to the rim of the Goodtime.

However, it is not nearly as loud as the Goodtime Special banjo because it does not have a tone ring. So it is quieter to play and good for at home. The Goodtime 2 weighs only 6 lbs and is about the weight of a good guitar. If you want a great low priced jazz banjo for travel and leisure this is the quality best buy on the market!

Learn More

An Irish Tenor with a resonator, wood rim, light weight vibrant tone, this little Goodtime 2 17-fret Tenor is a fun banjo to play. It is so light weight you can take it with you traveling, and small enough it is easy to tote even on an airplane. The resonator is like an amplifier so this is louder than the Goodtime Open back. It's made to be played. Learn More

All wood, rim and resonator this is a great tenor for learning to play jazz, be it Dixieland or Traditional jazz because this banjo is light weight and not as loud as a more expensive banjo so it's easier on the ears of family members. It has a very pleasant tone that certainly is vibrant without being over bearing. Only weighing in at 5 lbs, this cute little banjo is great for traveling, camping, taking to the beach and just having fun. Tuned in fifths like a mandolin or violin, it is an easy transition to banjo and a great change of pace for the mandolin or violin player. It has a durable finish covering all the wood parts to protect it. Even when you step up to a more professional banjo, this little Goodtime tenor will be a great companion for fun and relaxation. Learn More

We are proud to announce the release of the Dropkick Murphys Tenor Goodtime banjo. It's an all maple banjo with a hard rock maple neck and a violin grade maple rim for an awesome tone. It's tuned in fifths G,D,A,E just like an octave mandolin so the fingering is easy for mandolin and violin players.

Only a limited run of banjos will be available in this unique Dropkick Murphys design.

" My absolute favorite Goodtime is the Goodtime tenor banjo. It's what I've used onstage with DKM. It's wicked light, easy to play and the all wood resonator gives it a sound like a banjo twice its price!"
It's never a bad time with a Goodtime...
Jeff DaRosa - Dropkick Murphys

The Dropkick Murphys Goodtime 2 is twice as loud as the openback model. The resonator on the back creates greater projection of the tone so you get a fantastic sounding banjo! Learn More

The Classic Goodtime 17 Fret Tenor banjo is tuned like an Octave Mandolin G,D,A,E so any mandolin player can easily pick it up and play it. It can also be tuned like a standard Tenor banjo in C,G,D,A. The Classic has a traditional look with the Deering Peghead Shape, a Rich Brown stain, and Planetary Banjo Tuners. It's a good tenor banjo, lighter weight with a clear tone that is warm and resonant. Because this model has a resonator it is louder than the open back model. It has an accurate neck that is as comfortable as can be. The vintage look and light weight of easy playing banjo will give you years of delight and enjoyment. Weighing in at only 6 pounds, this light weight banjo can go with you easily when you travel. Learn More

Vintage stained all wood rim and resonator, this is a light weight Dixieland or Traditional Jazz tenor banjo that is perfect for the person who enjoys playing and appreciates a banjo that can easily be carried. The Classic Goodtime Two 19-fret Tenor has a warm quality of sound that vibrates freely through the maple neck, rim and resonator. Tuned in fifths, this is also a banjo easily played by mandolin or violin players who want a banjo they can use for songs they already know because it chords the same. For the fun of playing the banjo, this is a no frills vintage style banjo that has a very warm and welcoming tone. Learn More