Banjos

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

Finally! A banjo that can be played at any volume. The new Goodtime Acoustic/Electric banjo features the factory installed Kavanjo banjo head pickup system. This system allows your banjo to be plugged into a guitar amp and played at screaming levels without feedback while still maintaining its acoustic tone. Learn More

Includes a Goodtime 2 banjo, a Deering gig bag, banjo strap, picks, tuner, and the Deering Two-Finger DVD. This package includes everything needed to successfully get started playing the banjo! Including the perfect light weight (4 lb) Goodtime banjo that you can take with you when you travel.

The Goodtime 2 banjo is a great beginner banjo which features a resonator and is recommended by banjo teachers the world over because it plays right and sounds great. Learn More

With a Bluegrass resonator back, The Classic Goodtime 2 banjo has a 3-ply violin grade maple rim and produces a bright and clear tone. The Classic 2 is enhanced with a Rich Brown stain, white detailing and spikes at 7, 9, and 10. The spikes enable you to expand your playing from the key of G and play in the keys of A, B and C by putting the fifth string under the spike and using a capo on the other four strings to adjust the tuning. Here is a banjo you can have right there by your easy chair and play between commercials. It's a good bluegrass banjo, lighter weight and easy to carry. It's great for hours of practice with an accurate neck that is as comfortable as can be. You'll appreciate how light it is when you reach over to pick it up and enjoy playing it. Most people who get a Goodtime banjo keep it because they love it even when they step up to their beautiful Deering banjo. The Goodtime banjo still maintains a special place in their life and this is why you don’t see a lot of Goodtime banjos on the used market. It's a banjo you can take anywhere. Learn More

The Classic Goodtime 2 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

What a great sounding traditional banjo! The Classic Goodtime Special Openback is louder than the original Goodtime model because it has the patent pending Goodtime tone ring and is great for players who like to jam and want to be heard amongst a crowd. The rich brown stain, planetary tuners, and Deering peghead shape gives the traditional, classic look of a vintage banjo. This versatile banjo can be played in the keys of A, B, or C by using the spikes which are already installed and a capo. If you enjoy playing in festival campgrounds this is perfect as it weighs less than 6 lbs and you can play it all night long! Being an openback banjo, this is great for Clawgrass because the tone ring gives it that brighter tone needed for Clawgrass and other modern openback styles. Learn More