Nice Banjo
"Excellent tone and playability."
“The Deering Sierra banjo is truly the flagship of our entire line! How is it that this is so? Well, I’ll tell you. The pot assembly of the Sierra, the violin grade maple 3-ply rim, the -06- tone ring, the one-piece zinc flange, the notched tension hoop, the Deering tailpiece and the armrest are exactly the same as our whole line all the way up to the Gabriella, with just a few exceptions. The only exceptions are; the Golden Era has a different zinc flange, the Hartford has a Grenadillo wood tone ring, the Terry Baucom has an -06- tone ring that is just a few ounces lighter than the standard -06- tone ring, and the Tenbrooks banjos have the Swiss Jens Kruger tone ring.
When I first introduced the Sierra I kept the cost down by keeping the cosmetics simple. I put the money into the pot assembly. I wanted to build a top professional banjo at a price that I could have afforded when I was a kid going to the music store on my way home from school every day.
With the implementation of new technology we have been able to make the Sierra exquisitely beautiful without raising the price. I have been greatly inspired by the artwork of the old masters of the Boston banjo era from the turn of the last century. With this inspiration in my blood, I have brought art to the Sierra that is usually reserved for banjos costing much, much more.
The Sierra is truly a professional masterpiece of both sound and art at a price that is within your reach."
Sincerely,
Greg Deering
Specifications
Specifications
Specs
Neck
Neck Wood: Quartersawn Mahogany or Maple
Neck Shape: Slender "D" Shape
Stain: Brown Mahogany
Finish: Satin
Nut Material: Ebony
Tuners: Deering Planetary Banjo Tuners
5th String Tuner: Deering Gotoh Geared 5th String Tuner
Frets: 22 Nickel Silver Frets
Fingerboard: A Grade Ebony
Inlays: Original Deering Designed Engraved Inlays
5th String Spikes:
Specs
Pot
Rim: 3-Ply Violin Grade Maple
Rim Diameter: 11"
Tone Ring: Deering -06- 20 Hole Bell Bronze Tone Ring
Head: 11" Top Frosted Medium Crown
Tension Hoop: Notched Brass Tension Hoop
Hooks & Nuts: 24 Round J-Hooks and 1/4″ Hex Nuts
Flange: Deering One Piece Cast Zinc Flange
Armrest: Deering Armrest
Hardware Plating: Nickel
Bridge: 5/8" Deering Smile Bridge
Tailpiece: Deering True Tone Tailpiece
Finish: Satin
Specs
Resonator
Resonator Wood: 3-Ply Poplar/Poplar/Mahogany or Maple
Resonator Finish: Satin
Resonator Sidewalls: Straight
Resonator Diameter: 13 7/8"
Resonator Stain: Brown Mahogany
Specs
Dimensions
Neck Width at the Nut: 1 1/4"
Scale Length Nut to Bridge: 26 1/4"
Rim Diameter: 11"
Overall Instrument Length: 38"
Weight Approx.: 11 lbs
Specs
Warranty
The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a lifetime warranty ensuring thequality of our materials and workmanship.
Click below for more information
Specs
Strings, Tuning, Etc.
Comes strung with Deering Light Gauge Banjo Strings
Comes tuned: G, D, G, B, D
Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.
Comes with a hardshell case.
NB: Due to current supply constraints, case brand may vary.
Overall rating: 4.967742 / 5 from 31 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
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Review highlights
Reviews
"Awesome! No other way to describe this banjo. Spot on from the factory. What a voice it has. Ive purchaed a few high end professional banjos recently and while they all have their quality differences, They just dont sound or feel like this Sierra."
Likely the last banjo I will every own
"As an old garage band rock guitarist dating from my teenage years (and someone who always loved Bluegrass), my kids gave me a Goodtime-2 when I retired. . . . the Goodtime 2 is an amazing banjo and I have loved learning and playing it for the last 3+ years. When I finally felt like I got "good enough" at picking, I recently upgraded to a mahogany Sierra. My Goodtime -2 sounds fantastic and is a wonderful banjo , but this Sierra is in a class by itself. It is a "work of musical art" the quality is without peer. . it looks amazing and the sound is absolutely beautiful! As soon as I picked it up and played it this banjo made me a friend for life. It will likely be the last banjo I ever own. . . it's an absolutely fantastic instrument and dealing with the folks at Deering has been a real pleasure."
Deering Banjo besides being the
"Deering Banjo besides being the premier American Made Banjo manufacturer is staffed with the nicest, most helpful people. . . you will love dealing with them."
Sierra is the way to go, for me.
"Love the banjo and started to play in 2020. Decided to buy up to the Sierra, and still love it. Lively and fun to play. It’s a long road, but everything gives in to repetition. Amazing tone. Can’t go wrong with a Deering."
This banjo is my Number One
"I live in a banjo desert. I have to get my banjo info from the internet machine, and it's impossible to know if YOU like a banjo from youtube videos and other people's opinions. You can get a good idea what might be a good banjo, but you don't know if YOU like them until YOU have played them. Case in point: I discovered that there is ONE guitar shop in my area that carries banjos, and they had some of the Big Names I had heard of on the WWW. I rushed down there ready to drop some coin on that pre-war/boutique banjo with the magic sound that would inspire me to keep playing 6-12 hours a day. After spending a few hours locked in the "banjo room' one instrument stood head and shoulders above the crowd: the mahogany Deering Sierra. I have to be honest, I was not expecting that. People speak highly of their Deerings, but it seems they always prefer their boutique or pre-war banjos just a little more. That was not the experience I have had. That Sierra came home with me and is my Number One. I play it from the time I wake up until I go to sleep and I am always excited to play it. It's hanging on my shoulder as I write this. I own a handful of very nice, boutique banjos (all the names you hear if you frequent the Banjo Hangout) - and they are all beautiful and amazing instruments - but my Sierra is the banjo I play all day (and all night sometimes). The only time it's in it's case is when it's going somewhere. The Sierra has a very nice, full and well rounded sound. I do my own set-up and it is the easiest of my banjos to get the exact tone I like out of it. And the easiest to maintain. I don't have to adjust the set-up every time I sneeze near it. It's a very reliable banjo and I don't have to tune it up constantly either. But the sound is what sets it apart. It sounds exactly like what I think a banjo should sound like. It's bright and twangy on the high end, but the 3rd and 4th string are powerful and right up front in the mix too. Every string has a very distinct sound and none of them get lost when you are playing fast. With some of my fancy, boutique banjos I own, it's really hard to get a good balance. You either get shrill or tubby. And no matter how you adjust the set-up, that perfect balance between them is very elusive. I love my Sierra and I could go on and on about it, but I have to go look at a used Deering Deluxe right now. I think I might be a Deering guy now. Watch for some high end banjos for sale on line in the near future.... Thank you Greg Deering and family and everyone who brings these fine instruments to us."
Upgrade from Goodtime2
"Upgraded to a Sierra this year from my Goodtime2. It is an absolute pleasure to play. Even just picking it up it feels good and the sound is awesome even at my relatively low ability. I was able to try a couple of different Deerings as well as a couple of other brands at my local shop and the Sierra stood out for me. I am so glad I got it."
Very nice banjo
"It is everything that I expected. Sounds great. Will enjoy playing this for many years."
I'm so happy!
"My new maple Sierra banjo is everything I hoped it would be. It looks beautiful and feels so comfortable to play. The tone is beautiful and just makes it a joy to play!"
Sierra banjo
"Amazing quality! The banjo arrived earlier than expected too."
Q&A
- How best to clean the nickel finish my Deering Sierra Maple?
- The Deering Care Cloth Set is a great way to maintain your banjos finish and hardware finish. https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjo-maintenance-tools/products/deering-care-cloths
- I've seen a couple ads for a Sierra with a radius fretboard, but I don't see that listed above as an option. Is it available, and if so, how much extra?
- Yes, it is a custom option for an additional $375.
- Is this American made?
- Yes, we make them right here in our factory in Spring Valley, CA. Thanks for asking.
- How would you describe the difference between a Satin finish and a Linseed Oil finish? Is one smoother or better for speed up and down the neck?
- Satin finish is actually a polyurethane finish that only needs cleaning over time. A Linseed oil finish is satin and smooth like a satin finish but the linseed oil must be reapplied as it wears off over time.
- Can you order a sierra with a fingerboard bound in white? If I already have a sierra can I send it in to have the fingerboard bound? How much does it cost to have a fingerboard bound?
- If you are ordering a new banjo, you can upgrade and have it bound in white for an additional $330. This cannot be done on an older banjo unless you order a whole new neck. Thanks for asking.
- Is the mahogany FSC or other sustainable criteria certified?
- Yes...we are very careful with our woods. The mahogany is from sustainable forests.
- I need a head for my old styal Sierra banjo. I need to know what head to order
- I would order an 11 "high crown if it is older than 2006.
- I have a Deering Sierra Banjo ... the back (knob) piece fell off my 2nd string tuner and I seem to have lost a piece which connects the gear (inside the knob piece) to the rotating rod to which the string attaches. Can I get a replacement tuner or the missing piece. ( I can send pictures via email. )
- You will need a new tuner as we don't get them as parts. Just call 800-845-7791 and we can help you with that.
- Hi I was wondering if you have financing on your banjos. I was raised on bluegrass and played my dad's banjo. He sold it. So want to star it back up again. Interested in the Sierra 5 string. Also are you going to order the begging banjo book and cd . It was out of stock. Thank you . Shelly Hayden.
- We do not have a financing program but you can use Paypal and they have a "bill me later" program that is financing through their system for those who qualify.
- what are the optional spikes for? and as a beginner should I have them installed with a new purchase or can I have them added later as I become more experienced?
- You should have them installed at the beginning; at frets 7,9,10 as standard for A,B,C tuning. You will need them before you know it. :-)
- Hello. I am saving up for a beautiful Sierra 5 string. I am puzzled by what the heck "spikes" are. I guess if i don't know, I may not need them!! Also, I would think maple would be a brighter sound, mahogony a bit warmer. Am I off base???? Thank you for making such beautiful instruments!
- Maple is the brighter tone wood. Spikes are for the 5th string only. They are small metal model railroad spikes found usually at frets 7,9,10. When you put a clip on capo on the other 4 strings on your banjo to play outside of open G tuning ( as in A, B, or C), you need to shorten the 5th string as well. This is when you use the spikes on the 5th string at those spike positions.
- I own a mahoganySierra. Great banjo! What is the tune that Jens is playing on video for the Sierra on your website? Thanks.
- It is “The Old Spinning Wheel”.
