Handcrafted Banjos

QUALITY HANDMADE BANJOS
SINCE 1975

Greg Deering began learning woodworking from his father at the age of two by watching him build model airplanes. Growing up in San Diego, he received his first tools and tool box which he had carefully laid out in his wagon on his third birthday. Many of these tools he still has today. That is how important this was to him. It was a career in the making.

At the age of 13, Greg purchased his first banjo by investing pay from his paper route into a used banjo. He learned to play Kingston Trio songs on his banjo with his best friend Tom playing guitar.

Greg made his first banjo as an industrial arts major at San Diego State College. In 1970, at 19 years of age he joined other enterprising young college students at the American Dream Co-Op and began doing instrument repairs and building banjos. This co-op would become the birth place of at least four now world renowned instrument manufacturers - a true tribute to the concept of the American dream! The American dream became the theme of Greg’s life when he and Janet started the Deering Banjo Company in 1975 as a family business. Together they not only raised two children but built, piece by piece, the Deering banjo factory.

Today, over 45 years later, the Deering Banjo Company has seen many a milestone including the launch of the Goodtime Series in 1997, the relocation to a new 18,000 sq.ft. premises in 2001 and the launch of the Eagle II in 2009, a breakthrough in banjo tone with the development of the new Twenty-Ten™ tone ring.

In its 45 year life, Deering has delivered the finest hand built American instruments to over 100,000 happy musicians and counting… one banjo at a time.

A FAMILY BUSINESS

Deering Banjo Company has always been a family business. Janet and Greg Deering founded Deering Banjos in 1975 working originally out of their garage. Today, their daughter Jamie Deering has taken over the role of CEO and will lead Deering Banjos into their next chapter.

1970


Founded in 1975 by Greg and Janet Greg Deering joins American Dream as banjo maker

1989


Deering acquires Vega trademark

1975


Deering Banjo Compnay founded by Janet and Greg Deering

1996


Goodtime banjos are released

1999


The Goodtime Two banjo is introduced

2004


Tenbrooks banjos are introduced

2008


Goodtime banjos move to the fiddle shape pegheads

2010


New Twenty-Ten tone ring is introduced on the the new Eagle II banjos

2013


Factory expands to include 3 new sections of building. Last section for R/D shop for Greg, new conference area, and new space for shipping and storing accessories.

2019


Jamie Deering named CEO

2001


Deering moves from Lemon Grove, California to the current shop in Spring Valley, California

2006


Deering -06- bell bronze tone ring is introduced

2009


New 3-ply violin grade maple rims are introduced

2010


Kavanjo pickup is introduced

2016


New Deering Smile bridge introduced