5-String Banjo with Closed Back, Mahogany Resonator, 24 Brackets & Geared 5th Tuner

Brand: Ashthorpe

$157.49

Traditional style: This 5-string banjo is perfect for any style of play with its guitar-style headstock and neck combined with a tambourine shaped body. Whether you’re playing mellow country tunes, folk, bluegrass, clawhammer-style, even rock, you’ll get a great response and sound from this banjo.
Remo head: This banjo kit is flawlessly designed with a Remo head, made by the world-renown Remo drum company. The crisp white, frosted head delivers bright sound and clarity. The head is secured with 24 chrome-plated brackets and resting on the Remo head is a beautiful 5/8" maple/ebony bridge for superior string vibration transfer.
High-quality craftsmanship: Ashthorpe's banjo features a mahogany neck and purpleheart fretboard with finely manicured, smooth seated frets. The body is crafted from mahogany with a high-gloss finish. The closed-back resonator can be easily removed, allowing this banjo to be played open back. Designed with a 5-ply maple and mahogany shell, a 5-ply maple rim, 15:1 ratio geared tuners with high-quality tuning pegs, an adjustable hinged tailpiece, and chrome-plated armrest.
Geared 5th tuner and adjustable truss rod: This 5-string banjo also includes a geared 5th string tuner, typically found on more expensive banjos. The geared 5th tuner is an upgrade over the common friction tuner, providing more accurate tuning and less slippage. The adjustable truss rod allows you to adjust the neck, ensuring it remains straight.
Banjo bundle kit includes: This banjo is safely stored inside a 15mm premium fabric padded “gig bag” guitar case with pocket, carry handle, and shoulder strap. Extra strings, a polishing cloth, and three celluloid picks are also included.

This 5-string banjo from Ashthorpe is perfect for all player levels, from beginner to advanced. This banjo includes several high-end features. It's a traditional-style banjo with a mahogany resonator (perfect for bluegrass and other playing styles) that helps to push the sound forward, providing a louder, brighter tone. The resonator is also easily removed using the thumbscrews, allowing the banjo to be played open back. The convenience of the two styles of banjo meets the expectations of seasoned players. Ashthorpe's banjo also includes a premium frosted Remo drumhead with a 5/8" maple/ebony bridge and 24 chrome-plated brackets securing the head. The geared 5th string tuner side peg provides less slippage and more accurate tuning. An adjustable truss rod allows you to keep the neck straight and adjust the strings when the action is too low or too high. Impeccably designed, this mahogany banjo, with an exquisite high-gloss finish, features pre-strung strings, 5-ply maple and mahogany shell, a 5-ply maple rim, 15:1 ratio geared tuners with high-quality tuning pegs, an adjustable hinged tailpiece, purpleheart fretboard, and a chrome-plated armrest. Includes: Ashthorpe Banjo, 15mm Premium Padded Gig Bag, Extra Set of Strings, Polishing Cloth, (3) Celluloid Picks

Good good beginner's banjo

Got an Ashthorpe for Christmas from my wife. I'm a total beginner without ever having played an instrument in my 60+ years. The banjo was packaged well when I opened it. Gig bag is nice. Downloaded a tuner app, tuned it up and away I go. . . .
So a few things I've learned: Remove the back (resonator). You may have to use a Philips #2 this first time. NAVER AGAIN USE A TOOL ON THE RESONATOR SCREWS. They are thumb screws and as such they are supposed to be finger tight only. Remove the little clip for a strap (single screw) . It rattles. And if you use a clip on strap it will damage the black paint on the rim (it happened to me) . Get a NON cradle style leather strap. They fasten through the head 'J' hooks. Ashthorpe provides you with a wrench to tighten the head. Go around and ensure each hook is snug. Don't reef down on the screws - just snug. I found a number of them were loose. After tightening the head the sound quality improved dramatically over the course of a week (it takes the head a little time in playing to "settle in").
The lugs for the resonator thumb screws are a little loose. they may rotate out of alignment when you go to put the resonator back on. I'm thinking of using a drop of epoxy on each to stop this but haven't done it yet. I don't know why but one of the thumb screws seems to be a different size than the other 3 and it will work in only one lug. Just be aware of this when reattaching the resonator.
Going to try different strings and bridges just to experiment with improving the sound. Ultimately, aside from strings and bridges I won/t put any money into this banjo because at the end of the day it is still an inexpensive banjo. I'll save my money for lessons and in a year or two buy a top of the line instrument.

That having been said, I think the Ashthorpe is a fine introductory banjo.