Banjo Ben's General Store?

rllink · #1 01-16-2024, 12:57 PM

Anyone here ever bought a banjo from Banjo Ben's in Missouri? Just looking at the website they've done a good job and it looks quit professional. They seem to offer a lot of community and support to banjo players. Also it says they set up every banjo they sell. I can set up a guitar pretty well, I have no idea how to set up a banjo. So that might be a big plus. I was just wondering. They are close to me. Not close enough to drive there and back in an afternoon, but close enough that a banjo wouldn't have to travel across the country to get to me.

https://store.banjobenclark.com/collections/banjo

keith.rogers · #2 01-16-2024, 01:35 PM

I've gotten some small items from him, including a Tone-Gard for the mandolin, and an Elliot capo. Besides my bit of interaction, he runs a pretty good shop from all I've read. Never got anything major from him, as I don't play banjo, though he plays, gives lessons for, and sells just about anything!

columbia · #3 01-16-2024, 01:55 PM

I've only ordered a few small items from him but I would definitely consider ordering an instrument from him if I were in the market for one he carried. I had a good experience and most customer reports I've seen are positive.

warfrat73 · #4 01-16-2024, 01:55 PM

I haven't personally bought anything from them, but have read many positive reviews of them across multiple forums (including the banjo one).

Dogma · #5 01-16-2024, 02:18 PM

I bought an Elliott capo and many orders of SC low tension strings from BJ's store. I also subscribed briefly to his lessons so that I could learn one song and get the tab and vids. Seems legit to me! Good service all around.

I think I had some interaction with customer service via email on the capo purchase and it was prompt and helpful.

frankmcr · #6 01-16-2024, 02:48 PM

It's a very well respected banjo store (and if you're just starting out on banjo you want to hook up with a banjo specialist like that).

And "free shipping over $49" is a great deal!

If you're within a reasonable easy drive of Chicago ("Midwest" covers a pretty big territory . . . ) the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago is a good bet. They know about banjos.

rllink · #7 01-16-2024, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankmcr

It's a very well respected banjo store (and if you're just starting out on banjo you want to hook up with a banjo specialist like that).

And "free shipping over $49" is a great deal!

If you're within a reasonable easy drive of Chicago ("Midwest" covers a pretty big territory . . . ) the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago is a good bet. They know about banjos.

That's what I was thinking too. I have been looking at used ones but I don't know enough about them to trust I will get the right thing. Even the few I've seen in the stores, I pick one up and I don't even know what I'm looking at.Thanks for your recommendation.

I live in central Iowa. It is a six hour drive to Chicago and I don't like driving in big cities. In my younger days that would have been a weekend road tripping adventure, but as it is now I think I'll skip Old Town School of Folk Music, but thanks for the suggestion.

Silly Moustache · #8 01-16-2024, 04:00 PM

I've been aware of his Y/T channel for some time. He has a nice way about him, and this website is very well done, with lots of interesting stuff, and remarkably it showed my the prices in Uk pounds.

Good luck to him!

Rudy4 · #9 01-17-2024, 08:27 AM

Elderly has qualified banjo knowledgeable staff that can point you in the right direction. The first thing you need to do before purchasing is determine what type of music you are interested in. They often have good pre-owned banjos and can provide set up services.

There's a ton of difference between 4 string short scale tenor, standard resonator 5 string, or open back 5 string banjos, to name a few of your choices.

rllink · #10 01-17-2024, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Elderly has qualified banjo knowledgeable staff that can point you in the right direction. The first thing you need to do before purchasing is determine what type of music you are interested in. They often have good pre-owned banjos and can provide set up services.

There's a ton of difference between 4 string short scale tenor, standard resonator 5 string, or open back 5 string banjos, to name a few of your choices.

I established what kind of music I want to play before I even started looking at them. I play guitar in a bluegrass jam and I'm active in the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association. I got the banjo bug somehow along the way. I want a five string resonator. I have done business with Elderly before and they were very good to work with. I'll check them out as well. Thank you.

SalFromChatham · #11 01-17-2024, 06:00 PM

I bought a guitar there once… and they were great to deal with,

If I lived nearby I’m sure I’d have the same warm fuzzy feeling there that I have with Russos, my home shop.

Rudy4 · #12 01-17-2024, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rllink

I established what kind of music I want to play before I even started looking at them. I play guitar in a bluegrass jam and I'm active in the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association. I got the banjo bug somehow along the way. I want a five string resonator. I have done business with Elderly before and they were very good to work with. I'll check them out as well. Thank you.

you have half the battle won!

MissoulaFlood · #13 01-17-2024, 08:56 PM

Banjos are such different instruments from guitars anything you get will seem very foreign. For my first banjo, I got an open back to learn on. A resonator would have been too much and from experience I knew that if I made good progress, I'd likely be looking for another one in the future anyway. As it ended up, open-back was what I settled on. Listened to a lot of Dirk Powell for inspiration.

Rudy4 · #14 01-19-2024, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissoulaFlood

Banjos are such different instruments from guitars anything you get will seem very foreign. For my first banjo, I got an open back to learn on. A resonator would have been too much and from experience I knew that if I made good progress, I'd likely be looking for another one in the future anyway. As it ended up, open-back was what I settled on. Listened to a lot of Dirk Powell for inspiration.

Excellent choice for inspiration. The Get Up In The Cool podcast has a wide variety of old time (etc.) players interviewed and playing several tunes with Cameron Dewitt, the host.

Charlie Bernstein · #15 01-19-2024, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rllink

Anyone here ever bought a banjo from Banjo Ben's in Missouri? Just looking at the website they've done a good job and it looks quit professional. They seem to offer a lot of community and support to banjo players. Also it says they set up every banjo they sell. I can set up a guitar pretty well, I have no idea how to set up a banjo. So that might be a big plus. I was just wondering. They are close to me. Not close enough to drive there and back in an afternoon, but close enough that a banjo wouldn't have to travel across the country to get to me.

https://store.banjobenclark.com/collections/banjo

Never bought an instrument, but I order accessories from there and like 'em a lot. Big product selection, great customer service, easy-to-navigate website.