Epiphone Earl Scruggs Banjo Review

[@penta5676]

I had ordered the Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe right after Epiphones' announcement in June, because I did like it's sound in their ad. After having waited for almost half a year (in Germany) I finally cancelled the order beginning of December two weeks before scheduled arrival. I'm so glad I did it, especially after I saw your excellent review - thank you so much for that. Instead I now own a Recording King RK-75 Elite from latest production batch. Oh boy does this sound good (besides perfect quality and look)! After having played my wonderful Stelling for 45 years nonstop it is now allowed to take a little rest in it's case😂

Thanks for your expertise. I can attest to the tremendous value of their reissued guitar line but I am new to Banjo's. Epiphone needs to fine-tune their banjo reissue...but overall their reissue guitar line is absolutely killing it.

[@robertsnyder933]

Thank you for your honest assessment. This is refreshing. Finally, this gives beginner and even intermediate players looking for an up grade..what to pay attention to. You have been respectful, but honest. Side by side with your Gold Tone...wow, that says everything.

[@GeorgeFred-g3m]

Underneath all that gob of China there is a great banjo but definitely takes a very experienced banjo man to have one of these because it's a good bit of work for the common person to make these things perform as they should

[@stevenarms2879]

But there are other companies putting out better banjos for the same or less money, no extra work required, because they are built correctly to begin with, unlike the Epiphone. It is in shambles.

[@GeorgeFred-g3m]

@stevenarms2879 I agree

[@KenIn_NH]

Thank you! Im new to playing banjo, and this was an excellent lesson in exactly what details to look for on fit and finish and construction quality. You've saved a lot of folks from making a huge mistake! Hopefully, you sent them a link to this video so they can get their act together.

[@thomasjames724]

I had one of these on order for quite some time from Sweetwater, but I had heard bad things about them and cancelled my order a month ago. They contacted me a week ago offering one and I declined. I’m now very glad I did. Thank you!

[@derek17005]

Let me ask you a question Steven, I'm on the search for my first banjo as it's something I've always wanted to play since I was little way back in the early 80's. So, I found a Epiphone MB-250 at the local Guitar Center marked for $220. Don't freak, it's got a split in the neck from a spill which is the reason it's so cheap. As a former luthier, let me ask you this, the split is not a complete break and just a split. It starts near the nut and fretboard, and then extends down the neck about 8". When opposite pressure is applied to the headstock and neck, the split doesn't open up hardly any (maybe 1mm). How much will that affect playability and tone? It's such a heavy banjo (to me at least) and I'm also wondering if the weight of it alone will cause it to split more. Like I said, this will be my first banjo. Is it worth considering being as how it's a nicer banjo than I'd normally be able to buy in the sub $300 price range with the split neck or should I pass and move on?

[@Mike-r2b]

Thanks ,much for the posting. I was t even aware this is a recent release. since you once worked at Gold Tone I have a question. I'm thinking the China imports are basically the same no matter what American owns the company. As a beginner with limited funds I was thinking of a RKH- 5 would be easy to swap out the neck later with a Gold Tone OB 150 and the rim could be the turned for a flathead tone ring, am I wrong?

[@codychalmers896]

Ibanez banjos have the same issues, and I’m pretty sure they outsource to Morgan Monroe as well

[@Handy_Mike95]

Hey Steve I don’t mean to bother you but I’m really wanting to buy a banjo I’ve played Deering banjos for a long time so I’m a Deering fan, but I wanna know what you think of the gold tone twanger and is it worth my investment

[@louGriggs1944]

I really appreciate your post here. I'm an intermediate player. Started with a Deering Goodtime but have moved up to a Gold Tone OB3, not quite a 3k instrument but for what I do, it serves me just fine. I used your video as a comparison and can see your points and where Gold Tone got it right. Thank you.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@louGriggs1944 the OB-3 is a GREAT banjo

[@louispouliot4102]

Gold Tone OB3 are awesome banjos. One of the best.

[@randyo573]

It’s intersting that youseem to regard the older MB250 Epiphone as pretty decent yet the quality of the Earl Scruggs model is so far below. Is it possible that Gibson switched factories when it came out with its new line of instruments?

[@stevenarms2879]

@@randyo573 very possible, almost definitely they changed factories. This banjo feels like they just took the lowest bid on the contract for a factory.

[@RandySchartiger]

I played one of these Epip's and I wouldn't give $500 for it! Very good information thanks for posting this!

[@leonreihana3322]

A comparison with MB250 masterbuilt would have been far more intriguing. Your review backs up all the others I've listened to and read.👍🏾

[@hans-jurgburgin4551]

Hello Steve! Thanks for this post about this thing that apparently can't be called a banjo. I have often wondered how the part will be finished. Now I know it. Hands off! I seriously wonder how someone from Earl's family comes to allow such a thing. A disgrace. Thank you for this article! Hopefully it will prevent many people from making a costly mistake. Greets and 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@regularlybroken]

Hi Steven …where has your channel content gone ? There used to be much more on here didn’t there ??

[@davidcudlip6587]

The fact that Epiphone avoids any description of the tone ring in this banjo tells me all I need to know. Any search about the tone ring in these new Epiphones is surrounded in mystery. Their own website doesn't even list what it is. A quality tone ring should be a top selling point. Walk away from this banjo and don't look back. Glad you did this video and informed potential buyers who might have unknowingly threw money away on these new models.

[@itsobvious5835]

i don't have an opinion about either banjo BUT you are one hell of a player.

[@virgilflowers9846]

Wow, this is worse than I expected. What a shame. The $1200 price tag on this is an outrage. Cheap, hollow tone, cut corner after cut corner. When you mentioned the e bottle cap banjos, I knew we were heading down a bad road as those can be virtually unplayable. Great review, very thorough. Thank you for putting this out there!

[@bomark2002]

Dang bro are they making Epiphones in Taiwan now?

[@MrGrahawk]

I'm guessing these come from the same place that makes the Ibanez B200. This is known for bad heel cuts and tone rings that are not centred due to a bad rim cut - the same is true for other similar banjos rebadged from the same factory like Gewa. Those hooks look very similar to those as well. The place that made the better Morgan Monroe banjos (Morgan Monroe is out of business) and many similar banjos for the European market closed down and they were much better.

[@coniactive]

Thanks for the very interesting review Steve, My super recording king RK36 is a top quality build with great tone and volume, do yourselves a favour and consider one instead of these instead

[@stevenarms2879]

@@coniactive RK makes some good banjos. But I’ll stick to my Grandee. I’ve had several RK-36 and RK-35 banjos, I also had an RK-80a and an RK-85 Elite. None of those really stood where this Grandee stands. For those who just really like the Mastertone style and sound, the OB-Grandee is as close as you are going to get to a real Gibson Granada for less than $7500

[@paulbienek601]

Very good honest review, dreadful pot to neck connection. Even at the price you'll find banjos with a better fix and fit! Unfortunately punters will buy it for the name, in no way should our beloved Earls name be put to that imposter banjo!

[@Handy_Mike95]

That’s gold tone sounds much better

[@luminawarren8132]

I like that you are willing to honestly expose basic banjo quality and the things that can be issues because cheap companies are terrible for trapping buyers into coerced sales. Its fraud actually.

[@jackdavis7841]

This doesn’t hold a candle to my RK-75 Elite which is more in the price range The Scruggs would not be in the same room as my prewar Gibson style 3! I’m sure Earl is in fact rolling in his grave😢 Thanks for a very honest evaluation.

[@kylemoran4343]

I'm a guitar picker, but own a cheap banjo gifted to me by my brother in law (RIP Morgan) years ago. It probably cost about $500 and is well put together for the money (I did have to shave the bridge). I laughed so hard at the neck joint on that Epi, SPACERS/WASHERS !! Who ever designed or engineered that neck joint and angle doesn't know how the strings oscillate along the length of the neck. No matter what stringed instrument it is, that thing will never play proper ! Sláinte

[@williamwoods4120]

Is the set-up on the banjo the same as when it came out of the box? Did you alter the set-up from the factory? I am sure there are many that are disappointed in the poor quality of this banjo after so much anticipation of the release of this banjo.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@williamwoods4120 both these banjos came directly from the manufacturer and feature factory setups. The Epiphone is totally in shambles and really isn’t able to be set up.

[@Celticman197]

The Vega line of Earl Scruggs models also were barely playable and had major issues. Scruggs knew about them in the early 60's.

[@luminawarren8132]

Instrument companies like to come off that there are multiple factories going on when in actuality there is one plant building many brand names. Japan did this when iida in the 70s built multitides of brand names under one roof. Fender, alvarez, aria, morris, GTR, iida all built by Teruo iidas leadership. It saves money and is what companies are made of. Saving money.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 well luckily that is not the case here. Two separate factories.

[@luminawarren8132]

@@stevenarms2879 yes possibly however Scott supervises all those factories going back and forth in between its most likely something Scott influenced them to build.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 I’m not sure who Scott is. But he has NOTHING to do with Gold Tone.

[@luminawarren8132]

@@stevenarms2879 Im pretty sure he is the one who advised them to use the JLS tone ring in the "plus" end twanger. He pushes those rings. His desert rose banjos use the same ring. He may not be a GT employee but he is a floating contract consultant and he knows and has been in all the chinese factories. He also was hired by Greg to do the work for all of the recording kings. He does floating pay per build contract work w all of them. He also denies half the consulting he does so he wont get sued and he likes to attack his competition to promote his personal brand and sales. He also gets very jealous when he is told he is wrong and not telling the truth. He would most likely deny everything im saying here and call me an idiot to cover himself.

[@NemoNepersonne]

This is still much better than an Epiphone mandolin.

[@luminawarren8132]

Hey buddy here are a few comments researched off the hangout. Ill still call this new banjo " Banjo Bait " junk made for the sole purpose of tripping people into spending their money. "Trademark search USPTO shows Gold Tone as the owner of the Mastertone trademark. Also the Potter Violin Co. owns it. Gibson is not mentioned." "Gold Tone knocked off the Price patent tailpiece. They got caught and were forced to "license" it. That patent has expired and one may procure these from any Chinese vendor for barely any money. At one time they were on Aliexpress for just a few bucks shipped."

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 the new banjo from Epiphone is definitely banjo bait

[@garyhopkins4863]

I ordered one from Epiphone. My experience was similar. The heel cut was terribly botched. There was no way to make it work without grafting wood onto the heel and completely recutting and fitting the neck to the rim. There were cheap steel washers on the hooks. It was a true piece of trash.

[@TheRycooder]

How can you knock a $1500 banjo ater conparing it to a $3000 banjo. I'ds say for the money it was not REAL FAR from the Gold tone.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@TheRycooder well, gold tone makes banjos for $189.99 that have better heel cuts than this. The Epiphone is garbage, that’s the bottom line.

[@TheRycooder]

@@stevenarms2879 TY, I unederstand your thoughts now.......what about a gold tone BG 150F.........Happy Thanksgiving to you and family

[@clawhammer704]

That’s the worst setup Iv ever seen on any new banjo.

[@chickenlickin3820]

Ah give it a miss..

[@charliewoot22]

Sad Gibson would have went ahead with such a terribly built banjo. And if they were going to release this garbage at least have the decency to leave Earls name off it and price it much much lower.

[@Stanleytone-04]

Truly awful. 😣

[@luminawarren8132]

I highly doubt that is a Gibson. Its a chinese built gold tone. "Banjo Bait " Watch out for companies who build " banjo bait ". They make one or two high quality banjos the ones that sellers play in the videos and the rest that customers buy have lower quality banjos and tone rings that weigh only 2 lbs. They do this to trap buyers into money. Gold Tone knockoff by the same chinese company. Tailpiece is goldtone no one makes those except them. Most likely Scott Zimmermans propagation of his own marketing. Possibly brass plating. You would have to break it down completely weigh the tone ring if its close to 2 lbs the tone ring is junk. You can also do a metal spectrum analysis to see if its really brass or zinc aluminum. (This is an edit because I see that you did do a magnet test and it is a steel ring which Gold Tone does make these.) An aluminum zinc ring would not hit w a magnet. The base power of any banjo will be a 3lb tone ring. The rim can even be off some but a good tone ring will over power it. Most rims will even breathe, move around, expand. A banjo neck needs to move around some it helps the neck vibrate.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 you are 100% irrefutably incorrect. The epiphone banjos are NOT built in the same Chinese factory as goldtone. Two totally different factories.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 that tailpiece is actually not a gold tone design. It’s a Gary Price straightline design, modeled after the old Kershners and ODE tails. Gold tone DID make some of those tails, and China has began mass producing them and passing the designs around. But the fact still stands, Epiphone is NOT using Gold Tones factory. I know this to been 100% factual.

[@luminawarren8132]

Even if its not a Gold Tone they stole that tailpiece from them. Weigh the tailpiece w a Gold tone if weighs the same it came from the same plant. China wouldnt have multiple casting machines its too expensive. The Price tailpiece is cast totally different and Gold Tone knocked it off from Gary. The Price has sharper edges. Im almost sure its a Scott Zimmerman knock off. This is a China banjo it has all the specs. Scott did all the work for the Gold Tone upgrades. Scott swears that China only has these factories Recording King and Gold Tone/Gold Star take it up w Scott however be careful Scott gets very jealous over his builds and likes to trash talk his competition.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 also there is absolutely no use in doing a metallurgical analysis because the tone ring is magnetic. That means it is steel.

[@stevenarms2879]

@@luminawarren8132 banjo necks also should not move around. They should be stationary, but they should not be tightened down so much that it stifles the vibration of the neck, but they should not move.