Initial Review of the Recording King Elite RK75

[@mwestmo]

Awesome review! I love my RK-R35-BR with Madison Tone Ring. And yes, I want one of those too.

[@Meyou10245]

Me too!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks ☺️

[@jimmcalister5480]

I have an Rk 80 and a RK 25. I love em both . I have one one lower level and one on upper level. At almost 81 I want one handy. Just picked up your Double Banjo Blues. I started couple of years ago and wish I would have picked up banjo when I was younger.

[@JimPankey]

Awesome! Both the 80 and the 25 are great banjos!

[@lovemydog440]

I'm still happy with my recording king. Once I get better I might try to get another one. But at least I'm practicing more now!

[@JimPankey]

Awesome!

[@kennybryson6542]

Sounds great!! I think Recording King definitely offers the best bang for the buck right now with banjo’s.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks. Yep, have to agree.

[@flycavsgopro9658]

Thank you for the review. I’m in the market for an upgrade from my beginner banjo (Mastercraft) and this is now definitely on the short list.

[@JimPankey]

Very welcome!

[@peterjohnson724]

I know you Jim. This is the shiniest it will ever be! 😂

[@JimPankey]

Truth!

[@danjocoy9536]

I'm looking at a RK-76 right now. Same banjo as what you are demo-ing except inlay. I am thinking of getting the 76 as I have a 1980 RB-250 which sounds awesome but it real heavy. Thank you for this Jim -

[@JimPankey]

The Elite will be as heavy as the 80s 250, if that’s gonna matter.

[@DJWhiteDevil]

I was originally looking at buying an RK-75 but because of the price range and wife thinking this was just a temporary fad, I opted to get a cheap $250 banjo from amazon to practice and learn on and love it. Will be investing into an rk-75 hopefully in the new year or 2

[@JimPankey]

Nothing wrong with getting a feel for it on a budget instrument first. It'll make you really appreciate the 75. :)

[@ariannea3]

I was looking for an elite 75 before buying an RK-80 on marketplace. Love the tone on this one too !

[@JimPankey]

I love the RK80s

[@pauldrummond225]

That looks like a really nice banjo and it sounds great. I rate the recording king banjo's and I like the flying eagle variations on the neck on that banjo. Cheers Jim.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks. 😊

[@dominiqueguillotin130]

Hello, i have a RK 75 i have change the bridge and use a 5/8" Snuffy smith bridge. i change the tailpiece and use a Prucha Kershner tailpiece and i change the brige of the 5 string who was made of plastique for a bone one. The sound is really better.

[@senorsenior9546]

Yep. Looks and sounds great, and the price is right. I've got a Deering "John Hartford," which I love. It's a fantastic banjo, but it was pretty pricey. I still have my 1970s vintage old Fender "Leo" as well.

[@JimPankey]

Sounds like you’ve got some solid choices. 😀

[@peterjohnson724]

I love it! Sounds great.

[@JimPankey]

Glad you like it!

[@bruc0220]

Thanks for the review Jim. Do you notice a difference in fretting chords either up or down the neck due to the longer scale length? Is it much of an adjustment compared to playing your RK35 for example?

[@JimPankey]

No one I’ve ever handed it to without telling them the scale length is different has ever noticed.

[@bruc0220]

@@JimPankey Thanks

[@blakejackson4483]

YEAH WOOO KILLER NICE SHINEY WOOOO

[@JimPankey]

😁

[@jojoberrypie6580]

Pretty fancy.

[@JimPankey]

☺️

[@davidtharp5533]

Hey Jim, what would you recommend for a maple banjo that approached the tone of Earl Scruggs’ banjo, if you could spend only around $15-1800? Is there such a thing in a Recording King model, or maybe a Gold Tone? I value your opinion, thanks.

[@JimPankey]

Recording King RK-35

[@davidtharp5533]

@@JimPankey Thanks again!

[@davidtharp5533]

@@JimPankey I feel like a real dummy! I just saw your 2 year review of your RK-35.

[@iangallacher6396]

Hey Jim I just checked my calendar it's not 25th of December 😂😂

[@JimPankey]

[checks calendar] hey, you’re right!! 😆

[@edjemx]

Going to pick up a second hand banjo this sunday, already got me some picks and a tuner. Al ready to go with your banjo lessons. 53y now and never played any instrument at all, lets see how that works out. 😅 Butt with the advise of Jim...I can't play the banjo...yet 😉

[@JimPankey]

You’re gonna do great!!

[@davidtharp5533]

Do you like the mahogany over the sound of maple? Why do so many want the tone of Earl Scruggs’ maple Gibson banjo? I have a 1986 Washburn B-19 which is mahogany, but I don’t think it sounds very good.

[@JimPankey]

I've always been a maple fan, but this mahogany banjo sounds good. Do I prefer maple? Probably, but I'd be very content with this if it was my only banjo.

[@danawalker55]

Nice banjo!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks ☺️

[@flycavsgopro9658]

What is your favorite banjo that you own…from a sound perspective, not a sentimental perspective?

[@JimPankey]

The main reason I have so many is they all sound different. There are things about each that I like, so I don't think I could choose a favorite. Frankly, if I could I'd sell everything and just play that one.

[@timwei3771]

Great video, it really seems to be a great Banjo. Are they availabe at the moment? I live in Germany and I have ordered one through a large online store a little more than a year ago and the delivery date keeps being pushed back because Recording King does not deliver them. They seem to be out of stock at every other distributer in the European Union as well. I wrote Recording King directly at the beginning of the year and they said they expect a restocking in the EU at about June, which apparently did not happen and they did not answer me, when I asked them for an update on the time frame recently. It is a shame because I really would love to have one of those...

[@JimPankey]

I’ve checked with RK to see what the status is for European sales. Hopefully I can have an answer soon.

[@timwei3771]

@@JimPankey Thank you Jim, I really appreciate it

[@gordonsellenartist174]

That's a Beauty🤩

[@JimPankey]

Ain’t it?? 😄

[@Planet_APE]

I like it😂

[@JimPankey]

Me too 😁

[@sillywwabbit]

I bought the RK75 a couple of months ago as my second banjo. I'm using a 5/8" Snuffy smith bridge. I also purchased a set of Rickard Cyclone 10:1 tuning pegs that I'll swap out when its time to replace the strings. My OCD kicks in when strings are even slightly out of tune and I feel that the stock pegs don't provide the precision I want. My other banjo is a 1975 Baldwin Ode 6510 Arch top. The RK75 is definitely a big step up in quality, tone and playability, though the Ode isn't bad either. I'm very happy with the RK75. Question for Jim: How does the RK75 compare to a Stelling? There's an opportunity to pick up a 1997 Stelling Golden Cross and was wondering if there is enough difference to justify adding it to my collection. Thanks in advance!

[@JimPankey]

Stelling is a totally different feel and tone. There’s nothing on the market that compares. You should go try it.

[@sillywwabbit]

@@JimPankey I was afraid that you were going to say that :)

[@sillywwabbit]

@@JimPankey Well Jim, I listened to you and now I own that 1979 Stelling Golden Cross banjo. I put a new set of strings on it and it does have a complex tone - hard to describe but I like it! This is also the first time I've seen a compensated nut. :)

[@JimPankey]

@sillywwabbit yeah, most of Geoff’s banjo have the compensated but (very few exceptions). It’s a great solution to a real problem.

[@NBA2050]

Very cool.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks 😊

[@banjodaze]

oooo that is a beauty

[@JimPankey]

Ain’t it?? 😁

[@bdixon1]

Thanks for the video... Do you not think the Gold Tone Twanger is comparable in quality/sound/etc? It's the same price point

[@JimPankey]

I have a choice as to what I play, and I’m choosing RK. For me the RK wins out on tone as well as feel.

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

How old is this particular banjo u r reviewing? Ive been thinking about purchasing one...BTW I have a RK-R25, with no tone ring, of course...sounds good...a testament to recording King rims.

[@JimPankey]

Brand new. Literally took it out of its shipping material on August 10, 2024.

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

I dont suppose you would be willing to sell that M5? I cant find one anywhere...

[@JimPankey]

They didn’t make many of the M5s. I have no plan to sell it.

[@jackdublanica]

What type of strings are on the Elite? I use Stelling 10-12-14-22-10 and National finger picks. If they were good enough for Earl, they are definitely good enough for me.

[@JimPankey]

Currently running labellas amzn.to/3zdORG8

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

Does the Elite have a wider nut than the RK35?

[@JimPankey]

No

[@ГригорийМелихов-с8г]

Hello Jimmy. I have some for your new video. Can you make a video dedicated to how to tune a banjo correctly? Anyway, there are beginners here who want to learn how to tune a banjo correctly, but they don't know from whom. I know that you can help them with this. I am looking forward to new video tutorials from you.

[@JimPankey]

Tuning Your New Banjo - I can help! kzbin.info/www/bejne/noOyh6h_qJVrqdk