Costway Sonart 5 String Geared Tunable Banjo 24 Brackets Closed Back Remo Head w/ Case

Took a little bit for the drum head to settle in but after that it plays great! Make sure you set it up right though, I\'ve never had a banjo so it took me a little bit to figure everything out.

I bought it for parts, I needed hooks and shoes in a hurry and this was the only way to get them in time for what I was doing. For being as cheap as it was though, it's a legit banjo. I played it a good while before I stripped it and it played well. It's the sort of banjo you get when you don't know if you're going to actually be interested in banjos or you're a guitarist who just wants one around to mess with and it's fine. The gig bag is ok too, but the tuner and finger picks are no good at all

It's an all maple banjo that feels and sounds similar to the more expensive Deering Goodtime. You'll have to do some setup but it's a very decent banjo for the price.

I ordered what I thought was going to be a cheap banjo to take with me to the woods camping, that I wouldn't be too sad if it gets a little beat up. (Because hey... It's the woods. Am I right?) This is definitely not the case. When I opened the box to inspect it, I was blown away with its beautiful finish. Besides the bridge it was completely set up and adjusted. I checked the pot tensioners and placed the bridge, and she tuned right up! Great tone and action! If you do order this banjo I would however recommend getting a nice set of strings too, because almost every instrument comes with cheap strings and this was no exception. The only bummer is now I have to take care of her because for the money you probably will not find a better banjo. Well done Mulucky! Very pleasantly surprised.

I wasn't too sure given the price, but I took a chance. I used to play banjo and know what they are supposed to feel like. I wanted an open back and took a chance on this one. Everything is great. The neck angle is fine. The action is comfortably low. I can play all the way up the neck without buzzing. My goal was to see if I wanted to pick up the instrument again, so I didn't want to invest much. This surpassed my expectations. The neck is smooth to my hand. The fret edges are filed smooth. The tuning machines hold well. There is a plastic measuring piece that sits on the neck so you can figure out where you should set the bridge. The bridge is one of the heaviest I have seen, but it does the job and sounds good. So that is the point. They don't tell you to put the angled side facing the fingerboard, so it took me a moment to remember that. That is to keep the bridge from tipping as you tune. There is a set of extra strings that was wound up so tight and unmarked I just tossed them. It would be hard for a beginner to figure out which string goes where. So if you are a beginner, pick up an extra set or two of strings to keep around. You will likely over tighten an pop a string. It happens to us all. The gigbag is a nice fit and they include the tools you might need to adjust the tension of the neck should you need to. But I did not need to. The tuner works. Overall it is an excellent beginners banjo. Throw the picks away. They are laughably bad. But I sort of expected them to be. I did not open the strap. So no comment on that.

I can't say express how excited I am to finally own my very first Banjo!!!!! I gotta say this one In particularly got me the minute I saw the style and material used for it. I am a 100% beginner never played a banjo in my life but I gotta say the way this one is designed so Beautifully and the care the manufacturer took to protect & secure it was impeccable hats off. Comes completely set up great accessories. I have to say this is a definite must buy plus Great price. I will most definitely add more pictures videos

I have to add my voice to the others praising this banjo. Of course, this is just a first impression. Things like instruments will either live up to the initial rush or not. This banjo arrived pretty much set up perfectly except for tuning, which I did not expect anyway. Out of the box it took about five minutes to tune (using a Snark, which I recommend) and since I am not a beginner (or a professional) I was able to pick out a tune almost immediately. All strings will take a while to settle in, and this is no exception. But after an initial "break in" period, it seems to hold tune well. Intonation up the neck is good as well. This has been a bane of my experience with inexpensive banjos. Glad to see it doesn't seem to be an issue here. I would recommend this banjo to anyone just starting out, or who wants to add a banjo "voice" to an existing repertoire without having to invest in a five hundred and up banjo. The geared fifth string works well and I am glad to have it, having dealt with friction tuners in the past. I'll be back to update this as I experience this instrument more. UPDATE: It's eight months or so later. I still like this banjo and I'm learning a lot. I'm also learning that better banjos ARE worth the money. I played a really pricey banjo (an ODE) and wow, is there ever a difference. So, this one is good to learn on, but if you have a chance to play a really good banjo, that may spoil ya. UPDATE: I still think this banjo is excellent, although I wouldn't put light gauge strings on it. I did put some LGS on it and it changed the tone completely. Light gauge also tended to buzz as well. I'll be going back to medium gauge, which is what I'm sure the banjo came with, they just felt more substantial. Of course LGS will be easier to "choke" and bend, but you'll pay in terms of tone and that buzzing. Anyway, the banjo is fine. But I'm getting the itch for a more upscale one already. UPDATE: As I expected I have outgrown this (I was guitar player for many years, finger-picking so the rolls came more easily it seems. I'm no prodigy by any means, but I've advanced to intermediate more quickly than some) and am buying a Huber Workhorse or equivalent soon. I will relegate this banjo to the "clawhammer" style that I'm going to tackle next. Oh, one thing. This banjo DOES NOT have a tone ring so it will NEVER sound as good as a banjo with one, unless you like a duller sound. (Some people do, for clawhammer and the like.) FURTHER UPDATE: Forget what I said about a duller sound for clawhammer. That was foolish. Get a decent banjo for both. I still stand by this as a good beginner banjo, but if you have a real love for the banjo you'll quickly outgrow it.

Liked: * High-quality look (beautiful polished wood back and neck) * Good sound * Holds tuning well * Lowest priced, best value real banjo on Internet and in stores * Shipped by UPS with no damage, arrived in perfect condition from several states away * 5-stringed (don't get the 4 string, because eventually you'll want the 5 string anyways, and it's easy enough to play it as if it were a 4-string without the high drone 5th string because it's set slightly lower than the plane of the other four) * Resonator or closed-back design is louder, better than open-backed banjos, very loud, strong sound * I found it straightforward to learn basic skills with my guitar background(it's string tunings and configuration are different, but techniques are similar) * Not too heavy (some banjos I've picked up felt like a sack of bricks) * Comes with chord chart printed on a piece of paper, a tuning guide with a piano for reference (for most common G-tuning or gDGBD), a diagram of the banjo parts, and a little tool * Neck and string spacing is not to narrow, it's standard Disliked: * Some frets may be a slightly off (I tuned it, but fretting the 5th fret produces a noticeably sharp note that my tuner confirms), or perhaps the bridge is misplaced by a millimeter or two on mine, but I'm not experienced enough to precisely place it for accurate notes-playing all the way up the neck. However, this is not a big deal as you only notice if you have a good ear for pitches, and for the price it's to be expected. * The tuning peg for the highest drone string that's halfway up the neck is really hard to turn, and doesn't turn smoothly like the other 4 tuners on the head. Conclusion: * Buy it. If you want a low-priced, good-quality banjo to start learning and continue playing for years, this is a good find. * I'm very happy with my banjo, and I don't foresee any repairs needed, and I don't expect to feel the need to upgrade to a pricier instrument. * I d also recommend buying a banjo strap, finger picks, a clip-on tuner for guitars/banjos, and possibly a beginner banjo book to get started.

This is a great banjo! Amazing Quality in all areas of construction, playability & sound! I'm a teacher and professional player. I purchased this instrument as a 'knock around camping ' banjo. I am extremely happy with the unexpected high end construction and the low cost! It compares well with banjos double its price. The maker takes great pride in providing an instrument that will serve the test of time. It is packed for shipping with the greatest care and needs no set up other than a tuning tweak to be playable out of the box. The vulnerable, chrome areas are sealed and the fretboard covered to protect the beauty in shipping. I am highly recommending this banjo to both my beginning students & those advanced that want a backup instrument! Thank you!

Please keep in mind my 5 star review has not one thing to do with this product but the 50th birthday happiness it brought my hubby

Wow, I really like this banjolele. It is actually my second banjolele. I have been a fan of ukuleles made by Donner for about 15 months now (I have owned and played 4 of them, and all of them were just amazing values for price and great quality), so when I began wishing for a banjolele, I was really hoping that Donner would have one available. After months of waiting and hoping, and both my husband and I doing some research, he gave me a banjolele from another company for Christmas. Just letting you know that for point of reference. It is not from a famous brand, but it is one of a few that we had narrowed down to from research over affordable options, and the company which made it seemed very similar to Donner, which had been so good to me thus far, so…we took a chance. And that banjolele is wonderful. Again―just sharing for point of reference for this detailed review. I was so excited to hear that Donner now had a banjolele available, so I immediately took the opportunity to purchase one and try it out! And how fun that I could now compare as well. The Donner banjolele has a wonderful "plunky" sound, as a banjo should. The drum head has the Remo logo on it, which is one of my qualifications for what I desire in a banjolele, though the skin is a flat white matte, which was surprising to me, as my other banjolele has a Remo skin that has that sort of mottled look to it. Honestly, I don't notice a difference other than appearance in that respect. This banjolele set comes with a decent gig bag: sturdy material, some padding (so-to-speak, so it is not one of those thin gig bags that feels like a windbreaker jacket), but not quite as awesome as some of the gig bags that came with some of my Donner traditional ukes. I wouldn't mind a more spacious pocket. It comes with the Donner tuner as all Donner ukes do, which is my favorite tuner. I received another tuner with another brand of uke, and it has been less than pleasing…so glad that I have the occasion to know the difference! The set also comes with an extra pair of strings (but they are not labeled as to which one is which?), picks, a truss rod, and a strap---however the strap might be meant for a guitar or regular sized banjo. It is too long for me even when tightened all of the way. Decent quality, just doesn't serve my purposes. Granted, I am a petite 5'1'', but with all of my other ukes, the straps that come with them have been fine. Also, just so you know, one needs to have 2 small strings or ribbons in order to connect the strap to the banjolele (by looping them through the holes at the end of the strap). It's not an exciting strap, either. Black canvas with fake brown suede/leather ends, but for the right person, it will do the trick, and honestly some of the straps that come with other instruments, ones with crazy patterns- they probably don't please everyone either. I have been known to buy a particular strap for a particular instrument just because I wanted it to be more "me". What the set lacked in my case was the special tool for measuring where to set up the bridge, or alternatively, instructions for how to measure without that special see-thru tool that one usually sees with these types of banjolele sets. I found out later that there *should* have been a tool included. Luckily, I had one from my other banjolele, and though they have slightly different lengths of neck/fretboard, etc, when I double-checked using the manual measurement method, it actually came out the same. Interesting. As for comparison, the Donner banjolele drum is about ? inch deeper than my other banjolele, and the neck is slightly thicker. I was surprised at this and wondered if it would make it more difficult to play…but actually, the Donner Banjolele is quite comfortable to play! My other banjolele has a slightly brighter sound than the Donner Banjolele, but saying the Donner has a darker sound does not seem accurate…perhaps a bit richer or deeper… The neck and body of the Donner banjolele are a beautiful red wood look, smooth to the touch. I wouldn't mind a little more texture there for the feel of wood. The Black headstock is actually quite classy looking- I was not sure if I would like that or not, as my other banjolele looks a bit more rustic, but it turns out pleasing to me. I am not sure if the Donner name on the headstock is a sticker or paint. I might have expected something that was etched or punched in, like other products from Donner that I have experienced, but like I said, it is still lovely, and thus far, every Donner product that I have purchased, from ukuleles to other music accessories, has been a home run. So, I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt. I have had my banjolele for about a month now. As can be expected with any new uke (but it not always the case), the banjolele went out of tune pretty quickly in the first week or so, like literally within minutes of playing. However, recently I have realized that it has been holding tune through a 15 to 30 minute practice session, which is also what one could certainly hope for and expect from playing an instrument regularly once the strings settle down. (fyi, my first ever uke was a Donner, and it held tune well from the beginning...I was spoiled!

I bought this for my 5 year old son. He loves music and banjos. This is the perfect size for him to play with and learn ?? the sound quality is great in my opinion.

Excellent uke worth every penny

Pretty nice banjo! It looks fantastic, the hardware and setup seem pretty good. It comes without the bridge installed so you need to either take to a professional for installation, or if confident you can find tutorials online (what I did). After setting up the bridge, I set to tuning it. You'll need to use the included tool to tighten up the tuning machines, as it wouldn't stay in tune at first. The short 5th string is particularly susceptible to going out of tune. I'm a novice on banjo, so it could just be me. All in all, a good instrument - I'll have to wait and see if it stays in tune better over time. Most instruments require time for the strings to stretch a bit and to adjust to climate of where you're using it. It's a fun way to get into a new genre. I can't comment if it's good for experts, but as an entry-level banjo it's a great option. Comes with a bunch of accessories, including a very nice case and strap. I would have liked some finger picks instead of the pack of flat picks, but I plan to pick up on my own. Give it a try if you need a good banjo at an affordable cost.

This is a really wonderful little banjo uke. The price is so low everyone should have one. It looks more expensive than it is. I love the sound and it's really well made. Even a Remo head. The gig bag is quite nice, better than the one that came with my Luna uke. Comes with a decent strap, picks, tuner, extra strings template to set the bridge and adjusting tool. For those who complain about the tuning, you have to understand that these strings need to stretch out. This can take a couple of weeks. This uke is so much fun you won't regret it. This is a phenomenal value.

When looking for a banjo to get my wife for christmas this one checked all the boxes. It was reasonably priced for a beginning instrument and it came with a bunch of extras. The instrument itself doesn't sound bad, however the three picks it comes with are more for someone with bigger hands, they fit me but are too big for my wife. Also it came with 1 free month of music lessons, however on all devices we use it stated the website was unsafe, so we never got to take advantage of that. All and all after a weeks use of an hour or more a day it's been perfect couldn't of asked for a better starter banjo. Only downside were the website and the picks.

This is a great banjo which is especially for beginners but doesn't seem like a beginner's banjo. It's built well as far as we can tell, and the sound is wonderful. I bought it for my husband and now I might want one too! It came packaged well and safely. The only 2 things wrong is that it did not include an owner's manual or a battery for the electric tuner. But that's ok because I bought a beginner's book on how to play the banjo and we can buy a battery for the tuner. No big deal, just a bit inconvenient. Beautiful banjo - beautiful to look at and beautiful sound. My husband loves it!

I was surprised to see that the front of my banjo is like a drum that you play I didn't particularly care for it I fill that it maybe should be made differently than that and I would have liked it more if the wood grain would have been a little lighter than what I see and some of it I half to install myself and I fill that it should have already been done since I don't know what I'm doing I'm new to the banjo world but other than that I like it fine , I'm just saying, and it did come with extra things i got a nice black bag i like that fine and it,s fancy to with straps a handle and all i got picks for my fingers extra strings and a brigge and a cloth for keeping it clean a balancing tool to keep it in tune and a few other things that i do appreciate and I got all this for a rill good price that other wise I would have had to buy it and it would have been a separate purchase and more money but with this set for one small price i got everything that has now put my pocket book to rest and my mind so I just want to say thanks and shipping was fast even though the box that it was in was torn up and it had been taped up but who ever did that absolutely done a tacky job but after inspecting the contents in side I seen that everythings fine so any ways thanks a bunch . MERRY CHRISTMAS !!! AND HAPPY NEW Years! ok....ok {thank you }. ? ?.

so far the banjo itself was very beautiful and seems to play nice. the first issue to come up was the 4th banjo string. it seemed to be overtight and when i tried to tune it, it snapped, there was no warning whatsoever. i did ended up using the extra 4 string that came with and did my best to restring it but since im new to this i dont think i did the best job. I will buying higher quality string from somewhere else the next issue is the banjo picks, they are simply too large and difficult to use. the thumb pick is probably the worst. it is solid steel and thick for it purposes and too large. i had to use pliers to bend it into a usable form. I will have to purchase newer picks from a different source. the third issue is the banjo sling as it is small and uncomfortable to wear and the rough fabric scratches the neck. very cheap and will need to be replaced. the fourth issue is the bag is cheap and sort of small for the banjo , the banjo will go in it simply too much a tight fit. i will keep since there no other bags that seemed reasonably priced. the banjo tuner is pretty nice that is a given, although the battery being included would've been nice. overall i wouldn't buy again and i would wish to return for my money but unfortunately this the only option i have to economically afford a banjo as i live in a rural area. EDIT: I was recently in contact with the company, and they have been really receptive and apologetic. for the poor quality of the first banjo. they have graciously sent me a replacement banjo and parts and by inspecting the strings it seems to be perfect order and not one was damaged nor snapped when i tried to tune. i must note that the new banjo sounds even better that the original one! the banjo picks are still awkward to use, however this new pair are more comfortable and more usable than the previous. i will keep them as trusty back up. the carrying bag seems better and the banjo can actually fit. although the banjo sling is still probably the worst part. its simply too rough on the neck but it will do the jobs as intended. all-in-all the folks from ADM really showed some high-quality service which is something i really value. I wouldn't mind doing more shopping with them in the future.

Head needed to ne tightened. I put wrapped classical guitar strings on it an octave lower than typical uke. Had to modify the tail piece to accomodate the strings, but that's o.k. Great instrument, really unbelievable for the price. I really like the neck, just a narrower than regular uke.