Jameson Guitars 6-String Banjo Guitar with Closed Back Resonator and 24 Brackets

I already have a custom 6 string banjo that a friend and I put together over 20 years ago and wouldn't part with for any amount of money. It has a Fender Tele neck with exceptionally low action, sounds like a million dollars and is my favorite instrument to play. That said, being high strung, I'm unable to play a solo on the high strings, so I thought I would like to get another with more conventional strings. Enter this Jameson 6-String Banjo.I read all the other reviews, a summary of which is that while it's quality construction, it needs a total professional setup. When I received it yesterday, the cardboard box was badly torn, partially crushed and I expected it to be toally destroyed. Happily, somehow it was undamaged and I took it to the luthier this morning, who confirmed both the quality and the need for a total setup.Knowing your way around stringed instruments is one thing, but being a professional with over fifty years experience is quite another. I watched him work on it for two hours and I concur with other reviewers that unless you're an experienced professional, don't try to DIY.BOTTOM LINE: Fit and finish, excellent. Components, excellent, including the tuners. Sound as received, TERRIBLE!. Installed 9-42 cryogenic electric guitar strings which, as hoped, were a huge improvement both in the sound and playability. Comes with a 5/8" bridge, which is too high My guy says it needs a 1/2" bridge and we're trying to find a compensated one.So, should you buy it? As long as you're willing to spend the time and effort to buy different strings and a bridge AND have it professionally set up, ABSOLUTELY BUY IT ! It will then compare favorably with the most expensive ones on the market and you will have saved yourself many hundreds of dollars. You're welcome.

Outstanding value. Very well built, great sound. Use acoustic Nashville tuning strings to really appreciate the instrument.

Years ago a friend found an old family heirloom Banjitar that was in bad shape, and asked me to take it to a luthier for restoration. When It was done I had the opportunity to play it for a while before returning it to it's rightful owner. I enjoyed it, and thought about getting one of my own from time to time.The R.W.Jameson banjitar is the least expensive instrument of that type that I have come across. That is a little worrisome because usually you get what you pay for, but I took the chance and I'm glad I did. The Jameson Banjitar is not the most refined instrument, but it was better than I expected.When it arrived, I adjusted the bridge using the harmonics, and tuned it up with a clip on tuner. The scale length is somewhat longer than I expected, approximately 26 and 3/16". The nut is approximately 1 and 11/16" wide. The neck on mine will need a little strut rod tweak, the action is a little high, the fret ends are not smooth which I notice when moving my hand on the neck. The hardware all looks good, and the mahogany on the resonator back is impressive. It was strung with what appear to be ordinary 11 - 52 phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings. All in all it looks better and is more playable than I expected at this price.It was louder than all get out, and blaring. The only adjustment I have made so far is a wadded up Kleenex stuffed under the stringsbetween the bridge and the tail piece. That cleaned up the sound quite a bit.I bought a banjo Strap: (Neotech 5701002 Super Banjo Strap)With the strap attached to the existing "strap hooks" on the banjo body it is very top heavy. I plan to add a "strap hook" to the heel of the neck to improve the balance.I also bought a case: (Carrion C-2901 Black Hardshell 5-string Resonator Banjo Case)The case fits, but the bottom is flat and doesn't support the resonator as well as I think it should, so I took the Styrofoam ring from the box that the banjitar came in, and put it on the bottom of the case. Maybe I'll cover that with felt some day.I was at a loss for songs to play on the banjitar at first. But after a while "Mr. Bojangles", "Thunder Road", and "Freight train" just started to sound right on the banjitar.Sooner or later I'll get around to adjusting it and getting better strings, but in the mean time it's a blast to play.

Ok so this is not a Deering or a Gold Tone. It does not come set up from the factory and chances are the banjo head (drum head) will not have the appropriate tension and if you tune it up without making any adjustments, when you try to play it (especially the lower strings) it will sound dull and lifeless.If you know how, set it up as a banjo first, then put a set of GHS six string Banjo strings on it, properly mensurate the bridge, and also properly adjust the tailpiece. Doing all of this, you can get some very nice tones out of this instrument. The 1 3/4” wide nut makes this just awesome for fingerpicking and it’s a lot of fun to play but it may seem too wide for some.It is however not a 5 string banjo. Even with perfect set up and playing with finger picks you will not sound like Earl Scruggs or J.D. Crowe. You can get “banjo like” tones out of the treble strings and it certainly does very well for Irish ballads or for diversifying your sound; but if you are buying this to play bluegrass banjo you will not get the “authentic” sound you’re likely expecting. I play 5 string banjo as well and although this is a great instrument it’s not the same. If you really want that sound and feel, get a 5 string banjo and one of Geoff Hohwald’s books to learn from and practice!This banjo is a great value and it plays and sounds great once it’s set up. I really like it and I play the hell out of it. But if you’re not prepared to set it up or to pay someone to do it for you, this is likely not for you.