Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Deering Goodtime more playable than Deering Sierra?

#1

I’ve been playing banjo ~15 years now. For the first 10 years I played a Deering Goodtime Special, and I’ve been playing a Deering Sierra (Mahogany) for the last 5 years. I keep trying to love the Sierra, but the playability just isn’t as good as the Goodtime. I find I’m able to play much quicker on the Goodtime, and with more clarity and with less pick noise. It’s almost like the Goodtime has higher string tension somehow (though they both have medium tension strings). I did make a pretty big adjustment to the tailpiece of the Sierra and it feels better, but still not as good as the Goodtime.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can make the Sierra as playable as the Goodtime? Or are these just two different beasts? I live in Canada and the banjo selection in stores is pretty limited, so unfortunately I can’t just go around and play different banjos to compare the feel.

#2

By any reasonable measurement, the Sierra should outperform the Good Time. It sounds to me like the Sierra wasn’t set up properly. How would you compare the string action (distance between the fretboard and the strings) on the two? Have you checked the head tension?

If you haven’t already, check out this series on setting up your banjo and see if anything jumps out at you.
https://banjobenclark.com/courses/banjo-setup-with-steve-huber

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#3

Oooh, this is a good one!

I play a maple Sierra, and I have a late 70’s/early 80’s Japanese Epiphone, which I rarely play since I got the Sierra over 5 years ago.

When I do play the Epiphone, it does seem to have an easier "playability.’, until I try to push it. Then it sounds like crap.

The Sierra, which has a lower action, sometimes seems to be a tad more difficult to play, but it always sounds great. The dynamic response is better, and the overall tone is better.

Have you ever driven a genuine sports car, like a MIata MX-5? If you enjoy driving, there is something magical about a car built to be one with the road. This is how I feel about the Sierra. It’s my sports car. It corners better than anything else, it gets off the starting line quick and it makes a beautiful sound!
The Epiphone is like my old Honda hatchback. It gets you where you want to go, if the hills aren’t too steep. It doesn’t require a lot of skill and it’s not a lot of fun. But it’s reliable.

Different strokes for different folks.

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#4

Using cars as an analogy to banjos is interesting. I never thought of it that way. For years I played a Fender FB -58 that I never liked the sound of. Then I was given an Alverez Denver Belle by a co-worker and it sounded so much better. It was my sports car until this year when I finally found my dream banjo at a price I could afford and got a Gibson Earl Scruggs 49 classic. Now I can’t put it down.
But, just like cars, you can have the greatest vehicle made, but if the tires are bad, the engine has problems, or even the gas you are using is bad, it won’t be fun to drive.
Tightening the heads on my banjos, trying new bridges, changing strings, and adjusting the action has all helped make even my hatchback (Fender) sound and play a lot better.

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#5

Banjos & cars are both machines.
If they ain’t filled with computers, you can tinker with it.

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#6

I love to tinker. Maybe too much at times. :joy:

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