Recording King RK-50 submitted 3/25/2008 Submitter jamie_t123 Where Purchased internet Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound I play clawhammer style in a stringband/bluegrass/oldtime band. I wanted a nice clean balanced tone without to much sharp attack etc. With a bit of set up work, this one hits the nail on the head. I wanted the resonator to get some volume to keep up with the band..this was a good choice with no tone ring..a nice woody sound louder than my openbacks..sweet toned Sound Rating 9 Setup I was set up fine for BG...took it apart and re-set it up for my style.. Setup Rating 9 Appearance a very nice looking jo. overall finsh is nice. Appearance Rating 9 Reliability even the tuners are decent....thought they would be worse...I normally change them out 1st thing...but these work OK Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service They were very nice....sent me a hat! Customer Service 9 Components probably the tuners at some point....maybe the tailpiece at some point..but no complaints Components Rating 9 Overall Comments I really like this one and look forward to giging with it. will be a different sound for me... Overall Rating 9

Recording King california rk-12 submitted 12/19/2007 Submitter jamie_t123 Where Purchased e-bay store-new Year Purchased 2007 Price Paid 500 ($US) Sound Changed out the bridge and brought the action up to 3/32. sounds nice now. play clawhammer style...but heard it scruggs style and it sounded nice too.. Sound Rating 8 Setup bit on the low side and the neck was twisted out of joint..both easy fixes Setup Rating 8 Appearance Really an eyecatcher. get's a lot of compliments and folks wanting to try it out. poly is a bit thick looking, but it will outlive the roach kingdom after nuclear war. Pretty wood, the walnut is different and nice looking. Appearance Rating 9 Reliability No worries here either. did not have to swap anything out. I play in a band so this gets a fair amount of road time and play time...not worried about it crapping out on me...just bring my basic tools/spares like I do for anything I play. Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service never contacted, did the set up work myself...they have a great website tho....warranty seems fair. Doubt I'll ever need it.. Customer Service 8 Components the tuners work, will probably swap out in a year or so for grovers. Rest looks and works just fine thank you. Does have the rolled brass tone ring by the way... Components Rating 8 Overall Comments Nice banjo at a great price. Had been playing another brand for years, but very glad I bought this one...fit and finsih is nice, sounds great, have some pride of ownership with it...we've become friends! It it were stolen, I would harvest the organs of the thief, sell them, and buy another one...probably go with the deluxe next time just because... Overall Rating 9

Saga SS-10 Open Back submitted 10/15/2007 Submitter jamie_t123 Where Purchased Elderly Year Purchased 2007 Price Paid 325 ($US) Sound A fiberskin head and a Grover bridge make it just what I was looking for...did not even try out the original equipment Sound Rating 9 Setup tore it apart when I got it, but it was easy to set up on the rebuild Setup Rating 8 Appearance The other reason, besides changing the head, that I tore it apart. I polished out the rather life less finish with McGuires scratch x and found a very nice looking neck underneath the flat poly spray on finish. Really, really helps the overall look of the banjo...pretty easy job on this banjo...hand rubbed, did not need to use the buffer Appearance Rating 8 Reliability replaced the original tuners with Goto's..the hooks etc. are OK..not great Reliability Rating 7 Customer Service Good website etc....Elderly great as always Customer Service 9 Components Love the overall look, feel and playability now....replace the tuners, the head, polish the finish and it goes from looking like a $325 banjo to looking like a great banjo Components Rating 9 Overall Comments Went from OK to WOW after some very easy upgrades...I would be very upset if this were stolen and would replace it with the same model and upgrades Overall Rating 9

Gold Tone Maple Mountain MM-150 submitted 8/30/2006 Submitter jamie_t123 Where Purchased FQMS Year Purchased 2006 Price Paid 591 ($US) Sound I really was quite taken back by the tone. I sit and play for hours. The tone, while very different from my bluegrass banjo, is very haunting and pleasant Sound Rating 9 Setup Outstanding set up Setup Rating 10 Appearance I think that the wood grain and finish is very lovely...not the fanciest Banjo in the world, but it is a mountain open back, so I really prefer that it is'nt. Appearance Rating not rated Reliability So far so good, I can't see anything that would lead me to believe that there would be a problem Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service Got a nice thank you note from the owner after I e-mailed in the warranty information. Customer Service 10 Components Don't see any areas of concern, all seems nice, esp. for the price paid. Components Rating 9 Overall Comments Yes, I would recommend. If stolen I would consider the same model, but might try a BC-350. I do love it, I think of it when I'm away from it. My favorite feature is the simple, but very pretty look of the instrument. Very happy with it. Overall Rating 9

FQMS Jim in phone sales submitted 8/30/2006 Submitter jamie_t123 Where Purchased fqms Year Purchased 2006 Price Paid Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound Sound Rating not rated Setup Setup Rating not rated Appearance Appearance Rating not rated Reliability Reliability Rating not rated Customer Service Jim really went out of his way to make sure that I got the right model, and on time for a Saturday night Jam...thanks! Customer Service 10 Components Components Rating not rated Overall Comments Overall Rating not rated