Banjo Warehouse is a professional banjo restoration shop in Yellow Springs, Ohio, serving players and collectors nationwide. Every used banjo we sell and every instrument a customer brings to us goes through a complete restoration before it leaves our hands. Full disassembly, deep cleaning, professional metal polishing, wood treatment, and a proper setup from scratch. Not a wipe-down. Not a quick string change. A real restoration.
I’m Geoff Hohwald. I’ve been buying, selling, and restoring banjos since 1963. Our banjo tech Tara handles the bulk of the hands-on technical work. Tara trained at the Huber Banjo factory in Hendersonville, Tennessee under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling, so the person restoring your banjo learned directly from the people who build some of the most respected professional-grade banjos in the world. Between the two of us, we’ve seen just about every condition a banjo can arrive in, and we know how to bring it back.
What Does a Professional Banjo Restoration Include?
Every restoration at Banjo Warehouse starts with complete disassembly. We don’t clean around components. We take the instrument apart so every surface gets the attention it needs. Hardware goes to the buffing wheel for a high-powered polish that removes tarnish and oxidation accumulated over years or decades. The wood gets hand-waxed to protect the finish and bring out its natural character. The fretboard is cleaned and oiled. Every banjo receives a new Remo Frosted head and a fresh set of Huber strings, and we do a full professional setup (bridge fit, head tension, coordinator rod adjustment, tailpiece, and action) before the instrument is considered done.
Depending on what the banjo needs, we may also redress the frets, repair finish damage, or address other issues we find during disassembly. We don’t cut corners because we found something extra. We fix it and tell you about it.
- ✓Complete Disassembly & Deep CleaningEvery component removed and cleaned individually.
- ✓Professional Metal PolishingHardware buffed to a brilliant shine, removing years of tarnish and oxidation.
- ✓Wood RestorationHand-waxed to protect the finish and bring out the wood’s natural character.
- ✓New Remo Frosted Head & Huber StringsFresh components on every instrument, every time.
- ✓Complete Professional SetupBridge fit, head tension, coordinator rod, tailpiece, and action done right.
- ✓Additional Work as NeededFret redressing, finish repair, or structural issues addressed and disclosed.
Watch Our Banjo Restoration Process
Our banjo tech Tara walks through the full restoration process in the video below, from disassembly and deep cleaning through metal polishing, wood treatment, and final setup. This is exactly what every banjo goes through before it leaves our shop.
How Much Does Banjo Restoration Cost?
Starting at $250
Includes new Remo Frosted head, Huber strings, and complete professional setup. Gold hardware instruments may require additional fees. Additional work (fret redressing, finish repair, structural issues) quoted before we begin. No surprises.
If your banjo has specific issues, we’ll assess it and give you a clear estimate before any work begins. We don’t start work you haven’t approved.
Do You Restore Customer Instruments or Only Banjos You Sell?
Both. Every banjo we sell goes through our full restoration process. That’s non-negotiable. But we also accept customer instruments for restoration and setup work. If your banjo needs a proper setup, a thorough cleaning, or more involved restoration work, bring it to us or ship it to our shop in Yellow Springs, Ohio. We’ll treat it the same way we treat our own inventory.
We work on instruments from all major builders, including Gibson, Huber, Stelling, Deering, Gold Tone, and vintage Japanese instruments. If you’re not sure whether your banjo is worth restoring, call Geoff at (404) 218-8580. He’ll give you an honest answer.
Why Does Professional Banjo Restoration Matter?
A neglected banjo doesn’t just look bad. It plays and sounds worse than it should. Accumulated grime on the head and tone ring dampens vibration and kills resonance. Corroded hardware affects sustain. A poorly fitted bridge or improper head tension robs even a fine instrument of its voice. Restoration addresses all of it. The banjos that come out of our shop play better, sound better, and hold their value better than when they came in.
This matters especially for vintage instruments. A prewar Gibson, a vintage Stelling, or a well-built Japanese banjo from the 1970s or 80s may have decades of neglect layered on top of what is genuinely a great instrument. Proper restoration reveals what’s actually there. Geoff has owned dozens of original five-string prewar flathead Gibson banjos and has been evaluating vintage instruments since 1963.
Want to know when restored banjos arrive?
Join the Banjo Warehouse email list for new arrivals, sale alerts, and free weekly banjo lessons from Geoff Hohwald.
Join the Email List →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ship my banjo to Banjo Warehouse for restoration?
Call us at (404) 218-8580 or email thebanjowarehouse@gmail.com before shipping and we’ll walk you through how to pack it properly and what to expect. We accept instruments from players nationwide and handle the return shipping after the work is complete.
How long does banjo restoration take?
It depends on what the instrument needs. A standard restoration with setup typically takes one to two weeks. More involved work like fret redressing or finish repair may take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline when we assess your instrument.
Can I visit the shop in Yellow Springs to drop off my banjo?
Yes. We’re located in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and serve the greater Dayton, Springfield, Xenia, and Columbus area. Call ahead at (404) 218-8580 with at least a day’s notice and we’ll make sure someone is here to receive you. You can also play anything in the shop while you’re here.
Do you work on 4-string and tenor banjos as well as 5-string?
Our focus is 5-string banjos, but contact us and describe what you have. We’re happy to discuss whether we can help with your instrument.
Do you offer a warranty on restoration work?
We stand behind our work. If something isn’t right after a restoration, call us and we’ll make it right. We do not offer warranty claims on used instruments themselves, only on the restoration and setup work performed.
Who sets up new banjos at Banjo Warehouse?
Our banjo tech Tara sets up every new and used banjo before it ships. Tara trained at the Huber Banjo factory under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling. New Gold Tone instruments also receive a factory setup in Titusville, Florida before reaching us, which means your banjo has been through two professional setups before it reaches you.
Banjo Warehouse
Yellow Springs, Ohio
(404) 218-8580 · thebanjowarehouse@gmail.com
banjowarehouse.com