Recording King Banjos

Recording King banjos bring pre-war Gibson style to modern prices. The modern line was designed by Greg Rich, and the name goes back to the 1930s banjos Gibson built for Montgomery Ward.

Which Recording King series fits you

Dirty 30s. Simple, light and affordable, with a vintage look. A good first banjo.

Songster and Madison. Step-up banjos with better hardware. The Madison resonator models add a tone ring for more power.

Elite. Recording King’s top bluegrass banjos, built to compete with much pricier instruments.

Recording King banjo series

Elite. The RK-Elite-75 (Flying Eagle inlay) and RK-Elite-76 (Hearts & Flowers inlay) are the top bluegrass models, with mahogany resonators and necks, a cast bell brass tone ring, a one-piece flange and a steam-bent 3-ply maple rim. A maple Elite gives a brighter, more cutting voice.

Madison. The RK-R35 (maple) and RK-R36 (mahogany) use the same rim and hardware as the Elite, with a “Mastertone”-style bell brass tone ring and plainer trim. The R35 is bright and punchy, the R36 warmer. Open-back Madisons suit old-time and clawhammer players.

Dirty 30s and Songster. The RK-R20 Songster shares its tailpiece, armrest, brackets and tuners with the Madison. The Dirty 30s resonator, open back and tenor models keep the vintage look at beginner prices.

Signature. The Carl Jackson “Lonesome Dove” model was developed with the Grammy-winning player.

The Recording King story

From 1929 to 1943, Recording King was Montgomery Ward’s house brand, and Gibson built its banjos. That is why vintage Recording Kings are prized by collectors, and John Fahey played a 1939 Recording King.

In 2007 The Music Link revived the name with banjos designed by Greg Rich, who built banjos for Gibson in the 1980s and later co-founded Rich & Taylor. His specifications shaped the cast tone rings, one-piece flanges and steam-bent rims across the modern line.

Where Recording King Stands in 2026

The Music Link, the company that revived Recording King in 2007 and oversaw the modern Greg Rich line, closed in 2025 and later entered bankruptcy proceedings. St. Louis Music, the established American distributor behind Alvarez guitars, purchased the Recording King and The Loar trademarks and global distribution rights and is now approaching its first full year with the brands. Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Recording King dealer under St. Louis Music.

We’ll address something directly, because some of our customers have seen it discussed online: there has been public disagreement involving the brand’s former designer, Greg Rich, about how the trademarks changed hands during The Music Link’s closure. We are a banjo shop, not a party to that dispute, and we are not in a position to adjudicate trademark history, so we won’t pretend to. Greg Rich has our respect for the instruments he designed, and he has since taken a design role with Gold Tone, another brand we carry proudly. St. Louis Music has our confidence as a distributor, based on what we can verify ourselves: the instruments arriving at our shop.

And here is what we can tell you firsthand. The dispute does not change a single screw on any Recording King banjo in existence. The banjos shipping today, including the ones in our shop, are the established designs described on this page, with the same components and the same tone. Our first shipments under St. Louis Music arrived in July 2026, and we have been impressed with what came out of the boxes. St. Louis Music has also told its dealers that it has invested in improved finishing, and the instruments we have received are consistent with that. Every new Recording King we sell carries the manufacturer’s warranty through St. Louis Music, and behind that, our own guarantee: we stand behind every banjo that leaves our shop, and we answer the phone about it. If you have a question about a specific instrument, call us and we will give you a straight answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Recording King still in business?

Yes. The Music Link, which revived Recording King in 2007, closed in 2025, and St. Louis Music, the American distributor behind Alvarez guitars, purchased the trademarks and global distribution rights. St. Louis Music is now distributing Recording King instruments and is bringing new production online deliberately. Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Recording King dealer under St. Louis Music.

Are the Recording King banjos you sell affected by the change?

No. The Recording King banjos we stock are the established modern designs, with components, build, and tone exactly as described on this page. New instruments carry the manufacturer’s warranty through St. Louis Music.

I’ve seen posts online about a dispute over the Recording King brand. Should that affect my purchase?

No, and here’s an honest accounting of why. There has been public disagreement involving the brand’s former designer about how the trademarks were transferred when The Music Link closed. We can’t verify or adjudicate any of that, and we won’t take sides. What we can verify is the instrument itself: the Recording King banjos shipping today are the established Greg Rich era designs with the same components and tone described on this page, and every new instrument carries the manufacturer’s warranty through St. Louis Music. You are buying a banjo, not a trademark filing, and the banjo is exactly what it was. If anything about a specific instrument concerns you, call us before you buy and we will talk it through honestly.

Were Recording King banjos made by Gibson?

The originals were. From 1929 to 1943, Recording King was Montgomery Ward’s house brand and Gibson built the banjos, which is why vintage Recording Kings are prized by collectors. The modern brand, revived in 2007 and designed by Greg Rich, honors those instruments but is a separate company.

Who designs Recording King banjos?

The modern line was designed by Greg Rich, who built banjos for Gibson in the 1980s and later co-founded Rich & Taylor. His specifications shaped the cast tone rings, one-piece flanges, and steam-bent rims across the range. Greg Rich has since joined Gold Tone in a design role.

Where are Recording King banjos made?

Recording King banjos are made in China.

Recording King or Gold Tone?

Both make strong banjos at similar prices. Our Gold Tone vs Recording King comparison walks through the differences.

Do you have Recording King guitars too?

Yes. Recording King guitars are on our guitars page.

Out of stock on the model you want? Browse comparable value banjos under $1,000.

Ready to Discover Recording King

Browse our current selection of Recording King banjos or call or text us at 404-218-8580 or email [email protected] to discuss which Recording King model fits your playing style and budget. From the affordable Dirty 30’s series to the professional Elite models, we’ll help you find the perfect Recording King banjo.

Visit our showroom by appointment: Yellow Springs, OH (serving Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and beyond)

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