Deering Goodtime Special 5-String Banjo

Deering Goodtime Special 5-String Banjo: Patented Steel Tone Ring, Made in USA

The Deering Goodtime Special is a 5-string resonator banjo built around Deering’s patented Goodtime Special steel tone ring, the one part that separates it from every other Goodtime. At $1,229 and 8.75 lbs, it is the Goodtime for players who want bluegrass volume and sustain out of an American-made banjo. Available now at Banjo Warehouse, an authorized Deering dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Every Deering we sell receives a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara before shipping. Your banjo arrives ready to play. Free shipping anywhere in the US. 7-day money-back guarantee.

Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.

Why the Goodtime Special?

The Goodtime Special is the Goodtime with a tone ring. Deering’s patented Goodtime Special steel tone ring sits on top of the 3-ply violin grade maple rim, and it changes the instrument: brighter attack, longer sustain, and noticeably more projection than a Goodtime Two.

Everything else is the Goodtime players already know. The same 3-ply violin grade maple rim Deering puts in its professional instruments. The same rock maple neck. The same US Bronze powder finished hardware that gives the Goodtime line its warm look. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California by the crew that builds Deering’s top of the line banjos.

The Pot

3-ply violin grade maple rim, 11 inches across, topped with the patented Goodtime Special steel tone ring. 11 inch frosted high crown head. Beveled steel tension hoop with 16 flat J-hooks and 9/32 inch hex nuts. Two piece Goodtime series flange. Goodtime armrest, 5/8 inch Goodtime Smile bridge, and Deering’s patented Goodtime tailpiece. Hardware throughout in US Bronze powder finish, over a hand rubbed polyurethane and carnauba wax finish.

In short: the Goodtime Special is a tone ring banjo at $1,229, made in California, with professional setup by our banjo tech Tara and free shipping.

The Neck

Rock maple neck with a comfortable D shape and a satin finish. Maple fingerboard with hardwood Art Deco inspired inlays. 22 pressed in nickel silver frets. Lexan polycarbonate nut at 1 1/4 inch width. Sealed geared tuners with a Goodtime geared 5th string tuner. 26 1/4 inch scale length.

The Resonator

3-ply poplar, poplar and maple construction with a satin finish and straight sidewalls, 13 7/8 inches across. The resonator throws the sound forward instead of letting it escape behind the player, and paired with the steel tone ring it is what makes this the loudest banjo in the Goodtime line. Overall length 38 inches, 8.75 lbs.

What’s Included

Eight year limited warranty from Deering. Professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Free shipping anywhere in the United States. 7-day money-back guarantee.

Financing available: PayPal Pay in 4 on our website.

In stock and ready to ship. $1,229.

Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.

What is the difference between the Goodtime Special and the Goodtime Two?

Both are resonator banjos, and the difference is the tone ring. The Goodtime Two has none. The Goodtime Special carries Deering’s patented Goodtime Special steel tone ring, which adds mass to the rim and turns that mass into volume, sustain and a brighter attack. You can hear it in the weight: the Goodtime Two is about 6 lbs, the Goodtime Special is 8.75 lbs, and most of that difference is the ring.

Is the Goodtime Special good for bluegrass?

Yes. A bluegrass banjo has to be heard next to a guitar, a fiddle and a mandolin, and that takes volume and cut. The steel tone ring supplies the projection and the resonator points it at the audience. This is the most jam-ready banjo in the Goodtime line.

Is the Deering Goodtime Special made in the USA?

Yes. Deering handcrafts every Goodtime, the Goodtime Special included, in Spring Valley, California. Deering has been building banjos in the USA since 1975.

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Contact Banjo Warehouse

For detailed descriptions or to chat about banjos, call Geoff Hohwald at (404) 218-8580.
Email us anytime at [email protected].

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