I have played these banjos many times, and although I don't own one yet, I am planning on getting one in June or July of this year. I felt REALLY DRIVEN by the previous review to write a fair, INTELLIGENT, and unbiased review. This is coming from someone that's been a guitar player for 49 years, and a banjo, ukulele, violin, mandolin, viola, ukulele player for 8 years. First some basic education.
The Plectrum banjo started life as a regular 5-string banjo with the short 5th string removed to enable strumming with a plectrum. It's tuning and string length is therefore identical to the four stopped strings of a classic banjo: (bass to treble) DGBD. There was an early period where one could play both fingerstyle 'Classic' 5-string, and Plectrum 4-string on the same instrument, especially if the bridge was adapted so that the short 5th string was lowered by angling the side of the bridge.
The Tenor banjo is tuned as a viola, or an octave above a cello: CGDA, and has a shorter neck. It is therefore a higher-pitched instrument, the higher frequencies being useful for cutting through an ensemble.
The Soprano banjo (a/k/a Banjolele) is tuned identical to, and plays like, a ukulele (DGBE), and usually uses nylon strings. The neck is also as short as a ukulele. There is also a variation of a mandolin called a mandobanjo, but I digress.
This particular banjo is manufactured very well for the amount of money that is being asked, and in many ways is kind of a bargain. The first thing that should be mentioned is that this is an old fashioned open backed banjo. The other type is a resonator banjo (the one that people are accustomed to seeing with it's round wooden back - that's not on this). The resonator's purpose is to make the sound louder (so if you live in an apartment, you either play an open back, play the banjo REAL WELL, or take a chance on losing your lease).
If the previous reviewer tried to tune THIS banjo the same as a ukulele, she would have easily broken a string, and it would be impossible to play. Having taken the liberty of reading some of her other reviews, she probably didn't know what that wood thing on the side of the banjo was (the bridge), and why it wasn't properly placed on the banjo (between the strings, and the head - the thing that looks like a drum skin). So if anyone doesn't know HOW to set up a banjo (any banjo), PUHLEEZE DON'T write a review until you take it UNOPENED to your nearest music shop to do (what we in the business call) a set up. It would save me time in having to counteract a review from an ignorant (musically challenged) person, while keeping that person from looking like a Complete Blithering Idiot....
UPDATE (7/4/14): Just got it today, and glad I did. This banjo is Ideal for quieter playing. Tuned in an open G (DGBD) you can use banjo chords, or go bar (one finger, usually pointer, on all frets). Bridge adjustment is best if you use a vibration tuner (Snark), and tune up one note with the bridge on the skin (if you can't figure out what I'm saying, please take it in to a dealer, or music shop that does set ups). Tune open, and then octave (2 dot fret). The same note neither sharp or flat is perfection. Keep moving bridge up or down (handle by the base or it will tip over) until perfection is achieved. On mine, no truss rod adjustment was needed. Skin was also tight enough. Sounds great, and no resonance from any drone string. If I had to recommend strings, I'd say D'Adarrio's or Martin's. The reason the price is probably low is because the body ring feels like it's made out of some kind of durable plastic, but the skin ring and mounts are made out of chrome. Even though the body is durable plastic (as opposed to wood which would be a lot more expensive), because it is an open back, it doesn't effect the sound. I see a lot of happy future days of playing banjo blues, and jazz on this one. Happy independence day. :)
Update #3 (6/26/15): Have had it almost a year, still playing it, and still loving it. Mostly blues, but also play some Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin.
You haven't lived until you've heard Stairway to Heaven, Dancing Days, or Wish You Were Here on the banjo. Brown sugar is also good to do on it as Keith Richards used a 5 string with open G tunings. Because of that, it's very close to the Stones Recording. More to come next year.
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This Item  Rover RB-20P Plectrum Open back 4 String Banjo |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $321.18 | $129.99 | $89.99 | -9% $99.99 Typical: $109.99 | $168.99 | -6% $89.99 List: $95.99 |
| Delivery | Get it May 8 - 13 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| For beginners | ||||||
| Craftsmanship | ||||||
| Giftable | ||||||
| Sold By | UnbeatableSale Local | Amazon.com | LeYin | DonnerDirect | LeYin | Kmise-US-Store |
| instrument | Banjo, Guitar | Banjo, Guitar, Ukulele | Banjolele, Banjo | Banjolele | Banjo | Banjo, Ukulele |
| size | — | Tenor Banjolele | 23 Inch | Concert Size | 28 Inch | With Bag Tuner Strap Strings |
| number of strings | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| operation mode | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| top material | Frosted Mylar | Okoume | Mahogany | Maple, Sapele | Maple | Sapele |
| back material | Rosewood, Mahogany | Sapele | Sapele | Maple | Maple | Sapele |
| string material | Alloy Steel | Phosphor Bronze | Nylon | Nylon | nickle steel | Nylon |
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