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Deering

Deering Goodtime Openback 5 String Banjo - Best Beginner Banjo | Made In U.S.A.

    • Based on 209 reviews
Condition: New
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Availability: 14 left in stock
Fulfilled by Amazon
Arrives Tuesday, Apr 22
Order within 14 hours and 27 minutes
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Features

  • Lightweight - Less than 5lb! Take your Deering Gooddtime banjo with you anywhere! Camping, festivals, the beach, on stage! The Deering Goodtime banjo is extremely durable, plays great, and sounds great!
  • Made In USA
  • 3-Play Violin Grade Maple Rim
  • Easy to learn on!

Brand: Deering


Color: Natural


Item dimensions L x W x H: 48 x 8 x 18 inches


Top Material Type: top frosted mylar


Back Material Type: open-back


String Material Type: nickle


Finish Type: Satin


Instrument: Banjo


Item Weight: 4 Pounds


Operation Mode: Manual


Item Weight: 4 pounds


Product Dimensions: 48 x 8 x 18 inches


Item model number: GOODTIME BANJO/ GT


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: January 5, 2009


Back Material: open-back


Body Material: maple


Color Name: Natural


Fretboard Material: maple


Scale Length: 26.25


String Gauge: light


String Material: nickle


Top Material: top frosted mylar


Neck Material Type: rock maple


Number of Strings: 5


Guitar Bridge System: maple and ebony


Material Type: Maple


Musical Style: Acoustic


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, Apr 22

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • What an Instrument!
I'm a person who does a lot of research before buying anything, so when I resolved to buy the Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo as my first banjo, I made sure it was the one I wanted. Online reviews across several sites praised the Goodtime for its superior sound and build quality, so I thought it'd be silly to pass it over, especially for the price on Amazon. Well, I'm glad I went with my instincts! Before I get into the review, in my research I learned there are two main types of five-string banjos: open-back (which is the Deering Goodtime) and resonator. Open-back is more for playing old-time style, also known as clawhammer or frailing style, and it's much lighter than the resonator (I can attest to this since my brother had a resonator; it is HEAVY). The resonator is more for bluegrass style, so you'll be fingerpicking while wearing fingerpicks. It's got a resonator plate on the back, so you'll get a louder, brighter sound (hence the term "resonator"), but as I said, it's pretty heavy. I like the simplicity, timbre, and portability of the open-back, hence why I went with the Deering Goodtime. Just thought I'd mention this as a helpful starting point. First, the positives of the Goodtime, of which there are many: Although I never played banjo, I do play guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and bass, so I have a general idea of what I need to look for in an instrument. Right out of the box (the banjo was safely and securely packaged, by the way, which was a good first sign of its quality and a huge reassurance that it wasn't damaged in shipping), you can tell the Goodtime is of outstanding quality. Everything feels sturdy and tight; nothing is loose or wobbly. It has a natural wood finish that I really like, and it even FEELS like high quality wood. The fretboard has beautiful inlays, and the shape and construction of the neck and fretboard, in addition to the banjo's fantastic action, makes the banjo very easy and fun to play (imagine that - easy AND fun!). The tuning keys are easy to wind and hold tight, so you won't have to constantly re-tune. The rim looks nice and is solidly built, as well. Overall I feel like I got my money's worth, and then some. And the beautiful sound! You have to hear it for yourself. Every string rings clear, and the banjo sounds just as I expected a banjo should. This might sound redundant, but from what I've read there are some pretty cheaply made banjos out there. Rest assured that the Deering Goodtime is NOT one of them. Now, a couple minor issues (the first of which is not the fault of Deering but is the nature of all banjos in general): First, I noticed my banjo was in tune below the 5th fret but played sharp the farther up the fretboard I went. I did some research and found that this is normal for banjos given their sensitivity to the surrounding temperature (thus the possibility of a very slight stretching or shrinking of the head - this is normal), and the fact that all banjo bridges are moveable. Thus, I had to loosen every string and move the bridge slightly in the direction away from the neck to ensure proper intonation. I had to repeat this process of loosening the strings, moving the bridge, and re-tuning a few times, so needless to say it was annoying and time consuming. It did the trick though, and it's been fine ever since. So just keep in mind that notes playing sharper or flatter up the neck is normal for any banjo and is NOT the fault of Deering, and you may need to move the bridge slightly in one direction or the other depending on whether it's playing sharp or flat. Second, the instrument does not come with a gig bag or case. To get the banjo gig bag made by Deering, and hence ensuring a proper, snug fit, you'll be shelling out around $75. I definitely recommend the Deering gig bag since it's very padded and well-made, but it's just kind of inconvenient to have to put out more money in addition to the cost of the banjo. Otherwise you'll be storing your awesome banjo in the factory box it came in until you get one. If you're in the market for a banjo as an entry-level or intermediate player, then bypass the junk and go with the Deering Goodtime. I can't see any reason why you should put out more money on an expensive, "better" banjo (I say "better" because I can't see it getting much better than the Goodtime; I've actually come across reviews in which the Goodtime is compared to $1000+ banjos), and personally I can't even foresee having to buy another banjo. Ever. The Deering Goodtime is everything I wanted for an incredible price. You just can't go wrong. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2013 by ferrof88
    • There is very little reason to get any other banjo than this one!
I can't say enough wonderful tings about this banjo. I own this and also a Deering Eagle II that cost more than five times as much, and I have owned cheap imports as well. This Goodtime is closer to the Eagle II in terms of sound and playability than it is to the cheap imports. In other words, it plays well above its class. The sound is surprisingly bright and loud for an open-back, and the low action and light-gauge strings make it very easy to play. Deering clearly gives the Goodtime a lot of the quality workmanship that goes into their professional-caliber banjos, but keep the cost affordable by minimizing the frills. For example, the Goodtime has 1/3 fewer brackets than a typical banjo. It has no separate fretboard (the neck is the fingering surface), the wood is unstained, it uses guitar tuners rather than planetary tuners, the tension hoop is not plated, and it has no side fret markers, no tone ring, no armrest, and of course no resonator (various other Goodtime models are available that are stained and have planetary tuners and/or have a resonator and/or a steel tone ring, at commensurately higher prices). But the truth is that none of that really matters much for the purposes of any beginner or intermediate banjo student, and even for pretty much anyone who is just playing recreationally. All that matters is that it sounds and plays great, and it does! In fact, this entry-level Goodtime has some advantages over expensive professional-grade models. It's extremely light, weighing in at a mere 4 pounds (thanks in part to its minimal hardware and lack of any tone ring), making it easy to carry and easy to hold, even for a child or an adult with a bad back. This is a banjo you don't mind bringing with you camping or to the beach, unlike a heavy expensive one. The smooth satin finish allows your hand to glide easily up and down the neck, whereas the heavy gloss finish on expensive banjos can create more friction and feel draggier. And the Goodtime's guitar tuners are actually more precise than the planetary tuners on my Eagle II. Deering does sell a separate add-on armrest for the Goodtime banjo, if you really must have one (standard armrests won't fit because of the very wide bracket spacing). I bought it, and it was easy to install. Deering also sells a resonator kit if you later decide you want to upgrade from open-back to resonator (if you're reasonably sure you're going to eventually want a resonator, it probably makes more sense to just get the resonator model from the outset rather than add a resonator later--and you can always opt to just take the resonator off. But it's simply nice to know that you do also have the option of adding a resonator later--you're not necessarily committing to an open-back by buying this model. When I bought my open-back Goodtime and finally had a truly well-made, quality, nice sounding, playable banjo in my hands for the first time, I just wanted to play it all the time. I found it to be a real joy compared to the inferior imported banjos I had struggled with in the past. In fact, I loved it so much that I decided right away that I just had to have one of the upper-line Deerings and bought my Eagle II (I pretty much fell in love with this company and its products!). But that was just to satisfy my enthusiasm--the truth is, this simple open-back Goodtime would have been plenty sufficient for all my present and future purposes. If you're going to be playing in a band or in large open venues, you may want to spend a little more for one of the Goodtime models that have a resonator (Goodtime Two) or a tone ring (Goodtime Special Open-Back) or both (Goodtime Special). But whichever Goodtime you choose, it is an outstanding banjo for a beginner and it's still pretty outstanding for any banjo player of any skill level, short of a professional! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015 by The Screaming Queen
    • Get this!
Absolutely amazing instrument for the price. I started on a much cheaper banjo and knew that once I got a little better, I'd want something nice. I've played multiple instruments throughout my life and know that you absolutely get what you pay for. Ponied up to buy this Goodtime and this plays like a thousand dollar instrument. The attention to detain is insane. Pros: . Easy to play - the action is perfect to build some callouses without killing your fingertips for a few weeks . Frets are perfect and the neck is wide enough that you don't mute other strings with your left hand . The tone is bright, crisp, and doesn't sound muted at all for being an open-back banjo . Came ready to play and just needed tuning . I did not think a banjo could be this light, yet feel so sturdy . Arrived early and the packaging was awesome. Not a single ding or blemish on the instrument Cons: . I find it uncomfortable after a while since it doesn't have an arm rest. This can be ordered from Deering for about $30 on their website. Not a big deal, but the head digs into my right arm without an armrest. This is a great buy. I would not hesitate to replace it if anything ever happened to it. Happy picking! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022 by Brandon

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