I bought this kit to learn clawhammer banjo. I've bought kits in the past and didn't expect this kit to be like it is. VERY HIGH QUALITY. Everything fits nicely. Very little sanding. I've been building guitars for the past 10 years or so and I have one suggestion about the fretboard. It does lap over the neck in places (as stated in the instructions) and is a bit smaller than the neck in others. I suggest you glue the fretboard on BEFORE you install the frets. With the fretboard glued on, you can work the fretboard down to match the neck, and the neck to match the fretboard. You can't do that with the frets already installed. (I guess you could, but it would be a nightmare.) Once the neck and fretboard are profiled, sanded and ready for the finish, THEN install the frets. I do the same thing on the guitars I make. Anyway, everything about this kit is high quality. Grover tuners too (my favorite). High quality truss rod too. If you are wanting a banjo kit, this is the one to get!

I found the Musicmakers kit looking for a Banjo kit on the net, I am glad that I did. I live in Australia, this did not matter as Matt communicated promptly and made my purchase extremely easy, I am in the middle of putting the Banjo together and I am amazed at the quality and ease of assembly. The completeness of the kit and comprehensive instructions astound me. I have made a small change by installing fretboard side dots, but this is not a criticism but a personal choice. I am using a Tru-Oil finish and as I put it on the wood colours are really standing out, fantastic. Once again, well done Matt and thank you.

I already have a Deering Goodtimes 2 banjo, but my wife said I don't have a Mountain banjo. So... that was an easy fix! I immediately bought the kit (fretted fingerboard, steel strings) with gig bag. This is my third harpkit build (after reverie harp and kantele). I am always impressed with the instructions and quality of the wood and hardware. This was the first time I added frets and truss rod, but the instructions were good, and I had no problems. I brought it to work (lots of admiring eyes on the wood quality and coloration). I used 5 coats of Tru Oil gunstock finish and some very light sanding. That's it. Not too shiny and not too dull. One of my coworkers plays in a bluegrass band, so I got to hear how it sounds when played by a professional. Amazing tone. He was impressed, especially for the cost. I guess I got the setup right. I also play guitar and have built a few kits. He liked the low action (lower than he was used to) and went back to adjust his lower. He owns $3K and $6K instruments, so I respect his opinion. He missed having side fret markers. So did I after he mentioned it. These were easily added and make a big difference. Well, enough writing... back to picking and grinning!

I have built a number of their kits and continue to be impressed with the quality and instructions of each kit. With all the photos and great descriptions of each and every step, you just can't go wrong. You can tell they have put immense thought into every part of each kit. Highly recommend !!

Outstanding kit. The instructions are great, the parts well-organized and well-prepared for assembly. All you need to put it together are basic woodworking skills and the time and patience to do things carefully. Also a general idea of how a banjo works, so that when you go to make the final adjustments you aren’t completely at sea. Reading the instructions more than once is also recommended. The result: a very solid, playable instrument that will outlive you. Great job, Musicmakers!

Dear MM Folk: I have been frailing the 5-string banjo for some 40 years, and I am an accomplished player. During that time, I have owned some of the finest banjos made—the latest of which was a highly customized Vega Senator. Because I have no wood working skills, I had my Music Makers kit shipped directly to my brother—a gifted wood worker—and gave him free reign. He returned to me a beautifully crafted instrument worthy of hanging on a wall. Although I had originally intended my MM banjo to be my "beater" instrument; something with which I could travel, and take on motorcycle trips, after I received the completed instrument, a strange thing began to happen. More and more often, I found myself leaving my $2,500 Vega hanging on the wall and selecting instead my MM kit banjo. At first, I *made* myself play the Vega—which, don’t get me wrong, is a very fine instrument—reasoning that it was expensive and should, therefore, be played. But after a time, I realized this was just silly. Instead, I just gave myself permission to play the banjo I love: my kit banjo from MM. Eventually, the Vega went out the door. Now, my MM banjo the only one I own—or want to own. So what is it about this instrument that has taken me so thoroughly? I am not sure, really. It would be easy to lay it off to soggy sentimentality because my brother made it for me. But that doesn’t really cover it. Although I am very appreciative of my brother’s work, ultimately, I am too experienced a player to allow sentimentality to cloud my judgment. No, I am in love because it is, for me, the perfect instrument! Perfect sound, perfect feel, perfect look. I perform in public a fair amount, and I cannot count the number of people who have complimented me on the look and sound of this banjo. I have also had more than one luthier comment on the brilliant simplicity of the neck adjustment and head-tensioning arrangements. Because this is now the only banjo I own, I have customized it to my personal preferences. I had my luthier add a frailing scoop, and I replaced the straight bridge with my standard favorite: a curved Moon bridge. I also had my luthier remove the leather string-pad at the bottom of the banjo and replace it with a second nut made of ebony. This not only makes for a cleaner departure point for the strings, but I love the look! Because there are no brackets to dig into my leg, I needed something to keep the banjo from sliding around on my lap. So I added strips of grey/black, "tread" tape at strategic points which worked great! I think it is highly likely that this banjo will remain my "one-and-only" for the remainder of my playing days. Thanks for a great product! Rand Rasmussen

This kit was just the right amount of work for a first build. I was really very impressed with how it was packed for shipping. Everything arrived in great shape and as described. You can shape the peghead as simply or intricately as you want. A great buy.

Great kit, well worth the cost compared to building from scratch. The body, neck, and fingerboard came nearly finished. Most parts fit accurately, but the one I got required some more complex adjustments- the headstock was too thick for the tuners, and the neck mounting screw hole was off by a few mm. I wish the maker would have left the fretboard longer, but I'm sure they have good reasons for the current design. The building process was really pleasant overall. I used all sorts of hand tools, but especially a rasp, block plane, and card scraper. Perfect way to get your feet wet with instrument building.

I ordered a 5 string Banjo kit and received it. The shipping box and contents were very very well packed and received in good order. The instructions were very well written. I would highly recommend this company for any of their products based on my experience with them. I intend purchasing again from them. Regards Don Nicholas

I was surprised at the overall fit and quality of the completed project. I have made a few cigar box guitars in the past, but this was my first kit instrument. The instructions were clear and very easy to follow. It probably took me about 8 to 12 hours in total including wood finish and final adjustments. The neck and fret board needed a good deal of finishing, but final assembly came together really nicely. I was especially pleased by the amount of adjustments available. The neck angle, truss rod, and drum tension can all be tweaked after the final build and really help to dial in the perfect sting high, intonation and action. The kit I received had different hardware than pictured and was missing a few washers. When I contacted Music Makers, they responded immediately and sent out replacement parts straight away. I also replaced the nylon strings and wooden nut with light gauge bronze and a zero fret, which I think improves the playability. The smaller drum head does not resonate as much as my Gold Tone banjo, but the sound is quite nice and the lower volume makes it great for practicing at home without disturbing my wife or neighbors. Overall, I would definitely recommend this kit, and plan on making some of the other instruments available considering how well this one turned out.