Rogue Travel / Starter Banjo

by Rogue

Product Features

• 18 brackets
• High-quality, vintage-style head
• Its Open back
• Satin finish
• First-rate string tuning machines

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0002F79ZW
• Item model number: SO-069-BJO
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,881 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #6 in Musical Instruments > Folk & World Instruments > Stringed Instruments > Banjos

Product Description

18 brackets; high-quality, vintage-style head; open back; satin finish; and first-rate string tuning machines make this a hot little instrument for fancy pickin' on the go or in the office. It's lightweight and super sturdy, perfect if you're just starting out and don't want to spend a lot.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Economic Product & Playable, February 12, 2007

By 

Allen Westwoodenhale - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rogue Travel / Starter Banjo

I've been playing the guitar (casually) for over five years, and as a big fan of bluegrass music, decided to purchase one of the cheapest banjos I could find. I figured if I got the hang of the technique (such as finger rolls) and found myself still practicing it in six months, I would upgrade to a better (and more expensive) banjo. So, I went ahead and purchased the Rogue Travel Banjo.

The banjo arrived in need of some tweaking. Nothing too difficult. First, the bridge does not come installed-- the user will have to tune the strings down until they are loose and manually insert the bridge (you can find where to place the bridge online). Also, the neck on my product was slanted, but just gripping the neck where it connects to the body and giving it a little twist straightens it out no problem. I also had to tighten the nuts on the tuning pegs.

After getting the banjo in proper order (any good music shop should know how to do so, and any great music shop will do it at no cost since it's only a few minutes of work), it works great. It's got a nice sound to it, and although I haven't compared it with any expensive banjos since I've owned it (but I've been around them), I feel it is certainly worth every dollar you pay for it.

If you need help with your banjo, do a search for "banjo hangout" and visit the forums. Members are very friendly and will be able to help you tweak the instrument to get it sounding optimal and help you place the bridge properly.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great title for a Good banjo, January 21, 2009

By 

Sheldon Owens "elsheldono" (Athens, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rogue Travel / Starter Banjo

I've been playing the banjo for three years now on a used middle tier Fender resonator banjo. I was looking for a banjo that I could play while backpacking on the AT and came accross the Rogue Travel / starter banjo. I got the banjo for Christmas and have been fooling around with it for about a month now. The name says it all. First off, I think that it is a quality starter banjo for anyone looking to try out the insterment, and it is lighter than most banjos. On the other hand, don't expect anything wonderful out of this Rogue. The banjo dosn't stay in tune very long and for me that meens taking a tuner with me. The sound quality was a little under what I was hoping for but not bad for the price.

The reason that I even felt compelled to write a review was that it seems that there are so many reviews out there praising the Rogue as the only banjo you need (or something like that) and I don't feel that's the case. If someone is serious about playing the banjo there are probably used ones out there for about $50-100 more that are of a much higher quality. All said, it's a fine starter and I will attempt to backpack with it (plus I can take it out with me and not worry too much about banging it up).

Bottom line: DO THE RESEARCH, play a few banjos (both resonator and open backed) at a couple of stores to get some kind of feel for what you want for your price range. If you can afford to pay a little more (in some cases you may be able to find a used banjo for nearly the same price) and want a better sounding banjo than the Rogue they're out there.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rogue Travel/Sarter Banjo, January 12, 2009

By 

Vurner R. Burchett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rogue Travel / Starter Banjo

I purchased this banjo to learn the claw hammer style of banjo playing. When it arrived I was suprised to see the quality of the banjo. I took it to my dad and showed it to him since he plays the banjo. He thought it was made well and played well also. He said the banjo noted true all the way down the neck. I took it to a banjo lutheir to add a tone ring which was my own choice and to tighten up the head and adjust the bridge. I'm very satisfied with the banjo.