This is a list of builders of 5-string banjos, both Bluegrass (5-string resonator) and Traditional (open back) models. These builders may make other types as well. Inclusion on the list is entirely at Will's discretion but no compensation or gratuity is required or accepted.
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American Made Banjo Co.
Kel Kroydon banjos.
P.O. Box 8190
North Port, FL USA 34290
+1 (339) 219-3047
www.americanmadebanjo.comMade in USA
Ballard Banjers
Bishline Banjos
Rob Bishline
1739 South Sheridan Rd.
Tulsa, OK USA 74112
+1 (918) 551-6419
www.bishlinebanjos.com
Made in USA
Brooks Banjos
Custom open back 5-string banjos for traditional old-time music.
Brooks Masten
Portland, OR USA
+1 (503) 568-3044
www.brooksbanjos.com
Made in USA
Buckeye Banjos
The Custom Banjo order list is currently closed for the foreseeable future while Buckeye works through its backlog of orders. Check the site for the first Standard model, the B100.
Greg Galbreath
P.O. Box 132
Eggleston, VA USA 24086
+1 (540) 230-0085
www.buckeyebanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 28, 2024
Capek Bluegrass & Jazz Instruments
Rostislav ?apek
Zubatého 9, 150 00
PRAGUE, 5 Czech Republic
+420-603-868120
www.capek.us
Made in Czech Republic
CB Guitars
Unusual among small luthiers for building both banjos and guitars.
Sadly, Chris Bozung passed away on July 20, 2024.
Chris Bozung
7151 New Hope Road
Fairview, TN USA
+1 (615) 799-9217
www.cbguitars.comMade in USA
Last updated: August 18, 2024
Cedar Mountain Banjos
Founded by Lo Gordon, now in the hands of his son.
Tim Gardner
Cedar Mountain, NC USA
www.cedarmtnbanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 21, 2024
Chuck Lee
Chuck Lee Banjo Company, Inc.
112 Silverwood Drive
Ovilla, TX USA 75154
+1 (972) 617-5576
www.chuckleeinc.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Clareen Banjos Recently Updated!
As might be expected from the location, the majority of the business is in 4-string banjos. Some 5-strings are made each year.
Tom & Fintan Cussen
Clarinbridge, Co. Galway IRL H91 Yp28
+353 91 796156
www.banjo.ie
Made in Ireland
Last updated: September 27, 2024
Cloverlick Banjos
Oldtime openback banjos.
Jeffrey P. Kramer
249 South Kane Street
Burlington, WI USA 53105
+1 (262) 492-9883
www.cloverlickbanjoshop.com
Made in USA
Deanocraft Custom Banjos
Deering
Home of Tenbrooks, Vega, and the ubiquitous Goodtime models. An impressive list of artists.
3733 Kenora Drive
Spring Valley, CA USA 91977
+1 (619) 464-8252
www.deeringbanjos.com
Made in USA
DP Hopkins
Two brands, DP Hopkins and Louzee, from the same builders.
DP Hopkins, Inc.
3563 Highway 231 North
Shelbyville, TN USA 37160
+1 (931) 580-5742
dphopkinsbanjos.com
Made in USA
Epiphone
Banjos are once again available from Epiphone. Sadly, Earl Scruggs has been demoted from Gibson to Epiphone.
209 10th Ave South, Suite 460
Nashville, TN USA 37203
+1 (800) 444-2766
www.epiphone.com
Made in Japan?
Last updated: August 18, 2024
Gibson Banjos
What is arguably the most famous banjo brand in the world ceased manufacturing following Nashville's 2010 flood. Astonishing.
However, Epiphone now has several models of Bluegrass banjos, including an Earl Scruggs signature model. At the Gibson site under the menu "Acoustic," you will find an entry beneath "Mandolins" titled "Epiphone Bluegrass Collection." It will take you to the Epiphone website.
Also, check my Epiphone listing above.
Editorial Note: How can the brand that defined the instrument just vanish overnight? It's not that there aren't truly excellent alternatives - there are less expensive instruments that are better than the run-of-the-mill Gibsons made in 2012. But what of the tradition, the history? Sad. Tragic.
209 10th Ave S, Suite 460
Nashville, TN USA 7203
+1 (615) 871-4500
www.gibson.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Gold Star
Solid banjos from the company that gave us the legendary Gold Stars of the '70s & '80s.
Saga Musical Instruments
137 Utah Avenue
South San Francisco, CA USA 94080
+1 (650) 588-5558
www.sagamusic.comMade in China
Gold Tone
One of the most comprehensive lines of banjos of all types from any company.
3656 Hopkins Avenue
Titusville, FL USA 32780
+1 (800) 826-5482
www.goldtone.com
Made in USA, parts from Korea
Grundy Banjos
Moved from Australia to Missouri!
Laurie Grundy
Eminence, MS USA
+1 (417) 839-5951
www.grundybanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 18, 2024
Hatfield
Arthur Hatfield
791 Burton Ridge Road
Glasgow, KY USA 42141
+1 (270) 646-5219
www.hatfieldbanjos.com
Made in USA
Hendricks Banjos
Allen & Monte Hendricks
PO Box 1197
Pollock Pines, CA USA 95726
www.hendricksbanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Hickler Banjos
Hickler Banjos is a custom shop specializing in reproduction necks and rim tone research. Saving the world one banjo at a time!
Mark Hickler
1026 W. 6th Place
Mesa, AZ USA 85201
www.hicklerbanjo.com
Made in USA
Hoyt Banjos
Open back banjos and other folk instruments built in the Adirondacks.
Zachary Hoyt
P.O. Box 168 (354 Main St)
Piercefield, NY USA 12973
+1 (315) 405-1901
hoytbanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 21, 2024
Huber
Huss and Dalton
J. Romero Banjos
Lovely banjos, beautifully crafted.
Box 124
Horsefly, BC CAN V0L 1L0
+1 (250) 620-0592
www.romerobanjos.com
Made in Canada
LeVan Banjos
Openback and bluegrass banjos, entirely hand made; Standard “New Vintage” and custom.
In February, 2024, Ken LeVan passed away.
Ken LeVan
Shunk, PA USA
+1 (570) 924-4080
www.levanbanjos.comMade in USA
Last updated: August 18, 2024
Louzee
Two brands, DP Hopkins and Louzee, from the same builders.
DP Hopkins, Inc.
3563 Highway 231 North
Shelbyville, TN USA 37160
+1 (931) 580-5742
www.louzee.com
Made in USA
Morgan Monroe
SHS International, the holding company for Morgan Monroe, was sold to Chesbro. Only two banjos are currently in the lineup. I know nothing about them, but they are low cost.
Chesbro Music Co.
327 W. Broadway St
Idaho Falls, ID USA 83402
+1 (208) 522-8691
www.chesbroretail.comMade in China?
Last updated: August 20, 2024
Neat Custom Banjos
Legendary neck maker.
Frank Neat
84 Womack Street
Russell Springs, KY USA 42642
+1 (270) 866-4515
www.frankneat.com
Made in USA
Nechville
Unique. An entirely different approach to pot construction.
9700 Humboldt Avenue South
Bloomington, MN USA 55431
+1 (747) 222-6567
www.nechville.comMade in USA
Ome
Now a division of Gold Tone. Formerly by the inimitable Chuck Ogsbury.
5680 Valmont Road
Boulder, CO USA 80301
+1 (303) 449-0041
www.omebanjos.com
Made in USA
Pisgah Banjo Company
Open-back banjos, hand-made in the Appalachian mountains with native hardwoods.
Patrick Sawyer
Asheville, NC USA
(828) 338-3488
pisgahbanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: September 12, 2024
Prucha Bluegrass Banjos
Jaroslav Prucha
Prague CZ
+420 241 760 704
www.pruchabanjos.cz
Made in Czech Republic
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Quail Creek Banjos
A lifelong guitarist, tinkerer and learner, I became interested in building open-back banjos while learning clawhammer-style banjo.
Lindsay Lewellen
Charlotte, NC USA
+1 (303) 324-6732
www.quailcreekbanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: September 25, 2021
Recording King
Rickard Banjos
The one-armed banjo maker. Open-back models, plus an interesting resophonic model. Home of the Rickard "Cyclone" 10:1 tuners.
Bill Rickard
245 Industrial Pkwy S.
Aurora, ON CAN L4G 3V5
(905) 727-8686
rickardbanjos.com
Made in Canada
Last updated: August 21, 2024
Saga Musical Instruments
A comprehensive lineup including Gold Star, Flinthill, Saga and Rover models. No direct sales; through dealers only. Don't buy the DIY banjo kits; you'll never get satisfaction if something is wrong.
137 Utah Avenue
South San Francisco, CA USA 94080
+1 (650) 588-5558
www.sagamusic.comMade in China
Seeders Instruments
Mostly open-back models. Began building full time in 2014.
William Seeders Mosheim
23 Goodwood Lane, PO Box 442
Dorset, VT USA 5251
802-829-7317
www.seedersinstruments.com
Made in USA
Sloan Banjos
Formerly J. A. Sloan & Son. Founded in 1959 by John Sloan, continued by Peter Sloan, and in 2012 acquired by the Allisons.
Philip Allison
League City, TX USA 77573
www.sloanbanjos.com
Made in USA
Stealth
Unique.
Scott Vestal
Greenbrier, TN USA 37073
+1 (615) 429-6835
www.stealthbanjo.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Stelling Banjo Works
Stone Banjo Company
Custom, affordable open-back banjos.
Steve Gerritsen
133 Marion Drive
McMurray, PA USA 15317
(412) 303-8461
www.stonebanjo.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Sullivan Banjo Company
From the Sullivans of First Quality Music fame.
However, I'm not sure what's going on with the business, as the site seems static since 2012.
Louisville, KY USA
www.sullivanbanjo.comMade in USA
Sylvan Banjos
Fine, traditional, open-back banjos
Danny Moloney
183 Cloverdale Dr.
Glasgow, KY USA 42141
www.sylvanbanjos.com
Made in USA
Last updated: June 19, 2022
Tranjo
The ultimate travel banjo by Sam Farris. Unique, clever, a must-see. Gold Tone has licensed one model.
Farris Travel Banjo Company
409 Benton Lane
Franklin, TN USA
+1 (615) 456-5486
www.tranjo.com
Made in USA
Last updated: August 19, 2024
Vance Banjos
Custom, old-time banjos.
Colin J. Vance
PO Box 89
Blue Lake, CA USA 95525
+1 (707) 845-9524
www.vancebanjos.com
Made in USA
Washburn Guitars
A division of U.S. Music.
1000 Corporate Grove Drive
Buffalo Grove, IL USA 60089
+1 (800) 877-6863
www.washburn.com
At its peak, this list had 79 active entries. As of today, there are 48. This is surely a disturbing trend. Sadly, some builders passed away. But many of the defunct listings were for old-time, open-back banjos and most of these were from one-man shops; perhaps competition in this segment was severe and the loss of companies represents a thinning of the herd.
If you know of any builders not on this list, please let me know.
The images used in this list are usually provided by their respective builders and are the copyrighted property of those builders. The images may have been edited by me for placement or size.
How to Get On This List
The following are my criteria for inclusion in this list.
- The banjos must be available for sale in the United States.
- The builder must make and sell at least 12 banjos per year or have a history of having done so.
- The builder must have a Web site. Folks come here for research purposes and without a site, there is little value in the listing.
- The builder must provide me with a contact email address. The address can be kept private if desired, or the builder can provide one public and one private address.
- I request one image to be used as a thumbnail for your listing. Please submit a PNG or maximum resolution JPG that is square. Suggested size is 800px; larger accepted.
I reserve the right to remove a listing without notice if the maker's Web site goes offline or I am unable to get in touch with a builder within a reasonable amount of time.
No compensation or gratuity is accepted for inclusion on this list. Inclusion is at my sole discretion.
Please use my contact form to get in touch.