To all readers, I am happy you took the time to read this review. Thank you. I am a professional musician and independent recording artist. I have played man a banjo in my life and recorded with a few. This is THE banjo to get for a great sounding banjo that is versatile at the same time. DEERING is a great company too and great people run it. MR. DEERING is a great person too. I had the pleasure of meeting him and talking banjos with him. This banjo is great and has all the things a real banjo should have and is very well built. You buy a DEERING SIERRA you are getting a strictly business banjo. That tone ring and pot is identical to most of the DEERING line. It even has some flash on it too. The traditional tone is there and no shortage of sweet spots on this one. This also is available in Mahogany. Try both to find your tone. It may be hard to put down to switch because they feel right and play so well. You do not have to be a bluegrass player either to play a banjo. IF you are going to get started in banjo and find that you only want to play a banjo this is the banjo for you. DEERING makes a lot of other models. Want a basic workhorse banjo get a DEERING and nothing else. This company knows banjos and they also know what it is to want a great banjo and needing to be affordable too. I love the Sierra because it is all business. Want to get fancy> DEERING had nailed the fancy department too. Want traditional bluegrass in look and in tone, as in a prewar style? DEERING nailed… read more it too. Lots of pro players play DEERING banjos. IF it is a DEERING banjo , you are getting great tone and high quality hands down. Need to capo up to play in different keys? DEERING can help with that too. Most banjo pickers capo up and some use spikes ans some use a Schubb 5th string capo and another capo for the other 4 strings and some even add Keith D tuners on the 2nd and 3rd strings for some other tunes. When you add those things to any banjo you are set for a lot of pickin and when you pick a DEERING brand banjo you will be doing it on a lot of banjo for less money. This is a great choice in banjos. you may want to add other DEERING models to you arsenal of banjos and you will be wise to do so. Be forewarned banjo is very addictive and lots of fun. This banjo will be mine very soon. I have played a lot of DEERING banjos.

Musical Background:
singer, songwriter, independent recording artist and touring musician

Musical Style:
Bluegrass & traditional country, read less