Dean Backwoods 6 6-String Banjo

Feature:
Mine came with freakin Grover machine heads! Quality stuff there man. Good hardwoods, rosewood fretboard, very nice finish. It's simply a badass guitar. Acoustic Guitar with a banjo sound.

Quality:
For the type of product, it was damn well made. I'm very impressed with the craftsmanship. The inlay work, the stoutness of the neck, the weight of the back, the finish and ease with which strings can be changed and adjustments or repairs made, makes me appreciate the quality of this instrument.

Value:
yes

Desirability:
For a guitarist who wants a banjo without having to get one and learn how to play it, it's a great instrument.

Sound:
Solid instrument; needs attention and care; can't halfass this thing. THIS IS NOT A BANJO! This is in fact a guitar with a resonator - much like a dobro or a lap. It has a Banjo sound, but that's not all it's capable of. Much in the same way that I can pull an electric sound from a 12-string, I find that the 6-string "banjo" has a variety of sounds that can be created from different areas on the neck, playing up the fretboard, moving the bridge closer to the neck or to the back.

Ease of Use:
Again this is not a banjo. It's got a banjo sound that makes it easy for guitarists, but it requires a good ear and a lot of effort to make it perfect. I found that adjustments to the bridge made it sound better, kept the strings in tune by moving it back. There is some sacrifice in the timbre of the sound but I want it to sound like a banjo! And let's be frank, a banjo sounds like a bunch of rubber bands strapped around a tin bucket! Banjos are fickle instruments, easily impacted by weather and wear, and this guitar is no different. Lighter Strings and a New Head make all the difference. Of course, if you get lighter strings you have to be careful about the action - an aftermarket adjustable bridge is not out of line here, and that's what I got - keep it high because the frets are high and when you hold a light string too tightly on this guitar, it bends and sounds out of tune. This is not an electric guitar. It's not a classical. You have to listen to it, experiment.

Support:
nope

Overall:
I did eventually get a regular banjo. This is still a great instrument.

Sound:
i was a little dissapointed in this instrument....lacks the true tone of a banjo, 5th &6th strings are pretty dead sounding... but i guess for a 6 string it's a relatively quick fix for a guitar player onstage in need of a banjo sound. strings don't stay tuned very well either...neck constantly needs adjusting. i was hoping for more but all in all, not bad.