Deering Goodtime 6 R Steel String Banjo W/Kavanjo Pickup #2620

The actual driving acoustic force behind this crossover machine comes down to a highly responsive, percussive pot design built for maximum acoustic velocity. Deering constructed the heart of the banjo around a 3-ply violin-grade maple rim paired up with a resonant, 3-ply poplar and maple resonator. This structural recipe creates an immensely bright, dry percussive pop with a tight midrange bark and clear trebles, avoiding any of the muddy or boomy low-end frequencies that typically crowd a standard acoustic guitar body. Because the string spacing, 26 1/4" scale length, and 6-string layout track exactly like a traditional guitar, you can seamlessly bring your flatpicking patterns, blues licks, or country strumming lines right into a loud, projecting banjo voice that cuts effortlessly straight through a live tracking session or an acoustic jam circle.

Visually, the instrument honors unpretentious American craftsmanship with a striking, high-contrast palette. The bright, blonde hue of the rock maple neck is beautifully offset by a dark, rich pau ferro fingerboard dressed up with classic block-style pearloid inlays. Deering treated the woodwork to a smooth, hand-rubbed polyurethane and carnuba wax satin finish that lets the organic texture of the premium timber stay completely open to the touch. Framed by an 11-inch top frosted high-crown head, a beveled steel tension hoop, and polished nickel hardware, it delivers a clean, historic silhouette that looks like a prize family heirloom on a stand while maintaining a totally rugged, road-ready posture.

In the hands, it behaves with total, fluid predictability, making the transition away from a standard acoustic guitar feel completely effortless. The rock maple neck features a highly comfortable "D" shape that fills the hand perfectly, guiding your fingers to a radiused 15-inch fingerboard and an intuitive 1 11/16" nut width. What makes this particular version an absolute stage weapon, though, is the factory-installed, premium Kavanjo pickup system built right into the head. This specialized setup lets you plug straight into a high-powered tube amp, a sprawling pedalboard, or a direct box with zero feedback issues, accurately capturing the authentic percussive snap of the banjo rim at staggering live volumes. Weighing in at a highly nimble 5.5 pounds and complete with a patented Goodtime Smile bridge and tailpiece, this crossover workhorse is built for the performing guitarist ready to inject completely fresh tonal real estate into their stage show without relearning a single chord form.