Click the bar to view more details about the maker. Click the blue arrow to visit the maker's Web site.
Alvarez
American Made Banjo Co.
Kel Kroydon banjos by Robin Smith and Charlie Cushman.Aria
Banjos under Other InstrumentsArthur Hatfield
Banjos by Richelieu
better known for tenors and plectrums.Bart Reiter Banjos
Bart Reiter
1139 Teakwood Circle
Haslett, MI USA 48840
+1 (517) 339-3505
www.reiterbanjos.com
Bean Blossom
A division of SHS International.Bellbird Banjo Company
Made in Australia.Bishline Banjos
Rob Bishline, builder.Bob Flesher Custom Banjos
Buckeye Banjos
Greg Galbreath, builder.Capek
Czech RepublicCB Guitars
Unusual among small luthiers for building both banjos and guitars.
Chris Bozung
7151 New Hope Road
Fairview, TN USA
+1 (615) 799-9217
www.cbguitars.com
Cedar Mountain
Lo Gordon, builder.Chuck Lee
Cloverlick Banjos
Jeffrey P. Kramer, builder.Crafters of Tennessee
Deering
Desert Rose
DP Hopkins
David and Paul Hopkins. See also Louzee.Epiphone
A division of Gibson.Eucalypt Banjos
Anne and Roger Simpson, Australia.Fielding Banjos
Fitch Banjos
Cliff Fitch, builder, now Burlile Powered.Frank Neat Banjos
Gibson Banjos
Gold Star
by Saga.Gold Tone
Grundy Banjos
Laurie Grundy, Victoria, Australia.Heartland Banjo and Guitar Company
Robin Smith, builder.Huber
Huss and Dalton
J. Romero Banjos
Louzee
David and Paul Hopkins. See also DP Hopkins.Maestro
formerly from the MusicYo division of Gibson but now offline.Mastercraft
McKinley
Mercier
Luke Mercier, builder.Mike Ramsey
The Chanterelle Workshop.Morgan Monroe
A division of SHS International.Nechville
Unique.Ome
by the inimitable Chuck Ogsbury.Phillips Banjos
Recording King
from TML.Richard Brown
Open-back banjos from Laredo, TXRobert Edney
Saga
Saga and Rover models, plus Gold StarSamick
now through Greg Bennett Guitars.Sloan Banjos
formerly J. A. Sloan & Son.Smith Banjos
Stealth
Stelling
Sullivan
Tranjo
the ultimate travel banjo by Sam Farris. Unique, clever, a must-see.Tryan Banjos
Tom Ryan, builder.Tyler Mountain Instruments
Vance Banjos
Custom, old-time banjos.Washburn Guitars
A division of U.S. Music.Wildwood
Williams Custom Banjos
home of the Burlile Tone RingWyatt Fawley
The Banjo Loft (site under construction).
This presentation allows more information than I previously collected. I am working on fleshing out the details but until then most listings will include only the Web site address. Stay tuned and thanks for your patience.
If you are one of the makers listed here, by all means save me some time by sending your complete contact information along; see the CB Guitars listing for an example. Thanks!
How to Get On This List
I get a lot of requests to be added to this list from banjo makers. I've had muddled criteria in the past and have done a poor job making the decision. Therefore, I've decided on the following criteria that a builder must establish to my satisfaction.
- The banjos must be available for sale in the United States.
- The builder must make and sell no less than 12 banjos per year.
- The builder must have a Web site.
I will maintain a listing as long as the builder's Web site exists or there is some kind of legacy Web site for the instruments if the builder has retired or ceased manufacturing. A key criterion is the Web site; folks come here for research purposes and if there is no link out to a Web site, there is less value in the listing.
No compensation or gratuity is accepted for inclusion on this list.
Please use my contact form to get in touch.
Note: I have made a few exceptions for builders when I think there is good reason. For example, if I have seen many of the builder's instruments used by professional Bluegrass musicians, I may list the builder even if there is no Web site.
