Please note: All instruments that have stock numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are in stock at our San Diego store. Please call Tom @ (619) 280-9035 for further information.
New! Deering Goodtime: This is the banjo that belies the rumor that "American products are too expensive". Because all Deering banjos, even the affordable open-back Goodtime are made right here in San Diego County, California, USA!!! (pause to sing the National Anthem and wave the flag). Not only are they affordable, not only made in the USA, but a great student instrument as well. Some accomplished players even take them backpacking so they can play while they enjoy the beauties of this great land. Maybe you should too! BuffaloBros. price: $339. Stock#NBB27337*
New! Deering Goodtime: BuffaloBros. price: $339. Stock#NBB27338*
New! Deering Goodtime: BuffaloBros. price: $339. Stock#NBB27339*
New! Deering Vega Tubaphone #2: This updated version of the classic Vega Tubaphone banjo of the early 20th century has the tone and volume that will satisfy even the most discriminating player. Like its predecessor, it has a maple rim, heavy Tubaphone tonering and the all important “ bracket band” that allows the tension hooks and shoes to be mounted without drill through the rim. Additions to the tradition include a fully adjustable truss rod in the neck and dual coordinator rods that allow precise neck angle adjustment to suit any players personal preferences. Well made right here in Southern California. With Deering hard case. List $3959 BuffaloBros. price $Call! Stock# NBB27294 photo
New! Deering Vega #2: With hard case List $3959 BuffaloBros. price $Call! Stock#NBB27295*
ca. 1880s Dave Forty & Co. English Banjo: (VG+) For folks who have never seen or played an English banjo, they are unique and have a fine tone that is quite subtle. First, an English banjo has 6 tuning machines, 3 on a side like a classical guitar. This was done not only because banjo gears were not available, but also to give the peghead visual symmetry. Only four of the tuning machines are used to tune the strings that flow over the nut and down the fingerboard. A fifth string goes from the tuning machine, into a small tube that runs through the neck and emerges at the fifth fret. The beautiful rim contains a smaller sized skin head that is adjustable from the top (wow! the first top-tension banjos!). The tone is exceedingly sweet, and although not as loud as their American counterparts, still provides a wonderfully warm tone. With Chipboard case $350 Stock#UBB25934*
1916 Gibson PB-0 conversion: Way back in the deep, dark woods of West Virginia, so deep back in the hills that you need to take an interpreter with you to speak to the locals, there is a workshop hidden in a hollowed out log, where small woodland creatures convert old Gibson banjos to specifications for modern players. The foregoing is not true. But it is typical of some of the stories told about instruments to give them a mystique that will encourage you to own them. The fact of the matter is that there is a workshop in West Virginia where our friend Mr. R.C. Powell converts plectrum banjos such as this one to 5 string banjos. It is not in a hollowed out log, it is in Mr. Powell's workshop attached to his home which is in a residential area much like many of us live. However, he does have some mystifying process by which he makes 5 string banjos out of plectrum banjos using the original neck. The result produces a fine instrument that retains all the aura of the original. He also converts the case, producing, if nothing else, a real conversation starter among banjo pickers. With case $900 Stock#UBB27375 photo
New! Gold Tone CC-50 DL: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NBB27389
New! Gold Tone CC-50 DL: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NBB27390
New! Gold Tone CC-50 DL: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NBB27391
New! Gold Tone CC-OT: An incredible instrument for those who want a complete starter package with some of the features that are usually found only in more expensive instruments. The tone comes from an 11" wooden rim with more tension hoops than most instruments in its price range. The fingewrboard is scalloped in the manner of more expensive instruments, so that players have a special place for the claw in clawhammer. Real banjo (Planet) styled geared tuners complete the features of this value-priced package. Wait! Keep looking! There's a carrying bag, and the Bob Carlin video as well!!! All included in the BuffaloBros. low price. With gig bag $399 Stock#NBB27546
New! Gold Tone CC-OT: With gig bag $399 Stock#NBB27547
New! Gold Tone CC-OT: With gig bag $399 Stock#NBB27548
New! Gold Tone CC-OT: With gig bag $399 Stock#NBB27549
New! Gold Tone CC-OT: With gig bag $399 Stock#NBB27550
New! Gold Tone CC-OT: With gig bag $399 Stock#NBB27551
New! Chuck Lee Deep Hollow Vintage 12": Fretless Dobson style cherry neck. 3 1/4 inch deep transparent black finished maple rim. Rosewood fingerboard S-shaped frailer's scoop and brass overlay with matching S curve. Renaissance head, No Knot tailpiece, nylgut strings. Vintage style planetary geared peg tuners. With bump style archtop case. List $1980 BuffaloBros. price: $1799 Stock#NBB26525 photo
Used Ome Bright Angel Custom Open Back: (Exc) This is definitely not your grandfathers banjo. Though the workmanship and tone are pure vintage, gold plated hardware, a trans-blue lacquer finish and a fingerboard and headstock that are inlaid with stars, moons and planets give this “one of a kind” banjo a modern intergalactic vibe. Hand made in Boulder, Colorado this fine banjo also features Ome’s gold plated silverspun tone ring and their “scroll” style headstock. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price $2600 Stock# UBC27762 photo
Just In! New! Ome Jubilee 12": This great frailer has a big 12” rim with a simple brass tone ring. The mahogany neck is topped with an ebony fingerboard complete with frailing scoop and the fingerboard and headstock are inlaid with a whimsical assortment of mother of pearl and abalone stars and moons. This is a beautifully made banjo with a fine traditional sound. With hard case. List $1895 BuffaloBros. price $1699 Stock# NBB27838
New! Ome Jubilee 12": Fine sounding banjo with a nice fat, plunky bottom end thanks to the 12" 3 ply maple rim. With hard case. $1699. Stock#NBB26572*
New! Bart Reiter Standard: This Well made open back banjo features a dark stained maple neck and pot and an ebony finger board with scoop. It has a simple rolled brass tone ring (reminiscent of the old Vega "Little Wonder") that gives this great player a solid old timey sound. With hard case. List $1486 BuffaloBros. price $1099 Stock# NBB27804 photo
Used J. Romero 12” Walnut Open Back: (Exc) Jason Romero hand builds excellent quality banjos in his shop in Vancouver, BC. This 12” open back has a 3 1/4” deep block built walnut rim and an integral Honduran rosewood tone ring. It is currently set up with a goat skin head giving it a fat, gut-thumping tone with lots of volume. The ample walnut neck is clad with a scooped ebony fingerboard and the headstock is overlaid with flamed black walnut. BuffaloBros. price $1500 Stock# UBC27761
1920 Slingerland standard 5: (VG+) At the turn of the 20th century, most 5 string banjos were of the open back, spunover rim variety as seen here. Players in the cities took up the banjo as a classical instrument, performing the works of Bach, Brahms and Haydn. When the instrument was taken up by those in the southern Appalachians, they began to play the tunes of their Irish and Scottish ancestors. Many Companies, including Slingerland, who made many types of musical instruments, jumped onto the wave of banjo popularity with student models galore. Some of them survived, most did not. Thankfully, we have this very sweet example that plays magnificently, and sounds terrific to remind us of those bygone days when many parlors contained a banjo, a guitar and a piano. With gig bag $450 Stock#UBB25945*
1890s SS Stewart Universal Favorite: (exc-) This venerable model is aptly named. It was the Universal Favorite when first introduced to the banjo buying public in the latter part of the 19th century, and it's still a favorite of the clawhammer crowd today. (I once wanted to learn to play that style of banjo, but my local hardware store was out of clawhammers). The spunover rim, vintage shaped V neck and comfortable scale length is perfect for the 'no notes above the fifth fret' style of playing. Not that it isn't playable above the fifth fret, it certainly is, it's just that every clawhammer player has been told, "don't go there". With chipboard case $1000 stock#UBB25304 photo
Vega Little Wonder: It's little wonder that players love this one! A very traditional sounding 12" rim upon which sits the Vega rolled brass tone ring, which by itself looks like a metal hula hoop for hampsters. But when that very same round piece of metal sits upon an ancient Vega rim, and a 5 string neck is attached, such as this one made by Mr. Wyatt Fawley, who has done more conversions than a Baptist missionary, and that instrument is played expertly by one of the followers of Old Time string band music, the result is mighty pleasing. This is one of the best sounding clawhammer banjos we have heard in a long time! With hard case $1500 Stock#UBB27374 photo
1922 Vega Whyte Laydie #2: This excellent sounding clawhammer banjo started out in life as a plectrum (4 string) instrument. However, sometime in its past, it met Mr. R.C. Powell from West Virginia. Mr. Powell is known to banjo pickers as the man who uses an un-patented process to create 5 string banjos from plectrum banjos using the original neck. He does of course, replace the tuning machines as well with Planet replicas and adds a geared 5th peg. The result will get you that true old-timey sound in an un-traditional manner. Mr. Powell also has a lot of fun modifying the case in a most visually creative way. You can't help but enjoy this one! With case $2000 stock#UBB27373 photo
New! Wildwood “Exotic” Open Back: Several years ago, Mark Platin at Wildwood banjos started talking about building an open back banjo with an integrated wooden tonering. Being big Wildwood fans, we ordered one. Now after two years it is here and yes, it was worth the wait. The neck and block built 11” rim are made from wenge (pronounced “wengay”) an African hardwood known for its hardness and beauty. To continue Marks “exotic” wood theme the fingerboard and rim are trimmed with purple heart and the rim cap is cherry. This is a beautiful and excellent sounding banjo with a loud crisp tone. With hard case List $2499 BuffaloBros. price $1899 Stock# NBB27393 photo
New! Wildwood Minstrel: Since the mid 1970’s, Wildwood has been building these excellent open back banjos. The Minstrel is made with a heavy, 11” block constructed maple rim, and figured maple neck all of which is finished with attractive natural gloss lacquer. The rim is fitted with a Tubaphone style tone ring and a Fiberskyn head that gives it a loud, yet mellow, warm tone. With hard case List $1775 BuffaloBros. price: $1349 Stock# NBB24865 photo
New! Deering Goodtime 2 Special LEFT HANDED! Just the thing for all you lefty beginning banjo players! See our lefthanded page for more information on this great banjo. BuffaloBros. price: $698 Stock# NBB26022 photo
New! Deering Goodtime 2: The great Deering Goodtime, here with a resonator for all the aspiring Bluegrass pickers. $499 Stock#27488
New! Deering Sierra: When banjo pickers sit around discussing the banjos they used to have, and those they wish they had, the Deering Sierra often comes up in conversation. Usually it's because it was the first "real" banjo most Bluegrassers could afford. The Mahogany neck and resonator, mated to the sand cast flathead tone ring and Maple rim, make for an outstanding combination in its price range. The newest generation of Sierras even have an upgraded and very attractive fingerboard inlay pattern. With hard case (msrp: $2549) $CALL Stock#NBB26985 photo
New! Deering Sierra: With hard case (msrp: $2549) $CALL Stock#NBB26984*
New! Deering Golden Era: What a great banjo. Built with Deerings’ 20 hole sand cast, bell bronze tonering and their 3 ply maple rim, this beauty delivers a traditional flat head sound with plenty of POP! Guaranteed to cut through in a crowd. The highly figured maple neck and resonator are finished in a gorgeous gloss sunburst and bound with crisp white binding. The fingerboard is inlay with a traditional “hearts and flowers” pattern. With custom Deering hard case List $4559 BuffaloBros. price $CALL Stock# NBB27119 photo
New! Deering Golden Wreath: Another great offering from Greg and Janet Deering! Built as a faithful reproduction of the classic banjos of the 1930’s, the Wreath has a mahogany neck and resonator (now bound with ivoroid binding), an unplated 20 hole sand cast bell bronze tone ring, and a 3 ply maple rim which combine to give it a warm yet punchy tone. Beautifully made right here in San Diego County! With hard case. List $4529 BuffaloBros. price $CALL Stock# NBB27279* photo
New! Deering Golden Wreath: With hard case. List $4529 BuffaloBros. price $CALL Stock#NBB27379 photo
New! Deering John Hartford: The temptation is to list this banjo as both an open back and as a resonator. Because many years ago the Deering folks got together with Mr. Hartford and designed a superb instrument to fit his multiple playing styles. The banjo has a beautiful tone which emanates from the Granadilla wood tone ring. The tone is rich and full with just enough punch to please the Bluegrass folks, and yet has that particularly mellow tone often associated with such players as David Holt and of course, John Hartford himself. The resonator provides enough projection so that you won't have trouble being heard in a large crowd of players, and yet "pops-off" with just a flick of the finger so the Old Timey players won't give you the stink eye for showing up with a resonator on your banjo. Then, when they aren't looking, you can pop it back on again. That'll show 'em! With hard case $CALL Stock#NBB26778*
New! Gold Star GF-85: Years ago Mr. Richard Kjeldsen, being a banjo player of some renown, decided to have banjos built to his specifications. Armed with his own personal instrument, he went to the Far East and visited several manufacturers with the same question: "Can you make one like thi? and How much?". The result was the Gold Star line of banjos that not only offer faithful reproduction of the highly sought after banjos of 7 decades ago, but are actually better than the ones being produced by the company that originally made them. In our stores, we have several Bluegrass banjo players, all of whom will attest to the fact that Gold Star is your best value in a Bluegrass banjo! With hard case $899 Stock#NBB27154*
Used Huber Jim Mills: (Exc++) For those who know the playing of super picker Jim Mills, they recognize at once that a large part of his highly praised playing is his tone. As a devotee of 30s vintage flat head Mastertones, he knows what good tone is all about. It's no wonder then, that when this gold plated beauty was created by Steve Huber, it had "that" tone, and plenty of it!! You won't believe what you are hearing until you try it yourself. A superb instrument! With hard case. $4750 Stock#UBC27544 photo
Used Frank Neat Style 3 Deluxe: The legendary Frank Neat, who for years concentrated on neck making before making not only his own branded instruments, but also the renowned StanleyTone banjos that Ralph Stanley sells right off the stage, brings us a previously owned flathead "Masterxxxx" styled instrument that will certainly open the eyes and ears of players everywhere. Crisp and also powerful, this parking lot picker can not only be heard in all corners of the festival, but belongs on the stage as well. Starting with the fiddle shaped pegheard tha supports 4 gold plated, pearl styled button tuning machines, and then heading down the Ebony fingerboard with its wreath pattern inlay, all the way down to the little "Timeless" inlay on the 21st fret. The "Timeless" inlay stands for the "timeless Timber" rim straddled by the flahead tonering. All hardware is gold plated in this pickin' machine, and is visually exciting next to the Maple neck and resonator. For those seeking a Kick a** Bluegrass banjo, may we suggest this very Neat example? With hard case BuffaloBros. price: $3000 Stock#UBB26666 photo
New! Nechville Classic LC: Think Classic light. For those of you who don't like to wear a back support while playing the banjo, this tonering-less version of the Neckville Classic is a lighter, gentler choice. We don't know how he did it but, Tom Nechville has managed to build in great tone with plenty of volume even without the tonering. List $2400 BuffaloBros. price $CALL Stock# NBB26060*
New! Nechville Classic Deluxe: Engineering wizard, Tom Nechville has redesigned the banjo to be infinitely and easily adjustable and still maintain a great traditional tone. The Classic Deluxe has a mahogany neck and resonator, a radiused ebony fingerboard and Toms’ proprietary “Heli-Mount” rim and ball bearing “Cyclotronic Tone Ring System”. This is a fine sounding and playing banjo with a clear and balanced tone. With hard case. List $3750 BuffaloBros. price $CALL Stock# NBB27072*
New! Nechville Classic Deluxe: With hard case. List $3750 BuffaloBros. price $CALL Stock# NBB27244 photo
New! Ome Primrose Custom: Superb Bluegrass Special from our friends in Colorado. With several of the folks here at Buffalo Bros. being pickers, we tend to gravitate towards certain instruments, and THIS is definitely at the top of the heap. As with all of Ome's creations, this is visually exquisite. Gold plated, with an outstandingly intricate fingerboard inlay, the visual appeal is unequalled. Sonically, it has everything the Bluegrass player could desire, super sharp and crisp highs and plenty of well defined bass. It plays like a dream. A real treat for any picker. With hard case (msrp: $5790) BuffaloBros. price: $CALL Stock#NBB25978 photo
New! Stelling Sunflower: We are proud to offer Stelling banjos at Buffalo Bros. These fine Bluegrass banjos are hand built by Geoff Stelling and his crew in Afton, Virginia (though Geoff started out right here in San Diego) . At the core of every Stelling banjo is a Tony Pass “Lost Timber” rim and the proprietary Stelling flathead tone ring. The Sunflower has a figured maple resonator and neck and is finished with a rich gloss sunburst finish. The ebony fingerboard and headstock is inlaid with a traditional flower design in mother of pearl. Like all Stelling banjos, the Sunflower has a powerful voice with good bass and lots of volume. One customer described it as a banjo killer.....banjo! With hard case List $4300 BuffaloBros. price $3440 Stock# NBB26210* photo
New! Stelling Sunflower: With hard case List $4300 BuffaloBros. price $3440 Stock# NBB27414 photo
New! Stelling Crusader: This meticulously built banjo from the Stelling Banjo Works is their first new Mahogany model since 1978. The Crusader sports a new peghead design with a new script logo as well as a new slightly longer scale. The rim is a Tony Pass 600TS old wood rim and the tone ring is Stelling’s proprietary compression fit flat head. The Crusader has a sweet but loud voice and is especially clear up the neck. If you're on your way to the jam, this is the one you take. It's powerful! With hard case List $4300 BuffaloBros. price $3225 Stock# NBB24611* photo
Used! Stewart MacDonald BG: (exc) The Stewart- MacDonald Company in Athens, Ohio, has guitar, banjo & mandolin kits that can be assembled by folks with reasonable woodworking skills. The quality of the parts supplied are good and the resulting quality of the instrument is solely dependent on the skill of the person assembling the banjo. This one was put together by a fellow in West Virginia, who in our opinion, should be building banjos for a living instead of selling insurance or working at Starbuck's or whatever he does to receive a weekly paycheck. The craftsmanship is first rate here with the finish (the hardest part) being smooth and even and well done. The neck is straight, playable, and the fretting is excellent. This is one you can buy and take it home ready to play for less than the price of the kit, finishing supplies, sandpaper, etc. With hard case $1000 Stock#UBB25943*
1950s B&D Senorita plectrum conversion: (VG) Hello Senorita, care to sit on my knee for a while? Let me run my fingers through your strings. Doesn't that feel good? OOOOOH baby, your are a saucy if somewhat converted Senorita. This is the first time we have ever had an instrument that has received a reverse conversion. That is to say, most of the time we see four string banjos that have had a fifth string added, or a whole new neck to make them five strings. This time, the reverse (or perverse) has happened. The previous owner removed the 5th string tuning machine and sanded the neck to make a smooth plectrum four string. I wonder if the previous owner was named Lorena? With chipboard case CHEAP! $200 Stock#UBB25316
New! Deering Goodtime Tenor: Hey all you yugga-dugga banjo fans out there. We've had requests for us to carry a really affordable tenor instruments so you can take your bajo to the local pub and won't mind if someone spills beer on it. The Deering Goodtime Tenor has all the same quality playability and the tonal response of its larger brother, the Goodtime 2. See? Something just for you. BuffaloBros. price: $359 Stock#NBB27053 photo
New! Deering Goodtime Tenor: BuffaloBros. price: $359 Stock#NBB27054*
1934 Gibson MB-1 Mandolin Banjo: (EXC-) This is the ultimate jug band instrument (loud and obnoxious) ! Great jug bands such as The Pinkham Orchestra, always had the good taste to NOT use one! Set up with a new skin head and ready to play with good action and great tone, this old Gibson mando-banjo has a 10-1/2” Maple rim and Maple resonator. It is in excellent condition with a repaired crack in the neck heel. With original hard case. $1000. Stock# UBB20148. PHOTO
1920s Vega Little Wonder: (exc-) Perhaps more than any other instrument, the Vega Little Wonder really deserves its name. Because in this day & age, it really is a wonder that you can get this much banjo for so little money.This is a very plainly appointed tenor with the rolled metal "Little Wonder" tone ring. A tone ring that produces some of the cleanest, crispiest tone you've ever heard. No wonder the Irish players love them, and no wonder the old-timey players put five string necks on them and swear that theirs is the 'true tone". With hard case $500 Stock#UBB27715
1928 Vegaphone Professional: (exc-) Yes, we know that in listing this instrument, we should prepare ourselves for a stampede of Celtophiles. This is for some, the most popular of those instruments that fall under the heading of "Irish tenor banjo". It has the individual flanges which support the 'pie' resonator, the original planet tuners are in place, and of course, the reason so many players prefer this instrument: the Tubaphone tone ring. Yes, this awesome 19 fretter has the famous ringing tone that is also incredibly LOUD, the kind produced by Vega's "improved Professional Tubaphone" tone ring. So, Celts unite! Keep some old tyme player from obtaining this beautiful banjo and cutting it up to put a five string neck on it. (they throw away the resonators, you know!). With hard case. $1500 Stock#UBB26346 photo
Please note: All instruments that have stock numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are in stock at our San Diego store. Please call Tom @ (619) 280-9035 for further information.
Looking for something special? We can't possibly list all we have ~ so please ask!