The Deering Goodtime Americana is a 12-inch openback 5-string banjo, made in the USA, and this one is brand new from an authorized Deering dealer, professionally set up by our banjo tech Tara before it ships.

The Americana is the most affordable banjo in the Deering line built around a full 12-inch rim, and that larger pot is the whole point. Where a standard 11-inch banjo with a frosted head sounds bright and cuts through a band, the Americana pairs a 12-inch three-ply violin-grade maple rim with a 12-inch Renaissance head for a warmer, rounder, woodier voice with real low end. It is reminiscent of banjos from an era when larger rims were common, which makes it a natural for old-time playing and for backing up a singer or another instrument rather than playing lead.

Deering has built banjos in California since 1975. The neck is rock maple with a comfortable D shape and a satin natural finish, the fingerboard carries 22 nickel-silver frets with Art Deco inspired hardwood inlays, and tuning is handled by sealed geared tuners with a geared 5th-string tuner. The hardware wears Deering's US bronze powder-coat finish.

Every banjo we sell is set up by hand by our banjo tech Tara, with the action, intonation, and head tension dialed in so it plays its best the day it arrives, and it ships carefully packed for safe transit. As an authorized Deering dealer, this banjo is covered by Deering's eight-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship with registration.

Specifications

- Rim: 12-inch three-ply violin-grade maple

- Head: 12-inch Renaissance, medium crown

- Neck: rock maple, D shape, satin natural finish

- Fingerboard: 22 nickel-silver frets, Art Deco hardwood inlays

- Nut: 1 1/4 inch

- Scale length: 26 1/4 inches

- Tuners: sealed geared, with a geared 5th-string tuner

- Hardware: 16 flat J-hooks, beveled steel tension hoop, US bronze powder finish, Goodtime armrest

- Bridge and tailpiece: 5/8-inch Goodtime Smile bridge, patented Goodtime tailpiece

- Strings and tuning: Deering Light gauge, tuned gDGBD

- Weight: about 4.5 lbs, 37 1/2 inches overall

- Made in the USA

Questions about the Americana or anything else on the bench? Send us a message and you will be talking to real banjo players.