AudioFu

Best Banjos 2025

Top-rated banjos 2025 - expert picks for every budget and skill level

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Bluegrass For Country For Folk For Traditional Music For Celtic For Americana
BRANDS: Gold Tone Deering Harley Benton Ortega Gewa Richwood
Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor Cripple Creek - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor Cripple Creek

by Gold Tone
Folk Americana Traditional Music
Key Feature:
• Great for fast picking techniques
✓ PROS
  • • Traditional American instrument
  • • Cuts through band mix well
✗ CONS
  • • Tuning can be challenging
  • • Limited tonal versatility

Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor Cripple CreekTenor BanjoNeck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodRim: MapleTonering: BrassHead:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 585989
$769
Buy at Thomann View Details
Gold Tone Bluegrass 5 String Banjo Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Gold Tone Bluegrass 5 String Banjo Set

by Gold Tone
Traditional Music Country Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✓ PROS
  • • Cuts through band mix well
  • • Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✗ CONS
  • • Limited tonal versatility
  • • Tuning can be challenging

Gold Tone Bluegrass 5 String Banjo Set5-String Cripple Creek Banjo SetNeck: MapleFingerboard: BlackwoodRim:...

⭐ 4.6/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 460931
$659
Buy at Thomann View Details
Gold Tone AC 6+ Lefthand - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Gold Tone AC 6+ Lefthand

by Gold Tone
Celtic Traditional Music Folk
Key Feature:
• Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✓ PROS
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
  • • Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✗ CONS
  • • Tuning can be challenging
  • • Requires specific playing techniques

Gold Tone AC 6+ Lefthand6-string banjo / banjitarLefthand / left-handed modelBody: CompositeArmrest with gold tone...

⭐ 5.0/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 512779
$637
Buy at Thomann View Details
Richwood RMB-906 6 String Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Richwood RMB-906 6 String Banjo

by Richwood
Traditional Music Folk Americana
Key Feature:
• Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✓ PROS
  • • Traditional American instrument
  • • Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✗ CONS
  • • Limited tonal versatility
  • • May not suit all musical styles

Richwood RMB-906 6 String Banjo6-string guitar banjoNeck: MahoganyFingerboard: EbonyRim: AluminiumHead: white 11"...

⭐ 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 519454
$439
Buy at Thomann View Details
Richwood RMB-904 Tenor Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Richwood RMB-904 Tenor Banjo

by Richwood
Americana Celtic Folk
Key Feature:
• Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✓ PROS
  • • Essential bluegrass sound
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
✗ CONS
  • • Limited tonal versatility
  • • Volume may overpower other instruments

Richwood RMB-904 Tenor Banjo4-String Tenor BanjoNeck: MahoganyFingerboard: EbonyRim: AluminiumHead: 11" Remo...

⭐ 4.4/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 515920
$417
Buy at Thomann View Details
Deering Sierra 5-String - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Deering Sierra 5-String

by Deering
Celtic Folk Country
Key Feature:
• Cuts through band mix well
✓ PROS
  • • Distinctive bright, percussive tone
  • • Cuts through band mix well
✗ CONS
  • • Limited tonal versatility
  • • Volume may overpower other instruments

Deering Sierra 5-String5-String BanjoFlagship model of Deering banjosSierra modelBody: American mahoganyNeck:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 205935
$3,079
Buy at Thomann View Details
Gold Tone CC-Carlin 12 LH 5-str.Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Gold Tone CC-Carlin 12 LH 5-str.Banjo

by Gold Tone
Bluegrass Folk Country
Key Feature:
• Great for fast picking techniques
✓ PROS
  • • Essential bluegrass sound
  • • Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit all musical styles
  • • Limited tonal versatility

Gold Tone CC-Carlin 12 LH 5-str.Banjo5-string banjoLefthand / left-handed modelNeck: MapleFingerboard: Selected...

⭐ 5.0/5 (48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 513071
$879
Buy at Thomann View Details
Deering Goodtime Two Banjo Lefth. - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Deering Goodtime Two Banjo Lefth.

by Deering
Americana Folk Country
Key Feature:
• Great for fast picking techniques
✓ PROS
  • • Cuts through band mix well
  • • Traditional American instrument
✗ CONS
  • • Volume may overpower other instruments
  • • Tuning can be challenging

Deering Goodtime Two Deco Banjo Lefth., 5-String BanjoWith resonator for a brighter and louder sound. Easy to play with...

⭐ 4.8/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 601042
$824
Buy at Thomann View Details
Gold Tone TS-250 Tenor Banjo w/Case - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Gold Tone TS-250 Tenor Banjo w/Case

by Gold Tone
Americana Celtic Country
Key Feature:
• Great for fast picking techniques
✓ PROS
  • • Traditional American instrument
  • • Cuts through band mix well
✗ CONS
  • • Requires specific playing techniques
  • • Limited tonal versatility

Gold Tone TS-250 Tenor Banjo w/Case4-String BanjoNeck: MapleFingerboard: OvangkolRim: 3-ply mapleSkin: 11" Remo HC...

⭐ 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 538040
$1,759
Buy at Thomann View Details
Gold Tone CC-100R 5 String Banjo Left - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Gold Tone CC-100R 5 String Banjo Left

by Gold Tone
Folk Americana Celtic
Key Feature:
• Cuts through band mix well
✓ PROS
  • • Cuts through band mix well
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
✗ CONS
  • • Volume may overpower other instruments
  • • Limited tonal versatility

Gold Tone CC-100R 5 String Banjo Left5-string resonator banjoLefthand / left-handed modelCripple creek seriesNeck:...

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 512781
$879
Buy at Thomann View Details
Richwood RMB-905-A 5 String Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Richwood RMB-905-A 5 String Banjo

by Richwood
Americana Celtic Country
Key Feature:
• Great for fast picking techniques
✓ PROS
  • • Traditional American instrument
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
✗ CONS
  • • Requires specific playing techniques
  • • Volume may overpower other instruments

Richwood RMB-905-A 5 String Banjo5-string bluegrass banjoNeck: MahoganyFingerboard: EbonyRim: AluminiumHead: 11"...

⭐ 5.0/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 515923
$494
Buy at Thomann View Details
Deering Eagle II 5-string Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Deering Eagle II 5-string Banjo

by Deering
Celtic Traditional Music Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Distinctive bright, percussive tone
✓ PROS
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
  • • Traditional American instrument
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit all musical styles
  • • Requires specific playing techniques

Deering Eagle II 5-String Banjo5-String BanjoMumford and Sons Signature ModelNeck: MapleFretboard: Ebony (Diospyros...

⭐ 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 302466
$2,749
Buy at Thomann View Details
Deering Phoenix A/E 6-string Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Deering Phoenix A/E 6-string Banjo

by Deering
Country Folk Celtic
Key Feature:
• Traditional American instrument
✓ PROS
  • • Cuts through band mix well
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
✗ CONS
  • • Volume may overpower other instruments
  • • Limited tonal versatility

Deering Phoenix A/E 6-String Banjo6-String BanjoNeck: MapleNeck colour/finish: Stained Golden HoneyFretboard: Ebony...

⭐ 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 302476
$3,519
Buy at Thomann View Details
Deering Sierra 5-String Banjo Maple - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Deering Sierra 5-String Banjo Maple

by Deering
Celtic Country Americana
Key Feature:
• Great for fast picking techniques
✓ PROS
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
  • • Cuts through band mix well
✗ CONS
  • • Requires specific playing techniques
  • • May not suit all musical styles

Deering Sierra 5-String Banjo Maple5-String BanjoFlagship model of the Deering banjosBody: American mapleNeck:...

⭐ 4.6/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 269794
$2,748
Buy at Thomann View Details
Epiphone Mastertone Bow Tie OB Banjo - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Epiphone Mastertone Bow Tie OB Banjo

by Epiphone
Country Celtic Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Essential bluegrass sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great for fast picking techniques
  • • Cuts through band mix well
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit all musical styles
  • • Limited tonal versatility

Epiphone Mastertone Bow Tie OB Banjo5-String Openback BanjoInspired by Gibson Custom Shop / Modern CollectionResonator:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 588317
$879
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Banjos

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced banjos typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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