Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo,Professional Sapele Back Full Size Banjos Starter Kit with Bag Tuner Strap Strings Picks Ruler Wrench Bridge

Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo ReviewThis is a somewhat lengthy write-up.Overview:I very much like the sound of bluegrass, particularly the banjo. This is my first string instrument that I am learning.I was not comfortable spending $500 or even $300for a beginners/intermediate banjo, not knowing how committed I was going to be to learn.This Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo with the additional equipment at this “extremely affordable” price,was a great choice for me.I wanted a Resonator Banjo, which I had learned was the type of banjo typically used with 3-finger style bluegrass.The added benefit with this banjo is that you can remove the resonator if you wanted to play open back.Pros:For the price, I was extremely impressed with the quality and workmanship of this banjo.I mean, it’s beautiful. Does not appear Cheaply built at all,As a beginner, I have no idea what a “good” sounding banjo vs a “cheap” sounding banjo is.To me, this banjo once tuned sounds great.One nice additional component, was a clear plastic measured strip used to accurately place the bridge.Cons:- “kmise-us” Company communication was lacking.During my research for an affordable, quality beginners banjo, I had stumbled on this otherKmise Banjohttps://www.amazon.com/Kmise-String-Closed-Strings-MI2953-KUS/dp/B081NBC5P9/ref=sr_1_3?crid=Q79X54PX90NF&keywords=Kmise+5+String&qid=1660913528&sprefix=kmise+5+string%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-3This Kmise Banjo is advertised as“Kmise, 5-String Banjo, Full Size (MI2953-KUS)” $169.99Going back and forth to the“Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo” $157.99they look to be exactly the same, offering the same additional gear. (Tuner, Gear bag, Strap…..)I sent a message to the Company, it’s been two weeks, no response.Just wanted to know the difference between the two.The only difference I could see, other than the price, was when the product was released.07/09/2020 vs 11/17/2019Not a huge deal, but I was curious.- Boxing/PackagingWhen the box arrived (this is a big box), there was a single strip of packing tape running down the length of the Box (40” in length), and no packing tape across the width.The packing tape was not secure for the lower ½ of the box,which allowed my hand to reach in to the inside triangular box (where the banjo resides in the gear bag), and the banjo box was “lifted” on one edge.Possible a Quality Assurance measure, to insure the banjo was indeed in the triangular box, or…someone was nosy. Haha..I was there waiting inside when Amazon made the deliver.I immediately took out the banjo for a thorough inspection, and to insure all advertised accompanied gear was in the box.Everything was there, and no damage to the banjo.- Small defectUpon inspection, I did notice a very small “blemish” near the nut on the lower part of the headstock. But it was so small an inconsequential, and for the price I paid, I was not going to returnfor a replacement for something that I could not really notice.- Included Metal Hooks (for the Strap)I attached the two metal hooks to the provided Strap,and attached to the two “hookups” on the banjo, and after about 4 days, as I was standing, one of the hooks just broke.I had a firm handle on the banjo, so I did not drop it. I inspected the hook, and it basically snapped in half.I had an old leather carry bag and two brass hooks that I was no longer using, so I just fitted these two brass hooks on the strap, and I’m good to go.Summary:I highly recommend this banjo for the beginner.You cannot go wrong given the very low price and all the additional equipment that comes with it.Beautiful banjo and great sound.If I stay committed in learning, I may upgrade with a higher quality banjo, but much later in life.Before investing in a newer banjo, if I get to that point where I can actually play confidently, the upgrades I would perform on this banjo would be higher quality strings, a higher quality bridge, and new tuning pegs if needed.I replaced the included metal finger/thumb picks with some descent picks.As far as this banjo staying in tune, I have been playing every day/every other day for approx 20-30mineach session, and only had to re-tune once yesterday.(a 2 week period)So for me, it holds the tune well.I can see myself learning on this banjo easily for at least the next 5 years.Great purchase choice for me.

I was absolutely delighted with this banjo uke. For the price I did not expect much but found it to be well made, attractive to look at and easy to set up. The bridge came entwined in the strings and I had read about measuring the distance from this to that and laying it out on the instrument with a pencil. None of that was needed here! There is a plastic sheet under the strings that is marked making this job easy-peasy. I loosened the strings, inserted the bridge and used the included tuner to get it ready to play. It took only a few minutes!I'm not a uke player so I also bought the book Ukulele for the Complete Ignoramus to get me started. Learning to play can be intimidating & I appreciated the way the author made to process easy & fun. In half an hour, I had learned three chords and was strumming along and even picking out the melody to Take Me Out To The Ballgame using the "tabs." If you are new to the uke, this book is a good investment.I added a strap to hold the instrument in place as it is heavier than a regular uke.Perhaps the best part of all is how nice it sounds. Using a pick, it sounds like a banjo and can be played good & loud. Using your fingers, it has a softer tone, more like a uke. I love it!Its nice to be able to say something good about a product. You can't go wrong with this banjo uke or the book, they are both worth the money.As with many products now, there is no printed instructions. The info about setting up the bridge was printed on the clear plast template and that was good enough. It ain't rocket science!

I read the reviews and was skeptical about the positive remarks from a low-priced, Chinese Banjolele. Once I got it, it was as described and it lived up to the reviews. For $90, this little Banjolele is pretty well made, sounds great and has good playability. But, I do want to point out some things that you should know.To get the best tone, you will need to replace the strings and take off the resonator panel. For $6, you can replace the stock strings with a nice set and it immediately and noticeable improves the tone. Also, the cool, tinny sound of a Banjo seems muted with the resonator panel on (I thought resonators were supposed to make Banjos louder. but this one mutes the sound). Once removed, you will hear a brighter, louder, crisper sound that you can control with some body placement. I was hoping to put spacers between the body hoop and the back panel to allow some sound to escape but the screws are tiny and the rim is made from cheap wood and has small stress fractures from the bending process, so you can't take off and put on the resonator over and over without risking stripping out the holes.The action is a bit high but if you carefully sand down the bottom of the bridge, you can get it down to a more reasonable height. I took .5mm off of mine and it was worth it.The head is rough and not made of great material. The roughness allows for a cool scratching sounds when using a scratching strumming technique where your fingers graze the head material. The tuners are a little loose but once quality strings break in, it is staying in tune fairly well, but not perfectly.This is a great value at $90 and a great way to see if you like playing a Banjolele. If you do, and you do it a lot, you will feel better about dripping $400 next time.Overall, four solid stars!