WHEN YOU COMMISSION A BANJO FROM US YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO SPECIFY YOUR OWN TONE RING OR TALK TO US ABOUT THE KIND OF SOUND YOU WANT AND WE'LL WORK TOGETHER TO GIVE YOU THE BEST INSTRUMENT FOR YOU.
BANJOS ARE COMPLEX INSTRUMENTS AND COME IN MANY FORMS AND TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION. DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTIONS COMBINED WITH DIFFERENT TONE RINGS PRODUCE DIFFERENT SOUNDS.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE TONE RINGS USED IN OUR BANJOS. THEY ARE ALL MADE IN AMERICA AND VARY IN PRICE FROM THE CHEAPEST AT $200 APPROX TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE AT $1500 APPROX. THIS VARIATION IN PRICE IS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRICE OF OUR BANJOS.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE TONE RINGS USED IN OUR BANJOS. THEY ARE ALL MADE IN AMERICA AND VARY IN PRICE FROM THE CHEAPEST AT $200 APPROX TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE AT $1500 APPROX. THIS VARIATION IN PRICE IS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRICE OF OUR BANJOS.
FLAT TOP 20 HOLE CAST BELL BRONZE TONE RING
This type of tone ring is mostly used in our 5 string bluegrass banjos but customers who have had one fitted to a tenor banjo suddenly experience the most powerful sounding instrument. They are available in several qualities from approx $300 to $1500. Our EMERALD SILVER EAGLE 5 string bluegrass banjo uses a tone ring like this from the higher end of the price bracket
ARCH TOP 40 HOLE CAST BELL BRONZE TONE RING
This type of tone ring is the most common tone ring used in our tenor banjos and customers love the traditional powerful and crisp sound produced. They are usually the most suitable tone ring for Irish tenor banjo music.
DANNICK NO HOLE ARCH TOP CAST BELL BRONZE TONE RING
This is the most expensive tone ring in the world at $1500. It is not Mass Produced and is available only in very limited quantities. Available from us fitted to your new Emerald banjo. However, waiting time for one of these tone rings can be up to 6 months and we cannot make the rim until we have the tone ring in our hands.
MITCHELLS NO HOLE ARCH TOP CAST BELL BRONZE TONE RING
This is a top quality tone ring as used in our BLAK EMERALD solid ebony tenor banjo, the only one of its kind in the world. It is not Mass Produced and waiting time for one of these tone rings can be up to 3 months. But well worth the wait. We only fit this tone ring to our BLAK EMERALD.
ARCH TOP NO HOLE CAST BELL BRONZE TONE RING
This type of tone ring is one of the most common tone rings used in our tenor banjos. It has a traditional powerful and crisp soundand perfect for Irish tenor banjo music.
TUBAPHONE CLASSIC BRASS TONE RING
This type of tone ring is rare and difficult to obtain but produces a very distinctive sound. We use it only in our EMERALD OGHAM tenor banjo for the traditional bright sound quality it produces similar to that of a 1930's quality banjo.
WHYTE LAYDIE TONE RING
This pre war type of tone ring is the most common tone ring used in our open back tenor and 5 string banjos banjos for the mellow "old tyme" sound produced.
REMEMBER
Unlike some makers we do not buy lengths of tube, turn them and part them off to create tone rings in order to save money. NOR DO WE BUY READY ROLLED AND EXTRUDED MATERIALS FROM WHICH TO MAKE OUR TONE RINGS. WE USE ONLY THE BEST AMERICAN CAST BRONZE OR SPUN CAST BRONZE ITEMS. THESE ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT SO SUPERIOR THAT ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. We want you to get a banjo with a solid sound and not a rather empty "tinny" sound
Unlike some makers we do not buy lengths of tube, turn them and part them off to create tone rings in order to save money. NOR DO WE BUY READY ROLLED AND EXTRUDED MATERIALS FROM WHICH TO MAKE OUR TONE RINGS. WE USE ONLY THE BEST AMERICAN CAST BRONZE OR SPUN CAST BRONZE ITEMS. THESE ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT SO SUPERIOR THAT ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. We want you to get a banjo with a solid sound and not a rather empty "tinny" sound
