The Deering Eagle II 5-String Banjo has been praised by customers for its unparalleled versatility. From 3-finger bluegrass picking, to clawhammer, to folk rock, and more, the Eagle II shines with its clarity and balance of both brightness and warmth.
Specifications
Neck Wood: Quartersawn Maple
Neck Shape: Slender "D" Shape
Stain: Custom Dark "Eagle Red"
Finish: High Gloss
Nut Material:
Tuners: Deering Planetary Banjo Tuners
5th String Tuner: Deering Gotoh Geared 5th String Tuner
Frets: 22 Nickel Silver Frets
Fingerboard: A Grade Ebony
Inlays: Original Eagle Engraved Inlays
Rim: 3-Ply Violin Grade Maple
Rim Diameter: 11"
Tone Ring: Deering Patented Twenty-Ten Tone Ring
Head: 11″ Top Frosted Medium Crown
Tension Hoop: Notched Brass Tension Hoop
Hooks & Nuts: 24 Round J-Hooks and 1/4" Hex Nuts
Flange: 2 Piece Eagle Series Flange
Armrest: Deering Armrest
Hardware Plating: Nickel
Bridge: 5/8" Deering Smile Bridge
Tailpiece: Deering True Tone Tailpiece
Finish: Hand Finished Satin Polyurethane
Resonator Wood: 01JKYNCZVMA
Resonator Finish: High Gloss
Resonator Sidewalls: Straight
Resonator Diameter: 13 7/8"
Resonator Stain: Custom Dark "Eagle Red"
Neck Width at the Nut: 1 1/4"
Scale Length Nut to Bridge: 26 1/4"
Rim Diameter: 11"
Overall Instrument Length: 38"
Weight Approx.: 10 lbs
The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a lifetime warranty ensuring thequality of our materials and workmanship.
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Comes strung with Deering Light Gauge Strings
Comes tuned: G, D, G, B, D
Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.
Comes with a hardshell case.
NB: Due to current supply constraints, case brand may vary.
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- Reviews (23)
- Questions (4)
The Eagle 2 was well built and well finished. The urethane finish is a great feature in that it will outlast lacquer a long time. The...Read MoreRead more about I have played 5 string banjo for about
fit of the neck to the rim is excellent and I can feel the vibrations from the head all the way up the neck. There were several problems however; the ends of the frets at the edge of the finger board were left quite rough and required buffing with 4/0 fine steel wool to smooth them enough so as not to snag my fingers. The nut slots were quite high and the strings measured about . 020" with a feeler gauge above the 1st fret. The banjo was playable but the 3rd string in particular would go out of tune when capoed at the second fret. Since I have experience at basic banjo modification it was easy to lower the strings to about . 012 to . 014" above the 1st fret and the banjo became much more easily fretted and no longer played out of tune when capoed. Players with less experience might have to seek out a luthier for such an adjustment. I think this is something that Deering quality control should have caught and corrected before sending the banjo out.
I like playing the Eagle 2 and with the original top frosted head at a tension of 88 to 89 on the drum dial tuner and it sounds really good for bluegrass and melodic fiddle tunes. It produces a nice round well defined popping note and the sustain is pleasant and does not get in the way of the music. It is also a fairly loud banjo so it does not easily get drowned out in a jam situation.
Good picken- BB Read LessRead less about I have played 5 string banjo for about
ould. Very bright with quick response all the way up the neck. I am also a fan of Deering's slender neck profile. The build quality is very nice, and as far as banjos go it seems very stable. It stays in tune pretty well whether I'm in doors or out doors. All in all I have been very pleased. Read LessRead less about I've owned my Eagle ii for a little
t stop banjo and I couldn't be happier. Read LessRead less about I learned on a goodtime 2 and tried a
Its simply an Excellent sounding banjo without a “style” limit.
Great volume, Loud or Quiet. Very Clear and Even from one end of the neck to the other. Jams incredibly well. Not Harsh or Rude in anyway. Warm tones. Abundant Mid range, good bottom with a smooth high end and a wonderful easy pla...Read MoreRead more about Not a traditional “Bluegrass” sounding
yable neck.
Never sounds out of place no matter the Tune.
A very “non specific” voice. Classy. Plays well with others.
The Kavenjo head provides PA ease and has no real noticeable effect on the acoustic properties.
The Eagle has All my playing needs covered. A one stop Shop.
The only need for a second banjo is for the campfire. And the Goodtime fills that bill and they’re super fun to play. Read LessRead less about Not a traditional “Bluegrass” sounding
I love this banjo more all the time. I get compliments on it's looks and sound all the time and it looks fantastic on my wall.
ff is terrific and helpful when you have questions. Hopefully I can get a tour of the factory some day. Read LessRead less about I have rejuvenated my banjo playing
g. After getting the first hand history of the company from Greg Deering's talk, I feel I have bought a piece of history and tradition. Read LessRead less about I had the good fortune of meeting Greg
be with me for life. Read LessRead less about This instrument is beautiful, and
an old time or classic feel to some of the tunes I was writing. This instrument records so well with its warmth in the midrange and doesn't have any brashness at all. Even when mic'd with just so, so budget condenser mics. It sings chordally when playing claw hammer and has a meaty almost raw tone when played three finger style. Plenty of chime under a mic but not overbearing. I also own a pre war vintage clone and this is not that type of animal. But I liken this to having a good ribbon mic vs a condenser. A wonderful instrument and a great concept. I would love to see Deering offer a scooped fingerboard as option for this. I think it would truly add to its "crossover" appeal. Thank you Jamie at Deering for suggesting this model for me. Read LessRead less about I have had my Eagle II for close to a
As to the sound, well... I am no specialist, but I consider it very "full bodied" with lots of bass with a killer boom from the 4th string.
I tried other banjo's that have more of a ringing "bell"...Read MoreRead more about Bought mine from a spanish dealer for
or "xylophone" type of tone that I hear in most bluegrass banjos.
The particular sound of my Eagle actually reminds me more of my wife's piano sometimes. That banjo's tone seems to have a lot of "bandwith". (Sorry, all very subjective and like I said, I am no specialist.)
Just like Mr Krüger says in the video, if I do pick it close to the bridge, the tonal characteristics really change a lot and you really get that typical bluegrassy "clangy" or "crackling" sound.
If I was to say anything on the downside about that banjo, it would probably be the weight. It is a bit heavier than I thougt it would be. It probably is the price to pay to get that rich, booming sound it has. Read LessRead less about Bought mine from a spanish dealer for
, I decided that the Eagle was a better fit, and by God, I was not disappointed. The construction is very solid, and the finish is superb. It's like I'm holding a grand piano in my lap. The tone is so round, so lush and full. I could not be more pleased with this American made instrument. Thank you, Deering, for making this banjo for making the perfect instrument for me. Read LessRead less about The Goodtime II made me a convert from
. The new tone ring design is unique and I like it a lot. I have always looked at the way manufacturers design their instruments and like to see them try new things vs just building them they way they always did. I know the build of an instrument will affect it sound and if you want a specific classical sound, they you may need an old design, I don't think this would fit the bill. I am not sure what sound I am looking for in a banjo yet, but I do like what I hear from this one. And one last bonus...it is made in the USA. Read LessRead less about I have not been playing banjos for
Do you have the option of putting a pickup in the 5 string Eagle II?