Three years after the Goodtime banjo revolutionized the banjo world, it was only natural that customers began asking us to make one with a resonator. They wanted a banjo that was as fantastic to play as the Goodtime, but that could compete in volume and projection in a jam setting. And if there is one thing Deering does well, it is to listen to the customer! So in 1999, the Goodtime Two banjo was born!
The Goodtime Two is similar to the Goodtime Openback, featuring a natural blonde maple vibe with a satin finish to protect it. The heart of the Goodtime Two is the same 3-ply violin-grade maple rim, which when paired with the 3-ply resonator, produces a rich, golden tone and offers a significant increase in volume from its openback counterpart.
This is because any sound from the back is now not being absorbed by your body. Instead, the hard, concave surface of the resonator is providing a surface for the sound to bounce off and forward, projecting through the soundholes of the nickel-plated flange that surrounds the rim.
Additionally, the Goodtime Two weighs in at around 6 lbs - about the weight of a guitar. So, if you want a great low-priced bluegrass banjo for travel and leisure that plays correctly and is durable, you should try the Goodtime Two.
As with all Goodtime models, the Goodtime Two is built in our only location, in San Diego, CA, with a huge emphasis on playability, tone, and affordability.
Neck Wood: Rock Maple
Neck Shape: Comfortable "D" Shape
Stain: None
Finish: Satin
Nut Width: 1 1/4"
Nut Material: Lexan Polycarbonate
Tuners: Sealed Geared Tuners
5th String Tuner: Goodtime Geared 5th String Tuner
Frets: 22 Pressed In Nickel Silver Frets
Inlays: Hardwood Art Deco Inspired Inlays
Rim: 3-Ply Violin Grade Maple
Rim Diameter: 11"
Tone Ring:
Head: 11" Top Frosted High Crown
Tension Hoop: Beveled Steel Tension Hoop
Hooks & Nuts: 16 Flat J-Hooks with 9/32″ Nuts
Flange: Two Piece Goodtime Series Flange
Armrest: Goodtime Armrest
Hardware Plating: US Bronze Powder Finish
Bridge: 5/8" Goodtime Smile Bridge
Tailpiece: Deering Patented Goodtime Tailpiece
Finish: Satin
Resonator Wood: 3-Ply Poplar/Poplar/Maple
Resonator Finish:
Resonator Sidewalls: Straight
Resonator Diameter: 13 7/8"
Resonator Stain: None
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.: 6 lbs
The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Goodtime banjo a Six Year Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship.
Click below for more information.
Comes strung with Deering Light Gauge Strings
String gauges: 10, 11, 13, 21w, 10
Comes tuned: G, D, G, B, D
Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.
Gig bags and hardshell cases available below
1. DEERING GOODTIME SMILE BRIDGE
The responsive sensitivity of the maple, with the hard, dense ebony top contributes to the Goodtime banjos clear, resonant responsiveness.
2. QUIET TAILPIECE
Specially selected metal is used to prevent the tailpiece from making “its own sound” and muddying up the banjo’s tone. The violin maple rim is supposed to sing, not your tailpiece.
3. STABILITY ENHANCING J-HOOKS
The proprietary Deering J-hooks are wider at the top to prevent twisting off the tension hoop when tightening the banjo head.
4. QUIET COORDINATOR ROD
Made of special alloy that is strong and does not interfere with the singing resonance of the violin maple rim.
5. 3-PLY VIOLIN GRADE MAPLE RIM
The maple in the Goodtime rim is the exact wood used in the finest violins in the world. Only Deering puts this professional grade 3-ply maple rim in a banjo in this price range.
6. SEALED GEARED TUNERS
Five high quality geared tuning machines make tuning the Goodtime banjo easy, accurate and fun. Too many student banjos are cursed with poor quality tuners, so the students blame themselves for an out of tune banjo when it’s the tuner that is at fault.
7. ROCK MAPLE NECK
This fine grained, dense, extremely hard, wood creates a stable neck, and imparts a bright, crisp quality to the Goodtime banjo tone.