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The Deering John Hartford Standard
5-String Banjo

The John Hartford model has two very special advantages. First -- it is lighter weight than most other bluegrass banjos, and secondly it has an amazing tone. It sounds like a vintage pre-war banjo. But the unusual thing is that as it ages, it "plays-in" like a violin and gains in volume and presence the more it is played. We´ve seen it out-do even the best bronze tone-ring banjos in jam sessions.

The Hartford is made of flamed maple and stained to a warm brown. It has the look of a vintage instrument, not glossy, but hand rubbed to create a smooth, fast feel. The "steamboat gothic" inlay pattern reflects John´s enthusiasm for steamboats.

Greg´s years of experience with various woods combined with John´s research into the design of vintage banjos culminated in the idea of using a "Granadillo tone-ring" made from a wood used on marimbas. This unique tone-ring is mounted on a three-ply maple rim with a zinc flange to create a wood-rim, lighter weight (8 lbs instead of 11 or 12) banjo a very good choice for bluegrass as well as other styles!

With the custom option of a pop-on resonator, and assembling the banjo with a light weight tube for open-back playing, you can have a banjo which is easily convertible from open-back to bluegrass style, weighing 6 lbs with the resonator and only 5 lbs without -- the same as a guitar!

More expensive to produce than a bell bronze tone-ring, the Hartford tone-ring comes standard on the John Hartford model.

The Hartford has the most surprisingly wonderful tone. You can listen to it on John Hartford´s "Down the River" and "Hartford & Hartford" albums. Other models featuring the Hartford tone ring can be heard on recent albums by David Holt, John McCutcheon, Tom Chapin, Elmer Bird, and The Kingston Trio.

Deering John Hartford 24 Fret Model