Washburn Americana Series B9-WSH-A 5-String Banjo Natural - Professional Bluegrass & Folk Music Instrument for Performances & Practice

This is a great beginner's banjo. I've had mine well over a year and love it. I am sad to say I've not practiced as often as I would like, but I have been working on remedying that recently. That being said, I have experience with many different types of other string instruments, including acoustic guitar, electric bass, the erhu, mandolin, and others and so I know quality when I see it. This instrument is of great quality for its price. The action is a bit high and may cause your fingers to blister for the first few weeks of use, but that is a pretty standard issue with a lot of instruments. This banjo sounds bright and gives off that twang that you look for in a banjo loudly and clearly. The bridge it comes with is decent (I replaced mine for the sake of impulse) but the strings on it should be replaced. The factory strings it comes with will suffice for awhile, but they aren't the best quality. All-in-all, this is a gorgeous instrument for a good price. It is sturdy, loud, and well-made. I would buy this again straightaway if the need arose.