A $1,199 retail-value Recording King professional-style resonator banjo, offered new by Blue Note Music at a compelling price.

Model: Recording King RK-R20 Songster
Type: 5-String Resonator / Bluegrass Banjo
Retail/List Price: $1,199

Construction & Tone

• Tone Ring: Rolled brass tone ring
• Rim: Multi-ply maple
• Neck: Mahogany
• Resonator: Mahogany
• Flange: One-piece, nickel-plated
• Coordinator Rod: Single
• Tension Hoop: 24-hook notched

Playability

• Scale Length: 26-1/4"
• Nut Width: 1-1/4"
• Frets: 22
• Fingerboard: Bound
• Nut: Bone
• Bridge: 5/8" maple/ebony
• Tuners: Planetary
• 5th String: Geared 5th-string tuner

Bluegrass Features

• Resonator: Yes
• Armrest: Mastertone-style
• Tailpiece: Presto-style
• Head: Remo
• Inlays: Mother-of-pearl Hearts & Flowers style
• Hardware: Nickel-plated
• Finish: Gloss mahogany

Tone Character

Rolled brass tone ring + maple rim + mahogany neck/resonator

→ Crisp attack
→ Good note separation
→ Traditional bluegrass character
→ Warmth from the mahogany construction
→ Responsive and relatively lightweight compared with heavy cast-tone-ring banjos

The 5 Specs a Banjo Player Will Care About Most

1. Rolled Brass Tone Ring
2. Multi-Ply Maple Rim
3. Mahogany Neck & Resonator
4. 26-1/4" Scale / 1-1/4" Nut
5. Planetary Tuners + Presto-Style Tailpiece

Bottom line: The RK-R20 is a traditional 5-string resonator banjo built around a rolled-brass tone ring, aimed at the player who wants genuine bluegrass-banjo construction and appearance without moving into the price range of heavy cast-tone-ring instruments.