Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard 5-String Banjo  

I purchased my Scruggs banjo in 2003.  I started playing banjo in 1959 and now have seven good quality banjos and have played in numerous bluegrass bands, although not to make a living at it.  My favorites banjos are, a 1957 Gibson RB-250 arch top and the Scruggs.  Of the latter two I would say it is a toss up.  I alternate using one for about four months and then switching to the other.  The arch top has more higher overtones and therefore sounds "brighter" and the Scruggs has lower frequencies and thus a deeper sound.    I alternate between tastes between the two and would rate the Scruggs a very high quality product.  Perhaps not the top of the line because is does damp out the higher overtones, but certainly a worthy investment and well worth the money. 

I have owned my Earl Scruggs Standard for over 6 years now and throughly enjoy it.  It's a beautiful looking and sounding American banjo.  This is a maple banjo (neck, pot & resonator) with a kluesch tone ring which produces a true Earl Scruggs tone, not a mahogony RB-250 sound.  The vibe of this banjo is true pre-war American, not definitely not an asian knock-off.  Banjo set-up is important so make sure yours is setup buy an experienced banjo luthier.  I put a stuffy smith bridge on mine and it rings like a cannon.            

It's a great banjo. Mine's over 30 years old and sill going. The tone of it is very easy to manipulate. It's tone is well balanced. The lows and the mids are powerful and the highs are smooth and clear after it has been played for a few years.

I bought the earl scruggs standard banjo in 2002 and its a very well made instrument and sounds great i have had no problems with it ! I know there are banjos that sound as good, and look as good, and dont cost near as much, but they just dont say gibson!

The only brand endorsed by Earl Scruggs.  I now know why...There is no comparison to other brands I have played..