Some Customer Comments

Janet and Tom Anderson:
I received my new Gibson "vintage" Granada about two weeks ago. I have hardly put it down since receiving it. The banjo is everything I imagined it would be. Such a pleasure to receive something and not be disappointed with it. It arrived in perfect condition and I only had to put it in tune to begin playing. I would like to thank you Janet for owning such a customer service "oriented" business. It is such a pleasure to do business with you. Too bad more businesses arn't as caring as yours. I would like to thank Tom for his guidance right from the start and he never got tired of answering all my questions about different banjos. Thank you for sharing your knowlege about banjos, your patience, and most of all the way you set my banjo up. (It sounds like a true Gibson) It is certainly a delight.

Janet you have a life long customer in me and I hope Tom never leaves the company. (unless its for bigger and better thing in life)
Sincerely
Ed Brown

Dear Janet, I want to take the time to thank you and your people for the amazing customer service I received when purchasing a new banjo ( re. order # 30741). I have had many dealings with companies that claim they have the best customers service but no one can come close to yours. You and your people went far and beyond to see that I was satisfied with my purchase. I love my new Rb 250 the tone is amazing as is the balance and quality.My first dealings with you was through my banjo teacher using your book (You can teach yourself banjo) as my lesson book and on to Splitting the Licks & The Ultimate Banjo Songbook. You have a customer for life and someone who tells everyone he meets about Janet Davis. Your store is the place to go for all your musical needs.Thank you again so very very much.
Paul Germann

Tom, Derek, JDMC Store, I am very happy with my new Banjo, it came on Saturday morning,9:00 am. I could not open the box fast enough. This is the first thing I ever bought without even seeing it in person, or hearing it, or playing it, I just had that much faith in Gibson and your store, my choice and my instincts were right. I made the correct choice, and I chose the right place to make my purchase. I am very grateful for all that had input in this, and the Set-Up was just perfect. The only change I made was to replace the strings to light guage, it is what I am use to. My other Banjo is the Gibson RB-250 from the 1970's, it is still is good or even better than when I got back in 1978. Gibson Banjos are like fine wine, as long as they are taken care of, they improve over time. So, to sum everything up, I am happy and more than satisfied, I sincerely want to say Thank You to all. Please keep in mine my other order, and send it when everything comes in. Take Care, most sincerely, Paul Steven Shea
Thanks!

It is truly a yummy instrument and all of its provenance and extreme rarity just appeals to me more and more. I think I am still in a bit of shock. My Dad had an expression which he embellished in gold lettering on a small plaque which hung in my room as a little child that said: "the best is just barely good enough". It is my cause celebre! (Some of the ones he taught me later were not suitable for a small child)

I am taking it over to a friend on Monday for him to drool over.....he is in his 70s and has played with a group called the Bluegrass Tarheels forever. He says he already hates me.......he teaches a lot now too and will undoubtedly have a client for my MM and unless they win the lottery they will not outgrow that for a while. I just like fine craftsmanship and super sound and I guess Dad drummed it in my head.

I will call you soon and pick a little......there is a small Bluegrass mini festival at the county fairgrounds this Saturday and I will trot over there. (Don't think I will take the Granada, but certainly the MM ) Maybe I can find some talent to play with. Finding musicians here is like catching mice......if your cheese happens to be on their beaten path they will get caught! Otherwise they just plink into the woodwork.

Since I haven;t won the lottery, I have to make with the paintbrushes for a bit....CU
Claudia C

Hey Janet,
Hope you are doing good.

I love the 18 and it is a monster of a banjo. It has it all in all respects, looks, tone, volume, and playability. Your set up makes this banjo very easy for me to play. It is very easy to pull a perfect tone out of it and the clarity of this top tension is unmatched. This will be a great banjo for many, many years and will be very collectible one day as a piece of Gibson history!!

Thanks again for getting me the 18. It has been hard to put it down since I got it from you.

Thanks again so much and take care,
Ben G.

Hi Tom, I just wanted to let you know my Gibson RB-250 custom arch-top banjo arrived safely last week. I had a chance to break it in during a 3-day gig over the weekend and I'm just thrilled with it. The tone is just what I was looking for, and of course, it has the same feel and playability of my standard 250. As an added plus, they chose some nice-looking wood for this one too. You did a nice job on the set-up. The intonation was dead-on right out of the box. I switched out the medium strings for lights, like I normally use, to give it a bit more twang. Also tightened the head a bit while installing the strap. I was surprised at first to find the 5th-string spikes pointing down instead of up, like on my other banjo. But they note well and the string does seem to hold in there without popping out, even with vigorous picking! Anyway, thanks again for helping me get such a fine instrument. -JW

When I look at all the fancy banjo shapes and patterns, Gibson stands apart from all the rest. There's just a look about them that no other banjos have.
Your friend, ~ Bill

Hey Janet. I have been planning on calling you all week. I received the Checkerboard Style 6 in perfect shape. Matter of fact, I am holding it right now and playing it on stage tonight. I am warming up to go on. Janet, I can't thank you enough for your help on this banjo. It is probably the best banjo I have played and has a sound that I can only describe as a sweetness I have not heard from other banjos. I look forward to playing it on stage and will call you with a full report soon. Thanks again so much Janet! Ben G.

I recieved my Gibson RB Deluxe a couple of weeks ago and it was in great shape. It sounds great and I can't stop playing it!
Thank you, Larry M

My Granada was delivered yesterday....When I play each note I can feel it all the way up to my left hand. It's a great piece of work. I thank you folks.
Marshall N

Hi Janet, Just a note that I got the Vintage Granada today and its great. I love the look and it sounds really good, awesome. Set up on it was right where I like it.
Jim M

Hi Erick, I finally got the Gibson RB-250 and everything appears to be OK. The setup is perfect and it sounds great. Tell Janet I said thanks for another fine banjo! Gary

Dear Janet: I received my new Blackjack approximately 10 days ago and I just wanted to let you know that it is absolutely fantastic. The tonal characteristics are wonderful, especially with the Sosebee submerged wood bridge, the playability is incredible with the smaller, V-shaped neck, and the workmanship is as good or better than anything Gibson has ever produced.

I am presently the owner of two prewar Mastertones, a '26 Granada with a custom Huber tonering and a '28 TB-3 conversion, and I can say with absolute certainty that the Blackjack is as good or better than either of these prewar banjos. It will be my primary instrument for many years to come.

I also wanted to thank you for your excellent service and very competitive price that I received. The banjo was professionally adjusted, properly set up, and ready to play upon arrival. Certainly no big deal, but if you have an extra spike or two laying around, perhaps you could send them to me and I'll just install it myself.

All in all, this has been an excellent transaction and please consider me to be a very satisfied customer of Janet Davis Music.

With Best Regards,
Allen F

Janet, I am really enjoying the RB3 thanks again for the great banjo and the quick and professional service. That RB 3 rings like a bell!!!! God Bless, Harlon

Janet! Needless to say I am thrilled with my new Gibson Granada! It is incredibly beautiful and the tone is crystal clear! Heavenly! Thanks again for thinking of me. This is a very special lefty banjo, and I feel very fortunate to have such a quality instrument at this early stage of my banjo career. My special thanks to you and Jim and to your wonderful team. You guys are the best! Warmest regards! - Sandy

Janet, I have had my Gibson RB4 for several months now. I am so happy with the banjo that can't begin to express my gratitude for the help you gave me in choosing this instrument. My banjo instructor has tried to purchase the banjo from me several times. Every time I go for a lesson, he has to take a small amount of time to play it just to see how much the sound has changed as it ages.
Thank you again for your assistance. A finer dealer can not be found anywhere.
Bill C

Janet, I recently purchased a Gibson Mastertone RB 3 from you. When I called you said that you had two that had just come in and that one was exceptional. Thanks for sending the one that was exceptional. The RB 3 is a great instrument and you set it up perfectly. It is loud, clear, crisp, rings like a bell and has great sustain. The action is perfect and it plays real easy too. Thanks for the great set up, service, and the professional manner in which you do business. I will recommend you to all my bluegrass friends. God Bless and thanks again, Chaplain (MAJOR) Harlon T

Janet, I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying playing the new RB-3 I got from you last week. You were right when you said that this one had an outstanding tone to it. I love the sound of the Gibson mahogany banjos. I think they are my favorite right now, as well. Thanks again for the great set up on it. It played perfect right out of the box. You always take care of me and look out for my best interests on all my banjos. You also seem to know what I am looking for and know what I will like in tone. That means a lot and I really appreciate that. Tell Jim I appreciate the fine job on the 5th string spikes again. Benjamin V. Gordon

Hi Janet! The Gibson Granada arrived in fine shape and the setup is great! Much to my surprise, each time I pick it up to play, it sounds louder and fuller...and I'm only on the backside of the banjo! WOW! And you were absolute right in your description of how exquisite looking the instrument is with the upgrades! I appreciate all your help and will be enjoying my banjo for a long time to come! Thanks again! Dotti P

Janet, Just had to tell you that I received the Custom RB-75 yesterday in perfect shape. It was packed perfectly and even in tune. I must say, it is a beautiful banjo. I love everything about it, especially the copper flashed gold parts with the brushed finish. I was not sure what to expect, but the look is great and I am really going to enjoy it. The vintage look of the entire banjo is super. It is like owning a piece of Gibson history, and it was well worth the wait. Thanks so much to you Janet for helping me get this banjo. I know it will be a banjo that will last me a lifetime. What a great addition this banjo will be to my collection. I spent quite a bit of time with it last night and it sounds wonderful. It has it's own distinct sound that I am sure will only get better with time.

I want to say again how much I appreciate you and your commitment to bluegrass musicians and the banjo. The level of personal service you give far exceeds what is expected these days. I have been a customer for over 11 years and the service only gets better. I appreciate your concern also on the spikes vs. the Shubb capo for this particular banjo. I am glad I went with the spikes this time. You were looking out for me. Thanks so much - Your friend, Benjamin G

BTW, the Checkerboard you sold me keeps getting better. I've never heard one without the Big 10 tone ring but I can tell you the banjo with this ring has the best over all sound of anything I've heard. Its just wonderful. Ron

Hi Janet, Just a note to let you know I received the RB-7 today and love it. Its a great sounding banjo and it isn't even broken in yet. I am sure I will have plenty of enjoyable hours on it. I just ordered some Keith D tuners and Keith regular tuners.

My Scruggs Gibson arrived in great shape. I am thrilled with the left hand action. My movements are smoother and for some reason more intuitive. Brand "X" was a good banjo, and supposedly known for a good neck, but the Gibson works a whole lot better for me. Good thing I am self-employed.....I moved the banjo to the basement office. Got er' propped right next to me in the stand. About every hour or so I check the voice mail....not too often though, don't want to break a good roll rhythm! Thanks for the great set up and super fast delivery! Steve

Janet, I thought that I should send a follow up email letting you know how things are progressing with my new Granada. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice, not only in going with the Granada, but also in deciding to do business with you and your staff. I have spent numerous hours playing my new banjo (and have the sore fingers to prove it!) and my Granada keeps getting better and better. I took it to band practice last Thursday night and the band members spent the first ~20 minutes of rehearsal oogling over the beauty of the maple and engraved gold plating. Afterwards, our dobro player came over and remarked that my Gibson sounds 10x better than my Stelling or OME. I am still amazed at how well the Gibson sound fits in a bluegrass ensemble. While taking a break, we were listening to "Are There Any Stars In My Crown" (Cox Family from the O Sister! CD) in preparation for starting to work it up, and I couldn't believe how much my banjo sounds like Ron Block's Gibson. Granted, I am a looong way from playing 1/2 as well as Ron! :) Even though the preceding may sound a bit nutty, I am really excited, as I can now see why the Gibson Mastertone has remained such a standard of bluegrass banjo. I needed a few days to live with my new banjo before reconciling my expectations (which were admittedly quite enormous) with what my new banjo was capable of producing. I have dreamed of getting a Granada for several years now, never thinking that I could afford one and I am not disapointed in the least. I think that I now have an heirloom to pass down to my children when they are old enough to play. I can't begin to thank you enough for the excellent service, the *great* price and your concern for my satisfaction with my new banjo. Your excellent reputation is well deserved and I will recommend you highly to anyone who will listen. Count me in as a satisfied customer. Have a great day! Best wishes, Alan

The Granada arrived safe and sound and in almost perfect tune. Wow! I spent a few minutes looking it over and can't find a flaw anywhere. Gibson certainly seems to have gotten things in order! I am looking forward to playing my new banjo tonight and will send a follow up email once I have a better idea of the sound and playability. Thanks for the great service! Regards, Alan

Dear Janet and Jim,
Received the Granada today and you will be glad to know that all is well - it looks and sounds wonderful. Many thanks for picking such a nice one and looking after me so well. Thanks also for taking care of the shipping charge which was very generous. All best wishes, Mike S

Hi: I just got my RB3 Gibson in the mail today. I love it. You did a nice job setting it up. Its been a pleasure talking with you and doing business with you, Janet. I hope to do some more later. Your whole staff has been nice every time I call. I just wish you had a store here in Richmond, Va. Thanks, Aubrey

Janet, I received my RB-75 JD Crowe today. I was practicing on my RB-100 when the UPS guy arrived. I took it right out of the box and practiced for two hours. I am amazed at the difference in the two banjos. After wiping it off and placing it back in the case I picked up the RB-100 for a few more minutes and it was very hard to go back to that one after playing the new RB 75. I love it!!! and expect it to keep getting even better. It arrived quicker than expected, I'm a very satisfied customer. I know who I'll call for my next banjo. Thanks for everything. Weyman E. C

Janet, Thanks for your help, Janet - I love the banjo (Gibson RB250), it arrived in perfect condition. I'm delighted with the sound, and my husband is happy with the black head. It is stunning. Certainly different than anything I've seen before. Jan P

Hi, Janet, I have played banjos for 35 years. I must say that I have played about every kind of banjo at one time or another. I was skeptical about buying one I have never played. The RB4 Gibson I purchased from you was everything I hoped it would be. The set up and intonation were great. Sometimes I don't know whether to play it or just look at this beautiful banjo. Thank you for your honesty about the look and sound of this banjo. Eddie H

Hello Janet Davis, I received the Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard banjo today. I always thought that my Iida (arch top) sounded pretty good and played well. However, the Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard is the absolute best. The Gibson really sustains a note. The bass notes are deep and true. The tone is magnificent. It's really easy to hold and change chords with my left hand. And, it's beautiful, too! Thank you for your fine service. -- Geri F (and Duncan the Westie) ...and I wish to thank you for the excellent service. I am very pleased with the Earl Scruggs also,.. the action fingers very very well, I am not an expert by any means and play cuz I like too. It is a pleasure to play. Your set up was excellent as far as I am concerned. Thanks for your excellent service and response. I will not hesitate to recommend you in the future . Regards, Bob M

Dear Janet Davis: I have received as of Monday the Granada from you and believe me it is every thing I could hope for. The style and sound are exquisite. I am very happy with it and it is every thing that you had described and every thing that I hope for. I want to thank you for your generous price and hope to do business with you again.
PS Can't seem to put it down for very long just love to play it. Such a big difference from the Goldtone. I think the Goldtone has found a permanent home in it's case LOL. Thanks Again, Arthur H

I first wanted to say I am more than pleased with my new Scruggs banjo. Not only was the deal great, but so was the setup and everyone I talked to on the phone was very helpful. Thanks again, Elby G

I very pleased with the look, feel, and overall tone the RB-3. I think this banjo is only going to sound better with age. Thank you for shipping it out right away. A satified customer, David T (Florida)

I love the tone and playability of my new Mastertone; thank you for making it available to me at your price.
John M. M.D.

Janet, just wanted to thank you for the great service on my recent orders. I got the RB-12 a day earlier than I was expecting and what a nice suprise. It was well worth the wait to get it. I have been very impressed with it; it is a wonderful instrument with great tone and playability. Thanks for the great set-up job on it. I have been playing it every chance I've had since I got it. I know it will be a great instrument for a long, long time. As always, a great big thanks. Ben G

Janet: I purchased a Gibson Granada banjo from you about 3 years ago. It is the greatest sounding banjo I have ever played and I've tried a lot of them not to mention having the most understated elegance of any banjo I've seen. As you remember I had them put an ebony FB on it and I get many, many complements on the looks and sound. Thanks --Art

Janet, Just thought you would like to know that the RB3 sounds awesome so now I gotta figure which one to play regularly and right now the 3 is winning. I love it and thanks again. My next purchase from you is gonna be that pickin glider but I gotta wait till next month for that one. Have a good one. Jim

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