Deering Calico Banjo

The Deering Calico Banjo is possibly the most beautiful banjo in the entire Deering lineup! With an elegantly simple inlay package, Deering lets the AAA flame maple and amber shaded finish do all the talking. Nicely dressed up, but not overdressed !

The Deering Calico banjo is a Top Level professional model that uses the best woods and materials throughout. Standard Aught Six ( ’06) Bronze tone ring, Red maple rim, Deering’s unique flange, tension hoop and tailpiece all combine to give you the volume, rich voice and upper frets sustain and balance one expects from Deering.

The AAA Mastergrade maple used in the neck and resonator is simply spectacular, and two refinements are added to the Calico model. Tapered inside walls on the resonator for improved bass balance, and glued in frets to facilitate ease of fret removal many years down the line when a refret is needed.

Deering banjos are built around Deering’s famed ’06 (aught six) sand-cast, silicone bronze tone ring. This incredible tone ring is fitted to a red-maple rim and the unique Deering extra heavy flange.

Deering’s thick flange contributes to the full and round bass response and added upper fret sustain and string balance that we expect from Deering Banjos.

The Deering extra shallow resonator serves to tighten up bass response and enhance harmonic clarity and improve sustain as one plays up the neck.

The Deering Calico Banjo is fitted with Deering Deluxe Planetary tuners and a geared 5th peg plus a Deering premium head and Deering custom designed tailpiece. Deering makes their own superb bridges from select and seasoned maple.

Deering necks are slim and have a shallow C-shape profile. These necks are very well suited to technical players who want an electric guitar feel when they play up the neck.

Banjos from The Twelfth Fret are completely setup with standard action at 5/64 and head tension tuned to G#. Fret level is carefully checked all banjos leave our shop in fully playable condition.

The Deering Calico is factory strung with new D’addario light gauge strings, but we will install whatever gauge you prefer and setup according to your right hand attack and action expectations. I have been building, restoring and servicing banjos since 1977 and we have 6 full-time luthiers on staff; all the skills and expertise needed to setup your banjo to suit you.

The 5th string capo tacks will be installed at no charge,  if desired.

Grant MacNeill

Check out Grant’s Banjo Setup Q&A