The Maple Blossom Plectrum banjo is a 4-string banjo that offers a bright and crisp tone when played with a flatpick, and is suitable for many genres of music but excels in traditional jazz and swing. Its standard tuning is C,G,B,D, but is also often tuned in what is called Chicago Tuning – D,G,D,E. Chicago Tuning is the same as the top 4 strings of the guitar and makes for an easy transition for guitar players. Made of high-quality maple and featuring a professional Deering -06- bell bronze tone ring, this exceptional musical instrument allows for versatile and effortless playability with its comfortable neck and great tone.
Curly maple wood, -06- tone ring, and flower inlays are the other key elements of the Deering Maple Blossom banjo. Maple Blossom is made from eastern violin grade curly maple, stained with a dark walnut stain, and adorned with flower mother of pearl inlays. When this individually selected wood is built into a banjo with the genuine Deering -06-bronze tone ring, 3-ply violin grade maple rim, and one piece zinc flange, the result is a banjo that is so bright, crisp and clear that every note pops out of this banjo with precision and power.
The Deering -06- tone ring produces a beautiful, balanced overtone spectrum. Its weight is ideal for most styles played on the banjo. A softer touch will provide you with as much sustain as you ever want, a sharper attack will produce a distinct pop and accurate note separation. You will notice no dead spots over the entire fingerboard. The beautiful highs and powerful well rounded bass is the result of intense study of alloys and shapes which resulted in the new -06- tone ring you hear in the great tone of the Maple Blossom banjo today.