Deering Boston 6-String Banjo - Guitar Tuning | Piano Gallery, Idaho Falls
The Deering Boston 6-String Banjo offers guitarists an immediate pathway into banjo playing with its familiar guitar tuning and fretboard layout. This innovative instrument delivers professional-quality tone through its unique 3/16″ rolled steel rim construction that rings like a traditional tone ring, creating rich resonant bass notes and crisp highs that define modern banjo sound. Ideal for intermediate to professional players, the Boston bridges traditional banjo craftsmanship with accessible playability for guitar-trained musicians.
Product Overview
The Boston 6-String features a professionally crafted body built around an 11″ nickel-plated steel rim that produces exceptional tonal resonance without the cost of traditional tone rings. The 3-ply resonator (poplar/poplar/mahogany or maple) enhances projection and sustain, finished in a satin brown mahogany stain that showcases natural wood grain. The 24-piece butterfly flange and 24 flat J-hooks with beveled steel tension hoop ensure optimal head tension and consistent tone across the playing surface.
The slender D-shaped neck is crafted from quartersawn mahogany or maple, providing stability and comfortable playability across all 22 frets. A radiused A-grade ebony fingerboard enhances string action and feels natural to guitar players, while the distinctive Deering Seed and Vine maple and pearloid inlays add visual elegance. Guitar-style tuners with higher gear ratios than traditional banjo tuners deliver superior tuning accuracy and stability, crucial for recording and performance settings.
The Boston's electronics-free acoustic design produces the authentic banjo tone heard on Keith Urban recordings including "Someone Like You" and the Grammy-winning "Sweet Thing." This instrument has become the preferred choice in country recording studios and non-traditional bands, offering bass depth unavailable on 5-string banjos while maintaining the crisp high-end definition that characterizes professional banjo sound.
Ideal For
- Guitar players transitioning to banjo who want familiar tuning and fretboard spacing
- Country and Americana musicians seeking versatile banjo tones with extended bass range
- Recording artists requiring consistent intonation and the professional tone heard on mainstream country tracks
- Studio musicians who need guitar-familiar playability combined with authentic banjo character
- Performers in crossover bands blending traditional and contemporary musical styles
Key Features
Guitar-Style Tuning and Playability
The Boston's standard guitar tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) allows guitarists to apply existing chord shapes and scales immediately, eliminating the learning curve associated with 5-string banjo tuning while maintaining authentic banjo tone.
Steel Rim Construction
The innovative 3/16″ rolled steel rim delivers tone ring-quality resonance at an accessible price point, producing the bright, cutting sound preferred in professional recording studios while maintaining excellent sustain and projection.
Professional-Grade Neck Profile
Quartersawn mahogany or maple construction with a slender D-shape profile provides stability against temperature and humidity changes, while the radiused ebony fingerboard offers comfortable playability across all 22 nickel silver frets.
High-Ratio Guitar Tuners
Precision guitar-style tuners with superior gear ratios ensure accurate, stable tuning—essential for recording sessions and live performances where quick, reliable adjustments are necessary.
Extended Tonal Range
Six strings provide resonant bass notes impossible on 5-string banjos, combined with crisp high-end definition, creating the signature sound featured on contemporary country and crossover recordings.
What's Included
- Deering Boston 6-String Banjo
- Deering armrest hardware
- Free standard shipping
- Manufacturer's warranty
- Ask us about our white glove delivery service
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Body | 11" nickel-plated 3/16" steel rim |
| Neck | Quartersawn mahogany or maple, slender D-shape |
| Fretboard | Radiused A-grade ebony with Seed and Vine inlays |
| Scale Length | 26 1/4" (nut to bridge) |
| Frets | 22 pressed-in nickel silver frets |
| Tuners | Guitar-style tuners with high gear ratio |
| Head | 11" top frosted medium crown |
| Hardware | 24 flat J-hooks, 9/32" hex nuts, butterfly 24-piece flange |
| Bridge | 5/8" Deering radiused smile bridge |
| Resonator | 13 7/8" diameter, 3-ply poplar/poplar/mahogany or maple |
| Finish | Satin brown mahogany |
| Neck Width at Nut | 1 3/4" |
| Overall Length | 38 1/2" |
| Weight | Approx. 9.6 lbs |
Experience This 6-String Banjo Today
Visit Piano Gallery in Idaho Falls to experience the Deering Boston 6-String Banjo firsthand and discover how guitar tuning meets professional banjo tone. Our knowledgeable staff can demonstrate the unique sound qualities that make this instrument a favorite in recording studios and on stage. Contact us today to schedule a playing session or learn more about this exceptional instrument.
