--- title: What Are the Differences Between the Goodtime and Artisan Goodtime Banjos? description: One of the most common questions we get from our customers is “What is the difference between the Goodtime and the Artisan Goodtime banjos?” Learn the differences here! image: https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/artisan-goodtime-vs-goodtime-banjo.jpg --- [![Deering Banjos - The Great American Banjo Company](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/Deering%20Logo.png "Deering Banjos - The Great American Banjo Company")](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) - [Hooks & Nuts](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com) - [Banjos](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjos) - [Find A Dealer](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/apps/store-locator/) - [Support](https://help.deeringbanjos.com/knowledge) - [Accessories](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/accessories) [Goodtime](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/goodtime) [Artisan Goodtime Banjos](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artisan-goodtime-banjos) # What Are the Differences Between the Goodtime and Artisan Goodtime Banjos? by [David Bandrowski](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/author/david-bandrowski) on September 28, 2018 ##### Share One of the most common questions we get from our customers is “What is the difference between the **[Goodtime](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-banjos-blonde)** and the **[Artisan Goodtime banjos](https://info.deeringbanjos.com/artisan-goodtime-banjos)**?” There are several key differences, with most being aesthetic but there are a couple mechanical differences also. Even though they appear different the tone between the Goodtime and the Artisan Goodtime banjos are the same. The key differences are as follows: ## Stain Both types of banjos are made of maple, but the standard Goodtime banjos are unstained and showcase the beautiful blonde maple wood, while the Artisan Goodtime banjos have a brown stain on them. ## Tuners The Goodtime banjos have sealed guitar tuners while the Artisan Goodtime banjos have **[planetary tuners](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/products/planetary-banjo-tuners)**. The guitar style tuners stick out to the side and have a 14:1 gear ratio while the planetary tuners stick straight back from the peghead and have a 4:1 gear ratio. Although the planetary tuners have less of a gear ratio, thus making them harder to fine tune, they are the preferred type of tuner for banjo players mainly because they look traditional. ![goodtime-vs-artisan-tuners](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/goodtime-vs-artisan-tuners.jpg?width=1200&name=goodtime-vs-artisan-tuners.jpg) ## Fingerboard The Goodtime banjos do not have a separate fingerboard, The neck is all one piece of maple. The Artisan Goodtime banjos have a separate Midnight Maple fingerboard. Watch a video to learn more about the [**Midnight Maple fingerboard here**](https://info.deeringbanjos.com/deering-midnight-maple-fingerboard-video)! ## 5th String Spikes On 5 string banjos players most often use model railroad track spikes placed in the neck under the 5th string usually at frets 7, 9, and 10 to act as a capo for the 5th string. The Artisan Goodtime banjos come with these preinstalled. ## Armrest All of the Artisan Goodtime banjos come with an armrest installed. The **[Goodtime Two](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-two-banjos)**, **[Goodtime Special banjos](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-special-banjos)** (both [resonator](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-special-banjos) and [openback](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-special-openback-banjos) versions), and [**Goodtime 6 string banjos**](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-6-string-banjos), and **[Goodtime Americana](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-americana-banjos)** come with an [**armrest**](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/products/goodtime-banjo-armrest). ## Inlays The Goodtime banjos come with hardwood bowtie inlays. The Artisan Goodtime banjos come with vintage artisan style inlays. ![goodtime-vs-artisan-inlays](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/goodtime-vs-artisan-inlays.jpg?width=1200&name=goodtime-vs-artisan-inlays.jpg) [![LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTISAN BANJOS!](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/15b55298-fc4f-4bd9-a09e-111b3a876de8.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/15b55298-fc4f-4bd9-a09e-111b3a876de8) ## COMMENTS [![Kristin Scott Benson chooses the Deering Golden Series banjos](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/e1746c92-ee50-47bc-9b8c-8cc1edf426a2.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/e1746c92-ee50-47bc-9b8c-8cc1edf426a2) [![New call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/1753c9a8-491f-4b2b-b9ef-50457c195d9b.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/1753c9a8-491f-4b2b-b9ef-50457c195d9b) ## Search Blog Post ## YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Aug 5.2022 [Artists](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artists), [Calico](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/calico), [Goodtime](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/goodtime) ## [Willow Osborne Visits Deering](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/willow-osborne-visits-deering) Willow Osborne recently stopped by the Deering shop to play some banjos and talk about what she has been up to of late. It was such a great day of filming,... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/willow-osborne-visits-deering) Oct 18.2019 [beginners banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/beginners-banjo), [Buying a Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/buying-a-banjo), [Goodtime](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/goodtime) ## [Why Do Teachers Recommend Goodtime Banjos?](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/why-do-teachers-recommend-goodtime-banjos) Anyone who has been following Deering in the last few years will know that we talk a lot about the importance of choosing an instrument that will help your... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/why-do-teachers-recommend-goodtime-banjos) Oct 2.2018 [Goodtime](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/goodtime) ## [Where Are the Goodtime Banjos Built?](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/where-are-the-goodtime-banjos-built) Deering is very proud of the fact that all of their banjos have always and always will be built in the United States. Goodtime banjos are no different. The... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/where-are-the-goodtime-banjos-built) ### sign up for our newsletter ### Popular Posts [The Four Essential 5-String Banjo Rolls](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/the-four-essential-5-string-banjo-rolls) [Ukulele Sizes – Soprano, Concert, Tenor & Baritone](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/ukulele-sizes) [Celtic Tunes on the 5 String Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/celtic-tunes-on-the-5-string-banjo) [Learn Melodic Style 5 String Banjo With G Scales](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/learn-melodic-style-5-string-banjo-g-scales) [How To Wear Banjo Picks](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/how-to-wear-banjo-picks) ### Recent Posts [Steve Martin & Alison Brown release new music](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-timobrien) [The Artisan Elephant Goodtime Banjo - Giving Tuesday 2024](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/the-artisan-elephant-goodtime-banjo-giving-tuesday-2024) [Buying A Banjo on Amazon](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/buying-a-banjo-on-amazon) [Steve Martin & Alison Brown On the Kelly Clarkson Show](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show) [Keith Urban Covers Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" on Deering Phoenix Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/keith-urban-covers-sabrina-carpenters-espresso-on-deering-phoenix-banjo) ### Archives - 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[December 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/12) - [March 2025 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2025/03) see all [![Deering Banjos - the Great American Banjo Company](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/Deering%20Logo.png "Deering Banjos - the Great American Banjo Company")](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) 3733 Kenora Dr. Spring Valley, CA 91977 - [619-464-8252](tel:+619-464-8252) - [info@deeringbanjos.com](mailto:info@deeringbanjos.com) - [HOME](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) - [BANJOS](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjos) - [FIND A DEALER](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/apps/store-locator/) - [ARTISTS](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/blogs/deering-artists) - [CONTACT US](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/pages/contact-us) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Bandrowski", "url" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/author/david-bandrowski" }, "dateModified" : "2020-12-14T20:47:42.315Z", "datePublished" : "2018-09-28T18:27:24.000Z", "headline" : "What Are the Differences Between the Goodtime and Artisan Goodtime Banjos?", "image" : [ "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/artisan-goodtime-vs-goodtime-banjo.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/what-is-the-difference-between-the-goodtime-and-the-artisan-goodtime-banjos", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/deering-logo-green-406325-800x163.png" }, "name" : "Deering Banjos" } } ```