The bluegrass-inspired White Lotus banjo from Deering, named for its lotus flower inspired inlay pattern, is centered around the patented white oak rim. Notably lacking a traditional heavy tone ring, the natural white oak rim closely recreates a bright, crisp bluegrass punch, ushering in a new era in playing comfort and sound for today’s banjo player.

For years players have been asking for a lighter weight banjo with a full rich tone at an affordable price point. This desire has now become reality with the White Lotus 5-string resonator banjo. Weighing in at only 8 pounds and featuring the newly patented Deering white oak rim design, this American white oak banjo has the bright tone, crisp and clear note distinction, power, and sustain formerly only seen in banjos with metallic tone rings.

Having heard a vintage guitar of white oak years ago, Greg Deering decided to experiment with a white oak rim and neck for a banjo to see how the tone of this unique tonewood translated to a banjo.

Surprisingly, the result is a banjo with an almost metallic resonance without a tone ring. American white oak is noted for a heavy, straight-grained texture; hard, tough, very stiff, and strong. It’s these key qualities of white oak wood that imbue this banjo with strong fundamental notes and a series of overtones that imitate a bell metal tone ring without the additional weight characteristic of this classic banjo component. Now, banjo players can have the much-desired lighter weight banjo with “tone ring” power.

Alongside the patented white oak rim, other features include a white oak neck and resonator accented with white binding, an ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay, new lotus flower inspired inlays, the Eagle Series style flange, Deering’s comfortable neck shape with the easily recognizable peghead profile, and a sparkling glossy finish.