Kent “Boo” Gorsuch
Banjo-FocusedLuthierSetup Specialist
- Tone
- Playability
- Tuning Stability
- Intonation
50+ years of playing, teaching, and setting up banjos
Have a banjo you’d like help with? Start a conversation
The Difference a Banjo-Focused Luthier and Setup Specialist Makes
A banjo can be a wonderfully responsive instrument, but with nearly 100 individual parts—many of them adjustable—it will only reach its full potential when everything is balanced and in harmony.
A banjo that is poorly set up and out of balance will often have weak and uneven tone, little or no sustain, unstable tuning, poor intonation, and buzzy dead spots across the fretboard.
A great setup begins by listening—to the banjo and to the player—and evaluating the instrument as a complete, interconnected system. When all of its parts begin working together in balance and harmony, the banjo will be easier to play, stay in tune, and respond with greater tone, power, clarity, and focus across the entire fretboard.
The difference can be heard and felt in its:
- Tone
- Tuning stability
- Intonation
- Playability
- Response
- Feel
“A great setup is the result of harmony and balance. Each subtle adjustment helps the next, until the banjo begins to open up, vibrate freely, and respond with amazing tone, clarity, and power.”Learn About My Setup Process
Setup Tailored to the Player
Every player approaches the banjo differently. Touch, playing style, preferred sound, and musical goals all influence how an instrument should feel and respond. A hard-driving Scruggs-style setup may be quite different from one suited to old-time, melodic, or progressive styles.
I tailor setup decisions to:
- Playing Style
- Feel & Playability
- Tone & Response
“A good banjo setup is not a one-size-fits-all process.”See Recent Work
Tone Chamber Optimization
Finding the individual voice of the banjo
As one important part of my setup process, Tone Chamber Optimization focuses on balancing the interacting components of the banjo so they work together rather than against one another.
“Great banjo setup isn't simply about chasing numbers. It's about listening to the instrument and bringing everything into harmony and balance.”Tone & Response
Does your banjo have any of these common issues?
- Will not stay in tune
- Action too high or low
- Buzzing
- Poor intonation
- Capo tuning problems
- Muddy, thin, harsh, or weak tone
- Weak fourth string
- Lack of clarity up the neck
- Poor volume or projection
Not sure what the problem is? That's what the free setup consultation is for.
Tell me about your banjo, what you’re hearing, and what you’d like to improve. We’ll begin with a conversation about the instrument and the changes you’d like to hear and feel.
If you’d like to bring your banjo to me, I’m happy to look it over and share my recommendations at no charge. If you’re not local, you’re welcome to ship it, but you’ll be responsible for insured shipping both ways. Please contact me before sending your banjo.
About Kent “Boo” Gorsuch
More than 50 years of playing, teaching, listening, and learning what makes a banjo work.
My approach to setup comes from a player's perspective, with particular attention to tone, feel, tuning accuracy, intonation, stability, and response. When you work with me, you work directly with me — there is no middleman, no assistant, no intake process.
Meet KentBanjo Setup — Local and Nationwide
I provide banjo setup in Waynesboro, Virginia and serve serious players and collectors throughout the Shenandoah Valley and the surrounding region — including Staunton, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Richmond, Roanoke, Northern Virginia, and neighboring states.
Players throughout the region bring their instruments to my Waynesboro shop for evaluation and setup. Whether you're in the Valley, driving in from Charlottesville or Harrisonburg, or coming from farther afield in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, or Tennessee, the process begins the same way — with a conversation about your banjo and what you'd like to improve.
Nationwide customers can ship instruments after contacting me and completing the appropriate evaluation process. Please do not ship your banjo without first receiving shipping instructions.