Deering Banjo Company
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder(s) | Greg Deering |
| Headquarters | Spring Valley, California, USA |
| Area served | Global |
| Key people | Greg Deering, Janet Deering |
| Owner(s) | Greg and Janet Deering |
| Subsidiaries | Vega, Tenbrooks, Goodtime |
| Website | DeeringBanjos.com |
The Deering Banjo Company was started in 1975 by Greg and Janet Deering. They are located in Spring Valley, California. Deering Banjos makes Deering, Vega, Tenbrooks, and Goodtime banjos.
[edit] A Master Luthier's Beginnings
Greg Deering began learning woodworking from his father at the age of two by watching him build model airplanes. Growing up in San Diego, he received his first tools and tool box pictured here, which he had carefully laid out in his wagon on his third birthday. Many of these tools he still has today. That is how important this was to him. It was a career in the making. At the age of 12, Greg purchased his first banjo by investing a months pay from his paper route into a used banjo. He learned to play Kingston Trio songs on his banjo with his best friend Tom playing guitar.
Greg made his first banjo as an industrial arts major at San Diego State College. In 1970, at 19 years of age he joined other enterprising young college students at the American Dream Co-Op and began doing instrument repairs and building banjos. This co-op would become the birth place of at least 4 now world renowned instrument manufacturers - a true tribute to the concept of the American dream! The American dream became the theme of Greg’s life when he and Janet started the Deering Banjo Company in 1975 as a family business. Together they not only raised two children but built, piece by piece, the Deering banjo factory. Today, over 35 years later, the Deering Banjo Company has delivered to over 76,318 happy musicians and counting …. one banjo at a time.
[edit] Endorsing artists
Some of their endorsing artists are:
- Béla Fleck
- Tony Trischka
- Doc Watson
- Joe Satriani
- Roy Clark
- Keith Urban
- Rod Stewart
- Jimmy Page
- The Dixie Chicks
- Los Lobos
- Jens Kruger
- Wayne Newton
- Primus
- The Violent Femmes
- The Elton John Band
- Aerosmith
- John McEuen
- Don Wayne Reno
- Pete Wernick
- Dropkick Murphys
- John Hartford
