The Magic of Persimmon: My Favorite Sustainable Tonewood for Pisgah Banjos When I was a kid, we had a persimmon tree in our backyard. Every fall, I’d watch as the fruit ripened to a deep orange, knowing that once it softened, it would be sweet, rich, and unlike anything else. If you’ve ever bitten into an unripe persimmon, you know just how astringent they can be—but (read the rest...) see all banjo faq's