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fitch5string - Posted - 09/18/2009: 09:16:00
For those of you that have not heard, the RK-80's have been updated. I got my first one this week and I like the improvements. First, they now have a vintage finish that very closely resembles a prewar Style-3. More of a brownish color, less red and with aged toner added. The "yellowing" is very authentic looking and not over-done like some I have seen. The 5th string tuner has finally been moved to the center of the 4th and 5th frets which makes capoing in B much easier. The frets are smaller as found on most US banjos. I always thought they were too tall on the RK's. teh bone string nut is now nicely shaped and correctly slotted. Finally, the rims are now much more attractive. They are finished nicely with a better matching color than before. Overall, I like the changes. Thanks
FITCH BANJOS
www.FitchBanjos.com
Hand-Crafted Professional Banjos
Burlile Tone Rings
Edited by - fitch5string on 09/18/2009 09:27:39
Bradskey - Posted - 09/18/2009: 09:35:49
Wow they just get better and better! I never noticed the 5th location, but I use a Shubb Deluxe, so I guess you're right now that I think about it. Looks like a new TRC too? Or am I out of date on that, lol.
BanjoDiva - Posted - 09/18/2009: 10:08:36
Fitch, do these have the smaller necks?
Diva
_____________________________________________________
RK R-80 #67 "The Black Dahlia"
www.banjoholler.com
barry - Posted - 09/18/2009: 12:54:01
Great looking banjo.
Bradskey - Posted - 09/18/2009: 20:16:30
I see now on mine the 5th peg is almost all the way back to the 4th fret, so that will be an improvement. And I'm positive now that's a different and larger TRC, might it accommodate a generic bell-shaped TRC now?
I also notice very subtle changes in the overlay patterns -- they look "thicker", and appear (in that picture) to be ivoroid/MOTS or maybe pearloid instead of M.O.P., but maybe its just the lighting. I also think I might see a more sharply defined cut in the "humps" at the top of the headstock.
prewartb3 - Posted - 09/19/2009: 03:51:43
Nice looking banjo. Are these lacquer or poly finish?
PrewarTB3
xnavyguy - Posted - 09/19/2009: 04:57:06
I always thought the RK80 frets were way too high. I think the lower frets is a nice and needed change to an otherwise amazing banjo.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance."
Retropicker - Posted - 09/19/2009: 05:14:07
Hmm. I didnt realize I had all these problems with my RK. I just play it....
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
fitch5string - Posted - 09/19/2009: 05:20:28
quote:
Originally posted by Retropicker
Hmm. I didnt realize I had all these problems with my RK. I just play it....
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Nobody said that your banjo had "problems". RK is making improvements which only proves what a great company they are.  FITCH BANJOS www.FitchBanjos.comHand-Crafted Professional Banjos Burlile Tone Rings
Bradskey - Posted - 09/19/2009: 06:36:10
quote:
Originally posted by Retropicker
Hmm. I didnt realize I had all these problems with my RK. I just play it....
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
What problems? My RK doesn't have any problems, it's great!  They're just tweaking and refining the product a little bit.
BanjoDiva - Posted - 09/19/2009: 06:51:12
quote:
Originally posted by Retropicker
Hmm. I didnt realize I had all these problems with my RK. I just play it....
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
LOL, I was thinking the same thing!!  Actually I'm still very much in love with mine. I would like a smaller neck, but I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't played a Gibson that had a whittled down neck on it. I guess it is sort of like owning a new car. No matter how wonderful your model is...the next year you're going to wish you had waited.
lazyarcher - Posted - 09/19/2009: 07:00:28
quote:
Originally posted by BanjoDiva
[quote]
I guess it is sort of like owning a new car. No matter how wonderful your model is...the next year you're going to wish you had waited.
Funny...thats what my wife says about me....  Dave Jack
trakr - Posted - 09/19/2009: 11:15:52
With your reputation, I assume you got a "demo" so to speak to try out, are these available to the public yet? If so quote me a price through PM!
Retropicker - Posted - 09/19/2009: 16:19:02
quote:
Originally posted by fitch5string
quote:
Originally posted by Retropicker
Hmm. I didnt realize I had all these problems with my RK. I just play it....
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Nobody said that your banjo had "problems". RK is making improvements which only proves what a great company they are.
FITCH BANJOS
www.FitchBanjos.com
Hand-Crafted Professional Banjos
Burlile Tone Rings
" The 5th string tuner has finally been moved to the center of the 4th and 5th frets which makes capoing in B much easier. The frets are smaller as found on most US banjos. I always thought they were too tall on the RK's. teh bone string nut is now nicely shaped and correctly slotted. Finally, the rims are now much more attractive." Could have fooled me. If the nut is now correctly shaped and slotted then the old ones can only be taken as incorrect? Personally I like my ol' hot roded RK50. No problemo. ____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 09/19/2009: 20:35:29
quote:
Looks like they profiled the peghead a bit better, too. The inside curves on the upper half of the peghead now look more pronounced and seem to follow the contours of the white binding a bit better. All in all, a good-looking instrument that seems to keep getting better and more refined with time. --Dean
Getzik9009 - Posted - 09/20/2009: 02:55:33
quote:
For those of you that have not heard, the RK-80's have been updated. I got my first one this week and I like the improvements. First, they now have a vintage finish that very closely resembles a prewar Style-3. More of a brownish color, less red and with aged toner added. The "yellowing" is very authentic looking and not over-done like some I have seen. The 5th string tuner has finally been moved to the center of the 4th and 5th frets which makes capoing in B much easier. The frets are smaller as found on most US banjos. I always thought they were too tall on the RK's. teh bone string nut is now nicely shaped and correctly slotted. Finally, the rims are now much more attractive. They are finished nicely with a better matching color than before. Overall, I like the changes. Thanks
Cliff will the 5th string tuner installed in the wrong prewar position (neck was advertised as a prewar copy) & the incorrectly slotted nut be covered under the lifetime warranty for those of us who are original owners.
BanjoDiva - Posted - 09/20/2009: 07:01:07
quote:
Originally posted by Getzik9009
quote:
For those of you that have not heard, the RK-80's have been updated. I got my first one this week and I like the improvements. First, they now have a vintage finish that very closely resembles a prewar Style-3. More of a brownish color, less red and with aged toner added. The "yellowing" is very authentic looking and not over-done like some I have seen. The 5th string tuner has finally been moved to the center of the 4th and 5th frets which makes capoing in B much easier. The frets are smaller as found on most US banjos. I always thought they were too tall on the RK's. teh bone string nut is now nicely shaped and correctly slotted. Finally, the rims are now much more attractive. They are finished nicely with a better matching color than before. Overall, I like the changes. Thanks
Cliff will the 5th string tuner installed in the wrong prewar position (neck was advertised as a prewar copy) & the incorrectly slotted nut be covered under the lifetime warranty for those of us who are original owners.
Getzik, didn't realize you had an 80. What is the serial number? I believe the nut issue was corrected very early on, but you if you have one from the first batch you probably could contact RK about getting it replaced under warranty.
Clay (Slim) - Posted - 10/18/2009: 17:59:54
quote:
I always thought the RK80 frets were way too high.
I just bought an R80 -- used but very new -- that I'm planning to get a lot of mileage on in the next few years. Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but maybe higher frets were used to get more longevity; like more fret is the equivalent of more tread on a tire. I wonder where Greg Rich's fret height spec came from for this banjo. I heard that they were patterned after banjos that were sold through Montgomery Ward catalogs in the 40's -- "working man" banjos. It would seem that a working man would want a product that would last . . . That said, I did notice this mild oddity when I first picked it up, and that when capoed, the high frets make me have to re-tune a little. Oh well, give me a couple years and I'll have those frets worn down to where they should be!
Edited by - Clay (Slim) on 10/18/2009 21:04:15
desert rose - Posted - 10/19/2009: 03:20:11
The frets were my call nobody elses
I stopped using wheeze bag thin frets on my instruments a decade and a half ago
The slightly wider frets have a great effect on tone and the slighjtly higher frets make for an absolute BUTTER smooth lite fretting feel
Yes taller frets make for easier fretting not the other way around
I would never go back to banjo frets on my banjos they are not as good in all catagories, playability or tone
Scott
Desert Rose Musical Instruments
www.desertrosebanjo.com
Forrest - Posted - 10/19/2009: 06:00:02
Scott,
What are your thoughts on wider/taller frets and intonation with a capo? Do the taller frets cause a banjo to go sharp with a capo, or is this just a matter of learning to place the capo to compensate?
"Run, Forrest, Run!"
1four5 - Posted - 10/19/2009: 07:48:35
quote:
...The slightly wider frets have a great effect on tone and the slighjtly higher frets make for an absolute BUTTER smooth lite fretting feel...Yes taller frets make for easier fretting not the other way around...I would never go back to banjo frets on my banjos they are not as good in all catagories, playability or tone...
I recently put Telecaster style Jumbo SS frets on a Goodtime. The difference is dramatic, and makes me wonder why banjo makers use such small low soft frets, even on $,$$$ banjos. A future project is to put the same frets on my professional banjo. It's good to see manufactures catching up with the times. Also the reason I did the refret is because I hammered the original "wheeze bag" frets down to unusable in less than a year. Dean
Clay (Slim) - Posted - 10/19/2009: 12:03:49
quote:
. . . taller frets make for easier fretting not the other way around . . .
I'll buy that, but would argue the other way for slides. I'm sure I'll adapt to my new high-fretted RK, but I kinda miss the way I could slide on my Goodtime. Couldn't hardly feel them.
desert rose - Posted - 10/19/2009: 17:37:56
Clay
It all in adapting to the new situation
If you iron grip the neck on a banjo with taller frets of course you wont realize any advantage but if you realize the taller5 frets just gave you the ability to fret the string with dramatically less tension to get a clear full note, your left hand will be able to relax, your dexterity will improve and your left hand stamina will be increased
Its a whole new fretboard dynamic at your fingertips and since you list yourself as a beginner now is the best time to break out of the beginners death grip fretting which is normal. The taller frets are the tool for you to really advance your fretting at this stage, concentrate on noticing how little preasure you need to get a clean note and use no more
Forest
Exactly just like fretting with less tension capoing is the same, less tension will give you the clear true notes
OF COURSE capoing until the strings are stretched to smashing against the fretboard will be fruitless and unnecessary, just like fretting the same way with taller frets
Scott
Desert Rose Musical Instruments
www.desertrosebanjo.com
Edited by - desert rose on 10/19/2009 17:41:41
TL - Posted - 10/19/2009: 18:47:32
Buying a new banjo is like buying a new camera or HDTV....you want one bad, but know damned well as soon as you get one there will be a new and improved version available! HA! Since I couldn't afford a Fitch, I bought a Fitch RK-80 a couple years ago and I still love it! Of course, like all banjo players, I've added and subtracted parts and accessories here and there, but the Cliff set-up was the thing that put it over the top for me. I'm still completely satisfied.
Clay (Slim) - Posted - 10/19/2009: 19:16:40
quote:
. . . If you iron grip the neck on a banjo . . .
Guilty as charged! I appreciate your advice, Scott. When I got home I actually practiced sliding around with a much lighter grip and got a very clean feel. Like you said, it's just a matter of adapting. Good advice on the capo issue, too -- I'll definitely loosen it. And, as a side note, I have added "wheeze bag thin frets" to my vocabulary and look forward to using it to defend my frets in the future! -Clay
beegee - Posted - 10/20/2009: 05:42:03
I like larger frets, too. In a couple of my earlier banjo necks, I used the small "banjo" wire. I now use Martin-sized medium fret wire on almost everything. I just did an extensive peghead repair on my friend's Kentucky mandolin. It currently has the small wire. I will remove the frets to fill divots and flatten the fingerboard and will use the larger fret wire to re-fret. It makes the mandolin easier to play and brighter sounding.
As far as capoing taller wire, it is better, because you don't have to crank the capo down as tight.
__________________________
"It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." -Seneca
BanjoDiva - Posted - 10/20/2009: 16:30:52
quote:
Originally posted by desert rose
And, as a side note, I have added "wheeze bag thin frets" to my vocabulary
Clay
Scott
Desert Rose Musical Instruments
www.desertrosebanjo.com
It is a truly magical phrase, Scott. And I love my frets, BTW, thank you for choosing them!
bigco74 - Posted - 11/15/2009: 04:52:16
quote:
Originally posted by fitch5string
For those of you that have not heard, the RK-80's have been updated. I got my first one this week and I like the improvements. First, they now have a vintage finish that very closely resembles a prewar Style-3. More of a brownish color, less red and with aged toner added. The "yellowing" is very authentic looking and not over-done like some I have seen. The 5th string tuner has finally been moved to the center of the 4th and 5th frets which makes capoing in B much easier. The frets are smaller as found on most US banjos. I always thought they were too tall on the RK's. teh bone string nut is now nicely shaped and correctly slotted. Finally, the rims are now much more attractive. They are finished nicely with a better matching color than before. Overall, I like the changes. Thanks
FITCH BANJOS
www.FitchBanjos.com
Hand-Crafted Professional Banjos
Burlile Tone Rings
Out of curiosity, what is the serial # of your model? I'd like to know if mine is older or newer. RK-R80 #317 It is awesome! I love it just like it is! It is darker and not as red as some of the photos I've seen on the net. the tuner is in the first half of the space between 4&5, closer to 4.
pick1936 - Posted - 11/15/2009: 05:27:43
i don't always agree with Scott, but on this I really do.. My Nechville has guitar size frets, they are as high, and wide as My 50 year old Gibson Flat--Top, way bigger than any Martin guitars, I would not want them any smaller.
Rings Like Silver.
But It's Wood.
Nechville. In Higginsville.
Lee Kelso
banjoman3 - Posted - 11/15/2009: 10:05:07
i would love to see pics of the new model. i have an RK and love my frets. one of the sellin points were the frets. so i gotsta agree with Diva. love mine how it is
RK makes our Day!
sugarinthegourd - Posted - 11/15/2009: 13:39:51
Anyone know why these photos aren't visible, or why fitch5string's BHO account is locked?
BanjoDiva - Posted - 11/15/2009: 15:38:27
quote:
Originally posted by sugarinthegourd
Anyone know why these photos aren't visible, or why fitch5string's BHO account is locked?
I believe he asked for it to be locked, and he probably removed his pictures from his profile which is why they aren't showing up in the thread.
Bradskey - Posted - 11/15/2009: 18:30:04
quote:
Originally posted by steve davis
My Stew Mac kit has guitar frets,my 2 has mediums and my "Wally Cox" has small.
They all sound and play great.
I play my RK neck with its chunky frets and a Fitch neck sometimes with much finer frets. Even with my extremely humble skills I can still play either one easily. I suppose the bigger RK frets might last longer through a few dressings. Guess I'll have to put in hundreds of hours and find out.
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