D.W. - Posted - 10/01/2009:  15:17:47

Christmas comes early for me!!

I ordered (and paid for) this in August. It's finally finished! And they shipped it Today!!

The team at Bishline was hugely helpful, kept me informed every step of the way, and always promptly answered my emails down to the last detail.

This exotic wood banjo is made from African Zebra Wood and has a Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard. It is:

- the 3rd Zebra wood banjo made by the Bishline company.
- the 2nd Zebra wood banjo without any inlay.
- the 1st Zebra wood banjo with a Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard. (I didn't want any inlay, only a really nice natural wood fingerboard).

(The 1st two Zebra wood banjos both had ebony fingerboards- one with no inlay, the 2nd with a custom inlay)

Only two other banjos built by Rob Bishline have had Madgascar Rosewood fingerboards with this type of figuring/grain pattern. Rob Bishline's own personal Heirloom model banjo, and a custom woody tone ring model done for Steve Miller (of the Steve Miller Band).

I'm stoked!!

The complete production photos are in the appropriate photo album on my BHO homepage.

Here's a sample:



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"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
- Fran, "Strictly Ballroom" (1992)

Docmhc - Posted - 10/01/2009:  15:36:25

Wow, that's a beautiful banjo!! The wood is gorgeous. Hope we get to hear it.

Don

Bill Rogers - Posted - 10/01/2009:  15:43:20

Considering the time it takes for most openback orders, that's really fast turnaround. Is the pot also zebrawood?


Bill

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 10/01/2009 15:48:56

D.W. - Posted - 10/01/2009:  15:58:49

I don't know much about the open back makers. But Bishline has one guy (Andy) who's main job is just to field the phone calls and answer the emails and do the price quotes. Then there's Rob and Dave in the shop actually doing the work. Plus they've got some high tech equipment that I think helps speed up the production time.

The Rim is not Zebra wood. I'm thinking it might not be practical as a rim because it's too hard. The Rim is a Cox 3 ply. Which is the same thing that Rob Bishline uses in his personal banjo.

The first Zebra Wood banjo that Bishline made as a spec for the 2008 IBMA (Ryan Satterfield can be seen playing "Theme Time" on it in a video clip on the Bishline website) had a Tony Pass Schaeffer birch block rim. Unfortunately the sound of a block rim just isn't for me.


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"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
- Fran, "Strictly Ballroom" (1992)

Edited by - D.W. on 10/01/2009 16:02:53

ryansatterfield - Posted - 10/01/2009:  18:48:25

Awesome looking banjo, man! Have fun with it.

I was a big fan of the other zebra wood model that I tried at IBMA last year. Great axe.

-Ryan Satterfield

Bryan - Posted - 10/02/2009:  15:34:50

great looking banjo DW . Bet it sounds as good as it looks. ps did you get that Nechville Meteor problem solved ?

Bryan

HoosierGal - Posted - 10/04/2009:  06:58:00

Gorgeous!

Life is short, enjoy it.

JIMBO53 - Posted - 10/04/2009:  13:50:37

My dream banjo will have a tunnelled 5th, just like this one with the peg square in the center. This is a stunning heirloom banjo! Well done!

"Life Has Been Easier On Me Than Any Lazy Person Like Myself Has The Right To Expect"-Pete Seeger

lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 10/04/2009:  14:06:59

A real groovy and beautiful Banjo.

Beardog - Posted - 10/06/2009:  17:06:38

Awesome looking and sounding banjo! Enjoy it!

Beardog

Trent in WA - Posted - 10/06/2009:  20:31:46

Oh, maaaaan - that is a beautiful looking and sounding banjo. Congratulations! Bishlines are wonderful.

http://www.myspace.com/trentghill

stanger - Posted - 11/14/2009:  11:04:50

Congratulaions, Hoosie!
I love the look... zebrawood is fantastic looking and needs nothing else. Most excellent choice!
regards,
stanger

The pen is mightier than the pigs.