Plinkerton - Posted - 11/05/2009:  20:58:52

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I'm not really asking this question for any immediate reason.

I have been learning clawhammer, and haven't been playing long, but I like it enough that I think it's something that I'll stick with for many years.

I have a Gold Tone Whyte Ladye at the moment, and it's just fine for me now, and probably will be for years to come.

But, I stumbled upon Chuck Lee banjos, and I think their awesome. Love the simple inlay, and that it's a very nice looking handmade banjo.

I said to myself, that when it's time to get a new banjo, somewhere down the line, when I feel like saving and spending $2,000+ on something perfect for me, that I would get a Chuck Lee.

I then stumbled onto J. Romero's site, and I find his banjos absolutely beautiful. So many choices! I could have him built me something that would look exactly like what I wanted. I do like simple, and clean, and his seem to have a bit more going on then Chuck Lee's, but can still be made to be perfect.

Anyway, since I'm not going to be doing this for years, and since I've been looking at both, and trying to make a decision, for no other reason than boredom, I figured I'd ask:

Are they both great quality handmade banjos? Are the only differences in a similar spec'd model, just who made it? Is an 11" Tubaphone from Chuck Lee gonna be real similar to the same thing from Romero?

I've heard so much about Chuck Lee, and people seem to love his banjos, but I haven't heard much about Romero.

Anyway, thanks for reading. :)

pastorharry - Posted - 11/05/2009:  21:05:31

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Your talking about (IMO) the two top clawhammer banjo builders in the U.S. (and Canada) today.Both are excellent, both are artisans, can't go wrong with either.If you want to hear Romero's banjos listen to the Haints Shout Monah CD where Jason is playing his banjos. They sound exactly like I'd want a banjo to sound like. Then again, that's true of all the Lee banjos I've heard as well. Alot help aren't I ?

howseth - Posted - 11/05/2009:  21:53:44

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Well, if your not in a rush, and you are working out your stroke on your Goldtone - keep looking at both makers banjos for a while - listen to the sound clips - at their sites - and Zepps, etc..... that's fun - then go with your gut; Since each maker has true blue die hard fans.

Also, I suppose both makers will customize your banjo. I once contacted Romero about getting a 13" banjo - and I could have worked out a custom instrument with him...However, eventually I went with a 12" Ome (Silverspun tone ring) - but I still keep Romero in mind - perhaps someday. (I prefer his visual aesthetics - such as inlay options- over the C. Lee models... and Jason Romero can do beautiful simple.)

Howard

Plinkerton - Posted - 11/05/2009:  22:13:44

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I spend so much time listening to everything on Chuck Lee's site. I love that there are so many songs, with so many models, by great players.

I do seem to like the sound of the Tuba-Phone banjos he's got on there.

Romero's listening seems a bit more limited. I do absolutely love the looks of his banjos though. They're hands down my favorite that I've seen. The "starry night" inlay is awesome, in my opinion.

I was just curious about Romero, as I hadn't heard much about him. Even when searching here, C. Lee comes up a lot more. And since they seem somewhat similar in price (at least at base models), I was surprised not to hear more about Romero.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 11/05/2009:  22:46:13

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Lee produces more banjos, does less custom work. A few retailers, such as Donald Zepp and The Music Emporium stock a number of Lee banjos. Romero does mostly custom orders--his banjos aren't in stores to the extent Lee's are. They, and several other makers, build superb banjos. Let your ear tell you what type of shell and tone ring you want, then contact various makers to see what they can build around that.

Bill

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/05/2009:  22:51:00

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I played similar models by Romero and Lee when buying my latest a coupe years ago. I went with the Lee over the Romero, but on another day I might have gone the other way. I actually like my (much less expensive) Ramsey Special even more, but I needed another banjo for some jams I attend and there was no Ramsey I could afford available. The used Ramsey they had in stock was about 600 dollars more than either the Lee or Romero. It was also a bit gaudy for my taste with a dragon inlay on the peghead and to many others on the neck. The Lee I bought has only a star on the peghead and no markings whatsoever on the neck. I like clean lines.

I suggest that you just try out every banjo you get your hands on and decide based on personal experience. I played about a dozen Ramseys (Students, Standards, & Specials all have the same simple tone ring) before deciding that I really wanted one. I searched the internet for a couple months before I found a brand new Special at a great price, and bought it sight unseen It is the best sounding and feeling banjo I have ever owned and the only one I didn't play before buying - Go figure.


rocketsciencebanjo.com
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
pricklypearmusic.net
banjo brad's great banjo site

WGE - Posted - 11/06/2009:  03:30:58

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I have had the pleasure of owning a Chuck Lee 12-inch Rosehill and I currently own a 13-inch Romero that I've had for three years. I recently traded the Lee for a Ramsey fretless, not because I didn't like the Lee, but more that I wanted the fretless. I also have a fretted 12-inch Brooks. In comparing the Lee and the Romero, I think the Romero has more "mojo" if for no other reason than I got to design that banjo from the ground up, picking the pot configuration, neck wood, special veneers, and custom inlay and there are many fewer Romero than Lee banjos. As Mr. Rogers says, Chuck does much less custom work whereas that is Jason's bread and butter. I don't know how often Jason does up tu-ba-phone banjos, he mainly does wooden tone ring stuff or his new hybrid wood/brass tone ring, but he could do it. I guess the bottom line is that I could part with my Lee, but I don't think that my Romero will be going anywhere soon. One word of caution, however, if you opt for neat things like slotted pegheads, skin heads, really cool custom-cast and aged hardware, custom inlays, special wooden neck binding, etc., the things that really make a Romero and "Romero," you probably need to bump your budget another grand. But then there are many other small custom builders to consider as well. Keep searching and something will "speak" to you.

anderbanjer - Posted - 11/06/2009:  05:38:34

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I've been fortunate to own some wonderful instruments over the years, but my Romero is one I'll never part with. Before buying it I played many banjos from the well known builders. Loved the Chuck Lee's and Fieldings. Ramsey, Reiter, Cloverlick all are very impressive. But when my Jason Romero 12" Walnut (wood tonering, Renaissance head) arrived and I began playing it, my wife came downstairs and said " that is the most wonderful banjo I've ever heard". I can assure you it wasn't my virtuosity that illicited such a response. This banjo expresses emotions and mood like nothing I've ever played. I hope the instrument you decide on brings you the same joy my Romero has for me.

rjanecek - Posted - 11/06/2009:  07:36:52

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Since this is just "Hypothetically" I say consider Brooks Masten as well. He certainly deserves a seat in that crowd as well...

Id say sample first, than buy.. All are fantastic builders... I played one of Romeros limited edition banjos over the summer and it was just splendid.. Im expecting my second Brooks banjo today :-)

I have no time for snick snack today

Rick

mainejohn - Posted - 11/06/2009:  08:20:34

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Rick said: " Im expecting my second Brooks banjo today :-)"


...how do you get these by your wife? She must be a gem.


Cheers,
John Coleman
Scarborough, Maine

rjanecek - Posted - 11/06/2009:  09:36:46

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Hey John

Yes she is..

All was really going great until I had the idea to hang string swings on the wall to get the banjers out of their cases and onto the wall.. She was a bit surprised to say the least.. LOL

Still not sure why, I guess the shock of them all out of the case.. I didnt hide any... But I think she miscalculated the situation...

I have no time for snick snack today

Rick

Bone - Posted - 11/06/2009:  17:04:31

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This is the easiest decision in the world! Both!!!!

BTW, that's a Lee Lone Star in my profile pic. Very well made, great sounding, beautiful banjo.

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Edited by - Bone on 11/06/2009 17:06:09

bosborne - Posted - 11/06/2009:  19:00:15

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quote:

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Originally posted by Plinkerton


I've heard so much about Chuck Lee, and people seem to love his banjos, but I haven't heard much about Romero.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

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Ori, I can't comment on Chuck Lee banjos, I have never played one. I have a 13" Romero banjo, in walnut. This is one amazing banjo. It's a bit like a rich alto voice, with long sustain and great detail at the same time. Hard to describe. Part lute, part piano, part piano.

howseth - Posted - 11/06/2009:  20:22:12

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Now, Dang! that's 2 ( count em': 2) posters with 13" Romeros: I would really like to give one of those babies a spin. There can't be too many 13" recent banjos in the whole wide world... How does it sound up the neck?

Howard

coreyowen - Posted - 11/07/2009:  08:20:22

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I own a Lee tubaphone with a 12" pot and absolutely love it--it has such a powerful voice when hammered by the bridge, but is so soft and sweet when played gently near the base of the neck. I haven't had the chance to try a Romero banjo, but I've been thinking about ordering one...

WGE - Posted - 11/07/2009:  10:31:39

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Craig "Frailin'" Evans is a big Lee fan. He just keeps buying them and selling them. Even had a matched pair once. Now, back to Romero banjos. Of course, one of his 13-inch pots makes for absolutely the best banjo you could ever hope to play. As bosborne suggests, they have a very rich voice. Not overly bright and not overly loud. They speak with forthright intention. But then I embellish here so take this with a grain of salt. Howard, to answer your question, they are fine up the neck, although I only have 15 frets due to the scoop. One of the interesting things about my Romero is that I had Jason cut two nuts, one for Savarez yellow-card nylon strings and another for steel. I originally played it for about three years with nylon strings, tuned down a fourth or a fifth. Recently, I decided to try steel strings. It took about 10 minutes to swap nuts and another 10 minutes to string it up with a bridge slotted for steel strings. Boy, I really did like it with steel strings! I got Jason to send me one of his new cast Romero tailpieces to use with the steel strings. It originally came with his ring tailpiece that works great with nylon but not so great with steel strings. So, now I have all the bits and pieces for a Romero convertible banjo. I can now go from a very nice nylon-string setup to a very nice steel string setup in a half hour or so. This is another nice thing about working with a custom banjo builder.

howseth - Posted - 11/07/2009:  11:20:34

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WGE- Now that's good service, and interesting preparation - having those 2 nuts. Does your banjo have a metal tone ring? "Up the neck" for me - that means no higher than 15th fret - anything higher - you might as well get a ukulele (not that there is anything wrong with that...)

Trouble with custom banjos - cost... but if you have accumulated a herd of banjos - it would seem worth it to trim down that herd in order to get a custom job or two...

Howard

derwood400 - Posted - 11/07/2009:  12:47:42

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Lee, Romero and Maston all make some of the most beautiful looking and sounding banjos out there. If you like Romero banjos you would probably like the look of Collin Vance's as well. I'm not 100% sure but I think he and Jason used to work in the same shop. vancebanjos.com/

rjanecek - Posted - 11/07/2009:  13:25:06

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My new Brooks banjo is one of my best now. Maybe only second to the other Brooks I have...

I have no time for snick snack today

Rick

unclekurty - Posted - 11/07/2009:  16:01:08

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I have a 13" Romero too. It's fretless. It's a big banjo. I've only played one Lee and that was Dan Levenson's. Geat banjo and made me want to get a banjo without a metal ring.

RWJones1970 - Posted - 11/07/2009:  16:16:26

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*** I have owned a Chuck Lee Rose Hill that was a sweet banjo but the tone eventually didn't "rock my world". I like the bright WL/Electric tone ring. I will eventually break down and have a banjo built by either Romero, Masten, or Jason Burns. Have you seen his banjos? Here is Dean Barber's banjo made by Mr Burns.
banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=2997

*** So many fine builders out there. I think you have already received the best advice when folks said look at every possible builder and play every possible banjo. In this way you'll find out so much about your likes and dislikes concerning every banjo detail and then select your builder to do the job.


*** Here is another builder that looks like he could build a sweet pot....
henryjbanjoshop.com/



I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

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Edited by - RWJones1970 on 11/07/2009 16:36:18

swellguy - Posted - 05/15/2010:  23:01:16

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Sorry to bring back this thread but I'm sort of facing this decision.

I've had a Bart Reiter Regent for the past couple of years and I'm looking for a new banjo. Jason does make the nicest looking banjos today. I live 30 miles form his shop and have played several of his 11 and 12" models and I know I can get a banjo that looks and probably sounds however I'd like.

Chuck Lee's banjos are quite simple in their design by comparison but they receive nothing but praise from those who play them. Plus, they seem to be more expensive than Jason's banjos . . . does that mean they're "better"?

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Edited by - swellguy on 05/15/2010 23:01:49

howseth - Posted - 05/16/2010:  09:50:24

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Swellguy- it's really swell that you live a short drive from Jason Romero - who does make beautiful banjos. Since, you already think they are great - why wouldn't you get one? You can hear them live!! If you want to spend more $$ Jason is a custom maker - you could work with him to get your one-of-a kind banjo... (That will probably cost you more than a Chuck Lee.)

I believe one should take all praise for a particular banjo with a grain of salt: Instead, The chance to hear, and see, a banjo live, and talk to the builder in person, before ordering trumps anybodies praise - no matter who is praising.

I have played some banjo models that were praised highly by individual BHO members - that I found surprisingly mediocre. Both in sound and playability...

Howard

WGE - Posted - 05/16/2010:  10:06:42

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I have owned a Lee Rosehill and I currently have a Brooks and a Romero (I consider myself fortunate!) The Lee was nice but I much prefer the necks on the Brooks and the Romero, both of which are wider. Between the Brooks and the Romero, the Brooks has a V-shaped neck and the Romero has a somewhat thin C-shaped neck. I find the Brooks neck a little more comfortable to play but I put both the Brooks and the Romero on the same plain, with both being superior to the Lee. If you go with a Lee, be sure to see how you like the neck. These of course are my own opinions. Chuck's banjos are getting pretty pricey and Jason's custom stuff won't come cheap. I think that Brooks would be able to do up a custom banjo at the most reasonable cost.

rjanecek - Posted - 05/17/2010:  04:53:19

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WGE- That V neck of brooks necks is something else aint it? I have two of them now. My favorite maker...

frailin - Posted - 05/17/2010:  06:16:36

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Ori

Welcome to the wonderful world of banjos!! Those of us that appreciate the sound, feel and appearance of a true musical work of art couldn't be living at a better time. There are FABULOUS luthiers out there making INCREDIBLE banjos!! But before you decide on "the one"... let me pose a few thoughts as you seek a new playing experience:



When you take your wife out for a special dinner, is the object to have a full belly upon which to reflect and just be done with it? Of course not! The object is to ENJOY delightful food with present company. Some times just the hunt for a new, better, more interesting restaurant is fun! Not to mention time alone with your spouse. When you choose the later paths, you're fully living in the moment. It's TIME WELL SPENT.

Another thought: Are you and your wife inclined to only eat ONE favorite meal at ONE place? My hunch is, you'll answer no. Variety really is one of the spices of life. If you're financially-abled, banjos really are no different than appreciating good food (or art or whatever your interest). Trying (and enjoying) different ones over time is the same as sampling interesting new dishes at new restaurants. Again, it's about ENJOYING and APPRECIATING the moment. The MORE moments, the more experiences, the better!

If you're capable of fully living in the moment, banjos and good food are fabulous places to spend time. You'll quickly find a search for "the one" can actually be rather limiting... and frustrating. Maybe you can only choose one significant other (for a life mate)... but food and banjos are limitless.

And if you can afford it, buying different banjos (over time) as well as trying new restaurants and palate-pleasers add SIGNIFICANTLY to your appreciation of both. All "in the moment" experiences add richness to your life's journey.

If you can afford it, take your time... enjoy them all.

Craig (frailin) Evans

frailin - Posted - 05/17/2010:  06:23:29

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Mebbe this makes more sense.



Two bulls were standing in the pasture at the top of a hill. The younger one looked down and saw a herd of beautiful cows mooing away in the distance. He turned to the old bull and said "look at all those gorgeous cows down there! What are we waiting for! Let's run down and enjoy one!"

"No", said the old bull. "Let's walk down and enjoy them all."

There's lotsa great banjos out there. Take your time. Enjoy them all.

No bull.

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Edited by - frailin on 05/17/2010 10:38:14

PaulKirby - Posted - 05/17/2010:  09:31:26

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I love my Chuck Lee Lonestar Fretless. It's got a wooden tubaphone ring and a 12" pot, and just sings. Frailin has been talking for a while about how responsive Chuck's necks are, he even has one that he calls 'the tattler' because it's so responsive that it tells the truth ALL the time, and can show up minor left-hand weaknesses. Mine is like that, and added that it's a fretless, it's making me a better player just by learning how this beautiful instrument wants to be played.

Here's a picture of the happy couple enjoying the Norwegian Springtime.

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Edited by - PaulKirby on 05/17/2010 10:04:50

frailin - Posted - 05/17/2010:  10:17:41

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Norwegian Springtime.

Sounds (and looks) like an oxymoron to me.

PS - Nice shirt, Paul!

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Edited by - frailin on 05/17/2010 10:18:35

PaulKirby - Posted - 05/17/2010:  10:31:01

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Yeah, the springtime is the 6 weeks of bad skiing that happens between sometime between memorial day and labor day.

rjanecek - Posted - 05/17/2010:  10:45:48

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ahhh, craig.. I think that pic has 3 bulls in it, not two..

Ok, just being nit-picky

frailin - Posted - 05/17/2010:  11:15:11

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How's this?