doug.knecht - Posted - 11/16/2009:  20:50:30

My buddy Mike Smith, founder of Kat Eyz Bridges, came over tonight and we're working on some sound clips of his Cougar, Bengal, and Jaguar banjo models for sale. Very nice banjos!! These clips are for his new website that is under construction. After we completed the recordings, we started looking at his bridges, and I told him I was looking for something a little brighter than what I had on my banjo, but not too bright. Mike explained that the gram weight was a key factor in tone, whilst working with a good hardwood maple. Mike has acquired some great old hardwood maple, he calls McCormick wood. I'm going to let the banjo set up a few days while the tone settles in. But already, Mike was able to deliver exactly what I wanted. This bridge is the original version with the Kat Eyz design; of course he also also makes the Prowler bridge, a more traditional looking bridge, with the same old wood. These are top o' the line bridges, folks. Mike has all sizes, combinations and styles available. He also logs each bridge info (top and bottom width, gram weight, spacing, height, type of wood, type of ebony, etc...) so that if anyone wants the same bridge made Mike can duplicate the same bridge again.

Thanks, Mike for the opportunity to work with you, and I look forward to using your products in the future.

Doug Knecht

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.
Psalm 86:5

PaulKirby - Posted - 11/16/2009:  22:35:57

Yeah, this summer I played Mike's banjo with the McCormick rim in it, and that banjo really had something special.

http://www.kateyzbb.com/
http://www.americanmadebanjo.com/

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.
--Martha Graham

JCushman - Posted - 11/16/2009:  22:46:13

Doug
Happy to hear about your buddy who makes the Kat Eyz. It would take great skill and precision to cut a quality bridge, and add the required angles and radii.
Still with variations in the grains of wood, transpiration and packaging issues, it is inevitable that an exception might slip though production, and have a leg break off where it joins the horizontal portion. That's what happened to mine. The grain gave way, and it could not be glued. I tested several bridges, and selected another brand that need not be named.
No criticism. But this was my disappointing experience with the only Kat Eyz bridge I have owned.

Edited by - JCushman on 11/16/2009 22:55:49

doug.knecht - Posted - 11/17/2009:  02:59:34

That is disappointing when a bridge breaks at one of the grains. I remember it happening to another brand that had real visible grain marks. At that time, I just threw the bridge away, cause like you say gluing them doesn't usually work. Luckily, Mike told me he would build another one with the same dimensions if that ever happened, and chances are the next one having the same problem is pretty slim. It's worth a shot to tell Mike about it and have him build you another one for free. I know he'd do that for you. Good luck!

Doug Knecht

mikeyes - Posted - 11/17/2009:  11:02:58

I second that.

Mike Smith is a solid human being and keeps the needs of his customers foremost. If your bridge broke, he will make you another just as good or better. I have a number of his bridges that I use all the time - and I usually make my own! (I have very bad BAS.)

Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
http://www.mikekeyes.com

chickenpickin - Posted - 11/17/2009:  11:16:05

I think Mike hit the jackpot with the McCormick spice factory wood. The three bridges I made from the blanks he so kindly sent me are fantastic bridges. I found that the bridge will change after about a week of settling in Doug. I like the submerged maple too. That McCormick bridge will really bring out that Yates ring too, Doug.

Tim

www.purcellbanjobridges.com
Happy Pickin' from the Chicken

kat eyz - Posted - 11/17/2009:  16:16:48

Man i hate to hear news like that about a broken bridge ....if jcushman contacts me he will get a new bridge free of charge....no matter how it broke. Thanks Doug for helping me out with the sound bites ...its always a big mental boost to get my picking hand back in order when i listen to you tear into a Scruggs tune !

mike smith www.kateyzbb.com

JCushman - Posted - 11/18/2009:  08:00:58

Hey Mike,

I appreciated your reply on this column and your kind personal note to my e-mail box.

I sent you a personal e-mail, because I don't want to use this column about your bridges to focus upon one sample that had a unique problem.

We all know that wood is a living tissue with unique grain patterns, aging and other issues. So the details of the grain separation the lead to failure are in my note, and I think this space should be used to talk about the construction, the materials, and the craftsmanship that you use to make the fine products without which the banjo would sound like wire stretched over a metal frying pan.

Anyone can have a sample problem.
Good business people remedy problems, and create even greater loyalty from their attention to customer relations.

Edited: Nov. 25.

Mike the new prowler bridge arrived this week. It is a nice piece of work with a tight smooth grain. Thanks for the extra effort. Quality guy.

John

Edited by - JCushman on 11/26/2009 20:10:42

Brian - Posted - 11/18/2009:  09:08:06

One of the problems with this website is that people often don't rate things honestly. They're hesitant to say anything about a product that is negative for fear of back-lash or of hampering someone's sales. What we end up with, for instance, is a bunch of useless banjo reviews where everyone rates everything a 10. If someone is looking for a banjo, (or bridge for that matter) what good does a bunch of glowing reviews do? We need the good and the bad so people can get an honest feel for what's going on!

That being said, I've owned at least 3 (I think) of Mike's bridges. I currently have only one that is on my 93 RB-3. I think he calls it pegged. It was originally designed by Mike to tame a Stelling Master Flower that I owned. As far as durability goes, I have swapped these Kat Eyz bridges numerous times by sliding one towards the neck and standing another up behind it without even loosening the strings!! Popping the 1st and 5th strings out of their slots while doing this is downright abuse! Even so, I've never had an issue with breakage. I don't recommend that you change your bridges in this manner! I wouldn't expect anything from Mike if one broke while I was abusing it. (That's the lazy way to change out a bridge!)

It doesn't surprise me that a small percentage of any good thing can be faulty. If all you hear is raves and perfection about anything, you gotta stop and wonder! (unless it's a Stelling! JK)





Brian

Dr.Ken - Posted - 11/27/2009:  03:51:03

I used a Kat-Eyz for a few years (I bought it second-hand) and it was super. I only changed because I like a new sound every so often -- but I will probably come back to it again.