clawgrasser - Posted - 09/26/2019:  19:34:58

I recently bought a used Wildwood Troubadour in excellent shape. It's an 11" rim with tubaphone tone ring, broad leaf curly maple neck, and shoes and brackets.



My previous experience with a tubaphone was that it was too ringy. But the Wildwood was such a fine banjo at such a fine price that it was worth taking a chance on.



I bought the banjo and have been setting it up to get my "sound". I filed the nut, installed a new Bailes 11/16" bridge, and installed the the right amount of "stuffing" to manage the ringy tone.



The result is a loud banjo with a beautifully mellow time tone, just what I was after.



My understanding is that the maker of Wildwood banjos is now retired. I think I lucked out finding this one.

Edited by - clawgrasser on 11/09/2019 05:18:59

Wrags - Posted - 09/26/2019:  20:05:56

Congratulations on your Wildwood! They are great banjos - The Heirloom model is awesome!

clawgrasser - Posted - 09/26/2019:  21:14:11

I might add that I dumped the Waverly type tailpiece for a minimalist "noknot". This made a major changed in tone and really broadened the sound.

R Buck - Posted - 09/27/2019:  05:29:03

Glad you like the Heirloom, we have one here and I love it. I too changed to the no knot and then went back to the Waverly tailpiece. I love the tubaphone sound and it has it in boatloads. I use a small stress ball between the rod and the head near the neck to fine tune the tone. I've been a fan of Wildwoods for a long time and you have a dandy banjo there.

clawgrasser - Posted - 10/07/2019:  07:12:05

Whoops! I just discovered that what I thought was a Wildwood Heirloom was really a Trubadour. The Guitar Center from which I bought the banjo advertised it as an Heirloom, but what does GC know about anything anyway?



The difference between the two banjo is one of inlays. I actually prefer the simpler pattern on the Trubadour.



The sale price seems like a good deal either way.

Edited by - clawgrasser on 10/07/2019 07:12:42

Emiel - Posted - 10/07/2019:  14:29:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by clawgrasser

Whoops! I just discovered that what I thought was a Wildwood Heirloom was really a Trubadour. The Guitar Center from which I bought the banjo advertised it as an Heirloom, but what does GC know about anything anyway?



The difference between the two banjo is one of inlays. I actually prefer the simpler pattern on the Trubadour.



The sale price seems like a good deal either way.

---

Of course, that's a great banjo. What type of head do you have on it, by the way?

clawgrasser - Posted - 10/08/2019:  20:57:49

It's a fibreskin type head. I like the sound as is.

Emiel - Posted - 10/08/2019:  23:42:46

quote:

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Originally posted by clawgrasser

It's a fibreskin type head. I like the sound as is.

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Yes, keep it that way. The Fiberskyn head can sound very good. It depends on the banjo, as with all setup factors.

clawgrasser - Posted - 10/28/2019:  12:58:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by clawgrasser

I recently bought a used Wildwood Troubadour in excellent shape. It's an 11" rim with tubaphone tone ring, broad leaf curly maple neck, and shoes and brackets.



My previous experience with a tubaphone was that it was too ringy. But the Wildwood was such a fine banjo at such a fine price that it was worth taking a chance on.



I bought the banjo and have been setting it up to get my "sound". I filed the nut, installed a new Bailes 11/16" bridge, and installed the the right amount of "stuffing" to manage the ringy tone.



The result is a loud banjo with a beautifully mellow time tone, just what I was after.



My understanding is that the maker of Wildwood banjos is now retired. I think I lucked out finding this one.

---

maryzcox - Posted - 11/14/2019:  16:29:29

Congrats on your banjo :)

Once upon a time I had a Wildwood Troubadour.  It was maple and very pretty.  Wonder if its my old banjo :)

Best wishes,

Mary Z Cox

maryzcox.com

clawgrasser - Posted - 11/14/2019:  21:09:17

Maybe that's why is tone is so rich and full. Mine is blond, without a bracket band, and came in a rather beat up Superior case (although the banjo itself is perfect). I found it in the Chattanooga Guitar Center.

It's become my main banjo because of its versatility. Kind of the perfect jam banjo.