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Hatfield Buck Creek Banjo Reviews

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 8/11/2009
Submitter	jesseroberts (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Hatfield's Shop
Year Purchased	2009
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	One of the best sounding banjos Ive heard and it is only a week old. It has a very full sound and stays in tune all the way up the neck.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Most everything was set up perfectly when I got the banjo. All I had to do was tighten the head.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The banjo is simple but a beauty. Mahogany wood, rosewood fingerboard and snowflake inlay
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	It seems to me that this banjo is and will be very reliable. It is very well made.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Mr and Mrs Hatfield and very hospitable people. Mr. Hatfield is willing to help you get the sound you want even if that means multiple visits to his shop
Customer Service	10
Components	No cheap parts were used in constructing this banjo. The neck is flawless and there are no casting marks on the hardware.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	This is an awesome banjo and the price is unbeatable.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 4/15/2008
Submitter	bluemusic4us (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	I ordered the banjo with a Factory Floor rim and Arthur's 20-hole tone ring. It sounded good. When there I heard a walnut model and a standard BuckCreek with Cox rim and no-hole ring. It sounded really good, in some ways better than mine but Arthur said it had been put together longer. My banjo's sound was very good but never opened up like it should have, kind of tight, not really letting loose on the low end. After 8 months and the banjo never opening up and maturing, I sent it back to Arthur and told him to exchange the rim for a Cox rim and no-hole tone ring. I've now had this incarnation for 4 months. It was quite a bit louder from the start and has opened up like the other version did not. IT SOUNDS GREAT!
Sound Rating	not rated
Setup	Arthur set is up with his .656 Crowe spaced compensated bridge. It plays very well and his neck feels very good. I've had a GTR, Stelling, Deering, Ode D, and this neck feels every bit as good as any of those. Head tightness and tail piece height all just right.
Setup Rating	not rated
Appearance	His standard BuckCreek with mahagony neck and resonator. Snowflake inlays look very nice. Fit and finish of the flange and hardware were all flawless.
Appearance Rating	not rated
Reliability	Yes to all. It is a professional, reliable, dependable banjo in every aspect.
Reliability Rating	not rated
Customer Service	Here is where I can pretty confidently say that Arthur Hatfield is the best when it comes to customer service. I'm preaching to the choir for many of the Hangout members, but Arthur can't be topped.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	I like the fact that Arthur tells you exactly what you're getting in terms of components. Cox rim, Gill resonator, Hatfield tone ring and neck, Gotoh tuners, etc. As you might deduce, I'm no longer a big fan of all the hype surrounding the "old wood". It just didn't deliver in my situation.
Components Rating	not rated
Overall Comments	In my initial conversation with Arthur, I described playing Steve Huber's original RB-75 and being blown away. I said I wanted that sound. Arthur knew exactly what I was talking about and told me that you can't get the pre-war sound without having a pre-war, but that was the sound he was shooting for in his banjos. I can't say enough about the banjo, the price (value), service, appearance, all make this probably the best professional banjo buy out there.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 12/10/2007
Submitter	RB100 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2007
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This is a new instrument - completed only in the very recent past. The sound is excellent as is, but I am sure will settle in nicely for a mahogany, 20 hole flat head Hatfield sound. The sound is also very full both up and down the neck.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Set up was excellent! It is very easy to play for both bluegrass and clawhammer. The action is set for a .656 bridge so I can lower if I want to use a 5/8 and raise if I want to use 11/16 bridges.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Fit, finish, and detail is everything one would expect coming from Arthur. What else can one say? This is a beautiful instrument.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	With a Hatfiled, one gets only the top drawer of components. I expect no issues there and I would not hesitate to use this as a main "gig axe."
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Of course, Arthur and Bev both care more about the product and the customer than any business that I think I have ever dealt with...I am sure that if there is an issue, Arthur will go the longest mile to make sure it is resolved.
Customer Service	10
Components	Standout components? Everything...great mahogany neck wood and beautiful resonator, top drawer components including hardware, bridge, tuners - no weak or cheap parts to upgrade. Finish and fit are flawless.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 7/8/2007
Submitter	bleaver (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	SPGMA 2005
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	2300-2400? ($US)
Sound	I am currently using it with the Wildwood Valley Boys (traditional band) on the road, and it has surpassed my expectations. The banjo has great even tone. It has plenty of power for jamming and it cuts a mic well. I have also used it for studio work as well. I am very pleased with the tone and power in any setting. It continues to improve.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Other than tightening the head after about a month (typical), I have had no problems. I have experimented with different bridges, but typically go back to the original setup.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Its rare to find a banjo that is pretty in appearance and sounds the way you like, but this banjo has both.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	This banjo has been very reliable. I have other banjos i've used on the road, but I wouldn't consider using anything else. The sound is consitent. It is also easy to hear behind it even on bad PA systems.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	You couldn't ask for better service. Arthur is knowledgeable, helpful, and a true gentleman.
Customer Service	10
Components	I had a set of Keith Tuners that I like and put on the banjo. The original tuners were fine, I was just used to them. The rim and tone ring are excellent as well as the workmanship of the neck.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I think this is a great instrument. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great banjo. I have been asked several times if it was a prewar conversion. I don't think you could get more for your money anywhere.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 9/9/2005
Submitter	Anthony Ihrig (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Hatfield Banjos
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	2200 ($US)
Sound	This banjo sounds fantastic. It has a warm mahogany tone that is rich and full. It is quite loud (rivaling a maple Stelling that I also own) with good consistency of tone and volume all the way up the neck. I have played around with various set-ups and have discovered that although there are the expected variations in tone depending on the selection of bridge, tailpiece, head tension etc., the underlying voice of the instrument remains pretty consistent. My guess is that Arthur's choice of ring (Hatfield) and rim (Cox) and the way that they work together play a big part in this (as they have been two of the major "constants" during my experimentation). Despite all my tinkering, however, for strait-up Scruggs style picking this banjo sounds its best when it is setup to Arthur's specifications.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	I had Arthur ship the banjo to me with the neck detached from the pot assembly in order to minimize the risk of shipping damage. I consulted Arthur about his set-up technique and installed the neck, bridge, tailpiece etc. to his specifications. Everything fit together well and the banjo was very playable from the get go. Before taking it apart for shipment, Arthur had played the banjo in his shop for some time, to make sure it was set-up properly, to pick out the right bridge etc.. This effort was evident when I put the banjo back together.
Setup Rating	not rated
Appearance	This banjo's beauty lies in its simplicity. The mahogany neck and resonator veneer are stained a rich brown and the finish is flawless. I appreciate Arthur's use of cream colored binding and tuner buttons, they compliment the color of the instrument nicely. The fretboard is a medium-dark rosewood and I love Arthur's original "snowflake" like inlay pattern, it really sets his banjos apart.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	I purposely waited until I had played this banjo for more than six months before submitting a review. I have been using this banjo exclusively at live performances since I received it and these shows have taken place in different seasons (which are fairly extreme where I live) and in many types of venues (from night clubs to outdoor festivals). The construction and fit of the various components of this banjo are quite solid. I feel this is a very reliable, trustworthy instrument.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	I dealt directly with Arthur via email and telephone conversations throughout the ordering process and construction of the banjo. Arthur's customer service is top notch, he answered my emails promptly and was always happy to chat when I called him. He was willing to talk about his philosophy of banjo building, recommend parts and set-up possibilities (even if they differed from his choices), A/B different banjos over the phone, tell you a story about a famous picker he knows- you name it! I think having a human "banjo knowledge base" just a phone call or email away, is worth a premium in and of itself. All and all, it was a very special customer service experience, dealing with a real person who obviously takes a lot of pride in what he does.
Customer Service	10
Components	The components on this instrument are all of the highest quality: Cox rim and resonator, Hatfield tone ring, Prucha hardware, Gotoh tuners, Presto tailpiece and a Hatfield compensated bridge. Arthur did a great job with the neck, it is quite comfortable and playable. Arthur shipped it with GHS strings of the following sizes: .010-.011-.013-.020JD-.010. As I mentioned earlier, I played around with some different components to find a combination that was best suited for my playing style but in the end I changed very little. I prefer a heavier tailpiece and so I have settled on a Kershner (for now), otherwise everything is stock. Of particular note, I tried out a bunch of different "boutique" bridges that I have collected over the years but nothing sounded as good on this banjo as the Hatfield bridge that Arthur picked out for it. Perhaps the most important thing about the different components of this banjo is that they were all chosen by Arthur, based on his many years of experience, not only for their individual qualities but for how they work together.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	Folks, this is A LOT of banjo for your Buck! If this banjo were stolen I would call Arthur (as soon as I got the insurance check) and ask him to start on a new one ASAP!
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 6/27/2005
Submitter	banjonut49 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Hatfield Banjo Glasgow KY
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This is a great sounding banjo! I was at Arthurs when he put it togeather and both of us were very surprised at how good it sounded right from the first tune played on it. Because of a different tone ring and resonator, it has a somewhat different sound than my first Buck Creek. With the Hatfield no hole ring and the Gill resonator, I believe it sounds as close to a pre war as you can get. We compared this banjo with several pre war conversions that he owns and it came so close to the best one he has that it was amazing! It is actually better than some of the pre war conversions he has. Rich tone, with just the right amount of sustain, Clear up the neck with no loss of volumn. This could well be my main banjo for years to come.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	I watched Arhur assemble and set up this banjo and it is set up just the way I like a banjo. Other than tweaking the head tension as required, I see no reason to mess around with the set up. Arthur fits his tone rings quite loose and in my opinion, thats the way to go! The Hatfield ring is very easy to set up compared with the Huber ring in my other Buck Creek.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Mahogany neck, Cox hard maple rim with a Gill resonator. Standard Hatfield snowflake inlays that in my eye are very attractive. I wanted to take the banjo back to Canada with me the next day after Arthur assembled it so the resonator was not quite finished off. I could use a couple more coats but the wood is sealed so no problem there. If I had waited until he finished the resonator and shipped it to me, I would be taking a chance on damage in shipping and would have cost me more. Im happy with it the way it is. I have to give Arthur a 10 for the finish because its my choice to take it before he was done with the resonator.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Arthur uses the Gibson USA one piece flange, best quality tension hoop, co-ordinator rods and the standard Presto tailpiece. The finish on the neck and inlays are excellent. I would use this banjo anywhere, and put it against any banjo out there, including many costing 3 times as much.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Arthur is a great person to deal with. He doesnt want you to buy something unless you are completely happy with it. Im sure that if I had a serious problem with the banjo, I could ship it to him and he would either fix it, or in an extreme circumstance, replace it.
Customer Service	10
Components	The Hatfield no hole ring (nickle) is the best ring I have heard. It is stronger above 12 than the Huber, in my opinion, is easier to set up. We tried several resonators on the banjo and found the Gill resonator suited the best. This banjo was also a bit surprising when we tried several of Arthurs bridges on it and they all sounded good. That is unusual as Arthur would be the first to say. I got the 2 that sounded the best.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I would recommend Arthurs banjos to any serious picker, professional of amature like me. His prices are very reasonable for the quality of work that he does and the tone that his banjos produce. I watched him assemle the banjo and it has to be perfect (neck fit to pot) ect. Or he will not accept it.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 6/7/2005
Submitter	timdesain (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2005
Price Paid	2500.00 ($US)
Sound	Beautiful rich full tone. Not too sharp and not too much crack like you get on a maple or walnut banjo. I could not believe how loud it is. I attribute the rich tone and volume to Arthur's new Hatfield tone ring. Rings like a bell up and down the neck, the up the neck clarity is the best I have ever heard. I received my Buck Creek model in April and the sound keeps getting better and better as I break it in.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The banjo was set up well. I did lower the action a little and tightened the head to my liking. It was easy to make the set up changes as all of the parts Arthur uses are top notch,
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	I had Arthur use his standard medium brown finish which is beautiful combined with the mahogany grain. The binding used is a yellow type color which makes the banjo look vintage, much nicer than white binding, I was given this as a option. I had Arthur add Keith "D" tuners at positions 2 & 3 and Keith regular tuners at positions 1 & 4. In addition I had him add a engraved truss rod cover with my name on it. The finish on the custom neck (made by Arthur) and the resonator is a perfect match. The quality workmanship by Arthur and his beautiful snowflake neck inlay design makes this banjo a work of art.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Top notch hardware, beautiful durable finish, quality wood components and Arthur's superb craftmanship make this a dependable professional quality banjo that should last a life time.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Arthur was a pleasure to deal with, he went so far as to offer me a customized neck which I was glad to accept. I had explained to Arthur that I have small hands, he installed a neck that is standard Gibson width at the nut but the fingerboard not including binding is 1/34 at the last fret which helps me on those tough to reach positions. With this custom neck (no extra charge), the 2 - Keith "D" tuners and 2 - Keith regular tuners, engraved truss rod cover I only paid an additional $300.00 over the $2200.00 standard price and Arthur threw in spike installation at 7, 9 & 10 and shipping and insurance at no extra charge. That is what I call customer service !
Customer Service	10
Components	All parts are top notch. Cox resonator and rim, Hatfield tone ring, Hatfield bridge, Presto tail piece, Hatfield custom mahogany neck, Prucha hardware and Keith tuners requested. There are no cheap parts anywhere on this banjo. I have seen and played banjos out there thousands more that are not as good of quality and sound as this banjo.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I give this banjo my highest recommendation to anyone that is looking for a professional great sounding banjo. I still cannot get over how reasonably priced this banjo is and I do not think anyone can find a new banjo with better sound or craftmanship anywhere on the market at this price.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 1/25/2005
Submitter	harp (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	2200 ($US)
Sound	Sounds great, I was pleasantly suprised at how loud it is. I still consider myself a beginning Scruggs style player and realize a better player could probably get a multitude of sounds from this thing. Before the Hatfield I had a Deering Calico. While a truly beautiful banjo it lacked the warm tone that I like to here, I was never able to achieve the right sound (string and bridge changes) for me with the Deering. The Hatfield has that warmth and richness without doing anything but playing it the way it came in. I simply asked Mr. Hatfield to build me one with "no twang" and he delivered. It does have the Huber ring.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Setup was perfect. Low action the way I like it. I have not changed anything except the strings. I use D'Aquisto's in a rather odd gauge (.10 .12 .16 .23 .10), if anything this only increased the depth of the tone without muting the sound.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Standard Buck Creek model, it is truly a beautiful banjo. Not flashy or ornate like some of the other builders, but a quality you can sense as soon as you open the case. The inlay is a snowflake type pattern that is perfect. I had a reddish stain over the Mahogany and it turned out great, better than I expected. Mr. Hatfield sent a few color samples for me to choose from. Headstock inlay is distinctive and very well done.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I have no reason to believe I would ever need (not want, I always want.) another banjo. It has a heft to it that gives me confidence in long term ownership without problems.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Exceptional, above board and does exactly what he says. Always available by phone or email with prompt replies. Very patient with my many questions.
Customer Service	10
Components	I do not see a weak element anywhere on this banjo.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I would recommend this banjo without reserve. I love it and would love to have the walnut model someday. It is easy to fall for hype in any purchase, I don't care what the product is. Mr. Hatfield will tell you right away his banjo is not the fanciest but will challenge you to find a better playing or sounding banjo for the money. I have to agree with the man. If it were stolen I would call Mr. Hatfield immediately and have him start another one. Obviously I could not do a side by side comparison with any other make. I have played Gibson, Stelling, and Deering banjo's and still ordered this one sight unseen based on 2 things; Mr. Hatfields reputation and the fact that there are so few of these around. I wanted something different and have no regrets.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 9/22/2004
Submitter	gbkyser (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Private seller
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	1875 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	This has a rich, open mahogany sound, comparable to one Crowe RB75 I tried. I've torqued the head way up and tried to play like Ralph, then loosened it up and tried to sound like Doc Boggs. I think it's best in the middle, where you get a little of both high and low freqs, leaving a valley in the midrange so you get that hollow sound. This banjo sounds more classic, bluesy, and gritty than clean & jazzy (though it can sound very pearly-pure up the neck). I'm not saying one sound is better than the other, just trying to show where this one sits.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	It came to me second hand. The action is good, a hair on the high side which is where I like it. I have the head tuned to just under A and am using 10-12-14-22-10 strings.
Setup Rating	not rated
Appearance	The mahogany is a medium brown finish, lighter than typical. Shows a pretty grain. Binding and buttons are ivoroid, a nice touch. Trimming of the binding is a wee rough in one spot. The inlay on the fingerboard is pearl in a snowflake pattern, and the peghead has an awesome pearl...snowburst...sort of...shape. (You can recognize a Hatfield peghead from a hundred paces.)
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	This is a reliable, professional instrument.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Mr. Hatfield has been good to correspond with, both early on when I dropped him a question about maybe getting a banjo built, and more recently when I got this one secondhand. We haven't talked about the warranty, but judging by his reputation I should be able to work with him should anything come up.
Customer Service	10
Components	Mr. Hatfield builds an outstanding neck - not too thick, not too thin. Other parts include a Cox resonator & rim, Huber ring (assume this was built before Mr. Hatfield developed his own ring), Prucha metal parts, Presto tailpiece, and (I think) Waverly two-band tuners. Hatfield compensated bridge with Crowe spacing. I'm editing my review a year after getting the banjo. I've seen no weak spots.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I'd recommend this banjo without hesitation. I shopped around for about 6 months before buying. I tried a bunch of names, including most of the better known independent makers. This banjo is as good as any and better than most, quality wise; it feels better than most; and its sound is in the top 2 or 3 of individual instruments I played. Now I've had my Buck Creek for a year, played out a few times, played it amongst plenty of other banjos. I would still pick this one out of a crowd. It still lifts me up just to look at it.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 9/16/2004
Submitter	Unknown
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	2250 ($US)
Sound	Told Arthur I wanted the banjo to sound like Haskel McCormicks, and he delivered. This banjo has Arthur's new tone ring (not a Huber) and it rings like a bell. Outstanding clarity up and down the neck.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Did not change anything as Arthur worked with me over the phone to get desired results. Arthur knows what he is doing.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Could not find any flaws in banjo. Very hard to criticize Arthur's work.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Arthur builds every banjo like it will be his own.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Arthur is just a phone call or email away for help. He will bend over backwards for his customers. A true gentleman.
Customer Service	10
Components	All components are top quality, there is no skimping in the quality and workmanship in his banjos.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I did alot of looking, and listening and really there is not a better banjo out there for sound,quality,and craftmanship. First I would be deflated but I know Arthur is there to build me another one. Love it,it has the 4th string I was after and the elusive sound we all want. Arthur answered them all. There is no comparison, nothing comes close for the price or more. f
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 1/24/2004
Submitter	Unknown
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2004
Price Paid	2100 ($US)
Sound	Arthur builds banjos to prewar specs and in my case he has achieved that goal. The sustain and tone is just as I wanted. I heard Arthurs personal banjo on an instructional backup tape that he offers, and I emailed him and asked him to build me one that sounded just like his. It is truly a beautiful sounding instrument, and one that I am sure will last longer than me.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	I am very particular about my setup, and told Arthur just how I liked it, expecting to have to tweak it when I received it. I have been playing it for two weeks now, and have no need to change it. Arthur is very particular about his creations also. He will not ship it until he feels it meets every customer need or desire. He called me on the phone multiple times after setup and played it for me, from many angles, and it worked out very, very well. It is so rare for someone to care the way he does.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The appearance was just as I expected for something that I put such an investment into. It was virtually flawless. It actually had a smudge on the head where he had played and played it during setup. Arthur will take days to set a banjo that he builds, up until it sounds perfect. He wasnt even satisfied with the bridge until he installed the 10th one. As for the smudge, it was gratifying proof that he took so much time with it, and it came right off with a little rubbing :)
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	Its a tank. There are no instruments that will outlast it.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	You will not find a more dedicated builder than Arthur Hatfield. He is a gentleman, and master builder and a down to earth honest man, that is in today's world market, hard to find. You dont have to call him, he will call you, and go the extra mile for you. You cant get service like this with the big time builders, and believe me, it shows.
Customer Service	10
Components	There are no weak or cheap parts in this banjo. I particularly like the shape of the heel of the neck. It is very unique. I think I have said everything previously that would say that the components are all top quality.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I love the look and the sound of my Buckcreek banjo, and it was a pleasure to work with Arthur Hatfield during the process of his building it. If you want the best banjo you can buy, for the least expense, and the best service, bar none, then you know now what banjo and builder to put your trust in. I really mean this. It was a great experience, and I got a fantastic banjo out of it. If anyone wants to talk to Arthur about a banjo, just do a Google search for Hatfield Banjos.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 11/14/2003
Submitter	cplumlee (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	From Arthur Hatfield
Year Purchased	2003
Price Paid	2200 ($US)
Sound	Has a very rich and broad tone. Sounds awsome. Very deep tone but can still cut through all the other intruments easily. Has equal volume and tone the entire length of the neck.. Has a compleatly different tone at the neck than at the bridge. I am amazed that the tone continues to change and get better the more I play it. I have had it about a month. No other banjo I have played sounds like this banjo.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	Was set up very well. During shipping the tail piece got moved, so I had to experiment a little before I got the sound I liked.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	beutifull banjo. I heard from others that the inlay design that Mr. Hatfield uses is really unique. I was very pleased when I opened the case for the first time.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	I cannot see having any problems with this intrument. It is put toghther very well.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	The only problem that I had, and it wasn't Mr Hatfields fault, was that UPS delivered my banjo to the wrong address. In fact it was a vacant house under construction. I am very lucky to have gotten it. A worker could have easliy stolen it off of the front porch. I think you can maybe pay a little bit more and require UPS to get a signiture from the recipient, instead of just dropping it off. I would recommend that as a buyer you request this.
Customer Service	8
Components	Huber tone ring, Cox three ply rim, Cox resonator, Neck by Arthur Hatfield. What more can I say. I think that the components speak for themselves.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I will say this. If I were a rich man and had money to just blow on a new banjo. I would still buy this instrument. I have played a couple of high end deerings, a Crafters of Tennesee banjo, and a high end Gibson. So granted, I have not played a great number of intruments. It is a fact though that I love the sound of this instrument and it seems to be getting better the more I play it.
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 9/17/2003
Submitter	banjonut49 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Hatfield Banjos, Glasgow Ky
Year Purchased	2003
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This is an excellent bluegrass banjo. Deep low end and clear up the neck with no loss of volume. The Buck Creek has the traditional sound associated with the pre war gibsons. Very good neck hand made by Arthur. Good tone variation between the bridge and the neck. This banjo is perfect for my style of playing. Very nice indeed!
Sound Rating	10
Setup	The banjo was very well set up when I recieved it. The only thing I had to do was make a small head adjustment. The Huber ring is sensitive to head tension, but when you get the proper setting, it is beautiful! I ordered both the 5/8 and the 11/16 compensated bridges and it sounds great with either. I am using the 11/16 because I like the higher action.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	The Buck Creek has a mahogany neck and resonator, very nicely finished with no flaws that i can see. The neck is very nice indeed! I have recieved many comments on the inlay. Very tastefully done! Very nice inlay on the peghead also. Arthur makes it appear aged which is a real nice touch. First Quality chrome hardware, cant go wrong there!
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	This banjo is meant to be played and i cant see myself ever needing to purchase another because I cant see myself finding another as well built that sounds as good! I would put this banjo up against any model currently made today. This will be my workhorse banjo for a long time to come.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	Arthur is a great person to deal with. We discussed on the phone the type of music I play, my style of playing, how i wanted the banjo set up and finished. I cant see anything serious ever going wrong but if it ever did, I would simply send it to Arthur to be repaired.
Customer Service	10
Components	This banjo has the Jimmy Cox hard maple 3 ply rim and the Huber flathead tonering. This is beyond arguement, one of the best combinations available for the closest proximation of the pre war sound. The metal parts are standard for the industry, well respected and used by almost every builder. Arthur makes his own bridge which works very well. I see no need to upgrade anything.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	This banjo is an absolute bargain for the price!! I have never played a better banjo, for sound and playability! I have played new Gibsons, Deerings and this banjo out performs them all! If this banjo was ever stolen, I would be on the phone to Arthur right away to get another one. This banjo is in my opinion the best available! Especially, for the price!! I rate it as excellent!
Overall Rating	10

Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 5/24/2003
Submitter	Brian (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Arthur Hatfield, Glasgow, KY
Year Purchased	2003
Price Paid	$1,950 historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	This banjo is perfect for Scruggs style picking. Loud and sweet with a growl in the 4th string. She's still getting broke in and is getting better and better. With Arthur Hatfield's set up (tone ring fit) and a Huber ring it's a guaranteed winner.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	Banjo was set up by the builder, Arthur Hatfield. He knows how to get the best sound out of his banjos. The action is about 3/16". The tension hoop on this banjo is not even off the head all the way around. I rises up a little by the neck. I do not know the affect this has on the sound. Both spikes were installed too deep to allow the string to go under them.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	A beautiful hand made mahoganey neck by Arthur Hatfield. Very beautiful and unique inlay pattern on an unfinished rosewood board. Soothing, golden mahoganey resonator. Not 100% perfect. There was some excess stain on the neck binding, and a crooked resonator screw.
Appearance Rating	8
Reliability	I fully expect this banjo to last a life-time. There is nothing about it that would lead me to believe otherwise. Very solid, quality through out. Update: A couple frets came unseated on the neck.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	It was a pleasure dealing with Arthur as this banjo came to be. His integrity speaks for itself. Highest of rating. Update: Customer service has been above and beyond! It is a great feeling to be able to call the person who made your banjo and get some feed back. Arthur has been exemplary in this regard!
Customer Service	10
Components	Handmade Arthur Hatfield mahoganey neck, Huber Flathead tone ring, Cox maple rim and mahoganey resonator, Presto tail piece, Gotoh tuners and a one piece Gibson style flange. All metal parts nickel plated.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	What an honor to own one of Arthur Hatfield's banjos. With a handmade neck and Huber Flathead there's no mistaking this instruments intent, a solid work horse made for playing and lot's of it. Thank you Arthur, for making a dream come true! There are a lot of banjos out there in the 2k dollar range. If your looking for a Huber/Gibson sound with excellent service, this is the one! If your looking for a model of perfection, buy a Stelling.
Overall Rating	8

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