Overall Comments

I was banjagnostic: unconvinced that it was possible to achieve "that tone" on a limited budget. Then John showed me THE WAY. I found an old rim and he custom built a great-sounding banjo around it.
John is a phenomenal banjo player, and his luthiery reflects his passion. He'll listen to your concerns and patiently tweak the setup to assist you on your journey to obsession satisfaction.
Go see him!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

John recently repaired my RB00 and installed spikes. He is an absolute artist when it comes to repairing instruments. He has just finished a complete banjo for one of my friends, and is building a neck for another. Top quality work for reasonable rates. Cant' go wrong....

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I recently asked John Boulding to build a new "H & F" neck for my 1960's Gibson Mastertone. I just received the banjo with the new neck and I am absolutely delighted with it. It is perfect and exceeds my every expectation!! John also set it up and it sounds great. I would add that dealing with John was a pleasure. He is clearly a Master Craftsman. We discussed all issues, including the pros and cons of all choices that I needed to make, and he provided thoughtful and knowledgeable advice. He also provided an estimate with all terms clearly articulated, including the estimated time. John did all he said he would do to perfection in a timely manner and within budget. He kept me updated throughout so that there were no surprises. I find his work to be incredibly beautiful, timely and reasonably priced. I couldn't be more satisfied and I would strongly recommend John without reservation.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I was fortunate enough to aquire a great old pot through the Banjo Hangout. John helped me date it to pre or early civil war. I then turned to John to make me a neck suitable to the circa. John helped me keep the original look while making some great sugesstions for modernizing. when I got the neck it was everything I had hoped for! I would recommend John to anyone! His work is both thoughtful and careful. John is a man that obviously LOVES his work and it shows!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

John just replaced the binding on my 1974 Gibson RB 250 resonator. The binding was cracked and crumbling away. I shipped it to John from SC. He made the repair and shipped it back. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out and the quality of John's work. I was concerned about the new binding not matching the original neck binding, but John antiqued the binding the same color as the old that had yellowed over the years. I definitely recommend his work.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

John just finished a set up and speed neck for my new Gold Star GF85. It was a good banjo before but now it is a great banjo. I knew that it had more to give, it just needed some one to find it and John did. My friend who plays a 1937 Top Tension Gibson was blown away with the old sound that my banjo now produces. The playability is now awesome and the speed neck had a great feel to it.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I had John do a full setup on my banjo. Over the years I felt I just wasn't getting the full potential out of it. John tried different tone rings and bridges, and even shimmed the neck. When I got it back I could immediately feel and hear the improvements. I appreciated the amount of time he spent on my banjo, and he communicated well with me during the process. I would highly recommend his services to anyone.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I have used John as my set up technician for years. His service and work has always been A+. Being a full time musician this is especially important but he treats everyone w/ the same respect. The latest job he's done for me is to install a new neck on my banjo (the airlines broke). Not only is the set up perfect, but so is the work he did to refit the neck to the pot, etc. I highly recommend him!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Just a quick note to say Thanks to John Boulding for doing a superb job on my Guild J30 cutaway guitar. The guitar is 30 years + old and needed a neck reset badly. I packed it up and sent it to John Boulding and we discussed by phone and email how to proceed.

John advised that the guitar needed a neck reset to get it back to where it belonged. He did a fantastic job. I've heard many great reports about John's Banjo work but now I know that he is equally as proficient on Guitar work also...Fantastic job and great and fair rates and John listens to exactly what you want done.....Jack Baker NYC

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I had John level and refret a banjo neck for me. He completed the work in record time, doing a fantastic job, and even beveled the frets a little different like I had asked him to do. His charges were very reasonable and I am very happy with the work he did. I would not hesitate to have John work on any instrument that required attention.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I took two banjos to John for adjusting and setting up. I found him to be professional, helpful, friendly and straight forward, and the work he did was helpful and exactly what my banjos needed.

John's shop is clean, interesting to look at, and easy to find. I sat with him while he worked and we chatted and I felt welcome and happy to be there. I felt that John listened to what I had to say and did for my banjos what *I* needed for him to do. My banjos might have been fine for someone else, but I needed a few specific things done and he did them and did them well. Should I ever need any of my instruments worked on again, I'm going to John.

John is in Mount Airy NC by the way.

Overall Rating

10