Support this Site:
More Hangout Sites:
 RSS Feeds
|
Ramsey Fretless Special
submitted 10/18/2009
|
Submitter |
WGE |
Where Purchased |
traded with BHO member |
Year Purchased |
2009 |
Price Paid |
850 ($US) |
Sound
|
I was interested in developing my Round Peak style and decided I needed a fretless banjo. The Ramsey (#1270 originally purchased new in 2002) is perfect for what I wanted. It is a nice 12" thin-rim banjo with rolled brass tone ring and a cherry neck with an ebony fretboard with several small inlays. It makes for a great "Round Peak" sound when setup as described below. My "sound" rating is how it works now after my modifications. Prior to those I would have rated it about 6 or 7. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
I traded for this banjo with a BHO member. I traded my 12" fretted Lee Rosehill for it and some cash. It came to me with a Renaissance head and Nylguts strings. I imagine it came originally with the Ren head, but I think it started out life with steel strings. I am NOT a fan or Ren heads. I put a pre-mounted Bill Miller vellum-treated calfskin head on it. These are wonderful heads. I treated this one with waterproofing spray before installation. As a side note, Bill's head was perfectly mounted and fit like a glove; I love his stuff. I also didn't care for the Nylgut strings and replaced them with steel. I completed my set up with my favorite open-back banjo bridge, a Sampson old-growth walnut and ebony bridge. I really like the sound of this banjo now. These setup changes, of course, were very easy to do. My setup rating is based on how it came to me, I would now give it a 9 or 10 after my changes. So, don't blame Mike Ramsey for my preferences |
Setup Rating |
7 |
Appearance
|
I like the look of it. I prefer pretty unadorned banjos and the Special is pretty plain. It does have a Saturn peghead inlay and two inlays on the fretboard. The neck is a very nice cherry wood. I much prefer either cherry or walnut for necks. The Special has a multiply rim but with a cherry veneer to match the neck. It also has a nice rosewood rimcap. All in all, it is a very attractive, but not overly done banjo. Mt only complaint is that the inlays have a great deal of fill surrounding them. As I understand, this may be a common Ramsey complaint. However, you have to look closely to see these faults. Fit and finish are good. This banjo came to me with a few minor cosmetic faults, but it is used and I can't blame Ramsey for this sort of wear and tear. |
Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
|
Everything looks and feels solid. The hardware is pretty standard stuff but does the job and looks pretty good. I think it is dependable. |
Reliability Rating |
9 |
Customer Service
|
This banjo was warranted for a five-year period to the original owner. So, there is no warranty for me. I have never had cause to contact Mike about this banjo, so I can't really rate this. |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
|
All OK. The components are pretty standard but functional. It might be nice to have custom-cast shoes and hooks, but what the Ramsey has works just fine. |
Components Rating |
9 |
Overall Comments
|
I wanted a nice fretless. I was hoping to get a Brooks fretless, but I needed to either sell or trade my Lee. To get a Brooks meant I would need to sell the Lee, and it was easier to work out a trade. The Ramsey trade came along and I went for it. It worked out great. Playing fretless is very interesting and I love the Round Peak style of Cockerham, Jarrell et al.. The Ramsey is a very nice banjo. Originally I was thinking of something with a brass fretboard plate, but I decided a straight ebony board was the way to go and I am happy with that decision. It has a very nice neck profile and the fretboard is nice and wide; very easy to play. Just a note of thanks to the Hangout for this trade. I am delighted and I understand the member who got the Lee is very happy with it, so the deal worked out great for all involved. We each made a BHO contribution. |
Overall Rating |
9 |
|
Brooks Masten Custom 12- inch slothead
submitted 7/25/2008
|
Submitter |
WGE |
Where Purchased |
from the maker |
Year Purchased |
2008 |
Price Paid |
1975 ($US) |
Sound
|
Lovely tone. Brighter than my Lee 12-inch Rose Hill woody, but with a sweet elegance when played softly. It has a nice bite when played with gusto. It is set up with a rolled brass tone hoop. I toyed with having Brooks put a Dobson ring in it, but I think it turned out just fine. Couldn't be happier with its tonal character and versatility. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
The setup was spot on. It came with a custom made bridge that is 11/16ths and which looks pretty beefy. The action is fine for my tastes and playing style. It has a nice wide fingerboard and narrow frets. It has turned out to be the easiest playing banjo I have ever owned; like a knife through hot butter. Update: I have since replaced the original bridge with an 11/16ths Crowe spacing Sampson walnut and ebony bridge. This has really toned down some of the undesireable overtones. This has taken the edge off and really rounded out the tone. |
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
|
It really looks great. I wanted the combination of cherry and rosewood which I find is a beautiful contrast and which has wonderful sonic properties. I also wanted a slothead design with a slotted fifth string. Brooks has come up with a nice slotted fifth setup. I had him put the fifth string nut just behind the sixth fret. The neck is nicely carved for the Waverly tuner. The hardware I choose was Brooks butterfly shoes and I specified all the hardware to be antiqued. The tension hoop is raw brass as well. I had Brooks put a stylized cherry blossom at the fifth fret. The entire banjo really exudes "old time" but in a very modern package. There isn't another banjo like it! |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
Too soon to judge but I doubt there will be any problems. Update: Brooks uses mandolin fretwire on his banjos. As I understand this duplicates the narrow frets on vintage instruments. The downside is that fret wear is pretty rapid. This banjo will probably need pretty frequent fret work given the heavy play it is getting. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
|
Brooks was very easy to work with through a number of design changes during the banjo's gestation. He was very quick to answer e-mails and I had a nice time talking with him on the phone a time or two when we discussed the banjo's and features. He was very good about sending photos at various stages of construction. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
Most all the components are hand made. The hardware is just fantastic. I also really have grown to like the Waverly tuners. Very precise and they hold tune great. The custom bridge works great with the goatskin head. Update: the bridge got replaced but I really do like that goatskin head!! |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
|
With any custom project you worry about how it will turn out and if you will like the end result. I had great luck with a really nice Romero banjo I had done up a few years back and my luck has continued with the Brooks. I got exactly what I wanted, it is unique, it is beautiful, it sounds great, and it plays so very easily. The banjo is very light in weight but very responsive. I feel blessed to have really neat banjos from some of the top custom builders; they aren't cheap but they are worth every penny, in fact two pennies for the Brooks, one on each side of the peghead. I will treasure my Brooks and Romero banjos and try my best to have my playing live up to them. If you are looking for something special, give these guys a call. Update: this banjo is a real headturner. Everybody who has played this banjo has really liked its playability and sound. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Lee Rose Hill 12"
submitted 2/27/2008
|
Submitter |
WGE |
Where Purchased |
Zepp Country Music |
Year Purchased |
2005 |
Price Paid |
$1450 ($US) |
Sound
|
It sounds like what it is, a 12-inch woody. I enjoy the richness of the bass and I like the tone I've achieved after the changes mentioned below. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
It originally came with a Renaissance head and a "no-name" bridge and the setup rating is based on this initial setup. I got a heavy-weight Moon bridge from Zepp when I ordered the banjo. Since then I have changed out the Renaissance head which I found to be quite sensitive to head tension and which could muddy the tone up the neck if incorrectly adjusted. I got a nice flesh hoop and thin calfskin head from Bill Miller. Installation was pretty easy. In addition, I now have a Sampson walnut and ebony bridge. Now, when played with a modified Acri brass fingerpick, the tone is just the way I like it. The skin head was a great improvement. One suggestion I have would be to increase the height of the fifth string pip just a tad. |
Setup Rating |
8 |
Appearance
|
This banjo has understated beauty. No inlays and a beautiful rosewood peghead veneer and fingerboard. The neck is oak, which Chuck says was difficult to sand, but the result has very nice grain. Its natural oak color contrasts nicely with the black stained maple pot. I found no flaws in the workmanship. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
After nearly three years everything is working fine. The capstan on the fifth string tuner seems loose when unstrung, but it strings up fine and holds tune. I've worn some of the finish off the side of the neck between the nut and the fifth fret and I am now in some need of fretwork, but I am unconcerned about long-term reliability. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
|
I've had several e-mail exchanges with Chuck and he has been very quick to respond and made helpful suggestions. I believe Chuck provides a limited lifetime warranty. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
All are first rate. However, as I mentioned, I came not to like the Renaissance head, but it was very easy to change it over to a great skin head. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
|
I have been very pleased with my Rosehill. I did a lot of online research and Chuck's Rosehill model attracted my attention for its simplicity and understated beauty. All the reviews I read were highly favorable for Lee banjos. I ended up buying one from Zepp, never having played a Lee. I guess I was taking a chance, but it has worked out great and I have no regrets on the purchase. With a change in bridge and head, I really have a fine old-time steel-strung banjo that I have no plans to sell. I really played this banjo hard and it was able to get me on the right track with clawhammer. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Romero 13" custom walnut #0684
submitted 2/27/2008
|
Submitter |
WGE |
Where Purchased |
from Jason Romero |
Year Purchased |
2006 |
Price Paid |
$2350 ($US) |
Sound
|
I wanted a big pot, nylon-strung banjo that I could tune to Briggs-era pitch. With the skin head, it sounds just like I wanted, quite minstrel banjo-like in its voice. I tune it down to dGDGA, dADF#A, and dGDF#A with wonderful results. I liked the sound clips for his nylon-strung banjos on his website, and the banjo we worked up was similar to one Jason made for Dirk Powell. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
General setup was fine. I found the string action fine. There were a couple of very minor issues I had to deal with, however. I had to deepen the bridge slots for the first and fifth strings and the fifth string pip was loose causing a string buzz. A drop of super glue and a then saw blade took care of those problems in short order. I have made no major changes to this banjo in a year and a half. |
Setup Rating |
9 |
Appearance
|
Jason really outdid himself with the aesthetics of this banjo. I asked him to scout up some really nice figured walnut for the pehead veneer, backstrapping, heel veneer and rim cap. He got some fantastic crotch claro walnut that was perfect. The neck blank he used also has wonderful figure near the heel. We worked up a custom inlay duplicating a black walnut leaf in the scoop. This is the perfect cosmetic touch for a walnut banjo. This banjo is truly stunning. You can see it on Jason's website. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
After taking care of the little issues, this banjo has been rock solid. The Gotoh tuners will last and since it is nylon strung, the frets will last forever. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
|
Jason was great to work with as we designed this banjo. He really took a sincere interest in the vision I had for it. He was helpful in getting the minor problems with the fifth string nut and the bridge worked out. This banjo has a lifetime warranty. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
The tuners are great. Jason uses his own hybrid dowel stick/coordinator rod that really does the job and looks good too. This banjo came with his custom ring tailpiece. This really looks nice but it does make changing a single interior string somewhat difficult. Nonetheless, I think it looks and works great for this banjo. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
|
This is another banjo that I ended up buying based on online research and reviews. I had never had a Romero banjo in my hands before. I was confident that I would get a great and truly unique instrument that would meet my expectations. It is a real joy to be able to design a custom instrument and then find someone to turn the design into reality. Jason certainly did that. His instruments are expensive, but I have found them to be worth every penny paid for them. My favorite feature is its wonderful deep voice that contrasts so nicely with my steel-strung Lee. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
