Overall Comments

I first got the idea for a wood tone ring banjo from American Made Banjo's Woode banjo which i played at a banjo camp. It sounded great. If you didnt pick it up you wouldnt have known it didnt have a metal ring.

Dick Guggenheim is from CT, as am i, and I read that he was making block rims and wood tone rings. Since he was in driving distance and his price was very reasonable I decided to contact him...

I have a wood block style rim with an integrated tone ring. That is, the rim and ring are one piece of wood. I believe the woods were maple for the body and walnut for the "tone ring" top.

My banjo (2000 Gibson RB3) was fitted with the rim in the shop so the fit was nice. The rim had literally just been turned and finished before it went into my banjo.

I knew that a new wooden part would take time to settle in. The banjo sounded good when I got it, it wasnt perfect yet but it sounded good.

I went through a week or so of tightening the head, playing, backing off a bit with the head, playing, tightening....

the rim started to open up more and more. the full, woody, hollow tone i was after was emerging. the banjo was plenty loud. at least as loud as it was before with a Huber Ring.

After a few weeks, the rim had settled and my banjo was sounding exactly how i wanted. it had a woody growl. dry and punchy. it didnt have quite the "ring" of the huber but i wasnt really after that. I play in a bluegrass band and the banjo cuts when i want it to and blends when i want it to.

Another huge, albeit secondary benefit is the weight. My banjo feels a lot lighter without a traditional ring. It actually took me a little getting used to. When i first picked it up I wasnt sure that something that didnt weigh 60lbs could sound good.
I was wrong. It sounds better than ever and has just as much volume.

I used to use light gauge strings now I use medium (11's). The rim sounds better with the heavier strings. I think the lights vibrated too much and caused overtones. The banjo sounded good, it just wasnt focused. The heavier strings pushed it over the edge. I stood there and played in front of a wall for an hour after i put them on. very happy.

I had to reconsider my whole belief system after having this banjo sound like it does without a tone ring. My huber ring and gibson rim is sitting on the shelf in the closet. i wont be putting it back on. thats not to say that its not a good ring. I just know that tone rings are at least not nearly as vital to the tone of a banjo as most think.

overall. very happy. i never thought id see the day where i wasnt looking for the next thing to adjust or swap out in my banjo to try to get the tone i was after,

Dick worked with me to get the tone i wanted from the start. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a rim. Ive spent more on bridges alone than this rim cost me, and all but one of those bridges are sitting in a drawer somewhere.

Overall Rating

9

Sound

The banjo sounded kinda blah when i got it. The head was really loose. I tightened it up and the banjo came alive. Loud, clear & woody without being too "plunky". I put a cloth between the dowel and head to take away a bit of the volume. I don't play up the neck much when playing clawhammer but I did a check and all the notes sound good and clear.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

The banjo looks high quality. It has an understated beauty. There is a star on the peghead and one at the 5th fret (this is the only standard ive seen with a star on the 5th fret) there are dot inlays on the other usual spots.

The stripe down the neck is a nice touch as is the heel cap and rim cap. The wood looks great.

There were a few minor dings but I got the banjo used.

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

I only think its under warranty to the original owner...who isnt me.

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

Great banjo. One I will have forever. Tone and playibilty are top notch. I would recommend a tight head and a heavy bridge, it made a world of difference.

I have a hard time putting this banjo down.

Overall Rating

9