Overall Comments

I can't think of a better place to buy a new Huber than directly from Huber Banjos. I recently purchased my second Huber from available stock in Steve's shop. It was a Berkshire that Steve tweaked and set up perfectly before shipping. One huge advantage to buying directly from Steve is that the banjo has been given the optimal set-up by Steve just prior to shipping. This insures your banjo will arrive sounding it's absolute best. One online music store in Nashville told me they would loosen the head tension before shipping and therefore effectively negate the set up done by Steve. Steve and Jim were great to do business with. Even though Steve is monumentally busy, he had time to field several different phone calls from me and never made me feel rushed or as though he didn't have time to talk. Steve even recorded mp3 samples of two of the banjos in his shop for me to listen to when I was trying to decide between two models. Sweet! Even though this wasn't a custom order, I will most definitely be back to Huber banjos for my next Huber. Buying directly from Huber banjos was a fantastic experience and I highly recommend checking Steve's inventory first. If I could, I would rate them an 11 out of 10!!!!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Acoustic Vibes Music in Tempe, AZ is a great place to purchase a high end musical instrument! Although they have a showroom for customers to visit, I used their online store and found their site to be quite easy to navigate. First of all, whomever does the photography of the instruments for display on the internet has an artistic eye because the pictures are quite elegant and dramatic. I found several pictures of the banjos I was considering. Unlike some larger online stores that may use stock photos, Acoustic Vibes uses only pictures of the actual instrument available for purchase. Jeff was extremely helpful in answering all my questions and in picking for me over the phone so I could hear banjos I was considering. I got a terrific price on an outstanding Huber banjo, the shipping was incredibly fast and even after the deal, Jeff sent me out three sets of Huber strings free! Oh, by the way, the shipping was also free! Customer service is definitely a priority at Acoustic Vibes Music. I would recommend them to anybody considering a new instrument!

Overall Rating

10

Sound

The banjo is amazing! I don't use it with amps or effects. If anything, I'd play it mic'd and that's it. The sound is rich, full and complex. Really grainy, gritty, bluesy fourth string. Lots of guts and growl. The third string is also really pronounced. Great sounding second and first, too. All in all, the banjo is incredibly responsive, tonally balanced and projects incredibly.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

The finish is practically flawless. The inlays are perfect, the rich burgundy stain is elegant. I also appreciate the attention to detail that's obvious in every Huber I've ever seen. No corners are ever cut in a Huber.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

The purchase was a pleasure. I have no doubts whatsoever that I will have any needs taken care of, should they arise in the future.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I would highly recommend Huber banjos to anybody looking for a new banjo. I absolutely love Steve's banjos. They are top of the line. In my opinion, nothing else compares to a Huber - except another Huber! Which may explain why I've bought two this month!

Overall Rating

10

Sound

The sound is phenomenal! The banjo just has a big, fat sound. Lots of sparkle and sizzle. The 4th string is chunky and fat sounding even for maple! All in all, this is very well-balanced, powerful banjo. The power doesn't die out up the neck. Probably one of the sweetest sounding banjos I've ever played.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

This is a great looking banjo. The Ron Block model is much more impressive in person than it appears in photographs! The banjo was actually more of a deep burgundy/brownish color. Every picture I'd seen on the web showed it looking quite red. Maybe in the sunlight the red comes out more pronounced, but I like the color with more accents towards the deep brown.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Jeff was excellent to deal with. I HIGHLY recommend Acoustic Vibes Music to anybody looking to purchase a high end, quality instrument. Jeff was outstanding to do business with. Express shipping was FREE! I had my banjo from AZ to NC in two days. . . FREE!

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I can't wait to hear what this banjo will sound like in two months! It sounds phenomenal right out of the box, so I'm excited about the sound/tone when it really opens up!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I was somewhat skeptical of this purchase. Like most banjo players, I've got a drawer of knick-knacks that I've purchased over the years. I got tired of the raspy sound of failing plastic thumbpicks. I've been playing the multi-colored Golden Gates and have been fairly happy with them up until recently. I decided to try one of the Red Bears since a genuine tortoise pick wasn't an option at the time. Glad I took a chance. It's a good pick. The sound is much better with this pick than with the Golden Gate regular plastic pick. The pick fits nicely and doesn't cut off the blood flow to my thumb. It isn't constrictive, but it also doesn't feel as though it will fly off, either. Time will tell with regards to how long this pick will last. My only concern is where the metal is joined to the pick material. That, to me, seems like the weakest point. If that holds, I believe the pick will last a long time. I would recommend this pick.

Overall Rating

8

Sound

This banjo has an amazing spectrum. It has plenty of crack and is very snappy. However, it also has a good rattle and hollow bell-like quality in the up-the-neck position. This is a very lively banjo.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

My banjo, even though used, arrived in what I would call "mint, unplayed" condition. I could see no signs of visible fretwear. The finish on this Mills is absolutely beautiful. They look great online, but they look even better in person.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Tom was great to deal with throughout the entire transaction.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I love this banjo and thought it was a great value for the price I paid. I also wouldn't hesitate to purchase a new Huber Mills model if this one was ever stolen. If it was stolen, I'd hunt down the rascal that did it and string him up by his shoelaces! This banjo, like other Hubers I've owned, does not disappoint. All the Hubers I've ever owned or played have been consistently amazing.

Overall Rating

10