Overall Comments

I made the trip to Mr. Hatfield's shop this week from Akron, Ohio. I have a 2000 Gibson RB 250 that I wanted him to check out. The tone ring was too tight and had to be pried off. Arthur turned the rim until the fit was perfect. He then carfully shaved the rim where it fit to the neck until the whole contact surface of the neck fit the rim/ring seamlessly. He even stained the wood where he shaved it to match the neck, even though you only see it when you take it apart. After a masterful set-up job with new strings, he replaced my plastic 5th string nut with a bone one he fashioned before my eyes. The banjo came alive like never before. I tried one of his hand carved bridges and the sound jumped out even more!
When I walked in the door, Arthur dropped what he was doing and spent the next 3 hours on my banjo. I have never experienced such attention from anyone in the business, let alone from a world-class craftsman. While I was there, a young clawhammer master and his father stopped in for a visit from 100 miles away. Tyler May gave me a few tips and we all had such a great time hanging out I hated to go.
Arthur is the best and his services are more than reasonable. All the work he did, including the bridge was about the price of my lodging for the night. I can't praise him enough and he made me feel like an old friend!!!
Ron Good

Overall Rating

10