I've been admiring Nechville for a while, especially the Cyclotronic system after hearing Dennis Caplinger playing his Vintage. I'm a Gibson Ballbearing Mastertone fan myself, but Dennis' Vintage has that same sweet tone, plus huge punch. I loved hearing it, especially in Dennis' hands.

Recently my wife and I had the pleasure of being able to get a new banjo and a new mandolin and a new reso guitar for a young family bluegrass band in our area that we're trying to encourage. I chose a Nechville Classic Blonde for the banjo player, primarily because of the tone. It sounded nearly as good as my prewar Gibson. This is a professional quality bluegrass banjo that I'd be proud to play on stage, and the price was great too. Needless to say, the kids in this family band love this banjo, it is my understanding that they compete over who gets to play it next.

I like the old Gibson Ballbearing banjos, but if I ever need to replace my Ballbearing with something new, I'll be looking at a Vintage Cyclotronic like Dennis plays.

Best,

-- Don
home.att.net/~dhergert
mysite.verizon.net/don_hergert


"If you must use your banjo as a snow shovel, do so:
only don''t wonder if it sounds dull afterwards."
-- S.S. Stewart catalog, 1896.

Edited by - dhergert on 10/07/2008 15:41:57

Here's an idea! Since you are wanting critiques, how about sending a nechville to each BHO member to try out for a year or two, and then we can report back to you!


"Never take yourself seriously, others are always ready to do it for you"

Tom, what happens at IBMA - what kind of reactions and response do you get there?

I am intrigued by your banjos - especially the heli-mount.

I've yet to have an opportunity to play one.


Dan

Edited by - N.E.banjo on 10/07/2008 16:04:29

Tom, I have several jam buddies who own your banjos, plus my teacher, Eddie Collins has a Custom Vintage. I even sent one of my bridges to a Nechville Custom Vintage owner in Indianapolis to test for me. He liked the bridge just fine but said it made his banjo sound like a bluegrass banjo. My first experience with one of your machines was in my very first jam. One of the players had a strange looking banjo that sounded incredible to me. You guessed it. It was one of yours. Another of my jam buddies just bought a new one with his initials on the peg head. Very classy, outstanding craftsmanship. I'm hoping when I see him this Saturday, he will let me "fiddle" with it and turn some of the knobs. I think he is also on your list to get the thing electrified.

Jerry

We''re too soon old and too late smart.

Tom,

On Sept 28 of 2007 I gave myself the gift of a used Nechville which Noam Pikelny had for sale. One year has passed and I've played that banjo everyday for an average of 3 hours a day. That amounts to 1,095 hours which breaks down to 45.625 days.

In August I played at the Blueberry Bluegrass Festival and my Nextar was the hit of the festival. Kenny Cantrell (Cedar Hill) and Trevor Watson (Lou Reid) both played it for lengthy periods and deemed it a fine instrument. Several local players tried it as well.

I showed people how it worked and how easy it was to take apart and put back together.

I was able to take the Nextar on board the plane by taking it apart. I put the neck in my Camera tripod bag and the pot in an over-the-shoulder bag and stowed in the overhead compartment. It took me 10 minutes to take it apart. When I arrived in Alberta our band had an hour before our first set. It took me 20 minutes (new strings!!!) to put it together. We warmed up and hit the stage and the banjo was doing its thing.

I also really like the radiused neck and the tone on this banjo is really responsive to the right hand attack. This banjo doesn't have the Cyclotronic system. It took me awhile to navigate the neck due to the inlay pattern but it's all good now.

In short, this banjo is an absolute delight to play and it has historical value as being owned and played by Noam's Pikelny. Sadly, he didn't sell me all the notes he played on this banjo but I'm slowly finding them.

I've got my lifetime banjo!








Andrew Conde
Banjo Monkey

OK, I'm a traditionalist in many ways. I love the great nineteenth century banjos and their beautiful ornamentation and craftsmanship. But another part of nineteenth century banjodom than I love is the inventiveness. I'm really crazy about those wild old banjo patents, and most of my modest banjo collection reflects that craziness.

Tom's ideas are beyond what even the "farthest out" patent holders of the nineteenth century came up with. But, unlike many of his earlier counterparts, Tom got it right in more than one way.

The Helimount system is brilliant. The quick neck adjustment works great. But more important, the playability of Tom's banjos is absolutely top shelf.

I'm a traditionalist. I build banjos in at least a somewhat traditional way. But, I have to admit that the banjo that has been played the most at my house over the past couple of years is a Nechville Phantom. It's probably the best playing banjo I've ever owned, and when I build a banjo, I strive to make mine come as close as it can to my Phantom in playability. If a new banjo out of my shop passes that test, I feel pretty good.

And as much as I love the old banjos, the only banjo on my "want list" at the present time (OK, maybe not the ONLY one...) is another Nechville. I'd like to see a Nechville done up in nineteenth century decoration some time. That would be the ultimate! (interested in a collaboration sometime, Tom?)

Dave

I'm specifically looking for opinions on the Helimount system, the quick Neck adjustment, and the new Flux capacitor, All the best, Tom

You wanted it here it is.

Helimount. great design
Neck adjustment, another great design but some kind of cover that matches the wood would be nice instead of just a hole in the heel.
Flux Capacitor, actually IMO too pricey to catch on. Might as well spend some more and get the whole banjo.

I wonder why the walnut models are roughly $1000 more.

And to me some models are list priced quite high and that's what keeps some people from considering them.
I was lucky enough to get a great deal on a used custom but got a really great deal on a new Vintage. There's no way I and I imagine other price concience banjo consumers would acquire a Nechville if they had to pay near list on some of those higher priced models.
But of course it's your perogative to price them however you feel.

ready for more praise yet? lol

Jbanjoist
I''m a NECHVILLIAN!

The Meteor models are hands-down the best electric banjos out there. My experience with the acoustics is somewhat limited - only one person I know owns one (a Galaxy Phantom) but it holds its own against any other banjo I've ever seen/played. My next banjo may well be a Galaxy Phantom - love that inlay!

Chris
---------------
2000 Gibson Custom Shop RB-3 Wreath Top Tension
1970 Vega V.I.P.
2006 Deering Goodtime 2

My Nechville Classic Deluxe,, is probably the last banjo I will ever need,, It beats all other banjo's In every way,, all those hooks and nuts,, on the other banjo's,, are not needed, I would incourage You to stick with Your good design. As far as the cost,, most all banjo's are costly, BUT with a Nechville You get Your money's worth,,, and MORE,, I think many people have just never tried a Nechville.. another thing I almost forgot,, They have a wide, and broad bone nut, and big frets like My old Gibson flat--top, these frets should last the rest of My life..


Nechville. In Higginsville.

pick the banjer son.

Lee Kelso

Edited by - pick1936 on 10/07/2008 21:53:42

Just one more thought,, all the pickers I know trade banjo's often,, The ones that bought Nechvilles,, are keeping them....



Nechville, In Higginsville.

pick the banjer son.

Lee Kelso

I just can't say enough,, as someone stated above,, some pickers are tradionalists,, I think the (Vintage),, and the (Classic),, are pretty traditional looking banjo's,,and Without a dought the fastest adjutability,,and You can get about any sound You want,, what more could You want?? I took My Classic Deluxe to a festival last Fri.,, I had 4 pro pickers pick it,, Two had never heard of them, two had,, BUT had never picked one,, They all four were very surprised at the Volume,, Tone,, Ring,, Pop,, knock,, and zing,, In other words,, They all liked it very much, They loved the compound radiused neck,, and finger board,, and how eazy it was to get around on the neck,, I think when more pro pickers get to see,, and pick a Nechville, They will decide They need one.


Nechville., In Higginsville.
pick the banjer sons.

Edited by - pick1936 on 10/07/2008 21:41:38

Dude, welcome to the hangout. You have one of the unique aspects of banjo design, maybe not the only truly unique one.

I like hearing the choir, preaching to the choir, you gotta start somewhere. I notice the responses you were after did not emerge.

I'll ask in a friendly and pro tone. How much do they weigh? You know, standing there for three hours with a bell, a liberty bell around your neck.

As an innovator you've done pretty good. And you have a loyal following, a Nechville Nation. Keep on making music. How much do they weigh?





(_)====''===::} Banjo is a verb

My heaviest banjo is just over 8 pounds with the steel cyclotronic but I have tone ring options that take it down to 5.
A note on The Walnut Phantom Pricing- There are higher cost materials and some extra labor with the curly maple wood binding, also we use a rolling nut on the tunneled 5th string. By the time you add margins for the dealer and a small profit for myself, it's almost $1000 more than the Maple or Mahogany version.
Dave- Hey I like the idea of 19th century design on a Helimount- Maybe serial number 1000?
IBMA is a zoo. People love to come by and play, I always want them to play everything, cause I don't want them going away thinking we only have one type of sound. I'm always meeting new people, but it's more common to see the same familiar faces of those Nechville fans that only get to play one when I show up with the booth.

Banjo Revolution REV IT UP!
nechville.com

Edited by - nechville on 10/08/2008 11:24:35

Hi Tom,
As an engineer your helimount design intrigued me since I first read about it. I think I first found your website from the link on the banjo hangout. It struck me as a great idea - repacing tension hoop, flange, hooks and nuts with a single casting. I've now seen, heard and played Guy's Nextar, and tried a few lower end Nechvilles in a shop recently and compared them with Huber, Gibson, Stelling, Ome and found the Nechville to have the best tone of the lot. I also took the back off to see how it worked for myself and show my friend how it worked. I often tell people about what a great design it is.
So why don't I own one? I have a Sullivan which I love. I bought that (before I'd heard of Nechville) in preference to Gibsons and Stellings on sound alone. I think Nechvilles sound a little bit better, but prefer the neck on my Sullivan. Nechvilles are cool (or as cool as banjos can be!) but the really cool models are expensive. I would love to own one, and who knows - maybe I will in the future.

Edited by - bigcraig on 10/08/2008 16:14:54

quote:

---

Originally posted by Guy

Hi Tom

I won't come as a surprise to you to know that I'm a huge endorser of your banjos. As you well know, I am one of a growing band of enthusiasts on this side of the Atlantic (in the UK). Maybe it's because we are less accustomed to hearing Gibsons, Stellings and the like that makes us more open minded to the sound of your excellent banjos...

...I could go on...

Guy

You hum it son, I''ll play it!
salmagundi.me.uk

---

Hi Tom
I think I owned the very first Moonshine you made- then I traded it back to you for one with a 25.5 scale, radiused mahogany neck, diamond wing inlays, corona pot, tunneled fifth string, wood tone ring, Ren head. It was wonderful, but it had two things that bothered me as time went by.
I sold it and I miss it- it had tone to the bone , better than any clawhammer banjo I ever played with a strong fundamental, and it played like a dream up the neck.

The neck was too skinny for me. Between that and the attachment method it was a bit whippy and if I leaned back while playing it would go flat as the neck bent some and the attachement point flexed. If it had a bigger neck- deeper from the fingerboard to the back- I might still have it, depending on how much flex remained at the attaching point.

Second- nice as the Helimount is it can be hard to get the threads started sometimes when swapping heads, also the head surface to rim top spacing is about 3/16-1/4" and with a clawhammer set up- neck set for highest action- and a 5/8' bridge the spacing between the head surface and the strings was too big. I like that space to be about 1/2" and it was more like 3/4 with no good way to get it right. I wound up gluing a little piece of ebony to the head right where my thumb would thump so it met the strings at the right spot. It worked, but it looked odd.

Also- while changing heads in 5-10 minutes is a neat thing I rarely do it once I get set up, and rarely tension the head after set up either, so, having a quick system for doing that is useful only on occasions, and not a reason to purchase for me.

I might buy another Nechville Moonshine again- this time with a 26.25 scale and a fat maple neck( or walnut?), traditional headstock, 5th string tuner in the regular spot, but try to save some money on the inlays and skip the radius on the fb. I liked it but don't need it. I'd really (almost) buy one if I was sure the neck/pot connection was rock solid...hard to do when it is adjustable. The wood tone ring was fine and it was a really loud banjo- easily could cross over from clawhammer to bluegrass picking and hold its own.- Got any pop off resonators?

Over the years I had my Moonshine I really came to appreciate your craftsmanship- it had triple binding and was sidebound too! and exceptional binding job on a beautiful ebony fb.

best wishes to you and your crew,




Be yourself- everyone else is taken

I sure like the Heli Mount design plus I enjoy the slim style necks. My 2cents



Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. --Mark Twain

sram.com/en/

I played a very nice custom walnut nechville at a jam I was at a couple days ago. It sounded great! I didn't want to put it down. The neck was perfect and it stayed in tune! That's pretty darn amazing.

A few notes about the Moonshine. I only tried it as an experiment to see if anyone would go for a new-age-open back banjo. Admittedly, I am not a clawhammer player, and my set-ups tend to be more Bluegrassy than some open back players like. I was surprised however how may people that played it really liked it. I recently decided to re-tool the Moonshine with a completely new body that will look better and possibly function even better. It won't be available until early 2009, but I thought you might want to know. The Nechville neck connection is very rigid when adjusted properly, I did a YouTube video on the neck attachment that would be helpful if anyone is having trouble with a loose neck.

Banjo Revolution REV IT UP!
nechville.com

Yeah- get Mr. Ball to engrave soem inlay 19th centruy style, also hide the hole in the heel with a pop off, or hinged, cap and we're really getting somewhere.

I look forward to seeing the new 2009 Moonshine design.

and I want a pop off resonator....

best

Be yourself- everyone else is taken

Yes the neck attachment is very solid, I can hold mine tight,, and pull back on the neck, without any effect on tunning,, BUT on the Gibson's, and Gibson copy's,, which most all are,, You can be pickin, and the slightest pressure on the neck, will cause a warble..... I have been sitting here trying to find something, that could be improved on, Can't think of anything,, maybe later HA. I will get the chance to play My Classic at Church again Nov. 16th,, The pastor will play guitar along with Me,, He likes My banjo so much,, He might be getting one soon. THANKS for building such great banjo's..



Nechville., In Higginsville.

pick the banjer son.

Lee Kelso

Edited by - pick1936 on 10/08/2008 19:27:24

Hello Tom,

Hope you are well. Just picking up on Guys thread. It is interesting how Nechvilles have taken off in the UK. The British bluegrass community is fairly small (well relatively to the states). One thought just struck me. Last year Noam Pikelny taught at Sore Fingers Bluegrass Camp - he had his Nextar with him - There were fifteen of us in the class and of the fifteen one had a Nechville already (Lluis Gomez). One year on and an additional five students now own Nechville banjos (me included). That is over 30 per cent of the class! That is a fairly amazing. I have never seen that happen with Stelling or Gibson.

But why did that happen? I think the thing that got me first was tone and playability. The Helimount and neck adjuster are great features and makes set up a breeze, but in many respects I think that the hook that will get most players is when they actually pick one up and play it. The more I looked at the design though the more I love it. I think that the problem is that until you have played one the design will almost scare people off - the fear of the unknown. The masterclone has for years been 'the' banjo design and many people are inherently traditionalists.

Anyway, hope you can make it back over to the UK soon for another EUNOC Nechville Jam.

take care

Tobes

here's a few photos of my nechville in case some have never seen one in person:

banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=1668

i love mine and bought it because of the tone. much to my delight, the neck on it is the most enjoyable neck i've yet to play on. before the nechville i rated my stealth as the most comfortable and easy playing neck but wowzers, that phantom neck is NICE!

the very nicest thing about the nechville though is that we can call up tom or al at any time and ask them questions or ask for custom parts. tom made me a different bridge than the standard and i really really appreciated that. the service is really fantastic with these guys and i count that as a huge part of the "value" in buying a certain brand of banjo.

Well, gee, the only Nechville I have is a Banjovie. A fun little instrument! My daughter and I had fun jamming with Tom at SPBGMA a couple of years ago.

bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Edited by - Ronnie on 10/26/2008 10:14:38

It's the neck. Compound radius. 7" to 12".

Salvatone