An interesting and unique opportunity presented itself online recently, but we all were a bit too late to take advantage of it (unless two lucky buyers happen to be Hangout members...!): two different Kyle Creed banjos appeared for sale at two different instrument retailers' web sites around the same time! Both are now sold, but the photos are still up and are worth a peek.

I encountered one on the RetroFret site first: http://retrofret.com/products.asp?P...269610292009 Even though the site claims that it "just arrived," it was already marked as being on hold by the time I found it a couple of days ago. 'No idea what the price was on this one.

The other I spotted just yesterday at Bernunzio's site: http://bernunzio.com/products/0914130 When it first showed up on his list, there were no photos, and the price was $2700 or so. The photos soon appeared, and it was literally a matter of hours or less before it too was placed on hold. 'A more bluegrassy construction than the other one; certainly a thicker rim than I'm used to seeing on these, but I'm sure it sounded great.

So, are the lucky buyers among us? If they are, I hope they'll share with us their experiences of these cool and rare banjos, and perhaps some sound files! If any other Kyle Creed banjo owners are here, I doubt I'm alone in being interested in seeing and hearing theirs, too (the great ones in the collections of Fretless and RoundPeakBanjos are hopefully well-known to everyone by now, but if not, check out their photos and recordings, respectively...EDIT...in doing just that myself, I came across images of another one by Quendler).

Cheers,
Adam Hurt
www.adamhurt.com
www.myspace.com/adamhurt
www.cdbaby.com/cd/adamhurt AND www.cdbaby.com/cd/adamhurt2
-regular or one-time lessons available; please contact me for details
-interested in having an Adam Hurt banjo workshop come to your area? Please drop me a line off-list to discuss the possibilities.

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  07:10:07            

Shucks.

"Gospel. The most powerful music in this world and the next."



www.frailin.com
www.myspace.com/frailin
www.myspace.com/singletonstreet
www.myspace.com/eelpouts
&
www.autismhangout.com

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  07:18:32  

Wow! Quick eye Adam...obviously someone else was a little quicker. I'd love to have had the chance to play them. Both really cool examples.

Tom Mylet

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  07:32:48        

Did they both come from the late Ray Alden? I didn't see the one at Retrofrets but saw the one at Bernunzio's listed in the "new this week section" than saw it snapped up fast. The Bernunzio one has lots on inlay. Pretty fancy. Was the inlay cut by Creed? I read in BNL he got some of his mop name plates from Liberty Banjos. Maybe Bob Flesher who's a member here can let us know.

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  08:05:34  

Adam-In my excitement of reading your post, I didn't notice your request to play Kyle Creed banjos. I don't know if you're aware but I picked up a second. Come on by. I'd love to hear you play it.

Tom

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  08:53:37          

Tom,
How about some pics,maybe even sound files for the less fortunate!!

Take care,and Have fun Pickin!!!
Moss

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  09:00:20  

Moss: I'd be glad to but am somewhat challenged digitally, so it might take some time. In the meantime, and this is not meant as self promotion and I don't have a real financial interest, you may want to check out the "Lessons On Kyle's Porch" CD on Old Blue. This was discussed on another thread.

Tom

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  09:21:40    

I talked with the folks at Bernunzio about the Creed banjo they have and they were unsure where it came from. Somewhere in California they said. They are going to do some work on it, try to mend that crack in the pot. It pays to check that site often. They have some fabulous instruments, but I was totally shocked when I saw the Creed for sale. They hadn't sold the instrument yet when I talked with them a couple days ago. Too bad I didn't have Do Re Mi.

But ditto on Mr. Hurt's request: Would love to hear/know more about these banjos. And congrats to those who now own them! Play in good health.

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  16:42:56  

Hello. I am the one who currently has the Kyle Creed on hold at Bernunzio. If the banjo had Kyle's formica plate in the rim or the stamp on the headstock back I would have bought it in a heartbeat. Mr. Bernunzio has a fine reputation and most banjo buyers would not question whether it is a true Creed instrument with him. But if I, Kent Lockman school teacher and banjo player at some point put the banjo up for sale, I'm sure buyers would want me, a banjo nobody, to prove that it is indeed a complete Creed banjo. I am sorry Mr. Alden is not alive now to talk with me about it.

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  20:56:20    

Mr. Lockman, Congratulations. A banjo with that much formica on it HAS to be a Creed! :-))) Let us know how it plays, if you will.

best,
Israel

Posted - 11/02/2009 :  13:00:09      

I received a "just in" notice from Retrofret today.
They have a Kyle Creed.

Beezaboy

Posted - 11/03/2009 :  06:58:10  

I had the wisdom to look Kyle up in 1982 and he made me a beautiful fretless, a banjo, which I treasure and still play daily. This one features copper rather than the 'traditional' formica neck. For those of you who were too young or lacked the luck or foresight to buy one of these, I have a few of Kyle's sales brochures I can share with genuine fans.
I'll post pics, sound files etc. when I have a bit more time.
Regards from England.


Treat fun seriously.