Yep, that's right, a BRAND NEW HUBER VRB-3!

I stopped in to see Steve Huber this past Saturday to discuss the possibilities of renting some space in his building...Pulled up to the front door of his shop, turned the engine off in my car, and heard a banjo-sounded like somebody was standing right beside my car playing. Looked all around the parking lot thinking that maybe somebody was sitting on the end of a truck bed pickin'-but the lot was empty. Opened the big steel entry door to the 'Huber Banjos' shop, and the banjo got louder..walked down the steps and opened the door that leads to Steve's office, and the banjo got louder...knocked on the office door, and there sat Steve playing this banjo...I said, 'Man, what in the heck is THAT??? I could hear it all the way through your three doors AND my closed car door!!'

Long story short, I went to talk about renting a space from him, and wound up leaving with a truly incredible new banjo...Getting a new banjo was the furthest thing from my mind that day, but this banjo's got EVERYTHING I look for in a banjo in spades: VOLUME, PROJECTION, TONE, BALANCE, CLARITY, and it plays like a dream. The kicker is that the banjo hadn't even been assembled 30 minutes when I got there...I've got a feeling that this banjo is going to have a similar effect on me that Tom McKinney's Granada (9584) had on Sonny Osborne when he first got it (I know it's not going to turn me into a 'Sonny Osborne', but it sure does inspire me to play. It's the first time I bought a banjo 'for me' in YEARS...

I know that there's a bunch of great builders building lots of great banjos these days - I can't recommend the 'Huber TrueTone' series of banjo highly enough. If you're considering the purchase of a new, 'high end' banjo-I think you'd do well to include the 'Huber Truetone' on your list of possibilities...

I'll have my new 'Huber' at SPGMA this weekend-if you'd like to play it look me up and we'll make it happen..

lp

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lucky dog. Congrates
Stuart

Congratulations!

PS I am jealous.

I almost need one!

Edited by - 1xsculler on 02/01/2012 14:20:21

Larry:
Welcome to the club! I've been bragging about my Huber since I got it about 3 years ago (and before that my pre-war Kel Kroyden conversion with the Vintage Flathead Huber ring in it since I got it back from Steve). You can bang on it (ala Jim Mills) and it sounds great, you can play it gently (ala John Lawless) and it sounds great, or anywhere in between. My experience has been over the past 3 years, it has gotten better! I hope yours does as well.
Enjoy!
Mark

I am very jealous

congrats- wish I had one.

Hope to here that one on your next CD Larry. Congrats, enjoy, and pick the hell outa that thar thang. Is there anything better than gettin a new banjer that sounds and plays like you want it to? Again , Congrats!!! P.S. I've got that RK 99 that I bought from you tweeked to the point it is hard to put down, and it sure is purdy!!! Slammer!!!

Congrats Larry!!! 

You might be interested in the Huber Love group - http://www.banjohangout.org/group/huberlove... lots of Huber TrueTone videos, blog entries, pics etc.. from other happy Huber fans

Congrats man!

Thanks so much Friends! This new 'Huber' is knockin' my socks off...The 4th string sounds like a big ole church bell, and when you hit that 'Sally Ann' lick it's got a zing like a Roger Clemmons fast ball...

I've had and played the same old banjo for over 20 years, and it's been a blessing beyond words..During that time we've had a dozen or so old 'flat heads' and a bunch of new banjos come through the various shops we've had: they've all been great banjos (some seemed better than others). Some were 'louder' than my old banjo (but heck, a chain saw's loud-that don't mean I want to listen to one for any longer than I have to)... just never ran into another one that inspired me to stop playing my 'old standby' to play something else. That’s not to suggest for a MINUTE that I've got 'the best banjo in the world’ - it just always suited me to a 'T'. I reckon over the years we just developed a little chemistry 'thang' that's seemed to work, and it REALLY seemed to develop some special mojo when we put the neck that came out of Earl Scruggs old banjo (the 'Faulkner neck' that he used from about 1970 'til the mid to late '80s) in it. Don't know if it's all in my head, but everything about the old banjo seemed to get better with that old neck in it. After years of not playing very much, I was just starting to 'get back into it' more the past few weeks playing at a little club in downtown Nashville called 'Bootleggers' with our old band 'The Dead Sea Trolls' (some of the original members of the band have passed on: the new band configuration consist of Greg Garing on guitar, Chris Henry on mandolin, one of the 'original Trolls', Kurt Storey on fiddle, sometimes banjo maestro Richard Bailey plays with us, and Mike Bub plays bass. This Thursday night-right before SPGMA weekend-'The Trolls' will be playing from 6:00pm - 8:00 pm, with DENNIS CROUCH sitting in on bass! 'Bootleggers' is at the corner of 2nd and Broadway-so come on down and see us if you can! If you're a banjo picker I'd Love to get you up to pick a few tunes with the 'Trolls' on the new Huber! If you've never had a chance to see a Greg Garing performance I guarantee you'll enjoy the heck out of him). It's been fun and inspiring to be out pickin' a little bit, and I've enjoyed the old banjo more lately than I have in years, so, as I said in the original post-the very LAST thing on my mind was even THINKING about getting another banjo...

It was a surprise, really a shock-to get a banjo in my hands this past weekend that hadn't even been together for one hour, and to FEEL and hear EVERYTHING in that banjo that trips my trigger to the point that I didn't want to leave it at Huber's shop, and it's wonderful to have 'that old feeling again': when I'm not playing it, I’m thinking about playing it...

Some folks think that the late '20-the early '40s were the 'Golden Age' of the banjo, and I've seen the time I thought that was true myself, but I'm really starting to feel that we're living in a 'Golden Age' of the banjo RIGHT NOW! We just got three brand new RK-35s in this week, and all three were GREAT right out of the box..I hear Charlie Cushman playing his new 'Kel Kroyden' banjo and it's awesome (of course ANYTHING Charlie Cushman plays is going to sound great-but the quality of the parts is obviously and Robin Smith's expert finish and assembly work are second to none)..I heard Jim Rollins playing a new 'Posey Roach' banjo at 'BanjoThon' that was great (of course anything that Jim Rollins plays is going to sound great, but it was a FINE sounding banjo). I've heard LOTS of great things about the new 'Yates' banjos: there's no doubt in my mind that if Ron Stewart is involved they've got to be great, because he's a GREAT player and knows what it takes to make a banjo sound right. And then there's Tom Nechville doing INCREDIBLE things with banjo concepts and designs ..So many wonderful instruments, so many options...I got a NEW HUBER-YAY!!

Huber needs to make banjos for lefties, Too bad, they don't

Huber needs to make banjos for lefties, Too bad, they don't

Larry:  Thanks for letting me play your new Huber banjo last night...it is indeed an incredible banjo. I agree 100% that this is a golden age of instrument building. Aren't we blessed..... And I agree about this being a golden age for musical instruments.  . And I agree about this being a golden age for musical instruments. .  I agree 100% a.  Arent we blessed....

I also especially appreciate your selling me that fine RKR-35 for my friend. He is going to LOVE it.  I've been pickin' it all day and am amazed at how great it is for the modest $$.

I didn't get a picture of the Huber...but here is one of the RK from last night...

Hey Larry, congrats on the new banjo. Hope I get a chance to pick it sometime. Steve builds some fine banjos.
Eric Ellis

John! It was so good seeing you at Jack's and getting to pick a few tunes with y'all. I'm SO GLAD you like that RK-35..they are truly amazing-especially for the money.. Just got two more RK-35s in, and they both sound great too...

Eric, I'd LOVE to hear you play ANYTHING-ESPECIALLY this new Huber-come see us ANYTIME!...

I took the new 'Huber' on it's 'maiden voyage' tonight at 'Bootleggers' with a big bluegrass band, and am even more impressed with it now: With a stage full of great pickers all playing great instruments, and a standing room only crowd, it was really broadcasting...I'm thrilled and thoroughly impressed with it.

I'm going to spend as much time as possible in the 'Huber Suite' this SPGMA weekend, so y'all PLEASE come visit if you get a chance...

We’ll be at the SPGMA convention this weekend, hanging out in the ‘Huber Banjos Suite’ pickin’ on that brand new Huber VRB-3 every chance I get-come on by and let’s visit and pick a tune! We’ll have a few things there that may be of interest to somebody-here’s a partial list:

1-1923 Gibson ‘Master Model’ F-5 mandolin, signed by Lloyd Loar June 13, 1923 in its original case.

1-1946 Martin D-18, a great sounding old D-18, and it’s a sunburst!

1-‘Calton’ banjo case, black with green interior. This is one of the older Calton cases that’s in like new condition

1-‘The Loar’ ‘600 series’ L-5 style archtop guitar, with the original case

2-Recording King RK-35 banjos-BRAND NEW, JUST IN

1-‘Crafters of Tennessee’ Brazilian rosewood ‘D-28 style’ guitar

How bout a video / sound clip of your Huber?

Rick, I wish someone would have had a video camera rolling in the Huber suite today. The room was full of GREAT banjo players and GREAT banjos: it was awesome getting to hear Melvin Cumbee, Jim Rollins, and  Doc Foster play the new 'Huber', and I don't know WHEN I've enjoyed playing the banjo so much...I'm THRILLED with how it sounds in front of it and behind it...There were fifty thousand dollar banjos, hundred thousand dollar banjos, and some worth more than that-but I didn't hear or play ANYTHING today I'd trade that new Huber for...couldn't be more pleased with it

We don't live that far apart-PLEASE drop me a line or give me a call and we'll line up a visit-heck, if you've got time we'll go visit the 'Huber' shop..

Larry that was a great jam and so much fun. Nice when a bunch of banjo players in a single jam aren't having a peeing contest to "out loud" another banjo. Enjoyed playing with you and they guys. First time I've picked with Jack also that was great. Come see us too! Steve's banjos were really dialed in also and your new one is a bell! Man it is crazy the number of great banjos there this weekend. Dave

AMEN DOC!!! Lots of fun...hope we get to do LOTS more of that and soon...It was incredible being in that room with so many incredibly gifted musicians and amazing instruments-best time I've had pickin' in a LONG time! Played the banjo (and guitar) more yesterday than I have in YEARS!

quote:

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Originally posted by larry p

We’ll be at the SPGMA convention this weekend, hanging out in the ‘Huber Banjos Suite’ pickin’ on that brand new Huber VRB-3 every chance I get-come on by and let’s visit and pick a tune! We’ll have a few things there that may be of interest to somebody-here’s a partial list:

1-1923 Gibson ‘Master Model’ F-5 mandolin, signed by Lloyd Loar June 13, 1923 in its original case.

1-1946 Martin D-18, a great sounding old D-18, and it’s a sunburst!

1-‘Calton’ banjo case, black with green interior. This is one of the older Calton cases that’s in like new condition

1-‘The Loar’ ‘600 series’ L-5 style archtop guitar, with the original case

2-Recording King RK-35 banjos-BRAND NEW, JUST IN

1-‘Crafters of Tennessee’ Brazilian rosewood ‘D-28 style’ guitar

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Hey Larry - - -  Just out of curiosity, how much is that '23 Lloyd Loar?
No way I can afford one of those, But it';s nice to dream, eh?
Maybe if I win the lottery.  Oh wait  - - I have to buy a ticket first, right?  

I forgot to add - - Congrats on your new banjo!  Christmas came early, eh?   

Howdy, and thanks Mr. Miller!! The '23 Loar is $215K, IF it's still available...I think it's gonna be going to a new home soon..

Perk in the Huber camp..great decision Larry..congrats on the new banjo, post some sound clips with it..