Sorry to hear this ,,
Snuffy was a great inventor, a fantastic musician & a great guy ! He will be missed, God bless him Dan Electricbanjoman

Rejoice when you hear of a good Christian passing , he just went from death to life and is enjoying heaven as we still muddle around here . Prayer for the families of his and a quick healing . we always miss out loved ones but it is never the end .

I have a great business card from Snuffy on my bulletin board... it just says "Snuffy Smith - Expert"

I called him once to ask about a bridge for one of my banjos and tried to explain what it was I wanted that particular instrument to sound like. After some consideration he just said, " I'll tell you what I'm gonna do... I'll send you four different bridges in a box.  You try 'em one at a time for as long as you need.  Pick the one you like and just send me back the other three in the box with payment for the one you keep".  I never forgot that.  What a great way to do business, and what a geat guy!  RIP 

May he rest in peace.

To his wife , 'n family ...

May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone 

Sean.

So sorry to hear my thoughts are with the Family

He will be missed; my RB-3 is a better sounding instrument because of his set-up skills and advice. I still have his signature on one of my heads!

Prayers are going up for his wife!

Sorry to hear that his family will be in our prayers

Golly. Tony Pass, last year. Snuffy, this. The good Lord must be short of talent in Heaven. Still it's gonna be a much livelier place when we all get there. His talent and genius will still be heard around the World where ever we play. Love and condolences to his family. The bluegrass World will miss him much.

The Collierville (TN) Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Jam sends sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Snuffy Smith. May he rest in peace. Pick a tune for Snuffy!

A great set-up man and designer of banjo accessories, Snuffy was very cordial and helpful when I spoke with him. He was well-respected in the 5-string world.

Any time I went to Snuffy's house, it was an all day event.... you would spend the day with Snuffy and talk about everything... he loved what he did, had a passion for the banjo and would help any way he could. It was a pleasure to know him and spend time with him. I remember his business card said 'Snuffy Smith' Expert... and that was it, no phone number or nothin... he was a funny guy. RIP Snuffy.

So sorry to hear this! I know he will be greatly missed....

Hey guys,

I'm Snuffy and Jacque Smith's nephew. I've spent the past few days at his home in King, NC reading all the stories online from friends who knew him. As I was sitting in his "clean shop" listening to the mesmerizing tick-tock of the hundred clocks he had restored hanging on his walls—Snuffy really was an "Expert" in just about everything—one of the saddest thoughts occurred to me: Snuffy's technique that he spent decades perfecting is about to become a lost art. He was one of my favorite people in the world, but being a rather poor musician myself, I never had that guts to ask him how he worked—I just admired his craft from a distance (of about 1000 miles back in Arkansas). Looking back, I wish I would have had the sense to apprentice under him, if only for a week.

There isn't a tool in his shop that he hadn't improved on in some way or fashion. I spent hours just staring at his meticulously kept workspaces wondering which tools he used for changing frets, what glue he used for his bridges, where he bought his ebony, what formula was he using to spray banjo heads, etc. His shop really is a moment of craftsmanship. It all kept bringing up the same thought: I wish someone knew how to carry on the Snuffy Smith methods.

His walls are covered in photos of you guys: his clients, his friends all just sitting around shooting the breeze or picking away in his man cave. I've heard several people say "Snuffy never met stranger (unless you owed him money)." On the same note, Snuffy would spend hours working on my dinky little Goodtime Special, or tapping on my resophonic, turning a key, tap it again, turn the key again. Then he would look at me and say "It wants to be tuned right here," as if the thing just told him that in is some secret language. He really was "The Banjo Whisperer."

He didn't care that my instrument was worth about 100x less than what he was used to working on. His craft wasn't about the instrument. His continuous tinkering wasn't about a banjo sounding its best. No, his work was about you sounding your best. He knew his time and talent was an investment in you, not just an instrument.

As someone mentioned earlier and many have agreed, the banjo will never sound the same again. But rather than continue to have regrets looking back, I think it might be more beneficial to figure out what Snuffy did and how he did it.

The problem: nobody knew everything that Snuffy knew about building bridges when he died too young at age 66.
The solution: a lot of you know some part of what Snuffy knew from watching him work, explaining things and even working with him in times past. And looking through this thread, some of you like Robby Boone probably know a lot about how Snuffy built bridges and why he built them the way he did.

I would like carry on the tradition of building bridges the way Snuffy built bridges. I have no plans to keep Snuffy's String Shoppe going—I'm no Snuffy Smith—but I would like to be able to pass down his craft to my kids one day. There is only so much I can deduct from looking at his bridges and getting lost in his shop. If any of you would be interested in sharing your insight with me, it would be greatly appreciated.

RIP my beloved friend and favorite uncle.

Cody Bunton
codybunton-at-gmail-dot-com

Greetings from Snuffy's String Shoppe

By the way, we will be having a second service for Snuffy this Saturday, February 11th at Westfield Chapel in Springdale, AR if you are in the area. Details at the link below:

http://westfieldchapel.com/visitations/View.php?id=146

I used to hang out a lot at Snuffy's, in Springdale, back when I was at the UofA. Silvio and I have reminisced before, on the BHO, about those days. I remember Robby Boone well, and do recollect Gene Pyeatt being there on occasion when I was. Snuffy used to work all night, sleeping during the day. He didn't open until the late after-noon, when he graciously accepted all who came and went. Besides giving lessons, there were always people moving in and out, coming just to visit, or ask questions. Of course, the telephone rang constantly. Finally, after several hours of this, he'd get to settle into his work-shop, turn the TV on, and go to the repair/building work. I dont think he ever got started before 9 PM. LOL

Some favourite moments were people who would call, certain they'd found a pre-war Mastertone. Snuffy would patiently listen, then tell them to bring it in, and he'd have a look. These were always copies that someone had made, of course, and he could recognise one of his own from a distance. This was never funny to those who thought they'd found a prize, but we found it humorous, regardless.

One day a call came, another pre-war, but this time it was a real one. I later got to see and play that banjo at a festival, and couldn't wait to call Snuffy and tell him about it. Teddy Schug will know which banjo I'm talking about.

But, Snuffy was good to me, always, and at a low time in my life when I needed that. He allowed me to hang around in the wee hours, ask questions, and he never failed to show me how he did things, should I ask . . . and I always asked. He was forever gracious, at all times. And, that's how I shall always remember him. Thanks for the memories, and being such a good ol' Snuffy.