Neat Neat Kentucky Reviews

Neat Neat Kentucky submitted 5/8/2008 Submitter seanray (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Frank Neat Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid 3500 ($US) Sound I'm a fan of the J.D. Crowe tone and Frank's banjos sound as close as I'm ever going to get to that tone. The banjo is very open sounding with a wide sonic range. The low end is tubby and the highs have a really sweet metallic shimmer to them. It's difficult to describe in words but this is a very classic (classy) sounding banjo. Sound Rating 10 Setup I received the banjo with a setup that was just about as good as you can get. The head was right between a G & G# so I tuned it up just a hair so that it's on the flat side of A Setup Rating 10 Appearance The fit and finish are what you would expect from Frank. In addition Jimmy Cox and Bill Blaylock's efforts are equally impressive. The Mahogany on both the neck and resonator is as good as I've seen. The Brazilian rosewood finger board is nice and dark and the ebony headstock overlay is pitch black with only the slightest dark brown in one small spot. The resonator has concentric rings and double binding. The inlay is exactly what I've been after with flying eagle inlays along with a style 4 headstock inlay. The inlay is insanely accurate with no visible fill whatsoever. The nickel hardware is shiny, spotless and just gives this banjo a great look without being way over the top. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability This banjo will outlive me so I have no worries about it falling apart. I have complete confidence in it so I have no plans to carry around a backup to shows. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service Frank and his son Leon were so great to deal with that I didn't even ask about a warranty. On the slim chance that there is a hidden flaw in the craftsmanship I have no doubt Frank will fix it. Customer Service 10 Components Frank Neat builds the neck, does the inlay work and fits and finishes everything. Jimmy Cox builds the rim, resonator and supplies the hardware. Bill Blaylock builds the tone ring. Components Rating 10 Overall Comments There are plenty of great banjo builders in the world today but for my personal tastes there are really only 3-4 options depending on how you count them. So my short list is: Frank Neat Osborne Chief Huber Gibson Since the Chief is basically the same as the Neat I'm not sure why the Neat is about $1k less so that made that decision easy. The Hubers are really nice banjos but the necks are a little thinner than I like, they cost more and everybody and their brother is playing them these days. In addition to that I really wanted the FE inlay with the style 4 headstock and again a Lancaster is about $500 more. The last contender was Gibson. Love them or hate them they are still the benchmark in the world of bluegrass banjos however the main deterrent I have with new Gibsons is that their cost vs. quality control seems a bit out of balance. So after shopping for over a year I went with Frank Neat and I'm very happy I did. Had a good deal on a used banjo, by any of the makers listed above, come my way things may have turned out different. I've played this banjo next to Hubers, Gibsons and stellings and they all sound great but to my ears the Neat sounds the closest to the Crowe tone and that's the tone I favor. Overall Rating 10

Neat Neat Kentucky submitted 9/27/2004 Submitter Chris Quinn (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Russell Springs, Kentucky Year Purchased 2003 Price Paid Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound Fantastic sound! Deep, full fourth string. Clean, clear notes up and down the neck. Rich tone. Many people have said it sounds like an old RB-3 or RB-75. Sound Rating 10 Setup Set up was perfect when it came out of the shop. Setup Rating 10 Appearance Inlay looks like what you'd find on the J.D. Crowe RB-75 model, except it says Neat on the headstock. Inlays beautifully cut and placed. High quality mahogany neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Zero flaws in workmanship! This is not a flashy looking banjo, but still very elegant and clean in appearance. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability Absolutely reliable banjo. I've used it on stage and in the studio and I have had great results every time. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service Frank and his son are terrific! These guys know banjos! No sales pressure. Frank knows his banjos speak for themselves. Customer Service 10 Components Mahogany neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Pot components are identical to my Bean Blossom (also reviewed here.) Components Rating 10 Overall Comments This is another superb banjo from Frank Neat. It sounds quite different than my Bean Blossom. Not better; just different. I have played banjos that were much more expensive which sounded like mud compared to this thing. As I continue to play this banjo, I expect it will open up even more. Highly recommended! Overall Rating 10

Neat Neat Kentucky submitted 12/31/2002 Submitter Unknown Where Purchased russel springs, ky Year Purchased 1998 Price Paid 2300.00 ($US) Sound rich full sound from top to bottom of neck completly satisfied with the way it's set up pick it hard pick it often for good tone Sound Rating 8 Setup plays fine just left it alone. Setup Rating 8 Appearance Frank told me he built 2 birds eye maple (resonator & neck match) I have one, WHO HAS THE OTHER??? Excellent workmanship, great person to visit & talk with. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability all excellent material & workmanship Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service FRANK & HIS SON ARE GREAT TO DEAL WITH. (Frank paid me well to say this) Customer Service 10 Components BIRDS EYE MAPLE RESONATOR & NECK Components Rating 10 Overall Comments completly satisfied Overall Rating 10

Neat Neat Kentucky submitted 4/4/2002 Submitter Unknown Where Purchased Neat Banjo Repair Company Year Purchased 2001 Price Paid 2980 ($US) Sound It suits my music style (traditional bluegrass) very well. I use no amps or effects with it. I like high action, so I use an 11/16 bridge to raise the strings a little. It has a rich/full sound, and depending how much I bear down, it can be bright as well as loud. I have recieved many compliments on the banjo from my picking friends. Sound Rating 9 Setup It came with light gauge strings and a 5/8 bridge. I'm used to playing with a higher action and medium strings, so put a 11/16 Snuffy Smith bridge on it, and medium strings. It didn't have a lot of volume until I tighten up the head, now it sounds great. I really didn't make many changes to get it where I like it. Setup Rating 8 Appearance It is very easy on the eyes.....I get nothing but compliments on it. I chose the wreath inlay on the fingerboard (like Ralph Stanley's), with a maple finish and gold hardware. It's a beautiful banjo. Appearance Rating 9 Reliability It's put together very well, and should last a long time, if I take care of it. I have used it on as gig with no back-up, so I guess I can depend on it. Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service They seemed very friendly on the phone. I haven't had to get anything repaired on it. I believe it has a lifetime limited warranty on workmanship. Customer Service 7 Components Everything seems to be first rate on it. Components Rating 9 Overall Comments I've been very happy with the banjo, so far, and would recommend it. I love it more everytime I play it. I bought it after seeing some of the other banjos Frank Neat built for Ralph Stanley, and listening to Ralph and Steve Sparkman play at festivals. I also have a Gibson RB4....It also has a great sound, but people I pick with seem to prefer the sound of the Neat. Overall Rating 9