Bishline: Custom

Submitted by tunnelfifth on 4/5/2006

Where Purchased: Direct from Rob Bishline

Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 2000.00 ($US)

Sound

Bluegrass - the sound of this banjo is full and bright. It is very easy playing, and is a tunneled fifth model. The setup is for light gauge strings, and they are set low for fast and easy playing.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

Rob did an excellent job building, and setting up the banjo. He is one of the top two or three builders, if not the top, in the four state area of Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

The banjo is a tunneled fifth, and has a koa neck, rosewood fingerboard, a basic tree of life inlay, and curly maple purfling. The walnut resonator also has curly maple biinding, and an Earl Scruggs type maple inlay on the back. There are no flaws that either myself, or Rob has noticed. As for custom work, it is custom built to my specifications, and done very well.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

The banjo has been extremely reliable, and I regularly transport it on a 200 mile round trip.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I have known Rob for years. He is very friendly, an an excellent player and teacher. As for warranty...we reallly didn't discuss warranty, but Rob hasn't given me problems on the minor adjustments, etc., that must be done on any banjo that is used frequently.

Customer Service: 10

Components

The neck and the resonator back are the standout components on this banjo. Rob and I discussed woods and inlays before construction ever began, and no cheap parts or woods were used in its construction.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

I would definatelly recommend a Bishline Banjo to anyone, beginner, or professional. I also have a Gibson RB-75 J D Crowe model that I purchased new in 2003, and Rob set it up also...I rarely play it because the Bishlline is so much better sounding, and easier to play.

Overall Rating: 10