Chris Quinn submitted 11/4/2007 Submitter SJL Overall Comments Many of you have benefitted from Chris's instructional posts here on the Hangout. I have had the benefit of taking some lessons from Chris. He has a remarkable ability to assess where you are in your "journey", to simplify the things that you are working on and send you away with enough homework to keep you going for a long time. He has an absolute passion for the banjo and Bluegrass that comes out in every lesson. He also has enough experience in teaching that I get a sense that he knows how to read a student and determine the best strategy for them. Chris's other job is teaching English as a second language to adults, so he has professionally developed teaching skills that transfer to his banjo instruction. Chris also makes a CD summary of each lesson, which I find very helpful. I can go back and review the CD. If you are interested in learning to play Bluegrass banjo and live in the Toronto area, Chris is your man. Overall Rating 10

Arthur Hatfield submitted 11/3/2007 Submitter SJL Overall Comments I have had the pleasure of dealing with Arthur on a number of items over the last five years or so. It started with a bridge and ended up with a new Hafield Custom that I picked up in July. I could not ask for anything more out of anyone. Arthur is one of the most honest, straight shooting people I have ever met. His work is outstanding. I have had my new Hatfield for five months and it just keeps getting better. I had numerous discussions with Arthur when planning this banjo. Arthur got every detail perfect. Arthur does not charge enough for his craftmanship. Overall Rating 10

Hatfield Custom submitted 8/24/2007 Submitter SJL Where Purchased Hatfield Banjos, Glasgow, Ky. Year Purchased 2007 Price Paid Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound I deliberated on many things prior to ordering this banjo. Based on discussions with Arthur I decided on a mahogany neck stained to match a Burled Walnut resonator. I chose the Sullivan Factory Floor rim, Arthur's 20 Hole tone ring, Gill Resonator and Nickel Hardware and Factory Floor .656 Hatfield Compensated Bridge . Kenny Ingram recommended an RK Flange and Pot Metal Tension Hoop. This banjo is still opening up, but it sounds fantastic. It has tons of low end, great growl and volume and sounds sweet as honey up the neck in the "Y" position. Disclaimer: I am not a Professional Picker. Sound Rating 10 Setup This was set up by Arthur, so it was perfect. I have had the banjo about seven weeks and I tightened the head a bit last night. I will expect to do this a few more times in the next few months, but that is to be expected of any new head. Setup Rating 10 Appearance I have always liked the look of Burled Walnut resonators and Concentric Rings, but I wanted the sound of a Mahogany. Arthur stained the Mahogany neck to match the resonator. The burl in the Gill Resonator is beautiful, Arthur hand inlayed the wooden Concentric Rings. I chose his standard "Snowflake" Fretboard inlays in Pearl on a Rosewood Fretboard. I chose his Standard Peghead inlays. The Hardware is nickel. I lightly treated the Fretboard with Lemon Oil and it has really brought out the beauty of the Rosewood and contrasts the Pearl inlays. The appearance of this banjo is exactly what I was aiming for. Very elegant, yet subtle. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability The attention to detail in the construction of this banjo leaves me with no doubt that this will prove to be an extremely reliable instrument. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service I dealt very closely with Arthur as I was planning this banjo. I have also dealt with him in the past on lesser items. Unfortunately, your rating system only goes to 10. Arthur is one of the finest people that I have ever dealt with for anything. Customer Service 10 Components The Hardware all seems to be top notch. I am really impressed by how smooth the Gotoh tuners are. I can not think of anything that I would upgrade. Components Rating 10 Overall Comments I would recommend Arthur's work to anyone. I do not think that I could have got a better banjo even if I paid considerably more. If it was stolen I would be on the phone to Arthur ordering an identical one. I can not pick a favourite feature. I love the look, but the sound sometimes still stops me in my tracks. The only banjo that I have played that I think sounds better than this one was another Hatfield, and it was fully played in. I expect that mine will be it's equal in a few months. Chris Quinn played this banjo quite a bit when I picked it up. He was very impressed. Edit: Dave Jack, lazyarcher on the Hangout, played my banjo for about two hours last week. Dave has been one the finest Bluegrass banjoists in Canada for over twenty years. He has played with Hard Ryde and The Dixie Flyers. Here is what he had to say about my banjo. Now, there have been lots of reviews of Arthur Hatfields banjos as of late. I was honoured to have him make a neck for my '34TB4; I've played a few of his banjos including Eagleislands nautical version, saw John B play his with Mike Cleveland...and they have all been awesome. BUT... Steves is something a bit special. I don't know if its the old Factory Floor rim with Arthurs ring, or if its the mahogany neck or if its just Arthurs voodoo and mojo that he worked into this banjo, but good gosh its a killer banjo. The style 4 walnut resonator with the inlayed purfling rings is beautiful. The neck is just perfect to play--like all of his necks. The banjo is absolutely effortless to work--the tone and volume are there without any effort. Lay into it a bit harder and it gets louder, but the tone is sooooo consistant. As you go up the neck, it stays consistant...and possibly gets even a bit louder The tone is bell like in clarity. It has a TON of highs, enough so that if you're after that tubby tone which is somewhat popular today, you might have to tone it down. For my tastes, it is perhaps the best sounding new banjo I've played...period. Overall Rating 10