Hatfield Buck Creek submitted 4/15/2008 Submitter bluemusic4us Where Purchased Arthur Hatfield Year Purchased 2007 Price Paid Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound I ordered the banjo with a Factory Floor rim and Arthur's 20-hole tone ring. It sounded good. When there I heard a walnut model and a standard BuckCreek with Cox rim and no-hole ring. It sounded really good, in some ways better than mine but Arthur said it had been put together longer. My banjo's sound was very good but never opened up like it should have, kind of tight, not really letting loose on the low end. After 8 months and the banjo never opening up and maturing, I sent it back to Arthur and told him to exchange the rim for a Cox rim and no-hole tone ring. I've now had this incarnation for 4 months. It was quite a bit louder from the start and has opened up like the other version did not. IT SOUNDS GREAT! Sound Rating not rated Setup Arthur set is up with his .656 Crowe spaced compensated bridge. It plays very well and his neck feels very good. I've had a GTR, Stelling, Deering, Ode D, and this neck feels every bit as good as any of those. Head tightness and tail piece height all just right. Setup Rating not rated Appearance His standard BuckCreek with mahagony neck and resonator. Snowflake inlays look very nice. Fit and finish of the flange and hardware were all flawless. Appearance Rating not rated Reliability Yes to all. It is a professional, reliable, dependable banjo in every aspect. Reliability Rating not rated Customer Service Here is where I can pretty confidently say that Arthur Hatfield is the best when it comes to customer service. I'm preaching to the choir for many of the Hangout members, but Arthur can't be topped. Customer Service not rated Components I like the fact that Arthur tells you exactly what you're getting in terms of components. Cox rim, Gill resonator, Hatfield tone ring and neck, Gotoh tuners, etc. As you might deduce, I'm no longer a big fan of all the hype surrounding the "old wood". It just didn't deliver in my situation. Components Rating not rated Overall Comments In my initial conversation with Arthur, I described playing Steve Huber's original RB-75 and being blown away. I said I wanted that sound. Arthur knew exactly what I was talking about and told me that you can't get the pre-war sound without having a pre-war, but that was the sound he was shooting for in his banjos. I can't say enough about the banjo, the price (value), service, appearance, all make this probably the best professional banjo buy out there. Overall Rating 10