Capos: Ultimate Banjo Capo

Submitted by Banjov1 on 12/6/2011

Where Purchased: Janet Davis

Overall Comments

I've been playing around with capos for years and like different qualities about a number of them, but was never completely satisfied. I recently started thinking about getting a more expensive Huber or Elliot capo, but a friend of mine turned me onto the Ultimate capo and I'm glad they did. This capo does the best job of keeping my strings in tune of any of the other capos I've really played with (Paige, Shubb, G7th, Kat Eyz). I'm not sure how or why it does so well with tuning but it really does work and to top it off, it's open design allows you to play in B or C positions. I'm sticking with this capo for a while

Overall Rating: 10

Huber: Custom - Style 75

Submitted by Banjov1 on 1/20/2011

Where Purchased: Used

Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: $3,200 (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

It's just got that quintessential mastertone sound!! Nice warm tones all the way up and down the neck. Great dynamics. Sounds good when I play it quietly and it cuts through nicely at jams

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

It was setup to the previous owner's specs. When I bought it, I put on a higher Snuffy Smith bridge with Crowe spacing and I replaced the nut with a new one that had wider string spacing

Setup Rating: 8

Appearance

It's the typical Mahogany Flying Eagle 75 Inlay and headstock. Just like JD Crowe's old Gibson.

The banjo was in pristine shape when I got it. No scuffs or marks on the finish at all, just some slight head wear

Appearance Rating: 9

Reliability

Solid hardware. It will last a long time. Super dependable banjo

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I've asked questions from the Huber folks. Sometimes they take a while to get back to me. But they're always helpful

Customer Service: 9

Components

It's got an HR-30 prototype ring that sounds amazing. I'm extremely pleased with the sound it's producing

I played a number of Truetones at the IBMAs in 2010 and was bowled over by the sound and feel of those banjos. I may at some point try to put an engineered rim on this banjo. But I'm in no rush at this point.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

Just a GREAT sounding and playing masterclone banjo. For the price I paid, I couldn't be happier.

Overall Rating: 10

Picks: Showcase 41 Fingerpicks

Submitted by Banjov1 on 1/20/2011

Where Purchased: First Quality Music

Overall Comments

These picks are fairly comfortable, but more importantly they have the greatest pop of any set of fingerpicks I've ever played. The German nickel-silver alloy really creates that perfect snap if you're looking for that ultimate bluegrass tone.

Overall Rating: 10