Stelling: Sunflower

Submitted by Gold Star GF-85 on 5/14/2009

Where Purchased: Private Owner

Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

This 1986 Sunflower is a Great Bluegrass Banjo. Very crisp, bright and clear up and down the neck, great tones. I love this Banjo, feels great, well balanced and notes very easy.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

The Banjo was already set-up good, but I changed from light's to medium strings.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

Very pretty Banjo, nice finish, great color, the inlay is very percise and only one mark on the back side but considering it is 23 years old that ain't bad.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

The finish and hardware are wonderful. The wood is beautiful, there is some dulling on the metal but a little elbow grease got that shined up in no time. I believe this Banjo will last me a life time.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

This is a 1986, so I have no warranty.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

The nut has a very small chip in it but it doesn't hinder anything, when it does I will have it replaced, other than that I have found nothingt wrong with tis Banjo whatsoever.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

I would recommend a Stelling Banjo to anybody, anyday, I trully love playing it, it delivers more than enough sound to put on a good show. I have a 1987 Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard also a very nice Banjo, but I find myself playing the Stelling more than the Gibson these days. And "YES", if anythin happened to the Sunflower I would replace it in a herat beat, it is a great product and Stelling should be very proud of the Banjo's they are making, they trully are a piece or art.

Overall Rating: 10

Bridges: Snuffy Smith Bridge

Submitted by Gold Star GF-85 on 8/13/2008

Where Purchased: Janet Davis

Overall Comments

Although my 1987 Gibson ESS sounded good as it was, I decided to try a Snuffy Smith Bridge since most of the guys I know who play Gibson Banjo's all use them, and are very happy of how they inhanced the sound, volumn and tone. To sum it all up, I will probably never have anything other than Snuffy Smith Bridge, I am very satisfied, and wish I had put it on sooner. I am sure there are many good Bridges out there but for me it is "Snuffy Smith"

Overall Rating: 10