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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
7235 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: From Randall Wyatt
I contacted Randall through Banjo Hangout about a new rim for my 1978 Ibanez Artist 5-string. The original rim was a maple multy-ply that lacked clarity in the upper registers. After discussing the different options, we decided on a Euro Beech Rim. Randall offers a 7 day trial period on his rims before billing. This is an almost unheard of garauntee in today's "All salesare final!" world. Randall also had testimonials from several other players who were using his rims and invited me to contact them with their permission! I sent my rim,tone ring and tube (yes, 2-piece flanges are not a problem!!!). Randall kept me advised via e-mail of each step. My old rim was out of round, but he mathmatically calculated the compensation and within a week, I had my new rim. Randall matched the stain color and put a light shellac coat on so the wood still "breathes": a feature I've come to appreciate more fully each day since I put it back together!
My total investment: $225.00 and a friend for life!
I didn't need 7 days to know I had a winner; this thing is a tone monster! It retained it's volume, but it's now "warmer" and expressive and clarity to spare!
If a new rim can make a change like this in an entry level instrument like an Ibanez, imagine what it could do for something like a "tired" RB 250!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From Randall Wyatt
While I was having Randall build a rim for my Ibanez, I was borrowing a Stelling Staghorn from a friend/bandmate. The first rehearsal back with the Ibanez was met with great enthusiasm! As we were packing up at the end, my friend put his Stelling back in it's case and handed to me and said "I want you to get me a new rim too!"
DISCLAIMER: I know there are a lot of purests out there who are going "AAAGGHH!...You don't do that to a Stelling!...It's, it's like painting a beard on the "Mona Lisa"!"
But, If you had been contemplating a "lost timber rim" for years because the instrument did not seem "warm" to you , and you loved the banjo otherwise; wouldn't this be a good investment?
I contacted Randall to set up the next rim purchace. We decided to try a birch rim on the Stelling. Randall kept me in the loop at each step, just like before! The new birch rim arrived with matching stain and light coat of shellac. It was demensionally identical to the original Stelling rim. For the un-initiated, a Stelling rim and tone ring is different from a "Gibson-style pot"...It's not a direct swap! Randall did a beautiful job and the banjo went back together with no problems!
Another homerun in the tone department; the birch rim as given the Stelling a warmer tone without sacrificing any volume or clarity! I played the banjo for a couple of days before giving it back (just to be sure!...heh heh)...My friend was equally enamored! He didn't need 7 days to decide, either!
When I get around to building my dream banjo; I'm thinking birch rim and a no-hole tone ring (It's that good!) and Randall will be part of that too! Thank-you Randall!
Overall Rating: 10
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