Stealth: Maple

Submitted by cardinbanjo on 9/23/2005

Where Purchased: ebay

Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 1600.00 ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

Rich/ full sound deep with a lot of heart works great for bluegrass or other types of music. Tone is great and changes just like it is supposed to betwwen the X and Y position

Sound Rating: 9

Setup

Set up was great this banjo was so good from one end of fretboard to the other that I have been afraid to tinker with it. I did put a couple of different Kateyez bridges on but went back to the Stealth bridge. It did take me sometime to get used to having no inlays but after you get used to only having the side markers it probably makes you a better player.
I think the Mcpeake ring is awesome at least in this banjo. the radiused fingerboard and the width of the Stealth are very good for me it has made my playing seem more effortless. I did put a Nechville armrest on, which is a lot more comfortable. I like the 3/4 bridge too I have a bad habit of hitting the head with the thumb pick, not now. I really like not having a fifth string tuner on the side of the neck. Tthe guitar tuners seem to tune easier also.

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

This banjo has the black translucent finish and is very beautiful. I have a custom goldplated banjo with lots of engraving and pearl. Sometimes less is more, the simpleness of the Stealth really grows on you

Appearance Rating: 9

Reliability

I see no problems with reliability. I have had some trouble with the 5th string hanging in the tube and not wanting to tune as easy as it should but some lube in tube seems to have solved this

Reliability Rating: 9

Customer Service

I did not buy this from Mr. Vestal but he has talked via phone and email like I did. The banjo was only a few months old when I got it from the original owner. I know that if I needed help Mr Vestal would go out of his way to help me.

Customer Service: 9

Components

Mcpeake tone ring,
fretboard dimensions,and
stealth bridge all are great

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Components Rating: 9

Overall Comments

I love this banjo and would buy another one. I was very leary of buying on ebay but this thing was brand new, not sure what the person was thinking that paid all that money and then sold it in three months. I was thinking of buying a new one when this one came up on ebay. The Stealth and Nechville Phantom are both great choices if you want to try something that is not traditional looking but still has "the sound"

Overall Rating: 9