banjofandango - Posted - 03/03/2008:  18:35:51

Can anyone give me some names of trusted and reliable people to buy a prewar Gibson from? Please don't include Jim Mills as he already tried to make me a victim of his dishonest tactics.

Thanks

Brit

banjofandango - Posted - 03/03/2008:  18:46:19

I am new to this site and don't mean to sound attacking. I am leaving for work and will check the names listed. Thanks to anyone who may be able to help me.

Brit

FiveStringPhil - Posted - 03/03/2008:  20:58:17

Dave Schenkman at Turtle Hill Banjo seems to often have a number of prewars in stock and he is reliably honest and easy to work with.

desert rose - Posted - 03/03/2008:  22:36:49

You cant do better than Dave.

Nobody has near the number of prewar banjos, about fifty at this time, and he will NOT try and sell you something you dont want or need

He will listen to you and offer what he has for your consideration

His shop is more like a gallery than a shop, no banjos on the wall, soft chairs to sit in and no preasure

Scott

BanjoWorkman - Posted - 03/03/2008:  22:41:07

I have bought banjo's in the past from Jim Mills and found him to be very honest. Maybe the price seems a little high, but Jim always seems to find some really nice banjos. Jim knows his pre-wars and I would trust what he says about them. You get what you pay for.

" Banjo pickers don't worry about groupies and are rarely found in rehab !!!! "

dhergert - Posted - 03/03/2008:  22:50:11

Hi Brit,

The reason for the silence is that Jim Mills is highly respected here for his knowledge of Gibson banjos as well as his fairness. While I don't question that you feel you've been dealt with poorly, I have to wonder if there isn't some unfortunate accidental misunderstanding that has happened. I hope over time you and Jim can find a way to settle whatever issue this is, because if you're serious about vintage Gibson banjos, he is a good person to be able to talk with.

That said, Phil's recommendation for Dave at Turtle Hill is good.

I feel that perhaps to get some perspective on the industry and the prices to expect, we should also point you to Gruhn's Guitars, as well as Bernunzio Vintage Instruments and Elderly Instruments. These rather large dealerships are well known to carry some of the best vintage Gibson banjos. There are other major dealerships too, hopefully if others see I've omitted someone important they'll chime in.

Lastly, I don't think a discussion of this kind could be complete without also mentioning Curtis McPeake, probably the elder statesman in anything Gibson.

All of these people have a web presence, if you have problems finding them let us know.

Best,

-- Don
http://home.att.net/~dhergert
http://mysite.verizon.net/don_hergert

"If you must use your banjo as a snow shovel, do so:
only don't wonder if it sounds dull afterwards."
-- S.S. Stewart catalog, 1896.

Arthur Hatfield - Posted - 03/03/2008:  23:18:21

I second to Curtiss Mc Peake. Steve Huber usually has a few Pre wars.
Frank Neat sometimes has a couple.

Arthur Hatfield
HATFIELD BANJO'S
GLASGOW, KY 42141
(270)646-5219
BANJO WEBSITE WWW.HATFIELDBANJOS.COM
EMAIL HATFIELDBANJOS@SCRTC.COM

beeliner - Posted - 03/03/2008:  23:43:39

I have dealt with Curtis McPeak and he well knows his banjos. He is honest and fair in his prices.

beeliner- Revis Martin
Acts 16:31 [ KJV ]

tomboden - Posted - 03/04/2008:  04:53:11

Hi

Jim Burlile might be able to help you. He is great guy and knows everything about Pre Wars.

KR Tom

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cf...ID=161632859

www.bluegrassfamily.ch

Emiel - Posted - 03/04/2008:  07:38:16

This is Steve Huber's website for prewar Gibsons:

http://www.banjotown.com/

Emiel

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emieldk/
http://www.bluerounders.com

ambpicker - Posted - 03/04/2008:  13:09:23

I've never known, or met JIm Mills, but I have never heard anything but great things about him.

Jason West - Posted - 03/04/2008:  15:24:25

I have had nothing but great experiences dealing with Jim Mills. He has always been very honest and forthright. I would not hestitate to recommend Jim for a banjo purchase...

'pick it straight, boy"

silvioferretti - Posted - 03/04/2008:  16:14:09

Elderly Instruments has my 1934 converted -3 (s.n. 9552-3) on consignment, and it's a good one, Burlile ring and everything...

Silvio Ferretti http://www.scorpionmusic.com

Check out a new Scorpion banjo at http://www.elderly.com/new_instrume...s/SCORP7.htm

CBG - Posted - 03/04/2008:  19:25:35

I have the utmost respect for Jim Mills and absolutely can attest to his integrity........the other posts here describe plenty of respectable options.

Chuck

banjofandango - Posted - 03/05/2008:  15:19:55

Thanks for the names and advice from everyone. This post was not intended to defame Jim Mills. I can only tell what happened to me and have had others who had somewhat similar experience with him email me. I did not mean to cause controversy and respect the ones that have had positive experience's with him. Well again thanks to all of you for your help. I have a call into Steve Huber and spoke with Curtis Mcpeake so we will see what happens.

Brit

coelhoe - Posted - 03/05/2008:  16:20:35

Hmmm. A person who has only joined the Forum for one day (with absolutely no information on their homepage) and is suddenly slamming a respected member under the guise of looking for a pre-war Gibson. No explanations, no information, just a damaging insult.

Most forums would not let such an accusation be posted without more information and a chance for the accused to respond before anything is posted. Maybe there is case, and maybe not. I'm disappointed in this thread.

Dennis




"Not being able to play very well is a good substitute for not having good taste." -Eddie Adcock

stanger - Posted - 03/05/2008:  16:57:49

Hi, Dennis...
It happens from time to time.
Brit would probably be better off if he just deleated his first post, or edited it and lost those comments. I'm sure he doens't know how his careless words can kick up a real big fuss here, real fast.

Brit- see the little pencil icon on the header of your posts? This is the edit icon. If you click it, you'll be able to change your post. The garbage can icon deletes it entirely. Only you and the moderators chan change what you wrote, and mods won't do it.

Your insult may have been unintentionally harsh, but this kind of stuff tends to bring out the worst of some of the 25,000 Hangout members, and will be spread all over the internet in a flash. Be careful and judicious of what you write here, and keep personal disagreements personal and off the forum.

Personal attacks are against the Hangout rules, and your membership may become locked out if you attack Jim, or anyone else here.
regards,
Stanger

The pen is mightier than the pigs.

Edited by - stanger on 03/05/2008 17:01:14

coelhoe - Posted - 03/05/2008:  17:14:45

Hi, Mike: Your comments were temperate than mine. Good post. Dennis




"Not being able to play very well is a good substitute for not having good taste." -Eddie Adcock

ambpicker - Posted - 03/05/2008:  18:08:41

I have been a little curious, just what kind of prewar banjo did you have in mind? Or did you have another agenda?

stringbreaker - Posted - 03/05/2008:  20:40:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by coelhoe

Hmmm. A person who has only joined the Forum for one day (with absolutely no information on their homepage) and is suddenly slamming a respected member under the guise of looking for a pre-war Gibson. No explanations, no information, just a damaging insult.

Most forums would not let such an accusation be posted without more information and a chance for the accused to respond before anything is posted. Maybe there is case, and maybe not. I'm disappointed in this thread.

Dennis
"Not being able to play very well is a good substitute for not having good taste." -Eddie Adcock

---