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Mad4banjo - Posted - 02/15/2011: 20:21:50
quote:
Originally posted by ProfessorBanjo
I love my radius Geometric LC. Light weight, easy to play and sounds great. I posted a review last week on the HO.
What is a Geometric LC Nechville?? Tom doesn't show one on his website. Could we see a photo possibly? Also, I read your review of the Stew Mac Travel Lite banjo case, went to their website and the travel lite case is nowhere to be found. They show a fiddle and guitar case only. Do you know if they've been discontinued? Thanks.
Mad4banjo
Jim T - Posted - 02/15/2011: 20:34:37
quote:
Originally posted by Mad4banjo
quote:
Originally posted by ProfessorBanjo
I love my radius Geometric LC. Light weight, easy to play and sounds great. I posted a review last week on the HO.
What is a Geometric LC Nechville?? Tom doesn't show one on his website. Could we see a photo possibly? Also, I read your review of the Stew Mac Travel Lite banjo case, went to their website and the travel lite case is nowhere to be found. They show a fiddle and guitar case only. Do you know if they've been discontinued? Thanks.
Mad4banjo
Here you go:
nechville.com/geometric.phpI googled it. I'm not sure why there isn't a direct link on their website.
Jim
Mad4banjo - Posted - 02/15/2011: 21:06:58
Thanks, Jim
ProfessorBanjo - Posted - 02/16/2011: 19:50:19
quote:
Originally posted by Mad4banjo
quote:
Originally posted by ProfessorBanjo
I love my radius Geometric LC. Light weight, easy to play and sounds great. I posted a review last week on the HO.
What is a Geometric LC Nechville?? Tom doesn't show one on his website. Could we see a photo possibly? Also, I read your review of the Stew Mac Travel Lite banjo case, went to their website and the travel lite case is nowhere to be found. They show a fiddle and guitar case only. Do you know if they've been discontinued? Thanks.
Mad4banjo
You are right, I no longer see the Geometric on the Nechville list of new acoustic banjos. Strange, it was there last week when I posted the review. But if you go to
nechville.com/inStockBanjos.php and scroll down the list of "In Stock Banjos" you will see a few listed. Maybe Tom can fill us in on the details about this model.
Ah... Found it.
nechville.com/geometric.phpThe case that came from Stew Mac has been discontinued about 6 months ago. For awhile they had the price reduced. They might still have a few on hand, might be worth a call.
I'm starting to think that I'm a Jinx. I buy the product and it gets fazed out. Yikes
Oh well... I have a couple of pre-war Mastertones and they were fazed out too.
Edited by - ProfessorBanjo on 02/16/2011 19:54:47
Mad4banjo - Posted - 02/17/2011: 06:40:18
Thanks for the reply, Prof. I did find the Geometric via the "in stock" route. Also, I queried Stew Mac re the travel lite banjo case, and they replied that, yes, it has been discontinued. Disappointing, especially as I have found, as somebody mentioned, that the airlines are a little kinder when you front up with a soft case that somehow doesn't look quite so big as a hard case. When I travel with my mountain dulcimer, I always take the soft case rather than the hard one, and have always been allowed to take it on board. It's just as long as a banjo, but I guess it appears smaller, and even 'they who must be obeyed' seem to realize it would never withstand the baggage handlers' slam dunk. I think Deering makes a pretty nice soft gig bag for banjo, but it has the Deering name embroidered on it which I think looks a bit silly when what's inside isn't a Deering.
ProfessorBanjo - Posted - 02/17/2011: 08:46:02
quote:
Originally posted by Mad4banjo
Thanks for the reply, Prof. I did find the Geometric via the "in stock" route. Also, I queried Stew Mac re the travel lite banjo case, and they replied that, yes, it has been discontinued. Disappointing, especially as I have found, as somebody mentioned, that the airlines are a little kinder when you front up with a soft case that somehow doesn't look quite so big as a hard case. When I travel with my mountain dulcimer, I always take the soft case rather than the hard one, and have always been allowed to take it on board. It's just as long as a banjo, but I guess it appears smaller, and even 'they who must be obeyed' seem to realize it would never withstand the baggage handlers' slam dunk. I think Deering makes a pretty nice soft gig bag for banjo, but it has the Deering name embroidered on it which I think looks a bit silly when what's inside isn't a Deering.
There are a few other similar cases. You might look into the Gator or TKL Zero Gravity.
Also see at Janet Davis Music that Travelite offers a banjo case now. I have not seen one but I have seen the mandolin and guitar version of the Travelite and they are pretty nice.
Edited by - ProfessorBanjo on 02/17/2011 08:51:29
gnatman - Posted - 02/17/2011: 08:48:55
I traveled once with my banjo in a soft bag. Luckily it was my $300 beginner banjo, and not my Nechville, but even with me holding it the whole time, after going through TSA and being put in the baggage bins, the neck still got cracked. I didn't notice it until like a week later, but I would never travel with a soft case again. I have traveled once with my hard case, and didn't get any guff. I always fly with an airlines that says they accept guitars though (and print out the policy from their website saying they accept guitars) so I know my banjo will be accepted.
Mad4banjo - Posted - 02/17/2011: 09:14:40
Thanks, Gnatman. I will definitely take your suggestion and print out the airline's policy on guitars to have it with me when I encounter the obstructionist airline employee. I guess what annoys me the most is the sheer arbitrariness of it. When I travel to the US from the other side of the world, I typically fly through Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, LA or San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, and maybe Baltimore. At each port, my anxiety level shoots way up wondering if this is going to be the time I meet the zealous employee from Hell. Some have been just wonderful, others, well. . . really bad. I'm confused at how your banjo got put in the baggage bins if you were holding it the whole time. Did they refuse to at least gate check it for you? Or did they insist you check it in as regular luggage? Man, that would be a horror in a soft gig bag! One time I was traveling with my new and wonderful Tranjo - in a soft case - and as I was one of the last to board on a US flight in a smaller commuter plane, they said I couldn't take it on board and must gate check it. As I boarded the plane, I saw the employee open a small hatch on the SIDE of the plane and stick the Tranjo in. At that time I thought, no problem, at least it won't get crushed by other luggage. But that little compartment wasn't temperature controlled. When I arrived, the whole thing was frozen stiff!! I didn't even attempt to open the case for 3 days, partly to give it time to thaw gradually at room temp, and also out of fear of what I'd find. Amazingly, there was no damage at all! I still can't get over that good fortune. Sam Farris makes a good product!! (That's a plug, Sam! ;o)
dirtygeorge - Posted - 02/17/2011: 11:36:00
Tom, Would love for you to send Me one (to keep ofcourse) so I could write a complete evaluation. HAHAHA
gnatman - Posted - 02/17/2011: 13:03:47
What I meant was overhead bin, I put it up there, and the plane was really full, and even though I told people to be careful when putting luggage around it, it still got cracked. It was a very small propeller plane, so it didn't have a coat room compartment for me to place it in. That being said I know TSA was manhandling it, and I was behind a line I was told I was not allowed to cross and I was not allowed to touch my stuff, so it could have been them too.
dmiller - Posted - 02/17/2011: 19:03:16
I was home sick today from work. Seems everyone there has gotten "The Crud", except for me. Well, today I got it too and had to call in. Having not read this entire thread I decided to do so today since I had the time, and I ran across the following (quoted from Tom) on page 41. I'm guessing that the gold engraved Nuvo that has Nechvil in the peghead he's talking about, is the one I bought last November.
I'm continued to be amazed at how good this sounds/ how easily it plays/ and how versatile it is. I was curious about the ball bearings in it, so I took it apart to count them. Took me all of 10 minutes to take it all apart/ count the ball bearings/ and put it all back together for more picking. I love the "no nut turning"! 
quote:
Originally posted by nechville
Here I am in Lyons Colorado setting up a big display of Nechvilles old and new. Interestingly I have 2 extremely rare early Nuvo banjos with me. In fact one of them is my first totally self-designed and built "nova" banjo. I think this neck is from 1989. It's in great shape and I love the way it sounds and plays. It has a slightly squared neck shape with the built-in capo. It is the first and only one I have ever done in Birds eye maple. (If you've ever worked with it, you'd know why). I set it up with a newer Nechville bridge and tailpiece and it was earlier outfitted with the current quick neck adjustment. The other Nuvo is more like my current models but is the only Nuvo with a gold and engraved frame done by Ron Chasey. The name on the peghead says "Necvil". It was before CNC machining and I wanted to abbreviate my name to make it more in step with other banjo names with 6 letters. It still has the original early nechville designed tailpiece. I'll try to post a picture of them before they are gone.
(- - - bolding and italicizing my addition)
gnatman - Posted - 02/17/2011: 19:24:36
That's awesome, now you've got the story on your unique banjo, and it really is beautiful.
I see there's also an early Meteor model on eBay right now, I'm not sure how it would sound compared to the new Meteors, but it would be cool to have it for history's sake, and it's pretty reasonably priced.
cgi.ebay.com/Nechville-5-Strin...948wt_907
Edited by - gnatman on 02/17/2011 19:25:09
dmiller - Posted - 02/17/2011: 19:36:00
How's that Phantom working out for you gnatman? 
Today, I put the sliding fifth string capo up at the nut, and tuned the fifth string up five frets to see what it would be like to play in a 'true open G tuning". Fun to do, but I did run into problems when I tried to use the thumb on the fifth fret. Suddenly - - the chromatics weren't what they used to be! 
Edited by - dmiller on 02/17/2011 19:36:29
gnatman - Posted - 02/17/2011: 20:19:38
Still loving my galaxy phantom every time I play it. I'm so glad you talked me into it. :) Still no regrets what-so-ever.
In fact, I just had a lesson today, and my banjo teacher was marveling over my Nechville again. I've had it for about a month now in Texas, but every time I bring it out, she just loves it all over again. In fact, she was yelling at me today for playing too quietly, so I showed her how loud a Nechville can get. It still blows me away sometimes. They can sure be loud when they want to be.
She's looking for a new banjo, so I'm working on getting her to buy a Nechville, or at least the flux capacitor and a Nechville neck.
Oh, and a couple weeks back, The Sieker Band was in town playing a show, and I let the banjo player, Rolf, play my Nechville. He loved it to death, couldn't put it down. Said he maybe even liked it even better than his banjo, and I had made a good decision.
dmiller - Posted - 02/17/2011: 20:47:35
You're kidding???? Rolf Seiker?? He's got Bobby Thompson's Baldwin "The Hee Haw Banjo".
That's high praise right there! WOW! 
gnatman - Posted - 02/18/2011: 06:02:44
Yeah, I could tell he was very much attached to his banjo emotionally, which I totally understand, so he stopped short of saying he would sell his banjo and buy a Nechville tomorrow, but I could tell he loved it. He kept saying he would just play one more, and then he'd play another. I wasn't going to stop him though, it sounded just beautiful. I wish I could make my Nechville sound like that.
Apparently he was even talking about it to my banjo teacher the next day. Totally made my week.
daytripper - Posted - 02/20/2011: 05:44:39
I love the idea of these banjos and browse the site fairly often - if I ever buy a high-end 'jo, this would be the first I'd try. The new site is very nice, but...
...I'd love some kind of features table to differentiate the models clearly. This would help me look at the models a little more objectively rather than the couple of paragraphs of excited text about how I'll feel when I pick the thing up!
Thanks
marc
alprice - Posted - 02/20/2011: 09:29:46
Marc, you can find one in the center of our newsletter, available on our downloads page. PM me if you would like just the form.
daytripper - Posted - 02/20/2011: 09:36:48
thanks, that's pretty much what I was looking for. Might it be more useful on the main site..?
daytripper - Posted - 02/21/2011: 11:28:04
great stuff, thanks guys. I hope to one-day stop 'Windows'-shopping (ahem) and own one.
marc
pick1936 - Posted - 02/21/2011: 12:24:14
Right david, No (NUT TURNING) A Nechville is so great You just have to play one,, Look at One,, Take one apart & put It Back Togrther,, adjust The neck angle for Right String Action. No Banjo Can Do What A Nechville can, You Just Need To Get One in Hand.
Nechville. In Higginsville.
Lee Kelso.
pick1936 - Posted - 02/23/2011: 15:06:39
With The features on Nechville banjo's at least 4 tone ring available Choice of Steel Ball Bearings ,, Delrin, or Ceramic. Feature You cAN not GET ON ANY THER BANJO'S. And far as cost, They are worth every Dollar, and More. You just will not understand Untill You get One In You hands, adjustments are incredably fast, and Easy.
Nechville. In Higginsville.
Lee Kelso
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 02/24/2011: 12:51:24
Can anyone describe the difference in tone between a 20 hole bronze tonering( on a Classic, for instance) and a hardwood capped TR like a Saturn?
Also, what kind of variation in tones are you able to achieve on a Classic via setup, and how would you do this? Like, setting it up for jazz or melodic versus BG.
thanks,
Laurence
Mad4banjo - Posted - 02/25/2011: 04:48:19
Is that inlay on your Saturn mother of pearl or abalone?
budbennett - Posted - 02/25/2011: 07:27:56
i recently swapped necks and went from a tenor to a 5 string with my nechville to play a show at the college i work at. afterwards one of the people in the audience (who is also my boss) said "that banjo fixes everything i hate about how a banjo sounds". that's pretty high praise coming from that person too!
lmuecke - Posted - 02/25/2011: 07:42:05
I think the Atlas is the most elegant and inviting banjo I have ever seen...I first saw one when BHO had one up for grabs and told my husband that was the one I wanted. Aesthetically speaking, it is warm and inviting, just looking at it takes away the trepidation a banjo can make a new person feel. I don't know about sound, I have not had the pleasure to hear one play and sadly 
I cannot afford something so elegant, at least not until the kids are grown and gone. I hope you will still be making them at that point.
bindle stiff jim - Posted - 02/25/2011: 09:01:45
quote:
Originally posted by Mad4banjo
Is that inlay on your Saturn mother of pearl or abalone?
both i believe..
bindle stiff jim - Posted - 02/25/2011: 11:16:53
Edited by - bindle stiff jim on 02/25/2011 11:23:53
pick1936 - Posted - 02/25/2011: 13:35:20
For Laurence, I saw on Your Home page among the people You listen to, one Being Jeff Beck. If You lke Him, You might want to listen to the Man Who was a big influence on Him, and No dought THE Best guitarist ever, (ROY BUCHANAN) Blues, Jazz, Rock, and almost? all styles of pickin. He was a true Master on guitar. OH Yes as far as going from Bluegrass to Classic, or about any sound You like a Nechville will do it.
Nechville. In Higginsville.
Lee Kelso
pick1936 - Posted - 02/27/2011: 05:50:58
taking My (Athenafied) Classic Deluxe tp Church today. I will be doing a Speachial, I'm a little nervous, doing this by Myself, I usually pick with others today I'm by Myself, Hope I don't blow it.
Necville. In. Higginsville.
Lee Kelso
Mad4banjo - Posted - 02/27/2011: 06:57:11
Don't worry, Lee. Church is a real good audience. If they're genuine Godly people, they won't laugh, jeer, be ugly behind your back, or throw tomatoes. My youngest son learned to play guitar in front of a church audience. He no longer goes to church, to my sorrow, but he plays good guitar! Just do your best and remember Who you're playing for. . . ;o)
RaYhOLio - Posted - 02/27/2011: 07:45:20
Hey guys! I'm still lovin' my Nechville! After christmas, I was a tad burnt out.. played the same stuff too much.. I reduced my playing quite a bit.. and then my spring season at work kicked in, and I just lost modivation to play....
Last week, I picked up the banjo to see if it was like a bicycle... not only did it still play REALLY easily.. it totally inspired me! I swear it sounds better than the day I recieved it.. and I'm back to pickin' any time I have a chance, and even dreamin' about the dang thing when I go to bed...
I've had these 'lost modivation' moments / months in the past.. and my old banjos didn't do it for me... I had to get re modivated by going to a festival, or exposing myself to something exciting...
Now my instrument is all the modivation I need... and that's REALLY saying something! :)
zemacar - Posted - 02/28/2011: 13:12:27
Hello. I joined BHO last year while researching a banjo for my husband (Christmas gift year before last). So happy to have an excuse to say something about Nechville.
I play bluegrass fiddle and mandolin, and I am a sucker for good design and engineering. I spotted my first Nechville at a festival from some distance. Cool-looking, I thought, and suspected that they were something special. Around here, lots of people play Nechvilles. I also like that they are made in Minnesota (so was I).
I wanted to get my husband a Nechville, but the price was steep for an instrument that he may not want to continue. (This is his first musical instrument since grade school - and I hear that didn't go well. I'll spend $$$ on my own instruments, but I *play* them.) So I got him a perfectly fine Recording King, and he's been practicing his lessons.
Well, long story short - I won a Zeus at a bluegrass festival yesterday. So excited. I'll share it with my husband, I guess, but I'm going to have a lesson on it myself and find my way around a bit.
dmiller - Posted - 02/28/2011: 13:38:24
You won the Nechville Zeus that was offered at Wintergrass?
How cool, and Congrats! 
(You're going to love it.)
zemacar - Posted - 02/28/2011: 15:49:56
Yes, the Wintergrass one. At the last moment, I decided to buy a ticket even though my husband already had bought some.
I've read a few pages of this thread, but not all 52! I, too, want to open it up and count the ball bearings. :-)
Thanks!
alprice - Posted - 02/28/2011: 16:31:26
Cara, congrats again.
As for ball bearings- the standard number is 80. But we have found that taking 1,2 or 3 out, and then evenly spacing the others sometimes improves the tone. So YMMV.
dmiller - Posted - 02/28/2011: 16:37:20
Hi there Al.
Will there be a Nechville table or booth set up at the MBOTMA Winter Weekend this upcoming weekend in Minneapolis?
alprice - Posted - 02/28/2011: 16:44:31
Hi Dave,
Yep. Tom will be there.
alprice - Posted - 02/28/2011: 16:46:39
quote:
Originally posted by Jim T
quote:
Originally posted by Mad4banjo
quote:
Originally posted by ProfessorBanjo
I love my radius Geometric LC. Light weight, easy to play and sounds great. I posted a review last week on the HO.
What is a Geometric LC Nechville?? Tom doesn't show one on his website. Could we see a photo possibly? Also, I read your review of the Stew Mac Travel Lite banjo case, went to their website and the travel lite case is nowhere to be found. They show a fiddle and guitar case only. Do you know if they've been discontinued? Thanks.
Mad4banjo
The Geo has been discontinued.
Al
Here you go: nechville.com/geometric.php
I googled it. I'm not sure why there isn't a direct link on their website.
Jim
zemacar - Posted - 02/28/2011: 21:41:48
quote:
Originally posted by alprice
Cara, congrats again.
As for ball bearings- the standard number is 80. But we have found that taking 1,2 or 3 out, and then evenly spacing the others sometimes improves the tone. So YMMV.
Thanks again, Al! I just think ball bearings is cool - ever since I was a little kid - no idea what to do with 'em. And who'd'a' thunk that they'd be in a banjer? Now you've counted them for me, guess I have no reason to open it up. 8-(
Dave and I are hammering out a custody schedule right now. I think he gets Weds., and I get some of the other ones. Back to the negotiations.
alprice - Posted - 03/01/2011: 06:20:14
quote:
Originally posted by zemacar
quote:
Originally posted by alprice
Cara, congrats again.
As for ball bearings- the standard number is 80. But we have found that taking 1,2 or 3 out, and then evenly spacing the others sometimes improves the tone. So YMMV.
Thanks again, Al! I just think ball bearings is cool - ever since I was a little kid - no idea what to do with 'em. And who'd'a' thunk that they'd be in a banjer? Now you've counted them for me, guess I have no reason to open it up. 8-(
Dave and I are hammering out a custody schedule right now. I think he gets Weds., and I get some of the other ones. Back to the negotiations.
You can always open them to confirm== You and Dave should get it figured it out okay. There are enough banjos for everyone. :)
pick1936 - Posted - 03/02/2011: 13:43:49
I am still using all 80 of My ball bearings, My Thought is the 80 ball bearing pushing against the the Wood Tone Ring Gives it the Nice Metallic Tone. I have swithced back and forth with the Ren. Head, and the Remo. It sounds Great with either Head on it. You will (never) Play a better neck anywhere. You will probably never play another banjo, that comes even close to a Nechville.
Nechville. In Higginsville.
Lee Kelso
Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 03/03/2011: 21:56:39
Hopefully I'll see some of you Nechville pickers at the Minnesota Winter Bluegrass Weekend!
dmiller - Posted - 03/03/2011: 23:40:19
quote:
Originally posted by Yellowhouseroad
Hopefully I'll see some of you Nechville pickers at the Minnesota Winter Bluegrass Weekend!
I'm hoping to be there too on Saturday (Although I usually work on Saturdays).
There's a recent slight "buzz" coming from the tailpiece of the Nuvo that I can't figure out.
This tailpiece is too radical for me to attempt to try and adjust it on my own.
It would be nice if Tom had the time to look at it, and diagnose what's happening.
I'll be calling him later on today about it. I should've called earlier this week.
Maybe I'll see you there.
It's been a few years since I've been to the MBOTMA Winter Fest.
dmiller - Posted - 03/04/2011: 17:19:16
quote:
Originally posted by bindle stiff jim
did somebody say tailpiece?
Yes. I did.
jbanjoist - Posted - 03/05/2011: 08:42:52
Hey Dave, you sell that banjo?
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