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Tomcat - Posted - 08/26/2010: 18:45:54
Finally got it all back together! Hope to get pics loaded tomorrow.
Banjophobic - Posted - 08/26/2010: 19:41:50
Post a sound file too-I want to hear that puppy! Greg, I put the sheep inlay on the back of the peghead, for modesty sake. 
I hope she went together without any problems.
Edited by - Banjophobic on 08/26/2010 19:45:09
Tomcat - Posted - 08/27/2010: 05:42:34
Ok! Just a little about what I got here now. This is (was) the Deco King. John Boulding stripped the black paint and poly away to uncover some really cool maple, removed the pearloid from the peg head and put in a style 3 inlay that I had chosen Had a pearl block with the RK logo CUT into the block, then antiqued the peal. He also cut back about 10% of the heel. I thought the style 3 went very well with the Deco inlay pattern that Greg come up with for that banjo. Warren Yates finished the reso which is also a RK reso with his antiqued finish he uses on the Yates banjos.Everything is the stock RK banjo except the tailpiece (double hump from FQMS) and the 80's era Cox rim that Marc Pruett gave me. I had planned on useing a Stewmac nohole but wasn't pleased with the fit so stuck with the RK ring. I am really pleased with the banjo. It was a banjo that blew me away with it's sound and playability, so I just had my personal touch added. May not be wahat everyone likes but I'm very happy!
Tomcat - Posted - 08/27/2010: 05:43:19
The sheep on the 12th fret musta R U N N O F T :)
Grey Dog - Posted - 08/27/2010: 06:16:51
Is there a term for that 'thicker' maple striping look?
I saw it here as well: gruhn.com/photo/JA5823.jpg
I like it.
More character there than the typical wispy, thin, and even maple stripes.
Tomcat - Posted - 08/27/2010: 06:32:23
Greg may know the answer for that. To me wood is wood ha!The neck is still a little shiney and loos more red in the pic than it really is. It actually matches the reso almost perfectly.
Banjophobic - Posted - 08/27/2010: 07:48:21
Hey, looks good, now that Ive seen it with the resonator. Yeah, that color red tends to stand out more in pics than it does it person. That shine should tone down a little as it ages, but if it doesn't you can hit with some 0000 wool or scotchbrite pad, slightly, to age it even more (that or some med grit compound rubbed in a little).
It has its own look, thats for sure. Why did you cover up that Sheep inlay?.... How does it sound and play?
Oh, that 'Mafia' truss cover is what makes it...
Edited by - Banjophobic on 08/27/2010 07:56:04
Banjophobic - Posted - 08/27/2010: 07:49:36
quote:
Originally posted by grich
By the way .... it was great finally getting to meet you at Galax and talking banjos I think Tom is going to love the job you did for him !
Same here Greg-very cool to finally meet you. I wish I had more time that day to hang around. Did Barr's sell the elites they had?
Tomcat - Posted - 08/27/2010: 08:22:18
Went together great! Sounds awesome! I hid the sheep, cause I didn't want Greg to get anyideas about selling the RK line thru WOOLworths ! I'll post a sound clip first of next week The thing I liked most is how the peghead shape and that block logo goes so well with the style 3 inlay. And how well it goes with the Deco neck inlay. Looks like it was made for eachother Oh yeah I couldn't leave out my BM truss rod cover
Edited by - Tomcat on 08/27/2010 08:23:28
Banjophobic - Posted - 08/28/2010: 10:45:25
Well thats great Tom. Isnt it cool when a plan comes together?
Tomcat - Posted - 08/28/2010: 18:09:34
Oh yeah! I'm trying some of Tim Purcell's bridges right now. The one that is on right now is a submerged maple. Awesome bridge.
mikehalloran - Posted - 08/29/2010: 09:16:28
>May not be wahat everyone likes...<
So, what's not to like? Nicely understated, indeed. Way cool!
>but I'm very happy!<
And that is the most important part of all.
BourbonBandit - Posted - 08/29/2010: 15:30:13
It looks beautiful. I can't believe that wood. I might have missed it, but what brought about the desire for the change? Was it just the challenge or not caring for the deco king finish? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you did. Otherwise I wouldn't have the old resonator from it.
Tomcat - Posted - 08/30/2010: 05:18:18
I loved the Deco look when I got it. That was the main reason for buying the banjo. But after a while it go kinda hard on this old hillbilly's eye's. I come across a unfinished RK reso and sent it Warren Yates to finish it with his antiqued look.So when I got it back I knew it was gonna happen. This Rk has been one of the best sounding and playing banjo's I've owned, including my Grich era RB3. I just wanted to put my personal taste on a favorite banjo.
Tomcat - Posted - 08/30/2010: 06:01:46
Sound clip
BourbonBandit - Posted - 08/30/2010: 13:44:22
quote:
Originally posted by Tomcat
I loved the Deco look when I got it. That was the main reason for buying the banjo. But after a while it go kinda hard on this old hillbilly's eye's.
I can completely understand that. I've kinda wondered about that.
banjouke3 - Posted - 08/30/2010: 15:43:18
Is that neck maple ?
Tomcat - Posted - 08/30/2010: 18:14:23
yes the neck is maple
Tomcat - Posted - 09/08/2010: 07:39:14
:)
Prof - Posted - 09/08/2010: 08:33:25
I thought the tone rings had a bit of Earl in them.
Tomcat - Posted - 09/08/2010: 08:36:46
It ooozed out of the tonering onto the rim.
Tomcat - Posted - 09/08/2010: 08:46:37
I had a couple of those Earl signed Gibby stickers that the banjo fairy had left me for give aways on the mafia site so I figured the best place to keep one would be in my banjo! Not trying to pass it off as a Gibby rim. It is a Cox rim.
Tomcat - Posted - 09/08/2010: 09:34:42
I done posted it once on this thread but since you missed that baaa aaa aaad boy here ya go. :)
Tomcat - Posted - 03/02/2011: 10:30:17
I never used the Stewmac no hole ring for the skirt was way short for my rim. It would probably worked well ,just looked bad. I ended up trading that ring to uncledephi for a unplated Sullivan V35 that was deemed a 2nd due to one of the holes drilled slightly off center. The result was, and is the Sullivan stays! The RK ring with the Cox rim sounded great but the V35 had the sound that I had been looking for.
grich - Posted - 03/02/2011: 10:38:21
Sounds good .... give me a call when you get a chance !
Tomcat - Posted - 03/02/2011: 11:10:23
Will do! I'll holler at you on my way to work this evening :)
bearface - Posted - 03/02/2011: 12:49:00
Great lookin banjo !!!!!
Tomcat - Posted - 03/02/2011: 13:17:28
Thanks!
banjodad - Posted - 03/03/2011: 03:21:52
Ya done good Tomcat!
plunka5 - Posted - 03/03/2011: 05:29:22
Tom when you said that you had 10% of the heel cut away...did you mean the shape at the neck notch, or the "end" cut of the heel to bring the last fret closer to the pot? I didn't see a pic of the neck at the heel and just wondered???
Banjo looks and sounds great!
Tomcat - Posted - 03/03/2011: 06:38:07
The heel was was shaved back inorder to make it easier to reach those pesky last few frets. To look at it you can't really tell the heel was altered, unless you compare it next to another RK. The scale of the fretboard wasn't changed.
Thanks guys.
I'll try to post a new sound file with the V35 ring as soon as I can.
Edited by - Tomcat on 03/03/2011 06:40:59
Tomcat - Posted - 03/04/2011: 08:35:08
Ok here is the mp3's with the origianal ring and the V35. Both are mounted on the Old Cox rim.
chickenpickin - Posted - 03/04/2011: 09:23:08
I have to say the original ring sounds pretty dang good to me. The V35 recording volume is much lower than the other for some reason.
Tim
Earls 5 - Posted - 03/04/2011: 11:25:48
chickenpickin is right ... the RK sounds much louder. Tone wise the RK sounds better to me personally!
Tomcat - Posted - 03/04/2011: 11:40:17
Yeah the volume was my fault. The RK ring at first sounded like what you hear there but for some reason as the banjo settles it would always start going really bright and keen. At first I figured it was the RK rim swelling so after I put the Cox rim in it still overtime was doing the same thing.I checked the ring to rim tightness and it was just like I put it in. A good slip fit on and off. The mp3 doesn't show it for the volume mess up but the V35 ring was quite a bit louder, and the note separation was the biggest thing I liked. It's a matter of taste I reckon. I don't feel that the V35 ring is any better than the RK, just just some differences . I'm not saying the ring is the cause of the gradual brightness. It may do the same with this ring also. Time will tell. Maybe it's something to do with my set up, which is pretty standard. Anyways I'm happy with the way this banjo has turned out.
Edited by - Tomcat on 03/04/2011 11:49:53
chickenpickin - Posted - 03/04/2011: 13:32:18
Tom,
Can you record the V35 again with more volume. It sounded like it had good note separation and less sustain than the RK ring. It's just that the difference in volume was so great that the RK ring stood out more.
Tim
Tomcat - Posted - 03/04/2011: 14:37:26
Yeah I will try on monday. By the way Tim those are your bridges im useing The thicker one was with the RK ring. I'm going to try it on the 35. That bridge just has such an even smoothness to it.
chickenpickin - Posted - 03/04/2011: 15:46:06
Great! I know the submerged maple was 2.2 grams but the red maple looked a little thicker than the rest even though it is a 1.9 gram.
Tim
Tomcat - Posted - 03/07/2011: 07:42:44
Ok maybe this is better on the volume. My mic broke this morn and had to make a quick repair.
chickenpickin - Posted - 03/07/2011: 10:01:26
Much better, Tom. I like the sound of that very much. It's only going to get better with time.
Tim
Tomcat - Posted - 03/07/2011: 11:05:31
I'm gonna try that thicker bridge on it soon.
Iderhobanjer23 - Posted - 03/07/2011: 12:52:41
i'm really surprised at the depth and sustain this banjo has without losing any of the highs. I've only heard good things about RKs. I have myself an elite on the way, can't wait to pick it. What made you decide on the new ring/rim combo?
Tomcat - Posted - 03/08/2011: 06:50:46
Marc Pruett gave me an old Cox rim and I wanted to see what the RK ring sounded like on it. Then I just got curious and ended up with the Sullivan ring on a trade. So I thought why not. It's been a fun project that turned out really well.
grich - Posted - 03/10/2011: 10:24:26
It sounds to me like your nuts are loose !
Tomcat - Posted - 03/10/2011: 10:27:24
Are Chinese nuts lefty loosy righty tighty, or is it refty roosy?
