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schlange - Posted - 12/28/2010: 09:07:37
Man, I'm so excited.
After playing the custom Sullivan/BHO collaboration banjo that we're giving away right now, I called Jeff and Eric Sullivan and told them this was the best-sounding banjo I had ever played. Now, I don't pretend to be a banjo expert, nor an expert player, but to my ears and fingers, it sounds and plays incredibly well. Balanced tone, great pop up the neck, and that vintage sound.
Anyway--I worked out a deal with the Sullivan boys to have them build me what is basically a twin to the banjo we're giving away now. I thought about going mahogany instead of walnut, but I'm so pleased with the sound of this one that I decided I shouldn't change a thing. Plus, we've got a lot of walnut trees around here, so I thought that would kind of a cool thing. Like I'm pretending to "play local" or something.
Anyway, just wanted to share that. Should be arriving after 3-4 agonizing months! Now I gotta get practicing so I can do it justice... I kind of feel like the 16 year old kid who is getting a Ferrari for his birthday.
spinley - Posted - 12/28/2010: 09:17:23
Congrats, No feeling like the anticipation of a new banjo. I have not had that feeling in a while I am getting the urge!!!!!
Stuart
Banjov1 - Posted - 12/28/2010: 10:09:22
Congrats Eric! When I win the drawing for the original, I'll let you play it for a couple extra weeks until the new one comes in.
MTBanjo - Posted - 12/28/2010: 10:29:39
That's very exciting. I've never been within 100 yards of a Sullivan, unfortunately. Mabye I'll get lucky on the drawing!
doc fossey - Posted - 12/28/2010: 10:29:49
I also took advantage of the opportunity to see and play the BHO banjo at the IBMA meeting last October, and agree with Eric's assessment that it was the best looking, best sounding, and best playing banjo I had ever seen. I inquired with the Sullivan people about having a matching banjo made for me, assuming that I do not win one. They indicated that it could be done. My question is this: are there other BHO members who would be interested in purchasing one, and could we band together to get some type of volume discount on a sizeable order? Could be a win-win situation for BHO and Sullivan. Any interest?
Grey Dog - Posted - 12/28/2010: 10:36:09
quote:
Originally posted by doc fossey
I also took advantage of the opportunity to see and play the BHO banjo at the IBMA meeting last October, and agree with Eric's assessment that it was the best looking, best sounding, and best playing banjo I had ever seen. I inquired with the Sullivan people about having a matching banjo made for me, assuming that I do not win one. They indicated that it could be done. My question is this: are there other BHO members who would be interested in purchasing one, and could we band together to get some type of volume discount on a sizeable order? Could be a win-win situation for BHO and Sullivan. Any interest?
OooOooOoooo......Twist my arm a little more!!
kshores1 - Posted - 12/28/2010: 10:57:12
Eric, you mean you can't win your own contests?..
TonyK - Posted - 12/28/2010: 11:02:04
Eric, you should consider it a personal reward for building the best banjo website. Congrats!
schlange - Posted - 12/28/2010: 11:09:45
quote:
Originally posted by kshores1
Eric, you mean you can't win your own contests?..
Sadly, no!
schlange - Posted - 12/28/2010: 11:10:07
quote:
Originally posted by TonyK
Eric, you should consider it a personal reward for building the best banjo website. Congrats!
Ha! Hey, that's perfect! Will do.
plunka5 - Posted - 12/28/2010: 11:22:41
Congrats Eric! Please post pics when you receive it!
kshores1 - Posted - 12/28/2010: 11:40:56
Eric, you're a better man than I. It would be torture to see all these banjos go without having a chance at them, ha!
schlange - Posted - 12/28/2010: 12:00:43
Luckily, most of the banjos we give away are shipped straight from the sponsor, instead of coming here. Otherwise I would have a chronic case of BAS!
lespik - Posted - 12/28/2010: 12:01:45
<<< Needs to win the drawing , Just to see what all this talk is about.
Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 12/28/2010: 12:28:03
Congrats Eric. You going to have the bho inlay block put on? Maybe sullivan should think about passing banjos around to the rest of us so we will just have to buy one too.
Jeff Whittington - Posted - 12/28/2010: 13:00:58
Congratulations on your new v-35. I had a custom Greenbriar and it was a great banjo. Looking forward to you posting a video so we can all hear you and see it !
Happy New Year and thanks for all you do for the banjo community.
Jeff Whittington
DGEBanjo - Posted - 12/28/2010: 14:16:01
Congrats Eric, I know the anticipation of a new banjo I am looking at March 2nd and it never seems to get any closer
schlange - Posted - 12/28/2010: 14:37:28
Yeah, I'm getting the BHO inlay block.
Grey Dog - Posted - 12/28/2010: 15:01:54
Sir Eric,
I would be honored to throw a couple bucks your way to say 'thank you' for the BHO and to help offset the financial devastation that new banjos can inflict. If I simply make a general donation, does that go right to you?
Congrats!!
Grey Dog - Posted - 12/28/2010: 15:16:29
Excellent!
Done!
My wife holds the credentials on the PayPal world, so you'll see one from Melissa.
Enjoy!!
dmiller - Posted - 12/28/2010: 23:39:20
quote:
Originally posted by schlange
Grey Dog--yes, donations go right to me (since I'm the sole proprietor of this crazy place!)
This is a "crazy place"??
I considered it my "corner of sanity" in a "crazy world".
Rob MacKillop - Posted - 12/29/2010: 00:09:13
Good news, Eric. We await your videos!
Skyraider50 - Posted - 12/29/2010: 06:04:33
Regretfully Eric (depending on how you look at it) UPS, The Sullivan Factory team and Kris Kringle have notified me there has been a mistake in shipping and I will be pickin' the.........TWIN this afternoon.
I'm way jealous...........
stanger - Posted - 01/01/2011: 15:36:13
Good choice, Eric!
This is a great looking banjo, and I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks. The decision to stick with walnut was wise, too... since you love the giveaway, there is no sense in choosing another wood. The chances of loving another wood as much are 50/50, and I always consider the negative side of that when it comes to wood choice.
regards,
stanger
ltjgcag - Posted - 01/01/2011: 15:46:23
Congrats Eric!
I love the sound of my black walnut Helix rim and neck. A different tone for sure.
Chris
David R - Posted - 02/17/2011: 16:09:06
quote:
Originally posted by doc fossey
I also took advantage of the opportunity to see and play the BHO banjo at the IBMA meeting last October, and agree with Eric's assessment that it was the best looking, best sounding, and best playing banjo I had ever seen. I inquired with the Sullivan people about having a matching banjo made for me, assuming that I do not win one. They indicated that it could be done. My question is this: are there other BHO members who would be interested in purchasing one, and could we band together to get some type of volume discount on a sizeable order? Could be a win-win situation for BHO and Sullivan. Any interest?
I'm interested...
David R - Posted - 02/17/2011: 16:16:34
Eric
Late last November I put a down payment with JDM for a Gibson Earl Scruggs Standand but I'll be danged if I'm thinking about asking Tom at JDM to switch my order to a Sullivan Vintage 35!
Thanks a lot. :-) !!!
schlange - Posted - 02/17/2011: 16:50:25
David--you should get your hands one one of these. I think you'll love the sound!
Jody Hughes - Posted - 02/17/2011: 17:02:52
I've liked all the Sullivan banjos I've played, I'm sure you got a really nice instrument.
RKSullivan10 - Posted - 03/18/2011: 10:38:51
I am a newbie banjo player and I have a entry level Sullivan banjo Festival Jam that I bought from Jeff Sullivan (they don't make them anymore). If I can ever get the $$$$$$ saved up, I'm going for one of the upper level models. Maybe a V35 if I hit the lottery. These guys are great and even the entry level stuff was made well.
gmo - Posted - 03/18/2011: 13:35:51
RKSullivan10, Unti you can afford that V35, get yourself a good tone ring, like a Sullivan ring maybe, installed on that Jam, you will be surprised how good a banjo you already have . Mine's a maple with a Hatfield ring--KILLER BANJO !!
George
schlange - Posted - 05/11/2011: 09:19:58
Got an update from Jeff Sullivan today--sent me some photos of my banjo's progress! He said they picked out some beautiful walnut for the resonator. Should arrive in 5-6 weeks!
youdye - Posted - 05/11/2011: 09:35:31
all I can say is WOW, that is going to be a stunner! congrats Eric and hopefully you will post some sound files when it gets to you! 
schlange - Posted - 05/11/2011: 14:52:30
Jeff just emailed me this pic of the resonator with the concentric rings they installed today. Just wait till the finish gets on there!
Tommy5 - Posted - 05/11/2011: 17:36:24
Great Banjo, the V-35 is already legendary and may be getting a cult following,congrats.
Jim T - Posted - 05/11/2011: 19:21:28
quote:
Originally posted by schlange
Jeff just emailed me this pic of the resonator with the concentric rings they installed today. Just wait till the finish gets on there!
If the back had an "X" on it somewhere it would look just like an old world treasure map. 
Please post a pic with the finish on it.....................it's going to look great!
Jim
Edited by - Jim T on 05/11/2011 19:22:33
plunka5 - Posted - 05/11/2011: 21:00:51
Looks great Eric...some birthday present huh?
pickerjim - Posted - 05/12/2011: 05:15:57
Congrats Eric!!.....That is going to be a spectacular Jo.....can't wait to try one out!!!
Enjoy!!
Jim
rfreeze - Posted - 05/21/2011: 11:07:28
Have Fun Eric. You'll enjoy that banjo. Keep picking.
Rich Freeze
schlange - Posted - 10/15/2011: 22:32:26
Picked up my new banjo on 2 nights ago. She's a beaut! Lots of folks at the BHO/Sullivan meetup got to play it, which was great.
Here are a some pics.
BanjoJed - Posted - 10/16/2011: 00:41:55
Eric, I was one of the lucky ones that got to pick your new banjo! I was playing your banjo and another person playing the original 35 then we switched at the request of Jeff Sullivan and it was really a toss up to me which sounded better. It was such a joy to be able to compare these 2 banjos along with a multitude of other brands. Thank you for sharing your new banjo with everyone in attendance that night! Jeff Parker
