rbergesch - Posted - 04/11/2011:  15:17:44

Dalt- Your last post is dated 3/09;  my review of the Cox K5 I purchased used from Jim Cox was posted 3/11; after I had owned it for less than a week.  Since I live in Maine, I had the advantage of visiting Jim's shop several times before I purchased the instrument, and the extraordinary luck of a gently used instrument (sent back by a customer from several years ago ordering an upgraded model,) coming in between visits, which I puchased.  I believe I remember Jim saying he was sending out a banjo, probably yours, during one of my visits.

I love the sound of my instrument.  The looks are great, too.  but the sound is awesome.  The playing action is wonderful, with the minor exception detailed below.  If I were writing the 3/11 review now, I'd probably add a few more superlatives...

Jim told me to play mine for a few weeks, and then bring it back if there was any concerns.  I found that the 23rd fret, was too high, so that the Bstring at 22nd  and 23rd fret played the same note. Jim laughed a bit when I told him the problem, as he correctly surmised that it could be some years before I really need the 23nd fret to sound as true as the ones lower on the neck.  But he was anxious to make it right for me.  I left the banjo with him over the weekend, and brought it back home today.

First, how does your instrument sound?  But next, call Jim back and explain your problem; I can't imagine he won't figure out how to make it right for you.  He is not that kind of a guy...  At his stage of life, he is not interested in anything other than having top quality instruments with his name on it out in the world.  Call him, and I'm sure there is a workaround that will present itself.   

rbergesch - Posted - 04/12/2011:  08:58:41

Actually, last night I recounted the frets; they were the 19th &20th, just above the "Kentucky-5" inlay.  Didn't matter; Jimmy fixed it just fine...

steve davis - Posted - 04/12/2011:  09:02:38

What did he do to fix it?

Edited by - steve davis on 04/12/2011 09:02:59

rbergesch - Posted - 04/12/2011:  13:10:59

When I gave it to him, he laid a straightedge on the frets and determined that, indeed, the lower one was raised a bit.  He said he would either use a file to dress the fret, or pound it in a bit further.

When I reclaimed the instrument yesterday, he said he had "shoved" the fret down a bit.  Looking at the instrument, there is no indication (to me,) of any work having been done, but all the strings now play true on all the frets.  No change in the appearance of the frets.

We have a jam session in Southern Maine that is popular, and the last one this season was over the weekend.  At the previous session last month, Jim had asked me if I would bring the instrument to the Jam, but then he had a family commitment and never made it.  So I told him he was welcome to take the instrument to this weekend's session and he did just that. So I'm sure he fixed it right... 

Edited by - rbergesch on 04/12/2011 13:14:08

steve davis - Posted - 04/12/2011:  14:36:40

We're very lucky to have Jimmy.I rely on him for "the truth" about banjos.

I was too busy to make it to Buxton this picking season.

Hopefully next fall.

HarleyQ - Posted - 04/12/2011:  21:50:04

quote: WOW!! and it left the shop like that?? That smarts!!

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Originally posted by dalt



Well after a week or two of playing my new Cox Fairchild I noticed that quite frequently the first string would slip of the side of the neck when I was playing between the 5th and 9th fret. After inspecting the tailpiece and bridge I held the banjo up and looked down the neck as if it was a gun to find that the neck curved inward between those frets. I also noticed the bridge was already offset a bit to compensate for this causing what seems to me stress on the tailpiece. Mailing it back to Jimmy tommorrow. I would be lying if If I didn't say I'm a little disappointed. I suppose this happens though.

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dalt - Posted - 04/13/2011:  14:40:43

Sorry about the long delay for an update but life beckons.

So after I spoke with Jimmy on the phone, he said he couldn't know for sure what was wrong with it without seeing it. I agree with that seeing how I've only been playing a year and don't really know about setup and stuff. So I forked over the cash to mail it back to him (NM to ME not cheap) and didn't hear anything from him for about a week until I had a message the banjo was on it's way back. When I got the banjo Jimmy had installed a new neck on it, put a new bridge on it, and some other minor stuff. This neck other than not being quite as pretty (less tiger stripes, cosmetic I know) was straight as an arrow. I called Jimmy, as he requested, to let him know I got the banjo and he told me my banjo was the first one he ever got back since he has been making them. WOW! He apologized for the way it was sent out and he couldn't believe it left his shop that way. I couldn't help but ask about the charges I incurred to ship it back since it was builder error. He mentioned he had given me a discount on the banjo and so I let it go. To my surprise about a week or two later I received a check from Jimmy covering the shipping costs I incurred. I was floored to say the least. This is what you get with Cox banjos, customer service that is out of this world.

As far as the banjo it sounds fantastic. It's loud, crisp, and I really like it. It is a beautiful banjo (see pictures on my homepage) and I am glad I bought it. When I orginally got it, it had a snuffy smith bridge. But when Jimmy sent it back it had one of his bridges on it. I asked why he changed it and he said his sounded better Ha Ha. I have some AMB custom strings on it 10-12-14-22-10 and I like the tone I get. I prefer lighter strings but it seems this banjo doesn't like the light strings and plays and sounds better with the med guage. The banjo is solid, heavy, and when I hit that fourth string the bass vibrates my whole upper body it seems.

rbergesch - Posted - 04/14/2011:  11:53:30

Fantastic -  I'm glad you have a good outcome, and especially that you like the sound of the instrument.

I was up past midnight playing mine last night; I have one of those little Gold Tone brass clip mutes; sound comes out in a quiet but somewhat interesting way...  But after a while when everyone was truely asleep, I took the mute off and let her rip...! 

Both the cats immediately left the man-cave, and I was in full-throated banjo glory for nearly an hour... 

Edited by - rbergesch on 04/14/2011 11:54:22