christian0oo - Posted - 09/27/2011:  19:42:25

I love the operation that Mr. Bishline is running. From what I can see he really puts a ton of care in what he does and I love the banjos he produces. I can't wait to be able to save up enough money to get one myself because I would really love to support their business.

Anyways, just thought I'd say that!

danielburdett - Posted - 09/27/2011:  20:12:20

Don't have a Bishline banjo yet, but it is at the top of the list for me.  Mighty fine banjos.  

Scott Wilson - Posted - 09/27/2011:  22:23:58

I've got a custom Bishline, a walnut tunneled-fifth string woody with stainless steel frets.  Rob's attention to detail is top-notch.  I've got some pictures of it on my homepage.  Rob's very conscientious and pleasure to work with.  He really concerns himself with making the banjo you want and your satisfaction.

JMalmsteen - Posted - 09/28/2011:  03:57:34

I played one in TN (heirloom with the Tony Pass rim and upgraded tone ring) and it was one of the best sounding banjos I have played. It sounds like a Stelling and I love the sound of Stellings. The walnut banjo was also nice but I actually preferred the lower priced Heirloom.

JMalmsteen - Posted - 09/28/2011:  04:12:48

I played one in TN (heirloom with the Tony Pass rim and upgraded tone ring) and it was one of the best sounding banjos I have played. It sounds like a Stelling and I love the sound of Stellings. The walnut banjo was also nice but I actually preferred the lower priced Heirloom.

lespik - Posted - 09/28/2011:  07:45:55

If you haven't seen one, here's one of Rob's new creations.  youtube.com/watch?v=XMSB1zhcgnk

christian0oo - Posted - 09/28/2011:  07:59:57

Scott, that is almost exactly what I'm saving up for. It's gonna take me a little while though. and man that cf-5 sounds GREAT

christian0oo - Posted - 09/28/2011:  08:01:44

what do you guys think about a radiused finger board too?

Scott Wilson - Posted - 09/28/2011:  08:30:41

last time I talked with Rob, he had a radius fret board on his own banjo but had gone back to a flat one. I tried one but prefer the flat. Capos are easier to find for the conventional board since they are more common and there are a number of different types of radii.

banjomule - Posted - 09/28/2011:  17:31:06

I ordered a custom banjo from Rob last summer and still couldn't be happier with it. They run a real first class operation.

just checked out the video of the carbon fiber banjo ... very cool!

and the Cimmeron looks like just the ticket for those wanting a top quality american made banjo in the $2k range

Joe the banjo guy - Posted - 09/28/2011:  18:00:52

I got a midnight moon about a month ago, and I'm loving it. It needed a slight bit of tweeking, but overall, it's a beast and a half. I think we're getting used to each other, and it's feeling more and more comfortable. It's loud and fast as anything. Plus it's a nice little piece of art to boot. And I agree, Rob has been nothing but generous and responsive to my questions, and I didn't even buy the thing from him! I bought it used. I would love to get my hands on one of those new CF-5's, or the Danny Barnes model. Both look pretty sweet, with wood tone rings.

gkella - Posted - 09/28/2011:  18:09:26

I am the proud owner of the first Bishline Classic banjo that Rob ever sold.

I have had it for around four years now and it is the best banjo I have ever played or owned in 30 plus years of playing.

Rob is an awesome guy and makes the best banjos on the planet.

Glen

christian0oo - Posted - 09/29/2011:  04:24:01

all these great comments, now i know i want one!

D.W. - Posted - 10/01/2011:  15:21:42

Thanks to the "Bishline Owners" group for linking to this post otherwise I would have missed it.

Before I commissioned my Custom "exotic wood" Bishline, I shopped around for about a year and a half, looking at what was available, how much, builder reputations, consumer critiques/reviews. 

Then I saw an advert on the BHO for a music store in another state "acoustic..." something.... and saw Bishline listed among their in stock brands. That led me to the Bishline website, and his customs section. I liked what I saw.  But even then I waited.

When I was finally ready to purchase, I hadn't even decided on a "custom" yet.  I was calling about a "spec" banjo that Dave Haddock had built for IBMA 2008. Of course It had already been sold.

Of course that turned out to be a good thing. Because it let me Improve on the concept, and get my custom.

I didn't have any great custom inlay ideas, and so wanted to go in the opposite direction, I wanted unique natural wood that would be making it's own visual statement without inlay.

As a result my custom, was the 3rd Zebra wood they had made, but the first without inlay, and the 2nd with the unique Madagascar Rosewood Fingerboard (Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band got the 3rd Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard, and Rob has the first).

I was the customer from hell, and they stuck with me through the entire process. When I finally got the banjo I made a lot of changes, and in the process found those changes were never needed.

I have no regrets about my purchase. 

And with the Gibson Factory Raid in the news and what I've learned as a result about the woods my banjo was made of - I love it even more!

You can't go wrong with a Bishline.

banjomule - Posted - 10/01/2011:  15:36:39

Thank YOU for informing me that we had a Bishline Owners Group here on the hangout. I just popped over and joined!

Scott Wilson - Posted - 10/01/2011:  19:33:39

I didn't know about a Bishline Owners Club on the hangout either... glad to know... I just joined as well.  Thanks!

christian0oo - Posted - 10/02/2011:  08:06:32

I wanna join the club! lol

andyo - Posted - 10/03/2011:  19:58:26

Rob introduced three new models today. One is the Cimarron that has a full weight tone ring and sells for 1995.00
He's pretty humble about getting on the hangout, but I can tell you all the nice things said on this thread have been
making him feel pretty good!

We also just updated our pictures and videos on our web site. Check out the new stuff and let us know what you think.

christian0oo - Posted - 10/04/2011:  04:40:37

I've watched every video on the site, plus any I can find on youtube and I gotta say, I love everything bishline is doing!

christian0oo - Posted - 10/04/2011:  04:41:30

I've watched every video on the site, plus any I can find on youtube and I gotta say, I love everything bishline is doing!

piscesgrrl - Posted - 10/09/2011:  14:12:16

D.W.-I took a different route. A friend lent me a banjo and I decide to head up to Kaufman Kamp to get some instruction. Left Kamp knowing I would buy a banjo before school started up again. I had my heart set on a Deering...then I played a Bishline. Corny as it may sound, just the feel of Rob's banjo was magical. Less than a month later I was on the phone with Rob placing a custom order. I'll be paying this banjo off for a while, but it's worth it. Rob and Andy have not only been professional, but they've been kind. If I could I'd get a Madera too!

I have pics of the building process on my home page. I cannot wait for this beast to come to my door!

dobroman - Posted - 10/09/2011:  17:43:17

I met Rob at a fest in Mo. about 3 yrs ago. I had just bought a new banjo from another builder. Rob and I looked it over, he had nothing but praise for the other guy, but made a couple setup suggestions, so I let him go. The end result was the banjo sounded better!! I dont think there are many that would take there time to work on another guys banjo, free of charge and make it sound better. Granted they all need tweeked some after they been played a while. Still I say Rob is a great guy building some great banjos. Its very obvious he has a lot of passion for his craft, and is one of the best. I truly hope he gets all the credit he has coming to him!! Oh yea that dude can pick!!!!

Banjo Studio - Posted - 02/02/2012:  07:26:09

We have a new Bishline Patriot coming to us!  Snatch it up before it anyone else! These things are moving fast!

banjostudio.com/5-string-banjo...ing-banjo

banjostudio.com

info@banjostudio.com

Jody Hughes - Posted - 02/02/2012:  08:15:15

Just had a student that bought one. The resonator had a very nice Satin finish on it, craftsmanship was impeccable.

MrNatch3L - Posted - 02/03/2012:  01:41:07

How I saved money to buy my Bishline: worked a 2nd job part-time for about 8 months, giving 25% to the household kitty (this was really good strategy for getting spousal buy-in to the idea of spending over $2K on a banjo ).

After I got the banjo I was a little burned out, but I stopped the 2nd job and pickin' that wonderful banjo did a lot towards the burn-out recovery, oh yes it did. Like in about 15 minutes.

Banjo Studio - Posted - 02/07/2012:  05:14:43

quote:

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Originally posted by Banjo Studio

We have a new Bishline Patriot coming to us!  Snatch it up before it anyone else! These things are moving fast!

banjostudio.com/5-string-banjo...ing-banjo

banjostudio.com

info@banjostudio.com

---

It came!  What a beauty!  Beautiful tone, craftsmanship, and nice light weight so it won't kill your back!