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prsplayer2011 - Posted - 11/24/2011: 21:25:40
Both of those sound amazing. I think the KK-4 takes it though. I haven't heard those before and I've found myself on Bishlines website more than I care to admit but that KK-4 just seems a little brighter and crisper to my ear. Good luck deciding.
prewartb3 - Posted - 11/25/2011: 04:36:12
Both are real nice banjos. The KK4 has a Gibson look with chrome hardware, FE inlays & 3 ply rim. The Cimarron has a block rim with simple inlays and unique peghead shape. Both look & sound great while bringing the American Made Banjo back in to the hands of players for the right price.
Kudos to both builders 
kmwaters - Posted - 11/25/2011: 06:03:51
While you are at it, check out Ron Grimsley's White Mountain Banjo - model RB-20. I have played this banjo (and seen their shop) and it will stack up well to any in the 2k-3k range - maybe even higher. Great inlay work too. And you have a choice of different wood if you like. I think he sells more curly maple though. Less expensive models with internal resonator also available. Great workmanship from Ron and his partner Mark Hickler. Give him a call.
whitemountainbanjo.org/rb-20
grich - Posted - 11/25/2011: 07:05:59
No other U.S. made banjo offers this kind of quality at anywhere near this price. Curly maple throughout, Tennessee 20 Tone Ring, Prucha rim hardware including a Prucha precision tension hoop, Flyuing Eagle custom inlay, stainless steel frets, Gill Resonator and Hickler rim turned ion our Tempe, AZ shop. Add Gotoh tuners, Kats Eyz bridge, double hump tailpiece, Ludwig medium crown head and the quality is obvious.
$2,400
No other U.S. made banjo offers this kind of quality at anywhere near this price.
I'm not sure where " Anywhere " is located but you can get a US made Bishline Cimarron for $1995.00 making it $400 cheaper and in my opinion their quality is on par with
many US builders such as Huber , Hatfield , Stelling , Sullivan .... etc !
vtyankee5 - Posted - 11/25/2011: 08:06:35
You can get the Gibson style Kel Kroydon affordable series banjos starting @ 1899. All with the same quality craftsmanship as Huber, Hatfield, Yates, Stelling & Sullivan for a lot less money. More banjo for the dollar made in the USA.
phischer - Posted - 11/25/2011: 09:27:05
I like the KK-4 for many reasons but I just can't get past the heel on the Bishlines. I know they are saving wood by using a joined heel but for my money I am not interested. They aren't stacked heels but then again for Bishline prices I feel a one piece neck is in line. If I want a glued heel joint I can get RK-35 for a lot less $$$. It's a harsh beef on a really good maker - as I feel Bishline is - but again just me.
andyo - Posted - 11/25/2011: 13:15:09
You can't go wrong with a KK or a Bishline.
As mentioned in a previous thread, banjohangout.org/topic/220260 , 99% of Rob's banjos built in the last two years have been one piece necks and heels.
There is an occasional exotic wood custom banjo built that requires wood conservation.
Some of the best instrument makers in the world (i.e. Taylor guitars) do "stack" their heels.
It makes for a very strong heel. Bishline did some heels that way a few years back to conserve wood and still make a good stable neck but went to one piece only for cosmetic reasons.
Va Picker - Posted - 11/25/2011: 13:27:06
I know what a two-piece neck is but would someone explain what the heel is and what heel-stacking is?
Thanks.
Va Picker - Posted - 11/25/2011: 13:27:33
I know what a two-piece neck is but would someone explain what the heel is and what heel-stacking is?
Thanks.
D.W. - Posted - 11/25/2011: 17:43:19
quote:
Originally posted by Va Picker
I know what a two-piece neck is but would someone explain what the heel is and what heel-stacking is?
Thanks.
I believe this would be a "stacked" heel. It's from my Exotic Wood Banjo - Aftrican Zebrawood, which is catagorized as a "threatened" species (as opposed to endangered which it is not quite yet).
And I've had absolutely no issues with this banjo. (rest of the build photos are in the album on my bho homepage).
Edited by - D.W. on 11/25/2011 17:54:52
DENNISNDODIE - Posted - 11/25/2011: 18:21:07
Having owned a Bishline,I know they are great banjos. Bishline has a unique sound but I prefer the Gibson sound. RK makes great sounding banjos (with the Gibson sound) but I would prefer to buy American. .Deering has a unique sound but Earl didnt play a Deering. Stelling has a unique sound also. My wife says they all sound the same to her.Maybe Im to picky. Looking for the holy grail.
mastertone250 - Posted - 11/25/2011: 19:08:43
Definatly the KK-4, the bishline is a good banjo but to my ear, it doesnt have nearly the power and tone that the KK-4 has.
D.W. - Posted - 11/25/2011: 19:25:30
The holy grail doesn't exist.
Earl would sound like Earl on any banjo he played (Deering, RK, or Squared Eel). Honestly I think Earl is overrated. But that's me, I don't want to sound like Earl. I want to sound like DW.
Personally I think there are too many factors that affect "sound" to try and find an "ideal" sound in any one maker. Wood type affects sound. Set up affects sound. Head tension affects sound. Bridges affect sound (wood types). String guages affect sound.
You want a banjo with "the Gibson" sound, get a Gibson. Plenty of them around. By all means get something that's going to make you happy. If it's an RK don't worry that it's Asian and not American.
Best of luck in your search.
Edited by - D.W. on 11/25/2011 19:26:24
banjo1930 - Posted - 11/25/2011: 22:50:24
You can't beat Robin Smith's work, he is the best banjo luthier in the world today. The KK-4 that I played was one of the best banjos I have ever played, it was really amazing. (I've seen some awesome Bishlines too though! It all depends on what type of tone and look you are going for. There are a lot of great banjos out there!)
DENNISNDODIE - Posted - 11/25/2011: 23:14:36
I would buy a Gibson if it was in my price range and I could play it first. Its been my experience that when looking to buy a banjo there are no quality instruments in local stores to get ahold of. So all the banjos Ive bought before was from reviews or Catalogs. Also looked at u tube videos of banjos the past few years. All the info on the banjo hangout has got me more picky than I used to be.
prewartb3 - Posted - 11/26/2011: 16:52:52
The KK4 is more a Gibson than many other banjos mentioned. For the price you can get by with another name on the peghead. Even that name was tied to Gibson at one time.
phischer - Posted - 11/26/2011: 23:25:36
quote:
Originally posted by D.W.
The holy grail doesn't exist.
Earl would sound like Earl on any banjo he played (Deering, RK, or Squared Eel). Honestly I think Earl is overrated. But that's me, I don't want to sound like Earl. I want to sound like DW.
Personally I think there are too many factors that affect "sound" to try and find an "ideal" sound in any one maker. Wood type affects sound. Set up affects sound. Head tension affects sound. Bridges affect sound (wood types). String guages affect sound.
You want a banjo with "the Gibson" sound, get a Gibson. Plenty of them around. By all means get something that's going to make you happy. If it's an RK don't worry that it's Asian and not American.
Best of luck in your search.
Not sure this is or was about the holy grail or Earl. He is just wondering which is a better buy out of two similarly built banjos and why.
D.W. - Posted - 11/27/2011: 10:05:31
quote:
Originally posted by DENNISNDODIE
Having owned a Bishline,I know they are great banjos. Bishline has a unique sound but I prefer the Gibson sound. RK makes great sounding banjos (with the Gibson sound) but I would prefer to buy American. .Deering has a unique sound but Earl didnt play a Deering. Stelling has a unique sound also. My wife says they all sound the same to her.Maybe Im to picky. Looking for the holy grail.
phischer,
If you'd read through the thread all the way you'd see that I was answering the above quoted post- in which Earl and the Holy grail are referenced. If Earl played a deering then that's what he'd pick.
Dennis,
I understand the hassle of not having a good inventory selection nearby. I would have to travel to another state for a good selection. And once you've done that (for the purpose of buying), it kinda puts a lot of pressure on one to make a purchase that trip.
Gibson makes it more difficult by requiring large volume buys from their dealers that smaller instrument stores just cannot afford to make, so Gibsons wind up being sold at Guitar Centers and places that don't know jack about banjo set up.
I certainly understand picky. I'm the same way, and I firmly believe if you aren't 110% happy with it (whatever it is) don't buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Old Hickory - Posted - 11/27/2011: 21:08:37
quote:
Originally posted by D.W.
Gibson makes it more difficult by requiring large volume buys from their dealers that smaller instrument stores just cannot afford to make, so Gibsons wind up being sold at Guitar Centers and places that don't know jack about banjo set up.
Gibson makes it really difficult by not making banjos anymore. Not since the flood in May last year. So whatever new Gibsons are still in stock anywhere could be the last there will ever be.
dustinTN - Posted - 11/28/2011: 06:33:42
I envy your position. Those are both great banjos, and I'm sure you'll love either one. I love the aesthetics of Bishline banjos and Rob Bishline strikes me as a great guy. However, I'm partial to AMB having met Robin Smith several times. A better banjo builder does not exist.
D.W. - Posted - 11/28/2011: 16:01:12
quote:
Originally posted by Old Hickory
quote:
Originally posted by D.W.
Gibson makes it more difficult by requiring large volume buys from their dealers that smaller instrument stores just cannot afford to make, so Gibsons wind up being sold at Guitar Centers and places that don't know jack about banjo set up.
Gibson makes it really difficult by not making banjos anymore. Not since the flood in May last year. So whatever new Gibsons are still in stock anywhere could be the last there will ever be.
Thanks for that clarification. My comments should be edited to reflect Gibsons "Pre-Flood" attitude.
Regarding them not making banjos anymore, as far as I'm concerned that's probably not a bad thing. I'm not a fan and think they're over-rated. Sure there are those that will disagree, but that's my opinion.
