Banjophobic - Posted - 02/03/2012:  19:24:57

I have sad news to report. I just learned that Snuffy has passed away. I don't have any details or arrangements yet., but I will be sure to post them here as soon as I know. He's done a lot for bridge development and was an accomplished luthier/repairman and darn good banjoist too. Say some prayers for his wife Jacque tonight.

Here's an update:

Snuffy passed away in his Shop Friday afternoon.  A memorial service and visitation will be held at 6:00 pm on Monday evening, at Slate Funeral Home - 132 E Dalton Road, King, NC 27021. Phone Number: (336) 983-5176. He will be buried in Arkansas.

Edited by - Banjophobic on 02/05/2012 13:08:56

El Dobro - Posted - 02/03/2012:  19:48:22

Sorry to hear this. RIP

The KIDD - Posted - 02/03/2012:  19:52:44

So sorry to hear!!!...He used to do Free set ups and tone ring fits at the MACC yrs ago. He set up my Granada and gave me sage advice about how NOT to treat a banjo... That day still remains very vivid in the minds eye. Yeah John,please post new as you get it.

Grumpy1 - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:02:34

Prayers sent up.

Slingerland - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:02:44

Sorry to here this. My thoughts are with his family.

bbaker - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:07:26

Thankful for all he has done. Tried other bridges but always went back to his. Thank you. Rip

plunka5 - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:14:13

Sorry to hear this...thoughts and prayers out to the Smith family and friends...

BanjoFlyboy - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:36:52

So sorry to hear this sad news.

Forrest - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:42:30

I'm sorry to hear about Snuffy's passing.  My prayers go out to his family.  The banjo world has lost an icon.

RatLer - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:44:16

Praying for his family...

kirbonite - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:46:42

sorry to hear.. his bridge was on my banjo for many years.. still would be but I went back 5/8.

he will be missed.

fivedrive5 - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:56:59

Very sorry to hear this news,saw him at Galax back last august.A great loss,I've used his bridges for years! Prayers for the family.    Jim

RIP my friend!!

Edited by - fivedrive5 on 02/03/2012 20:58:37

Disco Kid - Posted - 02/03/2012:  21:33:13

Sorry to hear that. He had alot of history. Just bought a 9/16 SS from Elderly a few weeks ago.

SidBarone - Posted - 02/03/2012:  22:06:54

Sorry to hear this sad news..

blugrssmom - Posted - 02/03/2012:  22:11:03

Sorry to hear this, prayers will go out to his wife.

ShawnKirkpatrick - Posted - 02/03/2012:  22:26:32

Sorry to hear this, I'll be praying.

DannyB4 - Posted - 02/03/2012:  22:27:57

...I heard about his passing tonight on the way back from a picking party....what a shame...he was a good person, luthier, and banjo player...our thoughts and prayers go out to his good wife, ....

Edited by - DannyB4 on 02/03/2012 22:35:38

banjoy - Posted - 02/03/2012:  23:21:55

Sorry to hear this. He will be missed.

DGEBanjo - Posted - 02/03/2012:  23:42:29

prayers to the family

BC - Posted - 02/04/2012:  01:39:41

He will be missed. Prayers to the family

silvioferretti - Posted - 02/04/2012:  04:32:25

I first got in touch with him in 1980, by letter of course. Ordered a bridge, he wrote back asking complete information about my banjo, setup, sound preferences etc so that he could choose the right bridge for me. I never got that first bridge, so after a while he sent me another one, for free. First met him in 1982, became friends right away. He put me up at his place (back then in was in Springdale, AR) for several days, in two different occasions, and taught me A LOT about banjos, setup, bridges, astronomy & telescopes, shooting pistols, dirt car racing, cats and dogs, Ducati motorcycles, Corvettes, you name it he was an expert at that. Showed me EVERYTHING about how he built bridges, he was selfish or secretive about it at all. He came to Italy and we went to Cremona for the Stradivari Museum, traveled Northern Italy with him and Jaque. His mother always came to see my band when we played in the Tulsa area, where she lived, and always brought me greetings from Joe (Snuffy's real name, she could never adapt to calling him Snuffy...). We haven't been in touch for the past 10 years or so because of his not liking (and possibly not even having) email, but in my mind he always was a true friend, and I know it was the same for me. It's a very sad day for me. I wish I could get in touch with Jacque so I can let her know how much I've been missing them, and I'll be missing Snuffy.

bhrb75 - Posted - 02/04/2012:  04:55:18

I hate to hear that Snuffy passed away. He was one of the the first "big" guys who heard me play and gave me a lot of encouragement early on. He was also one of the first people who sparked my intrest in pre-war Gibson banjos. I will never forget my first trip to his shop, in King, when it was in the smaller place and playing some of the first pre-war one piece flange Gibsons I would come in contact with. Thanks Snuffy, R.I.P.

Brandon

Yard Onion - Posted - 02/04/2012:  05:10:57

Sorry to hear this news. Prayers to his family...

Rick Lafleur - Posted - 02/04/2012:  05:21:01

So sorry to hear this very sad news.

kmwaters - Posted - 02/04/2012:  05:56:30

Condolences to all.  A banjo icon of the highest caliber.  R.I.P.

pickNgrin - Posted - 02/04/2012:  05:58:42

The banjo world loses another great one. RIP Snuffy.

-matt

Ebanjo - Posted - 02/04/2012:  06:10:54

So sorry to hear this. RIP Snuffy. Besides being the guy who worked on my banjos, he was a good friend. I'm sure gonna miss him. Prayers for Jacquie and the rest of his family.
Eric Ellis

Aaron Thomas - Posted - 02/04/2012:  07:29:04

Snuffy - May you rest in peace with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Snuffy made a great banjo bridge. I use them on my banjo. May his wife find comfort in knowing Snuffy is enjoying the joys of heaven.

38 Kalamazoo - Posted - 02/04/2012:  07:29:17

So sad to hear. I got to hang out with him at Galax last year. I was just talking to some friends of mine about going on a "Snuffy trip". He will be greatly missed. RIP Snuffy.

Brian Hicks

robbyboone - Posted - 02/04/2012:  07:50:31

I'm setting here just numb......I've lost one of my oldest friends, my teacher, my mentor. Snuffy came to see me during Christmas and I'm so glad that he did, he was happy and positive, mentioned that he had been having a few health problems but didn't elaborate beyond just the mention. I posted one here about his visit and how his coming to see me was the perfect end to a wonderful day that I had experienced.......my last memory of Snuffy was when he left that evening, grabbed me up and hugged me.....told me he loved me.......I love you too Snuffy.

Edited by - robbyboone on 02/04/2012 07:51:31

jfb - Posted - 02/04/2012:  11:49:42

Sad news for sure, my empathy to the family...

Roll Player - Posted - 02/04/2012:  11:55:13

Sorry to hear this. It's a big loss for the banjo world, indeed. My sympathies to his family and friends.

Wes Lassiter - Posted - 02/04/2012:  15:02:27

It is a huge loss. really sorry to hear it.

flintlock54 - Posted - 02/04/2012:  15:11:25

Very sorry to hear that, God bless him and his!

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/04/2012:  16:44:13

heard of his passing this morning , really sorry to hear this.. his wife jacque and family will be in our prayers.




terry m

Rick Polston - Posted - 02/04/2012:  17:41:42

Here is a post in Bluegrass Today along with a picture of Snuffy

bluegrasstoday.com/37247/snuff...h-passes/

pstroud1 - Posted - 02/04/2012:  21:53:07

Prayers from TN

Paul

fivestringbing - Posted - 02/05/2012:  09:47:07

This is so sad :( he will be dearly missed

DannyB4 - Posted - 02/05/2012:  10:39:27

legacy.com/obituaries/winstons...155765389 

here is the obituary...

Ryan Cavanaugh - Posted - 02/05/2012:  23:01:04

Snuffy worked on my banjo since I was a teenager in North Carolina.  He was always happy to see me and let me play his old banjos and Tony Rice's guitar while I waited for him to cut me a bridge.  He was always more than willing to sit for hours and chat and rarely charged me for work.  He was intent on me having my banjo the way I wanted it.  RIP Snuff

colleydawg - Posted - 02/06/2012:  05:54:08

I was very saddened to hear of Snuffy's passing.  Snuffy and I first met in 1969 when he and I were both living in Springdale AR.  He and my dad had formed a bluegrass band and they would get together at the house to rehearse.  At the time, Snuffy was a fireman with the Springdale Fire Dept.  Whenever he would work a shift at the firehouse just up the street from my house, he would always bring one of his banjos.  I would ride my bike up to the station and he would let me sit around and pick on his banjo while we talked bluegrass.  Later, when he opened his String Shoppe, I would drop by and hang out as often as I could (remember those days, Robby Boone?).  After I moved to Texas in 1982, I would come home to visit family and always tried to drop in and see him.  We kinda lost touch after he moved to North Carolina, but we re-connected via Facebook about a year ago.  For that I'm thankful.  I still play the Stelling Staghorn I bought from him in 1980.  It'll probably be the last one I ever own.  Rest in peace, Snuffy!

impickin5 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  16:42:05

Sorry to hear about Snuffy's passing. I bought a 1935 TB-1 conversion from Snuffy back in 1998 at his place, and later I had him do a setup on a Gibson Blackjack for me there. What a nice guy he was. May he RIP.

Ray

DannyB KY - Posted - 02/06/2012:  17:20:15

Prayers for the family.................My condolences to all his friends...........

robbyboone - Posted - 02/06/2012:  20:43:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by colleydawg

I was very saddened to hear of Snuffy's passing.  Snuffy and I first met in 1969 when he and I were both living in Springdale AR.  He and my dad had formed a bluegrass band and they would get together at the house to rehearse.  At the time, Snuffy was a fireman with the Springdale Fire Dept.  Whenever he would work a shift at the firehouse just up the street from my house, he would always bring one of his banjos.  I would ride my bike up to the station and he would let me sit around and pick on his banjo while we talked bluegrass.  Later, when he opened his String Shoppe, I would drop by and hang out as often as I could (remember those days, Robby Boone?).  After I moved to Texas in 1982, I would come home to visit family and always tried to drop in and see him.  We kinda lost touch after he moved to North Carolina, but we re-connected via Facebook about a year ago.  For that I'm thankful.  I still play the Stelling Staghorn I bought from him in 1980.  It'll probably be the last one I ever own.  Rest in peace, Snuffy!

---

You bet I remember those days Gene.......from age 15 to age 20 almost all my waking hours were spent at Snuffy's......playing and setting up banjos, helping Snuff build bridges, substitute banjo teaching, drinkin' a lot of ten cent Cokes and playing with Snuffy's dog Sam. I spent my last two years of High School on a CCE work program working for Snuffy at his shop......I got credits for playing banjos and going to festivals with him! Spending time with Snuffy and the people that came thru his shop are some of my best memories. I could tell stories for hours about the people, the instruments and the music that came thru the shop. Memories I will treasure......all because of Snuffy Smith.

Robby

John Allison - Posted - 02/07/2012:  05:42:40

RIP Snuffy and thoughts and prayers are extended to family and friends.

drivin5string - Posted - 02/07/2012:  17:23:46

I was sorry to hear of Snuffy's passing.  He was the first of the "big guys" to take the time to unlock some of the mysteries of the banjo for me.  I have many fond memories of arriving at his banjo cave at the crack of noon, various banjos spread out all over the place, making small talk while trying to figure out just exactly what was he doing with the tailpiece.  So many friends and great pickers during those trips to King - Don and Ron Norman, Jim Rollins, Eric Ellis - handing banjos around, talking about Earl and J.D., maple vs. mahogany, trying to get at least one lick he's got that I don't, watching the cat studying to find the perfect case in which to settle.  I don't find myself picking much these days, but when I pull it out, you can bet Snuffy's bridge is holding my strings.  Thank you for taking the time and for fueling the fire.  My sincere condolences to family and friends.

Douch - Posted - 02/08/2012:  01:36:58

Sad news.

BANJO TONY - Posted - 02/08/2012:  09:24:50

the banjo world lost a Great man yesterday.I have a few bridges of his,put at least he died doing what he loved best,and now he's home with our father in haven God.so lets Rejoice his life & remember all the good he has done for the banjo world.if you have a nice story to tell please do.

ac5aa - Posted - 02/08/2012:  09:44:35

We will definitely miss Snuffy.