Dave1climber - Posted - 12/31/2012:  15:21:27

Real Gold?   Sparkles, yum yum.  

grich - Posted - 12/31/2012:  15:37:11

That's a Steve Gill Burl Maple Resonator 

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 12/31/2012:  16:09:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by grich

 

Spy photos taken at our brand new USA Recording King Factory located somewhere in the Nashville TN area show some signs

of banjo production that will be on display at the winter NAMM show ...... Right   Mr. Weber !

 

---

Look out he has gold fever.  Crackin' the whip on poor Mr. Weber like that for shame...cause damn!  

edweber - Posted - 12/31/2012:  19:02:00

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kirk Jacobs

quote:

---

Originally posted by grich

 

Spy photos taken at our brand new USA Recording King Factory located somewhere in the Nashville TN area show some signs

of banjo production that will be on display at the winter NAMM show ...... Right   Mr. Weber !

 

---

Look out he has gold fever.  Crackin' the whip on poor Mr. Weber like that for shame...cause damn!  

---

Go ahead, crack the whip! I can take it! No whip today brought down across my back can ever come close to the whippin's I took at Gibson. They laid me open with a production schedule like no other. I learned the true meaning of stress. But they DID NOT break my spirit!!

Greg, just make it a Mink whip purty please, those feel so-o-o-oo- good! 

banjoman 1 - Posted - 12/31/2012:  20:27:13

These banjos are gonna knock 'em dead.......You guys are the best...........Greg, i think that you have assembled a great team to work with.
Ron Coleman does great work as well as Don Hunter. It's going to be fun seeing these banjos when they are completed. Lynn Williams

grich - Posted - 12/31/2012:  21:19:04

Banjoman1

I couldn't agree more , when you consider both Don Hunter & Ed Weber both worked for Gibson and each have 25 years plus experience in banjo construction and finishing

add in Ron Coleman and if all goes well at the NAMM show this could be a lot of fun 

This ones for you

Mr Weber

You are the original BKA 

edweber - Posted - 12/31/2012:  22:12:54

SWEET!!!

edweber - Posted - 12/31/2012:  22:13:42

When do the T-shirts come out?

Gillis Cashman - Posted - 01/01/2013:  07:17:22

Looks like my Stelling will be on the market when these babies hit the street

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/01/2013:  11:30:34

I kinda like the fact that the first three letters in Recording King are my initials ! Ron Earl Coleman ... That is a great start to a banjo brand name in my book.

Grich how about those USA RK team caps and t-shirts? ...cause damn! 

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/01/2013:  12:21:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by grich

Banjoman1

I couldn't agree more , when you consider both Don Hunter & Ed Weber both worked for Gibson and each have 25 years plus experience in banjo construction and finishing

add in Ron Coleman and if all goes well at the NAMM show this could be a lot of fun 

This ones for you

Mr Weber

You are the original BKA 

 

---

Greg

For those of us that have not been playing banjo since before there was dirt, what is BKA all about?

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/01/2013:  13:53:08

 Go ahead and tell him Catfish.

grich - Posted - 01/01/2013:  13:59:26

How much did Ron pay you to ask about what BKA stands for !

Mr. Weber made me do it , so I'm sure he can tell you !

grich - Posted - 01/01/2013:  13:59:27

How much did Ron pay you to ask about what BKA stands for !

Mr. Weber made me do it , so I'm sure he can tell you !

edweber - Posted - 01/01/2013:  15:19:25

In the words of the inimitable Sgt. Shultz... I know nothing! Well, almost nothing. I do know the "B" stands for banjo.

Mr. Rich knows more than he's telling!! 

grich - Posted - 01/01/2013:  15:51:11

What's up with that ..... You  Kiss A$$ you !

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/01/2013:  18:23:42

Banjo K... A..  ?

By the way I accept banjo's as payment!!    

Edited by - Dave1climber on 01/01/2013 18:26:18

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/01/2013:  18:52:07

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dave1climber

Banjo K... A..  ?

By the way I accept banjo's as payment!!    

---

Dave you do great spy work ! Pay day is coming......I  have heard that the second million is easier than the first million! STAY TUNED 

Edited by - Earls 5 on 01/01/2013 18:53:20

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/01/2013:  19:23:30

I will send you my super secrete account number so you can wire me those untraceable funds.      

Beachbum Scott - Posted - 01/02/2013:  13:20:10

USA made open backs for us ol' timey folks????

Beachbum Scott - Posted - 01/02/2013:  13:20:36

USA made open backs for us ol' timey folks????

schwimbo - Posted - 01/05/2013:  00:44:28

Hi Greg,

Are the new USA Recording Kings going to have the 5th string pip placed as in the pics you first posted (see attachment)? It would be great if all RKs had the pip placed in this location, as I've seen some Chinese banjos (the brand shall remain nameless at the moment) recently that had the 5th string pip way too close to the 4th string. This uneven spacing would make it hard for a person with large fingers to fret the 4th (or possibly the 5th string) without muting the adjacent string. Having the pip located as pictured in your "promo shot" for the USA Standard series RK makes really good sense for lots of reasons, including keeping the spacing between 4th and 5th strings at the correct distance. I hope that you keep this feature for the USA line, and hopefully expand its use to include the Chinese made RK line.

USA Standard series RK promo pics

Old Hickory - Posted - 01/05/2013:  08:18:36

Hi, Greg.

A question about the white, black and gold sparkle purfling on one of the necks:

At what point in the neck-making process was the channel routed for the purfling and when was the purfling installed? Before the neck is bound and shaped? After?

Thanks for whatever you can tell.

tymburrs - Posted - 01/05/2013:  09:00:16

Looks like we're going to have a "Recording King - Dom". We know Monsieur Grich has to be pondering that'un!! :) Michael

Bizdoc - Posted - 01/06/2013:  07:55:32

I like the change on the head to script inlay as opposed to the old block.

edweber - Posted - 01/07/2013:  07:51:25

quote:

---

Originally posted by Old Hickory

 

Hi, Greg.

A question about the white, black and gold sparkle purfling on one of the necks:

At what point in the neck-making process was the channel routed for the purfling and when was the purfling installed? Before the neck is bound and shaped? After?

Thanks for whatever you can tell.

---

Ken,

Since I'm the guy installing the gold sparkle and building these banjos I thought I would answer your question.

After I have installed the truss rod and fingerboard - and even the headstock overlay just because it's as good a time to do this as any - I will sand the sides of the neck down to create a .060 binding ledge. That allows me to use the Siminoff router attachment without it bottoming out so that I can create the channel for the Gold Sparkle. If there's too much meat then the router attachment won't go the depth I need.

After the channels are routed is when I install the binding. Then it's on to fretting the neck, installing the nut & side dots and drilling the 5th peg hole. At this point I take care of the final shape of the neck.

One note: some builders will rout the channels, fret it first, and THEN bind it so that the binding covers the ends of the frets (be sure to file the fret ends flat).

Ed

Old Hickory - Posted - 01/07/2013:  08:52:53

Thanks, Ed.

I was asking about the purfling below the binding, not the gold sparkle on the fingerboard surface. But I think that's what you answered.

So if I understand correctly, you're routing for the full binding and purfling treatment at the same time? When you install, you're therefore installing from the bottom up - purfling then binding? Sorry to ask a probably obvious question.

I prefer the modern treatment of frets extending over the binding. Minimizes pulling the string off the end of the fret.

edweber - Posted - 01/07/2013:  19:12:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by Old Hickory

Thanks, Ed.

I was asking about the purfling below the binding, not the gold sparkle on the fingerboard surface. But I think that's what you answered.

So if I understand correctly, you're routing for the full binding and purfling treatment at the same time? When you install, you're therefore installing from the bottom up - purfling then binding? Sorry to ask a probably obvious question.

I prefer the modern treatment of frets extending over the binding. Minimizes pulling the string off the end of the fret.

---

Yeah, I'm re-routing everything at the same time, sorta starting with a clean slate so to speak. After cutting the channel I lay the black/white .020/.020 binding next to the wood together with the gold sparkle at the same time and use a thin, watery type of Cyanoacrylate glue and spray Accelerator on it to help it set up faster. After that is accomplished I glue the .020/.020 black/white onto the plain binding making it one piece. Then using thick Cyano glue I'll lay that one piece on top of or above the G.Sparkle and glue it into place. So you're correct, I install from the bottom up.

And I like the frets over the binding too.

Ed

grich - Posted - 01/08/2013:  21:03:52

Just in from our " If I tell you where it is factory , I would have to kill you " new photos ! 

Edited by - grich on 01/08/2013 21:06:35

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/08/2013:  21:23:20

That is some serious bling.  It could make a rapper jealous.  I may have to break a piggy bank to have one of those.

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/08/2013:  21:26:16

Greg

You missed engraving and plating the head hoop.  

Other wise I like them.

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 01/09/2013:  04:33:03

quote:

---

Originally posted by grich

Just in from our " If I tell you where it is factory , I would have to kill you " new photos ! 

 

---

Alright how about give us a hint and you just threaten us.  

Edited by - Kirk Jacobs on 01/09/2013 04:33:59

country frank - Posted - 01/09/2013:  05:15:33

Ok What happened?........i was eagerly anticipating some serious All American Perloid here, what a wasted opportunity...... this is a huge disappointment.

Edited by - country frank on 01/09/2013 05:16:13

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/09/2013:  05:20:22

Gold sparkle to go with the ....Gold sparkle! Nice!

grich - Posted - 01/09/2013:  11:24:28

Take your pick of either the M-5 or the M-7 for the MAP price of  $2995.00 includes a HSC

see your authorized Recording King dealer

Edited by - grich on 01/09/2013 11:26:02

Old Hickory - Posted - 01/09/2013:  11:32:36

Less than the street price of RB-250 when Gibson last made them!  Not the cheapest, not the most expensive. Priced to compete. Way to go.

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/09/2013:  11:42:35

Very competitive, I may have to break open the piggy bank!

Hankon5 - Posted - 01/09/2013:  13:39:56

What kind of tone ring? Similar sound to what other ring on the market?  Who makes the rim...RK or outside? Good lookin' ginger bread on the metal!

Edited by - Hankon5 on 01/09/2013 13:43:14

MarkFive - Posted - 01/10/2013:  12:39:46

After watching the development over the past few months of the new American-made Recording King banjos, and seeing the craftsmanship involved in the final product, we are grateful that we obtained model M-5 serial number 001 and model M-7 serial 001.  They will be available for sale at Banjo.com a few days after I pick them up at SPBGMA.  The price will be $2995.00.  We're proud to represent these new American-made instruments.

I plan to pick both models for a few days after SPBGMA, so please be patient.

Old Hickory - Posted - 01/10/2013:  12:55:07

Wow!  I'm amazed that Recording King wouldn't be holding onto them for at least a while as prototypes. You may have to hold a lottery!

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/10/2013:  17:30:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkFive

After watching the development over the past few months of the new American-made Recording King banjos, and seeing the craftsmanship involved in the final product, we are grateful that we obtained model M-5 serial number 001 and model M-7 serial 001.  They will be available for sale at Banjo.com a few days after I pick them up at SPBGMA.  The price will be $2995.00.  We're proud to represent these new American-made instruments.

I plan to pick both models for a few days after SPBGMA, so please be patient.

 

---

Mar​k - these "New Era USA Recording King"banjo's are coming along nicely. I just finished assembling the curly maple M5 and will be knocking the M7 out tomorrow.

Here are a few lo-fi photos of the M5  

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/10/2013:  18:06:21

One of the "upgrades" of the "New Era USA Recording King" Standard M5 / M7 Models is precision stainless frets. Ultra smooth chokes and slides and last and last while retaining a beautiful shiny glow.

USA built necks and Resonators finished by Master finisher Don Hunter just like the USA Custom Shop RK's !  Gotoh tuning machines, bone nuts and Quality RK - American thread hardware. And the best part is they are assembled here in the good ol US of A !!!

And those USA RK Custom Shop banjo's are even HOTTER!

mikehalloran - Posted - 01/11/2013:  08:09:15

Now that it looks like some will be ready soon, I have started a new thread in Shopping Advice about availability.

banjohangout.org/topic/253469

Edited by - mikehalloran on 01/11/2013 08:10:50

tymburrs - Posted - 01/11/2013:  11:00:04

It's like I said in another post - - - It's going to be a Recording King-Dom. :) I think Ron Coleman and the others should be knighted . . Greg, you have sword to dub them? Michael chez tymburrs

grich - Posted - 01/13/2013:  08:26:55

M-7 photos

And to go with all that gold bling engraving

Earls 5 - Posted - 01/13/2013:  11:40:59

Uncle Jed just saw those  "New Era USA RK"s"  and all he could say was Eeeeeee Doggy ! 

mandolinman31639 - Posted - 01/13/2013:  12:06:55

I'll bet a dozen pickled buzzard eggs they sound as good as they look.

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/13/2013:  13:45:08

                                                                                             Awesome!!

Edited by - Dave1climber on 01/13/2013 13:46:10

Possom - Posted - 01/13/2013:  21:35:46

Hey Greg how bout shipping me one of those Mahogany M7s and I promise to pick it at every show and festival I play and attend ;)

Very nice work all around guys. Y'all are turning out what might be the next great AMERICAN banjos. Gibson who? I think its very cool that some of the same guys responsible for turning out those great banjos in the early 90s late 80s are the ones responsible for these. If they're anything as good or better than those were the banjo world is set to have its socks blown off