davepicks5 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  09:27:14

Everyone's opinion valued....

1. Who do you believe has the best BG banjo VALUE in the $2400 - 2800 range ?

      Tell me who you like and why. we don't have to stay in that tight a price range, but I choose that price range because a lot of first time buyers move up into this next price point.

2. Are there  builders that you would like to see in that price range that are not there ?

I am just observing that a large number of banjos are for sale in the $1500 and less range and also  the $3500 plus point.

Fire away......... I think a lot of us are interested in a discussion.

Selling a banjo is relatively easy, finding the right buyer is the challenge.

David

David

the-fish - Posted - 06/12/2014:  09:39:43

I'll be first to say hatfield

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  09:44:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by the-fish

I'll be first to say hatfield

---

Rick

Thanks for being first..... tell us why.

Great people without question......

David

markbyrum - Posted - 06/12/2014:  09:49:06

David:

  I'm a hard-core Huber Banjo fan and own one Huber Sammy Shelor Custom Model and have a Huber HR-30 Tone Ring in a pre-war conversion.  You won't find a Huber for sale in this price range, however.  Sonny Osborne, however, makes an excellent banjo (or more accurately has one made).  The Osborne Chief banjo comes in three flavors these days and start at about $4,350.  However, a used Osborne Chief can be had in the  price range of which we speak.  Right now there are three (3) Osborne Chiefs for sale in the Banjo Hangout Classifieds ranging in price between $2,850 and $3,000.  As you probably know, the asking price and the price someone who has one for sale will sell it for are seldom the same.  Check out Sonny's website (sonnyosborne.com) , there are sound-bites there, the story of this banjo is there.  I have known several people who own and love them - and never have I met an Osborne Chief owner who did not like his or hers.  It is a great banjo.  Not as great as a Huber (IMHO), but opinions about banjos as like moles on our skins: most people have more than one and many of them are different.

FWIW,

Mark

eagleisland - Posted - 06/12/2014:  10:00:50

That price range? Assuming new banjo, rather than used - Hatfield for the following reasons:

1) Arthur's craftsmanship is as good as it gets.

2) His banjos sound great, with excellent tone and response from an unfretted fourths string to the 22nd fret on the first string.

3) His banjos play great. Very comfortable necks.

4) If you want to customize one or more components of the banjo, Arthur will only charge you the difference in HIS COST.

5) Among premium, small-output American banjo builders, Arthur's prices are generally the lowest you'll find.

6) You get to deal directly with Arthur, which can at least partially restore one's faith in humanity.

7) And if you go there to pick it up, odds are that Bev will feed you, which is nearly worth the trip in and of itself.

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  10:32:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by eagleisland

That price range? Assuming new banjo, rather than used - Hatfield for the following reasons:

1) Arthur's craftsmanship is as good as it gets.

2) His banjos sound great, with excellent tone and response from an unfretted fourths string to the 22nd fret on the first string.

3) His banjos play great. Very comfortable necks.

4) If you want to customize one or more components of the banjo, Arthur will only charge you the difference in HIS COST.

5) Among premium, small-output American banjo builders, Arthur's prices are generally the lowest you'll find.

6) You get to deal directly with Arthur, which can at least partially restore one's faith in humanity.

7) And if you go there to pick it up, odds are that Bev will feed you, which is nearly worth the trip in and of itself.

---

Skip

Great bullet points    under item 6, how about the coffee....

David

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  10:37:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by markbyrum

David:

  I'm a hard-core Huber Banjo fan and own one Huber Sammy Shelor Custom Model and have a Huber HR-30 Tone Ring in a pre-war conversion.  You won't find a Huber for sale in this price range, however.  Sonny Osborne, however, makes an excellent banjo (or more accurately has one made).  The Osborne Chief banjo comes in three flavors these days and start at about $4,350.  However, a used Osborne Chief can be had in the  price range of which we speak.  Right now there are three (3) Osborne Chiefs for sale in the Banjo Hangout Classifieds ranging in price between $2,850 and $3,000.  As you probably know, the asking price and the price someone who has one for sale will sell it for are seldom the same.  Check out Sonny's website (sonnyosborne.com) , there are sound-bites there, the story of this banjo is there.  I have known several people who own and love them - and never have I met an Osborne Chief owner who did not like his or hers.  It is a great banjo.  Not as great as a Huber (IMHO), but opinions about banjos as like moles on our skins: most people have more than one and many of them are different.

FWIW,

Mark

---

Mark

Could not agree more about Huber and Chiefs, but new, they just don't have anything in that price range. What other small builders meet the quality criteria NEW in the price range around $2500.

David

Thirsty - Posted - 06/12/2014:  11:07:34

Hatfield

copperbanjo - Posted - 06/12/2014:  11:47:01

Although I'm not much of a picker....yet

I would have to say Bishline fits into the discussion.

The one time I've heard one played, it had an amazing quality to the sound.

The craftsmanship is amazing, they are very appealing to the eye.

My .02

Cornflake - Posted - 06/12/2014:  11:54:47

Hatfield. See my review in the current Set-up and Repair section under "Hatfield Banjos." Not a particularly fancy banjo, but it has THE SOUND.

mijknahs - Posted - 06/12/2014:  12:13:33

I want to get a Hatfield. Still saving up the $$. I told Arthur I want a Buck Creek but with Flying Eagle inlays on the fretboard. He said it would be no problem and no extra cost but would say "Custom" in the block inlay instead of "Buck Creek".

prewartb3 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  12:19:29

Kel Kroydon affordable series.  Built by Robin Smith. These are built the same as the Gibsons including the tone ring with better craftsmanship. 

gospelman97 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  12:57:12

Well if you are strictly going with new banjos, choices in that price range are surprisingly limited. Only a couple of models from: Hatfield, Recording King, American Made Banjo, Bishline and Deering.  Probably less than 10 models to choose from. 

Now if you add in used: Stelling, Neat, A few Gibson models, Cox, Sullivan, etc... many more choices. 

My choice is Hatfield for the same reasons as stated above. 

Edited by - gospelman97 on 06/12/2014 13:03:26

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  14:18:01

How important is:

Sound (I know each of us define the term differently)

Price

Quality of Workmanship

Who built the banjo (small shop American or import/domestic)

David

Greg in VA - Posted - 06/12/2014:  14:26:05

Bishline

banjofool469 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  14:35:19

You can't go wrong with Hatfield. The price is as good as it it mostly because there is no middle man. You buy from and deal directly with Arthur. There is one thing you should know about Hatfield banjos. They are plenty  loud and the have a lot of ring. If you want to give me your email address I can send you a short video of Arthur playing a Buck Creek that I picked up from him in April. Good Luck, Jim Gibb

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  16:56:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjofool469

You can't go wrong with Hatfield. The price is as good as it it mostly because there is no middle man. You buy from and deal directly with Arthur. There is one thing you should know about Hatfield banjos. They are plenty  loud and the have a lot of ring. If you want to give me your email address I can send you a short video of Arthur playing a Buck Creek that I picked up from him in April. Good Luck, Jim Gibb

---

Jim

I agree completely, I know Arthur and have bought and sold parts tom through the years....

I have been fortunate in my banjo journeys to buy and sell in the $4k and up range, but I sense that is not really where the action is, when people are wanting to move up....... where do they turn.

Arthur appears to be a great choice, am I correct ?

David

3 finger ninja - Posted - 06/12/2014:  16:59:28

Wow I was thinking I had to save up that kind of money to get a used Hatfield....had no Idea I can get a new one for that.

banjofool469 - Posted - 06/12/2014:  17:32:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by 5 finger ninja

Wow I was thinking I had to save up that kind of money to get a used Hatfield....had no Idea I can get a new one for that.

He has prices on his web site. I think I paid about $2,800.  Jim

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/12/2014:  17:42:52

If you go $200 over $2,800, then new a Sullivan or Recording King USA series banjo enter the mix.

All the choices from $2,500 and up are top quality instruments.

banjodr - Posted - 06/12/2014:  17:59:29

Sounds to me like a known brand at that 2500 price point would have a market share right from the start.

jswkingsfield - Posted - 06/12/2014:  18:41:30

Dave:  The thing about the $2400 - $2800 range, as you've noted, most of the folks looking at that price point are looking for their first upgrade.  In my case, it was upgrading from a starter bottlecap at the one-year mark, and not having a lot of experience with the variety of instruments out there, and very limited selection from which to purchase where I live.  It is something of a leap of faith to go from starter banjo, to a made-to-order new Hatfield or AMB, particularly since these instruments are made by one-man shops in relatively limited quantities and not widely available to try out.

It's not just the quality of the instrument.  It's also marketing -- making it available, in stock, for newcomers to discover.  Different from educating the aficionado crowd.  I have nothing but the highest regard and a great deal of affection for Arthur Hatfield and Robin Smith (I have a banjo built by each of them, my second banjo from Rob is en route), but they can only build so many a year.  This is just a guess -- but the number of folks who want to upgrade from a starter banjo, probably greatly exceeds the number that Arthur and Rob can produce.

Which is why I have to mention the Deering Sierra.  It is so much easier to find an instrument dealer with a Deering Eagle II, a Sierra, and a Deluxe to compare.  Hardly a major city is without a music store with several Deerings in stock.  Can choose between maple and mahogany with the Sierra.  Nice necks.  Plays easily, sounds good, craftmanship which looks good and will last a lifetime, excellent customer service with playing tips, online manual, fun & educational website blog.

I currently do not have a Deering, but I did enjoy my year with a Deering Eagle II.  Which was my stopover before moving on to other (sigh, more expensive) banjo experiences.  Sure, based on what I know now, for the $2400-$2800 range I'd nominate the Hatfield Buck Creek or an AMB Kel Kroydon.  I'd like to try a Bishline.   I'm just saying that based on availability, the Sierra makes a lot of sense for the player wishing for a BG upgrade.

Does American made matter?  Yes -- pride of craft matters.  For handmade, fine wood products, it matters.  (I also have bought hand-crafted furniture from local Seattle artisans.)  It matters that the Deerings, Arthur & Beverly Hatfield, and Robin Smith, are enjoyable people who love what they do -- makes it a pleasure to hand over the hard-earned moola.

copperbanjo - Posted - 06/12/2014:  19:09:49

WELL SAID @ jswkingsfield

banjoez - Posted - 06/13/2014:  05:39:00

quote:

---

Originally posted by davepicks5

Everyone's opinion valued....

1. Who do you believe has the best BG banjo VALUE in the $2400 - 2800 range ? 

Hatfield and AMB

      Tell me who you like and why. we don't have to stay in that tight a price range, but I choose that price range because a lot of first time buyers move up into this next price point. 

Hatfields have the tone as well as the craftmanship equal to or better than the much higher priced competition.  AMB and Deering are also well crafted banjos but I don't think they have quite the tonal range as a Hatfield. That is totally subjective of course.

2. Are there  builders that you would like to see in that price range that are not there ?

Well, obviously a Huber and Stelling in that price range would be great but they don't seem to be able to crack that barrier and perhaps they don't need to. I am also disappointed that Yates doesn't have an entry level RS model in that price range as his banjos sound great but are much more primitively finished than Arthur's. That has to be a time and money saver but at  $4k+ it turns off some folks.

I am just observing that a large number of banjos are for sale in the $1500 and less range and also  the $3500 plus point.

Fire away......... I think a lot of us are interested in a discussion.

Selling a banjo is relatively easy, finding the right buyer is the challenge.

 

David

David

---

Edited by - banjoez on 06/13/2014 05:45:49

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/13/2014:  06:11:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by jswkingsfield

Dave:  The thing about the $2400 - $2800 range, as you've noted, most of the folks looking at that price point are looking for their first upgrade.  In my case, it was upgrading from a starter bottlecap at the one-year mark, and not having a lot of experience with the variety of instruments out there, and very limited selection from which to purchase where I live.  It is something of a leap of faith to go from starter banjo, to a made-to-order new Hatfield or AMB, particularly since these instruments are made by one-man shops in relatively limited quantities and not widely available to try out.

It's not just the quality of the instrument.  It's also marketing -- making it available, in stock, for newcomers to discover.  Different from educating the aficionado crowd.  I have nothing but the highest regard and a great deal of affection for Arthur Hatfield and Robin Smith (I have a banjo built by each of them, my second banjo from Rob is en route), but they can only build so many a year.  This is just a guess -- but the number of folks who want to upgrade from a starter banjo, probably greatly exceeds the number that Arthur and Rob can produce.

Which is why I have to mention the Deering Sierra.  It is so much easier to find an instrument dealer with a Deering Eagle II, a Sierra, and a Deluxe to compare.  Hardly a major city is without a music store with several Deerings in stock.  Can choose between maple and mahogany with the Sierra.  Nice necks.  Plays easily, sounds good, craftmanship which looks good and will last a lifetime, excellent customer service with playing tips, online manual, fun & educational website blog.

I currently do not have a Deering, but I did enjoy my year with a Deering Eagle II.  Which was my stopover before moving on to other (sigh, more expensive) banjo experiences.  Sure, based on what I know now, for the $2400-$2800 range I'd nominate the Hatfield Buck Creek or an AMB Kel Kroydon.  I'd like to try a Bishline.   I'm just saying that based on availability, the Sierra makes a lot of sense for the player wishing for a BG upgrade.

Does American made matter?  Yes -- pride of craft matters.  For handmade, fine wood products, it matters.  (I also have bought hand-crafted furniture from local Seattle artisans.)  It matters that the Deerings, Arthur & Beverly Hatfield, and Robin Smith, are enjoyable people who love what they do -- makes it a pleasure to hand over the hard-earned moola.

 

 

---

Janice

Great point about local availability to test drive.

I have always wondered if a manufactuer/builder came to a local music  retailer and sponsored a "show and tell" workshop of their available banjos........ what kind of interest would be there.

Don't know for sure, but in your neck of he woods, I have to think that people would travel some distance to touch, feel and play and most of all TALK about what they are looking for..... and gain more insight into the world of banjos.

Thoughts

David

eagleisland - Posted - 06/13/2014:  07:07:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by davepicks5

---

Janice

Great point about local availability to test drive.

I have always wondered if a manufactuer/builder came to a local music  retailer and sponsored a "show and tell" workshop of their available banjos........ what kind of interest would be there.

 

 

---

Larger guitar makers do this fairly often. Store where I teach typically has three or four events per year from makers like Taylor and Martin.

For a small maker, though, the expense wouldn't be worth it - either for the builder or the store. Volumes are too low for starters. And if we're talking about a buiilder like Arthur, there'd be no reason for a store to host such an event because there's no way to make money; Arthur sells direct, which is one of the reasons his banjos are comparatively inexpensive; there's no retail markup.

One CAN find select banjo builders at major festivals on occasion, and events like SPBGMA and IBMA do have builders with booths in attendance (Arthur does SPBGMA but doesn't do IBMA).

jswkingsfield - Posted - 06/13/2014:  08:39:19

quote:

---

Originally posted by davepicks5

quote:

---

Originally posted by jswkingsfield

Dave:  The thing about the $2400 - $2800 range, as you've noted, most of the folks looking at that price point are looking for their first upgrade.  In my case, it was upgrading from a starter bottlecap at the one-year mark, and not having a lot of experience with the variety of instruments out there, and very limited selection from which to purchase where I live.  It is something of a leap of faith to go from starter banjo, to a made-to-order new Hatfield or AMB, particularly since these instruments are made by one-man shops in relatively limited quantities and not widely available to try out.

It's not just the quality of the instrument.  It's also marketing -- making it available, in stock, for newcomers to discover.  Different from educating the aficionado crowd.  I have nothing but the highest regard and a great deal of affection for Arthur Hatfield and Robin Smith (I have a banjo built by each of them, my second banjo from Rob is en route), but they can only build so many a year.  This is just a guess -- but the number of folks who want to upgrade from a starter banjo, probably greatly exceeds the number that Arthur and Rob can produce.

Which is why I have to mention the Deering Sierra.  It is so much easier to find an instrument dealer with a Deering Eagle II, a Sierra, and a Deluxe to compare.  Hardly a major city is without a music store with several Deerings in stock.  Can choose between maple and mahogany with the Sierra.  Nice necks.  Plays easily, sounds good, craftmanship which looks good and will last a lifetime, excellent customer service with playing tips, online manual, fun & educational website blog.

I currently do not have a Deering, but I did enjoy my year with a Deering Eagle II.  Which was my stopover before moving on to other (sigh, more expensive) banjo experiences.  Sure, based on what I know now, for the $2400-$2800 range I'd nominate the Hatfield Buck Creek or an AMB Kel Kroydon.  I'd like to try a Bishline.   I'm just saying that based on availability, the Sierra makes a lot of sense for the player wishing for a BG upgrade.

Does American made matter?  Yes -- pride of craft matters.  For handmade, fine wood products, it matters.  (I also have bought hand-crafted furniture from local Seattle artisans.)  It matters that the Deerings, Arthur & Beverly Hatfield, and Robin Smith, are enjoyable people who love what they do -- makes it a pleasure to hand over the hard-earned moola.

 

 

---

Janice

Great point about local availability to test drive.

I have always wondered if a manufactuer/builder came to a local music  retailer and sponsored a "show and tell" workshop of their available banjos........ what kind of interest would be there.

Don't know for sure, but in your neck of he woods, I have to think that people would travel some distance to touch, feel and play and most of all TALK about what they are looking for..... and gain more insight into the world of banjos.

Thoughts

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

---

Hiya, David:  Interesting topic.  I imagine that marketing differs from region to region.  In the Seattle area, I'm under the impression the retailers have been resistant to "one off" builder shows for lines that they don't regularly carry.

The major banjo camp here is American Banjo Camp.  I've heard the teachers comment that they see more Nechvilles, Pruchas and Will Williams banjos here than in other parts of the country.  Why?  Because Nechville guy Al Price lives out here, who diligently and cheerfully shows up at quite a few of the local festivals with stock on hand, works with area retailers, and makes his home available for instrument viewing. (Slightly expensive friend, that fellow!  )  

Nearly every Prucha and Williams banjo in this region can trace its lineage to Greg Boyd (another slightly expensive friend! ).  Greg should be acknowledged for hauling a store's worth of accessories and other stock from Missoula, MT, to the largest festivals in the area.  Greg also has been the only dealer with Hubers in the Pacific Northwest -- if you want to try a Huber, you either have to find someone with one, intersect with Greg, or go down to Gryphon Strings in San Francisco (and even then there may not be that much variety to try out). 

Skip's point about the major trade festivals makes a lot of sense.  However, if you're way up in this corner of the country (Seattle), going to SPBGMA or IBMA is quite an investment of time/money for the relative newbie looking for a $2400-$2800 instrument. 

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/13/2014:  08:43:57

Skip

Good point about size of builder and whether he really needs to "find" more business, if he is as busy as he wants to be.

Seems that larger scale builders (RK, Deering, Stelling) place their units in higher volume locations and literally let a potential customer find it "on the wall".

Maybe in this price range, there is not a call for a more focused call to the buyer.

Ebay, BHO classifieds, Craiglist and Google searches can put a person in front of a lot of banjos, but when I was younger I discovered more about banjos from personal contact with others.

Then again, I am not young any longer. LOL.

David

Smurf2dope - Posted - 06/13/2014:  11:12:58

I got a Sullivan pot and had Ron Coleman (Earls 5) do a neck a reso for it. He can get you any inlay you want and you will probably have $1,000 to spare. Even if you get a different ring and a Cox rim you are still ahead around $700. 

Have fun. 

Edited by - Smurf2dope on 06/13/2014 11:24:09

eagleisland - Posted - 06/13/2014:  12:36:21

quote:

---

Originally posted by davepicks5

Skip

Good point about size of builder and whether he really needs to "find" more business, if he is as busy as he wants to be.

Seems that larger scale builders (RK, Deering, Stelling) place their units in higher volume locations and literally let a potential customer find it "on the wall".

 

Maybe in this price range, there is not a call for a more focused call to the buyer.

 

---

Well, not quite sure I agree completely, if I understand your point.

Let's use several small builders as examples. Prucha NEEDS an American retail presence in order to sell here; being a European company, they need someone over here to manage customer relationships and the marketing of the instruments. Arthur Hatfield could almost certainly make and sell more banjos than he does IF he wanted to establish a dealer network (and hire on some help), but he has no real wish to do either. Stelling, Bishline and Ome all arguably do higher volume in terms of annual units produced; all three have small dealer networks.

But it must be remembered that if you sell through dealers, rather than direct like Arthur, Yates, Hopkins and other small builders do, you need to be able to supply inventory almost on demand, which adds to your cost as the builder, and the dealer must make a reasonable profit on the instrument, which adds to the buyer's cost.

Back when Gibson still made banjos in Nashville I spent several very nice afternoons in the back of the house, courtesy of Ed Webber; there is no possible way you could say that banjos Gibson was building then - and they were very nice, given the caliber of the talent building them - were worth roughly twice the price of a Hatfield using the same designs. What was the difference? Dealer markup, with some extra tossed in for the Gibson logo.

It must also be remembered that promotions like the ones described cost money. SPBGMA presence is comparatively inexpensive - a booth is around $250 - but there's also the expense of lodging, meals and transportation. Any exhibitor getting out of there for less than $1000 all in is doing well. It'd probably be twice that for IBMA. For some producers, that's chump change, but for a small builder it's not inconsiderable.

10% marketing and promotional cost is pretty high. So if a builder is going to SPBGMA, he/she better have a reasonable degree of assurance that the trip is going to produce at least $10,000 in sales.

For some producers, that's two instruments. For others, it's closer to four. And the trip means you won't have any production for at least four days.

Now obviously, the math works very well for some builders. But it should never be overlooked that it costs money to sell stuff.

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/13/2014:  15:52:33

Good conversation, great insight and observations.....

Other brands that you may have seen at a festival or jam or music store in this price range that impressed you.

Maybe a local luthier regional to your area, that impressed you.......

Would love to hear from all of you..... everybody has an opinion. let your fingers do the talking

David

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 06/14/2014:  05:28:35

Dave,
Just curious, why so specific with a $2500- $2,800 range?
Ken

teletodd - Posted - 06/14/2014:  07:28:11

Rk75 elite and the rest on lessons.

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/14/2014:  08:02:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

Dave,

Just curious, why so specific with a $2500- $2,800 range?

Ken

---

Ken

At the beginning of the thread I said this:

   Tell me who you like and why. we don't have to stay in that tight a price range, but I choose that price range because a lot of first time buyers move up into this next price point.

Not specific, but I don't see many builder manufacturers catering to that price range...

A lot of new  banjos that were $4000 to 5000 fall back to 3000 to 3600 range when they do sell, but without more new banjos in this intermediate range it forces move up buyers to have a limited selection or have to "bite the bullet" if they want to move to a more expensive  (I did not say better) banjo.

David

The Old Timer - Posted - 06/14/2014:  08:57:47

Good grief, where's the props for Gibson RB 250 and RB 3, post 1987???? Not paying any "new instrument" premium which depreciates immediately. Resale value holds or improves nicely. WIDE market.

IF my spend was in the window originally proposed, this is definitely what I'd buy.

60spicker - Posted - 06/14/2014:  11:04:07

Sounds like there might be a cool business for somebody to take samples of several manufacturers on a "tour" to the less-advantaged among us. 

eagleisland - Posted - 06/14/2014:  12:03:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

Good grief, where's the props for Gibson RB 250 and RB 3, post 1987???? Not paying any "new instrument" premium which depreciates immediately. Resale value holds or improves nicely. WIDE market.



IF my spend was in the window originally proposed, this is definitely what I'd buy.

---

There's lots of great banjos in the price range if we're talking used market, Old Timer. The OP apparently was soliciting opinions on NEW banjos.

gottasmilealot - Posted - 06/14/2014:  12:19:55

A good used Stelling, or a new Kel Kroyden affordable series. Good quality, sounds great.

kirbonite - Posted - 06/14/2014:  15:27:55

If I buy another tonering bluegrass banjo,.. It will be a hatfield.   I wish I had known about him years ago..

impickin5 - Posted - 06/17/2014:  16:02:15

David, I would guess that Steve is looking for a new/better market for new banjos in the "medium-price" range. Right? Maybe he should consider less costly rims (such as Cox), simpler inlays (such as "diamond and snowflakes"), ebony fretboards, and less expensive tuners, etc.

Ray

davepicks5 - Posted - 06/18/2014:  06:12:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by impickin5

David, I would guess that Steve is looking for a new/better market for new banjos in the "medium-price" range. Right? Maybe he should consider less costly rims (such as Cox), simpler inlays (such as "diamond and snowflakes"), ebony fretboards, and less expensive tuners, etc.

Ray

---

Ray

When you say Steve, right ? 

You mean Huber ?

I hope so, Huber has to know their numbers explicitly, to move into this price range. But as others have pointed out scale and economy of scale works against the small builders to be in that market.

David

impickin5 - Posted - 06/18/2014:  15:25:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by davepicks5

quote:

---

Originally posted by impickin5

David, I would guess that Steve is looking for a new/better market for new banjos in the "medium-price" range. Right? Maybe he should consider less costly rims (such as Cox), simpler inlays (such as "diamond and snowflakes"), ebony fretboards, and less expensive tuners, etc.

Ray

---

Ray

When you say Steve, right ? 

You mean Huber ?

I hope so, Huber has to know their numbers explicitly, to move into this price range. But as others have pointed out scale and economy of scale works against the small builders to be in that market.

David

 

 

---

 Yep, I was referring to Steve HUBER

Goldstarman - Posted - 06/18/2014:  15:46:43

I think were going to see a swing in the market. From what I understand there is a banjo maker thats getting ready to make a killer banjo with top quality maple for the neck with beautiful resos and all top shelf appts and its made here in the USA, all for under 2500 and be just a monster banjo. Thats Eric Sullivan and I cant wait to see it. I see someone else mentioned it not long ago and I hoe they get the recogintion when it comes to these banjos, there all going to be made from that roasted maple (necks ,resos,and rims) and be a joy to look at. I think there going to be killer sounding as well.

Goldstarman - Posted - 06/18/2014:  15:51:20

And doesnt ebony cost more than rosewood as it is?  There are people who can justify paying 5K for a banjo, whats Hubers cheapest model? Just south of that? A working man cant hardly afford that, thats why Eric is doing what he is doing and I think its great!

Gillis Cashman - Posted - 06/18/2014:  16:26:38

I own one of these banjohangout.org/classified/17089 & part for part it's the same that Earl picked on during his later years. Except for the name on the peghead. $2500 on the button

pasturepicker - Posted - 06/19/2014:  04:55:40

Many people have mentioned Hatfields. Last week we played a show in Cherokee NC and I listened to Ben Greene. I'm a Gibson guy but his Hatfield was to me probably the best sounding banjo I have ever heard. Granted the tone was what I personally like to hear in a banjo and Ben knows how to pull that tone.

Arthur Hatfield - Posted - 07/11/2014:  18:41:54

Thanks Andy for the nice compliment about my banjos. Ben is a great picker and just as good a fellow. He is one of the most underrated pickers in the business. He has worked with many of the top bands inc. Lost and Found, James King, Continental Divide,  Carolina Road presently and started out along with Terry Baucam at the age of 14 with the late Charlie Moore. He was playing banjo and Terry was playing fiddle. Probably a lot of the Hangout members didn't know that Terry was a good fiddle player and may still be dont know if he still fiddles very much or not.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 07/12/2014:  12:27:49

Now Huber is coming out with the Workhorse for around that range....

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 07/12/2014:  12:32:03

Last week I came home with  a Hatfield. To me it sounded better than banjos I played that cost almost twice what my Buck Creek did.

ken