GlennM - Posted - 07/24/2014:  07:16:26

I was at first quality music today and I seen the first roasted Maple banjo prototype. All I can say is wow. It played like a dream. I have never see such a beautiful looking wood. Even though it's new it sounds like it's been set up already. Almost prewar sounding right out of the box. I'll post pics later tonight. l

Texaspaul - Posted - 07/24/2014:  08:03:22

Hi did you ask Jeff or Eric about the production of a Roasted Mape Banjo production.  Eric said one was in the works when I visited last Oct.

Texaspaul - Posted - 07/24/2014:  08:07:42

I just re-read your post Glenn, that is the banjo you tried. I was still locked n on the bridges. I put one of the bridges on my Greenbrier and I like the darker sound it brings to my banjo over the crispness of the Old Growth bridge.

GlennM - Posted - 07/24/2014:  08:25:24

Hi Texas Paul.

i feel the same about the roasted bridge. I bought 6 of them . I keep them in my case.

esullivan - Posted - 07/24/2014:  08:52:47

Here are a few pictures of the new roasted maple banjo.  This banjo is the first one out of the shop and more are on the way. This particular banjo is still waiting for the final buffing on the resonator and to be cleaned up before being shipped out.  I will post a few pics of the banjos in production along with a complete spec list of the components when I get home tonight. 

Thanks, Eric Sullivan

Goldstarman - Posted - 07/24/2014:  09:32:52

Thats great, and what I like about it is the ring thats in it is one of the best made, it will sound better than others at this price point I do believe.

Hankon5 - Posted - 07/24/2014:  10:11:35

Just to chime in....the old floor roasted bridge material has been received by Eric and production is starting.  That's will be fun to try out! The roasted Maples were great sounding! It will be interesting to hear the difference.

BTW..Those pics are awesome........just added the banjo to my bucket list!  ERIC:  Will it be offered with the V35 ring?!!!!!

Edited by - Hankon5 on 07/24/2014 10:16:31

rob_jenny - Posted - 07/24/2014:  10:33:22

I have obviously missed the boat here and dont know what "roasted maple" is, I know thyt are making bridges out of it however what is the process??? Do they use new wood or old wood and cook it up as its name suggests??? How do they do this??

banjoman56 - Posted - 07/24/2014:  11:04:02

That is one beautiful banjo Eric. I would love to hear a sound clip of it. 

banjo5string - Posted - 07/24/2014:  11:21:12

Glad to see the Festival is making a comeback. Will you be offering one in mahogany?

Edited by - banjo5string on 07/24/2014 11:22:20

Hankon5 - Posted - 07/24/2014:  11:43:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by texas5string

Glad to see the Festival is making a comeback. Will you be offering one in mahogany?

---

HMMMMMMMM! ROASTED MAHOGANY!!!!!! Burnt to a crispy sound!!!!  Time for some smoked necks!!!!

Edited by - Hankon5 on 07/24/2014 11:44:48

MBCrawford - Posted - 07/24/2014:  12:11:14

I like that, the color and finish look great, I need to get out and look at one up close..................

lazlototh - Posted - 07/24/2014:  14:17:47

Doesn't anyone recall that Dick Guggenheim has been "roasting" wood for years??
He is the go-to expert on the subject. There have been threads here about it.

Tom in maine

Texaspaul - Posted - 07/24/2014:  16:09:24

The banjo looks great, beautiful. Is the wood roasted, but not stained? I was trying to recall the process Eric discussed back in Oct.

GlennM - Posted - 07/24/2014:  16:25:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by Texaspaul

The banjo looks great, beautiful. Is the wood roasted, but not stained? I was trying to recall the process Eric discussed back in Oct.

---

No stain.

esullivan - Posted - 07/24/2014:  17:12:57

Thanks for the kind words about our new banjo.  The Sullivan Festival is our entry into the under $2500.00 price range banjo market and we hope you like it as much as we do.  The interesting concept with our newest Festival banjo is that we have utilized thermally modified, or roasted, maple for the neck, three ply wood rim, bridge, and resonator. I understand that roasting maple is not new and we were not the first to burn a banjo, but being able to incorporate this process into all three major components of the banjo is relatively new.  

The specs for the new Sullivan Festival are:

Neck:  Figured maple (roasted) with rosewood fingerboard, custom pearl inlays, pearwood overlay, gloss nitro lacquer finish, speed neck, bound in white binding

Wood rim: Three ply maple (roasted), nbitro lacquer finish

Resonator: Figured maple sidewall (roasted) with figured maple back (roasted) bound in white, gloss nitro lacquer finish

Bridge: Sullivan roasted maple

Tone ring: Sullivan Banjo RB-75 flathead 

Tuners: Waverly Planet pegs,  Schaller 5th peg

Flange: Recording King

Co-ord rods: Brass made by Sullivan Banjo

Metal parts: All other part made by Prucha

​Case: Hardshell by TKL

​We have tried to include the best components we could source and get this banjo to the players at a reasonable price.  To keep the price as low as possible we run these banjos through the shop 20 at a time and as of right now they are only available direct from Sullivan Banjo Co.  

The selling price for the new Sullivan Festival banjo is $2195.00 case included.  If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 1800-836-5303

Here are a few pics of some of the parts in the shop.

dmiller - Posted - 07/24/2014:  17:41:40

That's beautiful! Those pictures are great, and the parts list is impressive too.

Hey - - can a guy put Cryo strings on a roasted banjo?  ​

Edited by - dmiller on 07/24/2014 17:42:34

Goldstarman - Posted - 07/24/2014:  18:35:41

Eric, I love that you guys put the specs up to see what parts are being used

banjoman56 - Posted - 07/24/2014:  18:37:13

I doubt you can buy that much banjo anywhere else for $2,195.

Earls 5 - Posted - 07/24/2014:  18:56:31

Sound clips anywhere? Would love to get a taste! This appears to be a super deal, nice to see the company getting back on track. Always had the highest regard for Mr. Bill. My compliments to the Sullivan's and very excited to see them do well.

gospelman97 - Posted - 07/25/2014:  01:19:33

Looks like a beautiful banjo made with good quality parts for a reasonable price. Exciting times for the banjo world at large with more options in this price range that they can both afford and be proud of. I'll be looking forward to the sound clips too!  Congratulations Eric and good luck with the ensuing roasted banjo mania!

superdave - Posted - 07/25/2014:  04:32:05

And gloss finish to boot ! I believe the bar has been raised for others entering into this area.
Dave

Hankon5 - Posted - 07/25/2014:  07:25:45

I agree with the other comments....thanks for the specs! I was a little taken back at the price.  Thot it was a lot more!

banjo5string - Posted - 07/25/2014:  07:42:04

Since my previous question wasn't answered, I'll take that as a no. That definitely makes my decision a whole lot easier.

GlennM - Posted - 07/25/2014:  10:29:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hankon5

I agree with the other comments....thanks for the specs! I was a little taken back at the price.  Thot it was a lot more!

---

I agree. they are selling them too cheap. I going to buy one before the price goes up.

firemx220 - Posted - 07/25/2014:  11:50:02

The banjo looks great! Would love to hear it !

firemx220 - Posted - 07/25/2014:  11:51:55

Are Roasted parts available rims, necks, etc?

Helix - Posted - 07/25/2014:  12:21:17

Somebody has to make them.

Very nice.

esullivan - Posted - 07/25/2014:  13:27:08

firemx220,

Yes we plan to have some roasted wood available for resale. We will be offering neck billets, neck blanks, resonators, rims, bridge material,  and other small pieces.  We are currently getting more wood together to send out for modification.  The three ply rims will probably be the last to come online as they are proving to be quite an issue, but we are making great strides and the rims are coming in now but they are being  used up in production.  I will post up some samples as soon as we get more stock in.

Thanks, Eric

firemx220 - Posted - 07/25/2014:  13:43:16

Lots of exciting things to look forward too.

Hankon5 - Posted - 07/25/2014:  14:33:19

quote:

---

Originally posted by esullivan

firemx220,

 

Yes we plan to have some roasted wood available for resale. We will be offering neck billets, neck blanks, resonators, rims, bridge material,  and other small pieces.  We are currently getting more wood together to send out for modification.  The three ply rims will probably be the last to come online as they are proving to be quite an issue, but we are making great strides and the rims are coming in now but they are being  used up in production.  I will post up some samples as soon as we get more stock in.

Thanks, Eric

---

 Way to go!!!!

David Wadsworth - Posted - 07/25/2014:  18:49:45

As a bridge maker for 35 years I love maple.  So when  Eric started offering roasted maple bridges I was curious and made a few myself.  Today I drove over to see Eric and Jeff and play their new roasted maple banjo prototype.  I was impressed.  I expected great craftsmanship, fit and finish,quality components, a great feeling and playing neck, my expectations were well met. I didn't expect the banjo to sound as good as it did.   The banjo is just a few days old and has the very desirable qualities of tone,volume,splat and zing of much older and higher priced banjos.  I believe the roasted maple banjo will be a big hit.  It is to my ears another step forward in this golden era of banjo craftsmanship.  We'll done Eric and Jeff!

GlennM - Posted - 07/26/2014:  20:13:00

I got to pick on it again today. It is the loudest banjo i have ever played. It takes little effort to make great and loud sound. 

Edited by - GlennM on 07/26/2014 20:17:25

banjomule - Posted - 07/27/2014:  04:37:19

Great looking banjo for sure!

I haven't followed the roasted bridge thread closely. Could someone please give a brief explanation of what they believe roasting the wood does and how it affects the sound? How does it compare to the factory floor wood?

Thanks!

esullivan - Posted - 07/27/2014:  09:28:04

banjomule,

Here is a little bit of the roasted wood story for you.  

We were first introduced to the Modified maple by Ernie Ball Music Man Guitars quite a few years ago.  They started using modified maple on some of the necks they producedand from their research they found that a thermally  modified microstructure:

 * Adds dimensional stability and resistance to temperature and humidity changes

 * Increases resistance to warping

 * Reduces density while maintaining stiffness for a lighter neck with sufficient strength

 * Yields a microstructure similar to naturally aged woods with lower moisture content

 * More resonance and less damping

 * Eliminates the need for hazardous chemical treatments

 * Vibrational testing indicates that roasted maple exhibits clearer tone with a stronger fundamental than untreated maple samples

(this information taken from music-man.com)

This process is also being used on acoustic guitars now by Bourgeois guitars in ther Aged Tone Series and they are seeing the same results. Here is what Bourgeois guitars said about the process on their website.

Aged Tone tops

Our new Aged Tone tops are treated with a unique curing process. The commercial version of this process, known as, “thermo curing”, “wood torrefaction” or “roasting”, was developed in Finland to enhance durability and appearance of such products as siding, decking, and outdoor furniture. Commercial processing typically uses higher curing temperatures to maximize stability and rot resistance. Higher temperatures, however, can also sacrifice structural integrity. 

The process used to cure our Adirondack tops is a highly controlled, low-temperature variation of the basic commercial treatment. During processing, water, sugars, and resins are cooked off, leaving behind cellulose and lignum--the “glue” that binds cellulosic fibers together. Once processed, mass and weight are reduced, absolute stiffness is increased and internal damping is decreased;  stiffness-to-weight ratio and Velocity of Sound (the rate at which vibration transmits through solid material) are dramatically increased.  

Our observations concur with industry research data, which reports increased stiffness at lower curing temperatures. It’s thought by at least one expert that low-temperature curing optimizes the distribution of lignum throughout the cellulosic structure, while higher temperatures break lignum down. The trick is to find the temperature and curing schedule that optimizes Velocity of Sound.  

Like naturally cured spruce, Aged Tone tops are darker in color, opaque vs. translucent, highly stable when exposed to changes in humidity, and have a sweet, woody smell. These same changes naturally occur in spruce tonewoods after many decades of exposure to oxygen, UV radiation and other environmental elements. 

                                                                                                                                                     Now back to BANJOS.

The first product we designed and manufactured from the modified maple was a new banjo bridge.  Now this bridge was not completely new as it uses a tried and true shape with the main difference being the modified maple.  The response we received from this bridge was overwhelming.  Reports of more volume and better tone along with a new crispness of sound etc. were coming in daily.  We were amazed at how well this bridge complemented many different banjos, both expensive professional level and beginner.  The results from the bridges seemed to mirror what the acoustic and electric guitars crowds were experiencing.

The next step we took was a complete banjo.  With the success of the bridge we decided to modify  the neck wood, the three ply rim, and the resonator also.  We had been looking for a long time on how to bring a professional quality banjo to the $2000-$2300 range and this was our ticket.  Along with the sound and tone benefits, the new modified maple is easy to work with and much easier to finish.  A pleasing color is acheived with no stain, just a clear coat of lacquer.  This maple has allowed us to remove a tremendous amount of hand labor which has allowed the price of  our new banjo to hit right in the range we were shooting for.  First reports on this banjo are a banjo with good tone and volume and the zing of much older and higher priced banjos.

Sorry for the long post to a simple question.

Goldstarman - Posted - 07/27/2014:  09:41:03

I think its great someone was willing to take the time to explain all of it. Sounds like you guys have a winner in this banjo.

superdave - Posted - 07/27/2014:  14:35:39

Hey Glenn how about a sound sample next time your there playing them ! 

Dave

Bigbadbucksnort - Posted - 07/27/2014:  14:56:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmiller

Hey - - can a guy put Cryo strings on a roasted banjo?  ​

---

Edited by - Bigbadbucksnort on 07/27/2014 14:58:19

banjomule - Posted - 07/27/2014:  17:07:06

Wow! Eric, thank you very much for the detailed response. I really appreciate it, so there is definitely no need to apologize for the length. It says great things about your company.

I'm always interested to see what people are doing with different types of wood and followed the submerged wood and your factory floor work pretty closely. I've been a little busy lately and haven't been on the hangout all that much this year, but I did notice alot of people talking about the roasted bridge.

How would you say the sound compares to the factory floor wood? (I realize sound can be pretty subjective, but if you wouldn't mind giving it a shot i'd apprecaite it!)

Thanks again for the awesome response. I hope you sell a ton of them!

GlennM - Posted - 07/28/2014:  07:37:47

quote:

---

Originally posted by superdave

Hey Glenn how about a sound sample next time your there playing them ! 

 

Dave

 

---

Will do. My studio has been down for a week but I'll try this week.

jlsorbit - Posted - 07/28/2014:  10:34:19

quote:

---

Originally posted by GlennM

quote:

---

Originally posted by superdave

 

Hey Glenn how about a sound sample next time your there playing them ! 

 

 

Dave

 

 

---

Will do. My studio has been down for a week but I'll try this week.

 

---

 Can't wait to hear it!

GlennM - Posted - 07/28/2014:  20:09:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by superdave

Hey Glenn how about a sound sample next time your there playing them ! 

 

Dave

 

---

I only had a hour to do a recording . They have to ship it tomorrow. Heres a quick audio sample of a roasted maple banjo. No effects. in a 20 by 20 room using a CAD microphone.

banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

Roll Player - Posted - 07/28/2014:  20:35:20

Sounds great! Thanks for doing that, Glenn.

Goldstarman - Posted - 07/28/2014:  20:48:48

That banjo has some depth to it, I like it.

GlennM - Posted - 07/29/2014:  11:05:59

I wish I would have had more time with it.  

Aradobanjo - Posted - 07/29/2014:  11:42:41

Hello,

Thank you for sharing the sound bite. The banjo definitely perked my ears up. 

banjoman56 - Posted - 07/29/2014:  18:38:10

Wow, that thing sounds great!....I think I'll roast my V-35. 

jlsorbit - Posted - 07/29/2014:  18:54:15

Nice! Thanks.

esullivan - Posted - 07/30/2014:  11:28:28

Thought you guts might like to see how a roasted maple rim compares to a standard rim before turning.  There is no stain on the roasted rim.

Thanks, Eric

rim comparison