pickinpedaler - Posted - 07/27/2014:  05:29:58

I've yet to play a Stelling but have heard a lot of good things about the playability of their necks. Besides the longer scale length on the Crusader, does anybody know if the necks (particularly the shape) on all Stelling models are the same? I.e., if you play one model of Stelling, you can extrapolate that feel and playability to other models?

banjomule - Posted - 07/27/2014:  05:36:57

I believe all the current models use the same neck shape. Somewhere I heard they made a slight change to the necks in the early days, but I have a 1982 Staghorn, a 1998 Golden Cross archtop, and I had a 2001 Sunflower and all of them felt the same to me - outstanding!

Docmhc - Posted - 07/27/2014:  07:21:26

I had a Bellflower (don't remember the year) that was an awesome banjo. The neck was very comfortable and playable. The only thing I had difficulty with was that the frets were smaller than the jumbo frets I was used to on my Gibson and Washburn. I traded the Stelling for an ESS and have regretted it ever since. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford another Stelling.

Don

Just Bill - Posted - 07/27/2014:  08:04:05

Interesting!  After years of playing Gbson's, a friend of mine offered to let me play his Stelling.  The neck was SO different, it was difficult for me to play it well.  It was very uncomfortable (for me, anyway).  Nice sounding banjo, but I couldn't get past the difference between the Stelling and Gibson neck.  YMMV..:^)

Cornflake - Posted - 07/27/2014:  08:28:19

I have a slightly radiused neck on my Swallowtail. It feels a bit more "clubby" than my Red Fox--a bit more Gibson-like.

Old Hickory - Posted - 07/27/2014:  08:44:30

quote:

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Originally posted by banjomule

I believe all the current models use the same neck shape. Somewhere I heard they made a slight change to the necks in the early days, but I have a 1982 Staghorn, a 1998 Golden Cross archtop, and I had a 2001 Sunflower and all of them felt the same to me - outstanding!

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I have played old and new Stellings in the past few years and can tell you that the necks are different.  My jam leader has an early Whitestar (late 70s, early 80s). The back-of-neck profile is a shallow oval. The neck is not very deep front to back and the back side is a soft curve that just lays in your hand.  By the bottom edge of fingerboard binding, the profile is already curving away from you toward the backside.  It is extremely comfortable to play.

Newer Stellings (played some at Delfest and Mandolin Bros.) feel to me as if the neck profile is a D shape.  There's more vertical surface to the outer edges and the back rounding is more pronounced.  Very much like a Deering neck, in my opinion -- though I have not played them side-by-side, so my comparison is based on memory and impression.  I like this neck, too.

All Stelling necks feel slender in width. And even the newer ones do feel deep front to back.  They are not clubby at all.  Do not overly fill your hand (unless you have small hands).

pickinpedaler - Posted - 07/27/2014:  10:25:38

quote:

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Originally posted by Cornflake

I have a slightly radiused neck on my Swallowtail. It feels a bit more "clubby" than my Red Fox--a bit more Gibson-like.

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So perhaps the Swallowtail and Red Fox models have different necks than other models because these two designs were inspired by particular artists?

Alex Z - Posted - 07/27/2014:  10:37:37

Might check with Mr. Geoff himself.

I've had two Stellings, one from 1981 and the current from 2003.  The necks are slightly different in that the 1981 was a little slimmer from front to back.

From recent experience -- and I usually noodle on a Stelling banjo or two when I visit Elderly instrument --  I don't think that the necks on any of the current standard models are intended to be different from each other -- but can check with Mr. Geoff.  I have played a Stelling neck with radiused fretboard and of course there is a different feel, but whether the neck shape or the fretboard is the reason, I don't know.

In short, there may have been some changes over the years, but from my experience all the current models have the same shape neck. I have not tried a Crusader so I cannot speak to that model.

A note to Mr. Geoff will result in an authoritative answer.

swamplunker - Posted - 07/27/2014:  12:26:42

I won't address the "feel" part of the question, as I simply haven't paid enough attention to Gibson vs. Stelling neck contours and usually play one or the other without "A-B'ing" them, but I will say that the ever-so-slightly longer scale length of the Crusader makes it easy to get a nice clear tone in the higher frets (12-22), listen to Powder Creek by Alan Munde to hear that.

Cornflake - Posted - 07/27/2014:  12:47:31

quote:

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Originally posted by pickinpedaler

quote:

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Originally posted by Cornflake

I have a slightly radiused neck on my Swallowtail. It feels a bit more "clubby" than my Red Fox--a bit more Gibson-like.

---

So perhaps the Swallowtail and Red Fox models have different necks than other models because these two designs were inspired by particular artists?

I've never considered that possibility. Interesting. I'd bet Tom Hanway, who helped design the Swallowtail, should know the answer.

stelling man - Posted - 07/27/2014:  13:47:04

I have three Stellings, an 88 Sunflower, a 97 Masterflower and a 07 Red Fox,  They all feel and play the same to me..

STELLING MAN

Tim13 - Posted - 07/28/2014:  00:47:52

I own a Stelling Virginian, and have compared it back to back with a friends Bellflower in the past.  I've noticed no difference.

The neck on my Stelling is very comfortable to play.  The neck profile is one of the reasons I bought the banjo in the first place.

Tim

OM45GE - Posted - 07/28/2014:  03:39:25

I haven't played enough of them to say whether "all" have the same profile but I doubt it as things change over four decades of largely hand making instruments. That said, I have a 1988 Golden Cross and have played newer Stellings of various models and they all felt the same to be. I LOVE the Stelling neck profile and find it very easy and comfortable to play.

banjowannabe - Posted - 09/27/2014:  06:22:45

I wanted to resurrect this thread, because a few years ago I played a couple of Stellings that felt like the neck was thinner.  Both were older used instruments.  On both of these instruments, my playing was noticeably faster and timing was more even.  Unfortunately I wasn't paying attention  to what model or age they were - since I didn't have any money.   I keep driving up to Elderly to "find" another of these critters, but no luck so far.  When I find one, I'll just buy it.  I tried a Crusader, thinking the different scaling may have accommodated my fingers better and that was the reason my playing was better, but it was hard to tell because the instrument wasn't set up very well.  So if anybody has any other ideas, I'd appreciate it.  Thanks

pdbanjo - Posted - 09/27/2014:  07:16:41

I love everything about my Red Fox but the neck. The profile is good in my hand and the thickness is perfect the entire length of the neck. The only down side for me is the finish they use makes it extremely hard feeling. So hard that it makes my hand ache after an hour or so of playing. That pain radiates up into my forearm and doesn't go away for hours. I can play my old Gibson for days at a time and never have that problem. I've played many Stellings and they all seem to have the same great neck profile. Especially the newer ones made from 2000 and beyond.

sunburst - Posted - 09/27/2014:  07:25:36

Stelling banjo necks are shaped by hand. A succession of people have done the work, so there will obviously be variation from different people. Also, hand work from the same person tends to be very slightly different from piece to piece, especially early on, while experience seems to introduce more consistency. I shaped the Stelling banjo necks for several years, and after the first year or so, I myself was surprised at how consistent the shape was. When I moved on, whoever started shaping the necks (I don't even remember who it was...) undoubtedly made them slightly different. I don't know how many people have carved banjo necks for Stelling over the years, each with his/her own individual style, and as with all hand work, there is bound to be variation.

banjowannabe - Posted - 09/28/2014:  16:57:37

Thanks, the handshaping makes sense as to variation - along with individual setups and all the variables that go into a banjo's sound.