nechville - Posted - 12/09/2016:  11:29:21

I have been absent from these pages for a while so I wanted to offer my personal help to answer any questions you may have about Nechville's product offerings. Also I hope to occasionally post tidbits that may be of interest to some of you. For example I will open by mentioning a couple of my current endeavors

XXX 30th Anniversary model- Since the birth of the Heli-Mount design. It's finally emerged into the mainstream, but, we are celebrating its big future ahead. 

Jerusalem Bridges  With the success of the first batch, as featured in December Banjo Newsletter, a new batch is introduced for sale from Bethlehem Olivewood. Proceeds go to Pigeon Forge Fire relief.

We can Nechville-ize your current banjo- With our compensated and weighed bridges, Comfort Armrests, Tailpieces, and Flux- mounted necks, you can bring out the best in your own banjo pot for 1/2 the price of a new banjo.

I've been working on a new batch of Zircote Pickboxes, Check them out.

I'm tempted to talk about our tone rings, our new Warp Drive pickup and the cool banjos we have in stock, but my real purpose is to trigger your comments and questions about Nechville. Thanks in advance for posting. Tom

banjo bill-e - Posted - 12/09/2016:  12:00:59

Tom, as the absolute most out of the box banjo designer ever (!) I am wondering if you have ever considered a design incorporating those Tronical robo-tuners?
As a player who changes tunings often, they seem to be a dream come true. And they have to be cheaper than a room full of banjos!
They seem like they would be right at home on a Phantom neck.

Denton - Posted - 12/09/2016:  12:26:08

Tom recently fixed me up with an Excelsior assembled with a new type of hardwood tonering. The neck is a 90's vintage NUVO with the updated 5th string capo. The sound is very pleasing with a nice ring. The banjo is lightweight; unique and is a great addition. I love them all! Thank you Tom! I have heard nothing but positive comments about the new tone rings sound from my teacher, wife and picking friends.
What is your new Warp Drive Pickup about?
Excelsiors are Awesome!
Denton

Sabregeek - Posted - 12/09/2016:  13:51:07

Good afternoon,
My experience with Tom - and his banjo expertise was at the American Banjo Camp in Port Orchard WA this past fall. Tom took a whole morning to work through my current banjo..and made it much more fun to play. And it wasn't even a Nechville banjo! Al let me play all the Nechvilles I wanted.. I love those Nechville banjos - truly a banjo that can answer so many questions and demands- in one design! While I still have to want one from a distance, there will be a day when one of those sweet models makes its way into my home. The fact that Tom is always working to make a banjo design that is simple and yet so responsive, with a great banjo tone (you can insert your tonal answer there)- is valuable to everyone who has picked up a banjo.
I love the traditional banjos, and I love those Nechvilles- a true Gemini point of view.
David

nechville - Posted - 12/09/2016:  15:06:35

Everyone has a tuner on their phone these days, so built-in tuners remain an option that is not often chosen. Speaking of tuning, I am all about keeping the instrument in tune even between capo'ed positions. That's why I like the NUVO necks so much. Steve Martin likes that feature and I'm planning to put the 5th string capo on his next neck.

nechville - Posted - 12/09/2016:  15:14:52

Th Warp Drive is a newer version of our dual pickup once called the Acoustic Harness. It incorporates a great pre-amp that allows the best sound of both pickups to be blended on board and heard at once. It also has a unique mid level boost that is important in dialing in that elusive midrange sweet-spot without overdoing the bass and treble.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 12/09/2016:  15:17:48

tronicaltune.com  Tom, I'm not talking about a device that helps you find the correct pitch. I'm talking about the link at the front of this line.

LisaSimpson - Posted - 12/09/2016:  16:13:21

quote:

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Originally posted by banjo bill-e

 

tronicaltune.com  Tom, I'm not talking about a device that helps you find the correct pitch. I'm talking about the link at the front of this line.

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That's a great idea!

rmcdow - Posted - 12/13/2016:  04:34:37

quote:

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Originally posted by banjo bill-e

 

tronicaltune.com  Tom, I'm not talking about a device that helps you find the correct pitch. I'm talking about the link at the front of this line.

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Their device doesn't support the D4 and G4 strings that are on the banjo.  It's too bad, as that would be an interesting tuning device to build into a banjo peghead.

banjowingo - Posted - 12/13/2016:  12:50:56

Tom, can you comment on the "care & feeding" of a Rennaissance head versus frosted? I've heard that folks eventually like them after a time, but there is a break-in period (for lack of a better term). How is the tone different, do the require more frequent or tighter tensioning until they settle in? Any suggestion on finding the sweet spot?

Jake516 - Posted - 12/13/2016:  14:19:06

quote:

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Originally posted by banjo bill-e

 

tronicaltune.com  Tom, I'm not talking about a device that helps you find the correct pitch. I'm talking about the link at the front of this line.

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Hi Tom, Still totally in love with my Saturn and that Saturn-Ode conversion you guys did a while back.    I second bill-e's motion, this innovation would be great for your next product.   Of course it would need a bit of engineering for the unique requirements of the banjo, eg:   Select different tunings; and some kind of Time lag so as not to fight with folks playing Flint Hill Special.  And since there is some belief that transient pitch change is part of the characteristic banjo sound.   Maybe time for another collaboration with Gold-Tone to spread out the engineering costs ?   (I'll need this for my ML-1 as well ... 8?)

nechville - Posted - 12/23/2016:  10:32:06

Pat, The Renaissance  head does seem to allow more stretching over time, and I like to keep them quite tight. If they become worn or shiny looking, you can just use 0000 steel wool and make the appearance more uniform. Other than that, I can just say that I do like them and have one on my banjo now, but it is fun to try different heads once in a while since it will seem like a new banjo and that is fun. Tom

nechville - Posted - 12/23/2016:  10:37:53

Hey, to reply to the question about the Warp Drive Pickup, We just got a good 3D printer to make some of the parts required for this new product. It enables us to customize the installation for 2 coordinator rod banjos and different diameter pots. I have not heard a better quality of rich sound coming from a pickup so I am very pleased with the results we are getting. 

Hey regarding the auto tuners, I do agree it would be nice on a banjo. I will inquire with that company, and let you know if there might be a chance for such a thing on a banjo. If my plan to design an interactive banjo display for a museum actually happens, I'll be needing to tap into that technology for sure. 

David Schenkman - Posted - 12/27/2016:  09:52:08

Regarding Renaissance heads, I remember when I ordered the first Nechville for my personal use, Tom called and asked if he could put one on my banjo (a maple Phantom with Galaxy inlay). At the time they weren't generally used on bluegrass banjos, but I said "sure, why not." I assumed I was giving the polite answer and that I'd change it within a couple of weeks. That was nine or ten years ago, and it's still on the banjo. I've only adjusted the head two or three times since it arrived. I own two Phantoms now, both with Renaissance heads, and that's about all I play. I have a third, very fancy, Nechville on order, and am really looking forward to its arrival.

Try one; you might like it. And, if you have a Nechville, it will only take a few minutes to put it on.

Dave

Turtle Hill Banjo Co.

turtlehillbanjo.com

Bastertone - Posted - 12/28/2016:  16:26:20

The new warp drive system is so easy to install, about 5 minutes including adjusting the tone and blend controls with no tools or mods to the instrument and the sound is excellent. here's a pick of it installed in my hartford deering. Just snaps in. Also the nechville frame version. Sounding great on stage doesn't get much easier or better.

Nechville warp drive

Warp drive coordinator

banjo bill-e - Posted - 12/28/2016:  16:55:31

Does it make contact with the head?

Bastertone - Posted - 12/28/2016:  17:03:39

The piezo is connected to the head with a small piece of double side tape. The humbucking active pickup floats off the inside surface of the head by whatever gap you like. The pickup has a large magnetic field so there's lots of signal to blend. I found the best mix was about 80% active pickup and 20 piezo and then use the mid range control to taste. It creates a very natural, true sound to the banjo and so far I haven't had any feedback issues. There's a space for a foam pad to act as a subtle mute filter. I used that in the deering to dial in the hartford midrange tone and to limit the upper register treble that my wife calls "plinky " just before she leaves the room.

Bastertone - Posted - 12/28/2016:  17:09:55

the system doesn't effect the acoustic tone of the banjo at all and it wieghs just a few ounces. The printed assembly is light and strong and the CAD files can be adapted to custom fits for any type of banjo including openbacks with dowel sticks. The jack housing is clip on so no screwdriver or metal parts rubbing up against the finish or plating.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 12/28/2016:  18:55:20

thanks for the info, Edmond.

nechville - Posted - 01/06/2017:  12:16:22

BHO Nechville owners can get first dibs on the Warp Drive before it is officially released. See my current blog entry for more or call me, Tom

pjxndvm - Posted - 01/09/2017:  12:05:06

I played the 30 Anniversary Model at Carter Vintage, and it nice. I play both clawhammer and three finger style, and the action seemed right for me for playing both. I really loved it!

David Schenkman - Posted - 01/09/2017:  14:45:02

The XXX is a really neat banjo! I've sold two of them, and have two more on order.

Dave

Turtle Hill Banjo Co.

turtlehillbanjo.com

jasonlampel - Posted - 01/13/2017:  19:56:04

Hey Tom, the Warp Drive looks really great! It looks like ist a similar idea to the Acoustic harness but the design is much better. Are the pick ups and pre-amp different? how does it compare in sound?
I have an acoustic harness, any trade in deals?

Thanks,
Jason

Jake516 - Posted - 01/16/2017:  08:40:08

Hi Tom, I have another suggested improvement - Fine adjustment of the neck heel angle. The Nechville neck adjustment is a fantastic innovation, but presently it just tightens and loosens the joint. Really you have to loosen all the strings and hope you end up with the desired action. I would love to see a screw adjustment that would directly change the angle, even with strings at full tension.

nechville - Posted - 02/09/2017:  08:48:23

Good suggestion on the Fine tuning neck angle adjustment. I know of a repair guy at elderly who built a fine tune jig. In case you are having trouble adjusting or maintaining the desired neck angle, We have a round head neck bolt that might work better than the flat head bolt we used to use.. 

Hey on a completely different subject, read my blog about the workshops whith Bela and Bluegrass. 

nechville - Posted - 02/09/2017:  08:50:41

Jason, sorry for the slow reply. We are offering trade ins on the harness system, but the new system is more costly so there is an upcharge, Call me to get one reserved for you. 612-275-6602.

budbennett - Posted - 02/09/2017:  09:02:57

quote:

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Originally posted by Bastertone

 

The piezo is connected to the head with a small piece of double side tape. The humbucking active pickup floats off the inside surface of the head by whatever gap you like. The pickup has a large magnetic field so there's lots of signal to blend. I found the best mix was about 80% active pickup and 20 piezo and then use the mid range control to taste. It creates a very natural, true sound to the banjo and so far I haven't had any feedback issues. There's a space for a foam pad to act as a subtle mute filter. I used that in the deering to dial in the hartford midrange tone and to limit the upper register treble that my wife calls "plinky " just before she leaves the room.

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are you plugging directly into the board or using an amp?  i tried to ask that a few times already but don't seem to understand the answer ever.  one answer was that it plugs into a direct box and volume is adjusted there but none of my direct boxes have any sort of volume control so i am still confused.  so i guess my actual question is, if you buy one of those pickups do you also have to buy an amp or can you go directly to the sound board?

Aradobanjo - Posted - 02/10/2017:  13:50:04

Hello Tom, 

Thank you for your demonstration at Jack Hatfield's Banjo Workshop. 

Bastertone - Posted - 02/13/2017:  20:18:25

Bud, I plugged directly into a fishman loudbox amp, I've also plugged direct into my PA and into my computer. One add on I picked up was an MXR ten band EQ that adds amazing control.

budbennett - Posted - 02/14/2017:  04:51:36

quote:

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Originally posted by Bastertone

 

Bud, I plugged directly into a fishman loudbox amp, I've also plugged direct into my PA and into my computer. One add on I picked up was an MXR ten band EQ that adds amazing control.

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Is the sound you get plugged directly into the board the same as you get plugged into the amp?  

I ask because years ago I bought a Rare Earth pickup and it sounded like dog poo plugged directly into the board and even worse plugged into the digital recorder, so I called the company and they said I needed to go to an amp first to get the real sound.  (Sadly, I had to sell both pickup and amp a while back when I needed cash so I can no illustrate what I am talking about.  Without the amp it sounded as if the banjo was stuffed with cotton or something.)

Bastertone - Posted - 02/14/2017:  17:38:49

Bud, the person to talk to is Brett at nechville. He's done a lot of the testing with the pickup system. If he hasn't made them already he could make sound samples to compare.