Goldstarman - Posted - 02/14/2017:  13:46:22

So I know early ones had the block rims (I learned to play on one for 15 years) then the 3 ply and finally the Pass block rims. I thought those were good but never like the 3 ply rims. I know Will parsons played one wit ha 3 ply and it was just killer. Anyway I got one in the shop and I gotta say it is one of, if not the best Stelling ive heard. All the best characteristics of the Stelling, perfectly made, loud, flawless and with a Gibsonesque sound......just great tone...

TOMCAT - Posted - 02/14/2017:  14:08:11

The best Stelling I had was a 2003 golden cross with the Pass rim. The other two, bellflower and Sunflower that I now have has the 3 ply. All three is and was killers though.

TOMCAT - Posted - 02/14/2017:  14:34:14

Tim I've noticed that the tone of the older Stellings is really starting become enhanced. I guess the age thing is working for them. Never found a Stelling I didn't like though.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/14/2017:  15:07:12

For many years I was lucky enough to be friends with a Stelling collector and I got to play dozens of different kinds of Stellings.  I never played even one that I didn't think sounded fantastic.  All were easy to fret, easy to pick and a joy to play.    I've played the older Staghorns, Master Cross, etc.,  and newer model Stellings and still like the sound and feel of the older ones.  Maybe just my ear, but I think they sound even better than the new ones, if that's possible.   Of course, I think my Masterpiece is one of the best ones around but then it's my banjo, after all. 

Edited by - Texasbanjo on 02/14/2017 15:09:03

swamplunker - Posted - 02/14/2017:  16:07:25

According to Stelling's "Banjo Chronology", there are four different brims over the years: 74-81,original block, from 81-94 Stew-Mac 3-ply, from 94-02 Cooperman 3-ply, and from '02 to present Tony Pass block. My favorites are the original block and the Cooperman.

Fathand - Posted - 02/14/2017:  16:39:30

I have a 1985 Golden Cross with the Stew Mac Rim. The serial number places it as assembled in Virginia from parts made in California if I am reading the chronology correctly.  It does a great job for me and is louder than any banjo I have played. I wonder who made the rims for Stew Mac? Maybe Cooperman?

monstertone - Posted - 02/14/2017:  16:43:37

If they just weren't so damn ugly! ha ha. Sorry, I just couldn't resist. There are some things I absolutely love about Stelling banjo's. And although Geoff does immaculate work, the themes of any of his models never appealed to my eye. And then there is that peg head. The Monstertone is one of the early block pots. I suspect the work of Oakie Adams.

arnie fleischer - Posted - 02/14/2017:  17:01:09

I love my 1991 Golden Cross with a 3-ply rim. The variety of tone it can produce is quite amazing to me. Picked softly up close to the neck there's almost a reedy quality to its tone.

banjoez - Posted - 02/14/2017:  17:55:49

Tried them all and the Pass rim does it for me. IMHO it provides a more open and rich tone without sacrificing volume though there is nothing wrong with the older ones. Just a slightly different flavor.

Edited by - banjoez on 02/14/2017 18:01:57

Goldstarman - Posted - 02/14/2017:  19:05:44

This one has the Cooperman 3 play and thats always been my favorite. I doubt there was much difference at all between the Stewmac and cooperman 3 plys

budbennett - Posted - 02/15/2017:  05:10:39

I have a 1991 and a 2000 Stelling.  That makes one rim Stew MAc and the other Cooperman.  They sound very different.  The Cooperman is really much nicer sounding.  That is not to say I don't like the sound of the other, I REALLY like it, but the Cooperman one is more full I guess. That would be the only way to describe it.  

I love the crispness of the 1991 though so picking which I prefer would be a hard task.

Craig_B - Posted - 02/15/2017:  07:33:38

My Staghorn is from '82. I love it to death, and have a hard time imagining how its sound or playability could be improved, other than through further aging. There's no question it's better now than it was when new, and it was great then.

Aesthetiics is an interesting, if necessarily subjective, area. I understand the interest in having a peghead profile or silhouette that's easily identifiable from a distance or on stage. I personally think Geoff did a great job with it, especially on the models with binding, as it stands out against a dark background great. I also love that the holes in the flange are little pairs of the headstock profile, mirror-imaged with one another.

The success of the inlay designs are, to me, dependent on the model I'm looking at. Some I like more than others. The old "standard" models, from the Bellflower to the Staghorn, I think are great, but I'm not as wild about others like the Red Fox. As nice as they are, they just don't speak to me.

Edited by - Craig_B on 02/15/2017 07:34:29

banjoman56 - Posted - 02/15/2017:  07:51:24

My Red Fox is a 96 model with the Cooperman rim, and I love it. I have played a couple Red Fox's with the Pass rim, but I think I prefer the Cooperman. Not by a lot, but they seems to sound a bit better to my ear.

All this being said, I play the Stelling very little these days, it just can't compare with my Sullivan V-35. Those banjos are just special.

Edited by - banjoman56 on 02/15/2017 07:54:26

SimonSlick - Posted - 02/17/2017:  17:22:38

I have a 77 Staghorn that has been my number one banjo since the day it arrived from California. It's tone is crystal clear from the open D to the C at 22. The quality of the craftsmanship has no comparison that I have ever seen.

OM45GE - Posted - 02/18/2017:  03:59:46

As others have said, I've never played a Stelling that wasn't outstanding. I would change nothing on my 80's Golden Cross with Stew Mac 3 ply. 

Gary Griffin - Posted - 02/18/2017:  08:12:49

Hi, I had a 1997 Red Fox with the Cooperman Rim, a 2004 Red Fox with the Pass Rim, and a 2012 Golden Cross with the Pass rim. They all had The WOW! Wouldn't mind having any of them back!

monstertone - Posted - 02/18/2017:  08:53:07

Wow! I never new there had been so many variations of the pots. If you are unable to verify the year of manufacture, is there any other way of telling what pot is on a Stelling banjo?

a g cole - Posted - 02/18/2017:  12:17:28

I agree wholeheartedly with Banjoman56.  I really like my Red Fox, and think the peghead  design and fingerboard inlay are striking.  However, my Vintage 35 mahogany is tops for sound.

Dr5 - Posted - 02/18/2017:  14:09:49

With the serial number you should be able to determine the year it was built. Perhaps it has more to do with age, but I have always thought the Stellings built before the move to Virginia to be a touch superior in tone.

LouZee Picker - Posted - 02/19/2017:  05:09:53

A 2004 walnut/ nickel plated Staghorn was the best sounding & easiest playing ,Stelling  banjo that I've owned! That's one I should have kept.

 Brian

skevincampbell - Posted - 02/19/2017:  10:23:51

I've only played one, but every Stelling I've ever seen was absolutely beautiful. They all sound good, too. Different, but good. Some I've heard sound like they have a motor in them. My favorite, though, is the Crusader Deluxe.

pjgent - Posted - 02/19/2017:  12:56:42

I just bought a new Red Fox. When I first played it I was very impressed with the tone and the brightness, Then I tried playing it softly, the tone up and down the neck and everywhere else was absolutely beautiful and resonant even to my beginner's ear. I understand that the tone is supposed to improve even more with age. It is a great banjo.

TL - Posted - 02/19/2017:  19:37:12

I pretty much agree with what everybody else has said!

gottasmilealot - Posted - 02/20/2017:  03:52:07

My Sunflower is the only banjo I have that can be put away for a week or two and still be in perfect tune right out of the case, it's that stable.  Block rim. No need to change that which isn't broken. Great sound without constant tweaking.

Cornflake - Posted - 02/20/2017:  08:27:48

I have a 2002 Red Fox with the original (thick) Pass rim. It's developed this interesting warm sound without many overtones. I love playing it for the feel and tone. It certainly sounds like a banjo but there is no shrillness.

TOMCAT - Posted - 02/20/2017:  16:48:54

I've always loved the Red Fox since the day they came out. One of these days fate will hook me up👍

JMalmsteen - Posted - 02/20/2017:  22:45:09

There have been particularly excellent Stellings I have played from different years. My favorite model is the Red Fox. I have a Golden Cross.

Edited by - JMalmsteen on 02/20/2017 22:49:43

Goldstarman - Posted - 02/21/2017:  13:13:11

The one I have here is great......Im going to put it up for trade soon though.......I play my banjos and trade on others

TOMCAT - Posted - 02/21/2017:  13:32:29

Which model do you have Tim?

Goldstarman - Posted - 02/22/2017:  10:46:40

Sunflower, and its powerful.....great banjo

TOMCAT - Posted - 02/22/2017:  10:54:59

Sending you a pm