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Waltraud - Posted - 09/07/2022: 03:43:14
Hello banjo friends
I am in the market for a new flathead in the 2-3k range in the U.K. sadly now the U.K. is outside Europe there are import charges etc. I play a 29 tb1 hoop and a 28 pyramid normally but am missing a full flathead. My options are these;
Phil Davidson custom radiuses fingerboard, slightly wider neck. Nice
Stelling Whitestar 88 ply Tim kit block rim. Nice
29' rb1 conversion with deleting no hole ring- ex Jimmy Arnold.
Prucha Steve Dilling Standard ( new)
Capek Allegoria ( new).
They are sound good and look good, as I have two Gibsons I'm tempted by Prucha but also the muscle car Stelling which looks nice in dark maple . Too many choices!! Thanks for looking.
Texasbanjo - Posted - 09/07/2022: 04:49:01
Are you where you can play and/or listen to each of them? If so, see which one fits you the best as far as fretting and picking and which one has the sound that you like. That, hopefully, should make your decision easier.
Being a Stelling owner, of course, I'd opt for the Stelling Whitestar, but that's a personal choice, not a recommendation. The Prucha's are another banjo that I like the sound and feel of. Again, personal to me, not a recommendation. I'm not familiar with the other banjos, so have no thoughts on them. Maybe someone else will chime in on those.
wrench13 - Posted - 09/07/2022: 05:38:02
I just played a Stelling last week for the first time. This thing was a freakin CANNON and even my inept hands sounded good on it. The owner, who is very good, made it sing with incredible voice, all the way from a whisper to crispy full bore afterburner. Plus, they ain't making any more of 'em.
Waltraud - Posted - 09/07/2022: 05:39:29
Thanks Tex, I am hoping the whitestar has a good bottom end! Looks great, quite heavy
Bill Rogers - Posted - 09/07/2022: 10:19:35
The Stelling. If it turns out after a year or so that you don’t like it, you can easily sell it for no loss and maybe a profit.
Waltraud - Posted - 09/07/2022: 12:08:18
I do seem to be drawn towards the beast
Old Hickory - Posted - 09/07/2022: 12:23:27
quote:
Originally posted by Waltraud
I'm tempted by Prucha but also the muscle car Stelling which looks nice in dark maple
I thought the Whitestar is blond.
I think I like the sound of Prucha more than Stelling, but I looked up the Dilling model and see it comes from the factory with a speed neck and I really dislike that look. Stelling is definitely powerful and distinctive. But not my favorite sound. '29 RB-1 with a Deering ring might be interesting. Depends on looks, sound, feel, condition and amount of original content.
In the end, no one here can tell you what to buy. We can say why we prefer one or the other -- as I just did -- but even then, our reasons might have no meaning to you.
Happy shopping and good luck.
Waltraud - Posted - 09/07/2022: 12:48:43
Thanks Ken, this Whitestar had a walnut stained mid brown maple, looks lovely. Prucha make s Steve Dilling Standard model, a little more basic than the signature model but same structure, without a speed neck. It's relatively affordable until one adds tax and import duty which adds 30%
Waltraud - Posted - 09/07/2022: 14:30:31
The RB1 used to belong to Jimmy Arnold and we think went via Arthur Hatfield at one point. Going to play as many of them as I can.
Waltraud - Posted - 09/12/2022: 11:05:12
Played 65 Gibson rb100 conversion today, sounded hollow and I didn't like the big V neck. The whitestar I liked a lot, great neck, huge sound and more bass than expected, three ply rim 88 model .
Waltraud - Posted - 09/13/2022: 08:06:50
I've gone with the 88 Stelling Whitestar, I was reminded of the great tonal possibilities, lovely build quality and aesthetics which I appreciate. Having two Gibsons also made me consider what would compliment well. At present importing a Prucha to the U.K. is approximately 500£ extra in tax, import duty & postage. Stelling will also hold or grow in value .
rvrose - Posted - 09/13/2022: 08:50:07
quote:
Originally posted by Waltraud
I've gone with the 88 Stelling Whitestar, I was reminded of the great tonal possibilities, lovely build quality and aesthetics which I appreciate. Having two Gibsons also made me consider what would compliment well. At present importing a Prucha to the U.K. is approximately 500£ extra in tax, import duty & postage. Stelling will also hold or grow in value .
Good choice !
HSmith - Posted - 09/14/2022: 23:59:32
Wow, too much choice? How things have changed since my early banjo playing days in the 1970s. Back then in the UK, professional quality banjos were rare as hens' teeth. Most banjos available here were English, Clifford Essex, Dallas, Windsor etc, mostly perfectly good banjos for their original purpose but not really suitable for bluegrass. One occasionally saw an old Vega Tubaphone, but they were usually plectrum or tenor banjos. When I was ready for a quality instrument I had to import a pot assembly from Bucks County Instruments and have a neck and resonator made for it. I'd have loved to have had too much choice!
Waltraud - Posted - 09/15/2022: 03:16:15
Thanks Harry! I remember meeting Rick Townend in the 80s and him saying find an old 250, it was the main go to axe in those days if you could find and afford one. It's funny how BAS gets a grip when one only really needs one good banjo to play. ????
Tim
HSmith - Posted - 09/15/2022: 08:36:01
Hi Tim
Yes, I've spent far too much of my life trawling through music shops, junk shops, 'antique' markets, the pages of 'Exchange & Mart' and a million other places in the vain hope of finding a good banjo in the UK. It's great that it's so much easier now, just when my search is over! I've been lucky to find a wonderful Osborne Chief and Nechville Meteor and can't imagine I'll need to change. I'm guessing you've bought the Stelling from JAT? I had a Sunflower for 20 years, hope the Whitestar gives you as much pleasure.
Regards
Harry
damirzanne - Posted - 10/09/2022: 22:04:09
I’m little late to the party , but Stelling all the way … fantastic banjo , and value will go only up … good choice you made … enjoy it …
