heruka - Posted - 07/21/2026:  16:32:35

Any one have any recent info? What do they sound like? I'm leaning towards a custom huber but I want to exhaust all my options. What's their inlay guy like? ?? They certainly don't have a large, or even medium footprint in the banjo world. They don't even have a website. Just a Facebook thing as far as I can tell.

Will Frady - Posted - 07/21/2026:  18:18:46

Neither does Frank and Ricky Neat, but no one makes necks and does hand cut inlay like they do . Huber makes a great banjo but so do a lot of small shops . If you’re thinking about buying , take your time. Travel to a few places and play as many banjos as you can . Hawthorn is a very reputable banjo ! Best of luck

Pix5String - Posted - 07/22/2026:  05:23:10

I have had a Hawthorn Top Tension for several years. It is a high quality instrument and aesthetically pleasing. Built in Kansas City mostly by Mark Franzke, whom I hold in high regard as a luthier.  Most parts are sourced thru Eric Sullivan.  The banjo has a great sound and as always, the sound is primarily a function of the player and the set up and the material quality.  Being a top tension its pot is a little more robust particularly the tension hoop and hardware.  Mine is unplated brass and really a nice looking instrument.  Two things have a positive influence on the sound of this banjo, first it has more mass, particularly the pot, as stated, and second the resonator.  The resonator has a flat inside bottom and a "mushroom cap" backside.  I think Mark and Glen Bradford were emulating the RB5 or RB7, I'm not well versed in Gibson.  It has a bowtie style neck inlay.  Mine has Evo Gold fretwire (which I custom ordered) that is no longer available.  I am reluctantly selling mine because I need to thin the herd a little.  This is an uncommon banjo, high quality, draws attention wherever I take it.  You won't be disappointed.

banjohangout.org/classified/115651

Hawthorn Top Tension 1

 

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 07/22/2026:  12:00:29

I’ve got a friend who had a Hawthorne top tension custom built with 24 frets. He loves it.

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 07/23/2026:  06:43:38

I think Chris Cockrum may be doing at least some of the inlay work for Hawthorne these days.