Bellflower with radiused fingerboard

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Stelling Owners Club

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For those who own or want to own the ultimate banjo. www.stellingbanjo.com

536 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

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From Ty Presley on 9/13/2025 6:57:57 AM

I just bought a 2000 Stelling Bellflower that has a radiused fingerboard and a normal (not compensated) nut. I don't know a lot about Stellings but I thought that they all came with a compensated nut. I can see from the old Stelling website that a radiused fingerboard was an option but it must have been extremely rare because I've seen numerous mentions (incorrectly) on BHO and elsewhere that all Stellings had a flat fingerboard. So, I wonder if Stelling use non-compensated nuts on radiused fingerboard banjos or did a prior owner replace the original nut. I don't know but I definitely love the banjo and the radiused fingerboard is nice, first time owning one of those as well.

3 Comments
	rvrose says: 9/13/2025 7:51:36 AM Ty, Every Stelling I've ever seen had the compensated nut. I've never had a radiused fretboard, but I wonder if the compensation would be the same? If the intonation is good - I wouldn't worry about it. If not you could get a compensated bridge. I love my 2019 Stelling Golden Cross. Since they are no longer in business I don't know where you would get a replacement compensated nut.
	CAPT Steve says: 9/13/2025 9:13:00 AM I spoke with Geoff years ago and he wasn't a fan of radiused fretboards. The only banjo he made without a compensated nut was the Crusader, and he made a specific bridge for it. I had him put one on an old Gold Star I have.
	Ty Presley says: 9/13/2025 9:30:49 AM Thanks rvrose, Capt, Well, I have to assume that somebody must have replaced the nut then. I can't tell by looking at it because it looks perfect. I'm pretty sure it's bone, at least it feels like it and sounds like it when tapped with something metal. I just checked out pictures of Crusaders and I can see the bridge is clearly compensated and seems to be more pronounced than other compensated bridges I've seen (like a Snuffy Smith). Do you know where folks are going to be able to get a bridge like the Stelling one now that Geoff is retired? I don't yet know if I need one. I just bought the banjo and the first thing I did was take it completed apart for cleaning. It was disgusting. I'll have it back together today though. Ty
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