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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 -

Administrators: 5 String (owner)

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From Ragaisis on 1/31/2011 7:32:14 AM

I always wanted a Stelling. Bad ass sound. Bad ass look. Unfortunately, also a bad ass price tag...

I owned a very high end Deering back in the late 80s. Great banjo, and I got a great deal since Deering was at a point where it wanted its banjos seen and heard, and I was playing on stage frequently - I was in the right place at the right time.

I was at a jam one night and another player had a Golden Cross (with the cross on the resonator - vintage 1977). We swapped banjos for a bit. I got to play the Stelling and loved the sound. The other guy thought the Deering was the best banjo ever. So we just...traded.

I never saw that guy again, and don't remember his name. But I walked home with a Stelling.

A few years later I got some nasty buzz from the Golden Cross. It turns out that the neck was delaminating. Geoff offered to build me a new one, but the $1k+ price tag was out of my budget. So I gave the job to friend and luthier Tim Crawford (who used to work for Ome). About 5 months later I had a replacement neck built to my specs. Very nice.

And then several years pass. I beat myself up and save my sheckles, sell the modified Golden Cross, and now have a Staghorn I've dubbed Spiny Norman. I've had this banjo for about 5 years. Would I ever "trade up" or "trade out"? Never out. Stelling is where I want to be. Up? Well, MAYBE if I could get a Viking or Old Woody, or Ivory Bill. But I'll NEVER have the cash for that. Besides Spiny Norman has bark, teeth, and is a joy to play.

Pick it solid,

Chris

1 Comments
	WVChuck says: 1/31/2011 8:08:16 AM Good story Chris. Geoff built me a entire new banjo when I presented a situation to him regarding a neck width issue. He took my banjo in on trade and made me a more than fair trade offer. Great guy, with an attitude toward his customers that you don't find much of these days in the business world. These days I'm picking a Redfox and a Crusader. Although I have two great banjos I am suffering from "SLS" aka: Stelling Lust Syndrome" My goal is to own one of each model someday when my wife gives me permission.
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