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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
7220 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: LIttle MOuntain Music
This Thinline armrest is my third purchased from Little Mountain Music. Each armrest has been terrific, and the service and follow-up from Little Mountain could not be better.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased:
I cannot recommend John's Stained, pre-mounted Goat Skin Heads enough. I now have for and each is beautiful, sounds fantastic, and was easy to mount. Finally, John is a great guy, and is a pleasure to deal with.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased:
A nother first rate product by Bill Riickard. I just put ths ring on a new long neck,and it is terrific. Sounds great, look great, strong and flawless construction.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Directly From Bart
An absolute 10! The bridge is a beautiful piece of work, and my Century old Vega has never sounded as good; projection, claity, intonation, timbre,
and no floppy 4'th string!
Beyond that, Bart is an amazing guy, a consumate professional, and a pleasure to work with.
--Shannon Hearne
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: John Balch
I just "installed" a pre-mounted stained Calf Skin Head made by John Balch.
The Head is one of the most beautiful I have seen, and mounting the Head could not have been easier.
I cannot recommend John's Heads more hhighly!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: From Gary On Ebay
An excellent bridge, everything you would expect from a Sosebee Bridge ..... woods, craftsmanship, ...everything is first rate. And Gary shipped it lightning fast!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Greg Boyd's
Beautiful Amber Buttons that come in two button styles and two shaft shapes. I installed them on 5 Star tuners . They were a bit more work than I anticipated. You will need a set of needle files, and, if my experience is typical, about two hours to size and file the butoons for tight -non slip installation. But, IMHO it was well worth the work. The buttons are beautiful. I bought them from Greg Boyd's on-line. They were shipped quickly, with no problem.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Bill Rickard
Excellent!!! Could not be more pleased.
Bill and Bob are great people to work with.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Bill Miller, Banjoseen.com
My experience was not at all good. I bought a new pre-mounted 11 inch calf skin head from Bill Miller. In attempting to mount the head I followed the instuctions that came with the head to the letter. The flesh hoop came out of the head. Nothing of any substance was holding it in place. Once that happened the skin and the hoop were not mountable ( believe me, I spent another 3 hours attempting to make it work.).
I carefully packed them and returned them to Miller after I had exchanged several emails with him, including my request for a full $42.00 refund.
Once they had been shipped back to Miller, at my expense, I got an email from him saying I would only get a $14.00 refund. (altogether, I spent over $54.00.)
I know others have had a good experience with these heads. I can only tell you what mine was.
In closing, my past experience has been that banjo makers, and banjo parts makers, are just about the nicest group of people you would ever hope to meet. Brooks Masten, Will Fielding, Bill Rickard, Mike Ramsey, Wayne Rogers, Doug Campbell,the Deerings, Chuck Lee .... are great folks. Not so with Bill Miller.. Again, not a good experience.
Overall Rating: 1
Where Purchased: Little Mountain Music
An excellent armrest. I purchased the wooden armrest in curly walnut. It is beautiful, well enginered, good materials, and excellent craftsmanship. Little Mountain Music was responsive and a pleasure to do business with.
PS: I liked my first Thinline arm rest so much I bought a second one in curly maple for a twelve inch Ramsey. It is also absolutely beautiful, and the buying experience with Little Mountain Music was a real pleasure!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Elderly Instruments --(On-line at: Elderly.com).
A very nice tailpiece. Well made. Nicely finished. A bit tedious to work with (when installing new strings), but well worth the effort.
Like everything Will Fielding makes, its good.
It is an excellent alternative to a No Knot. Not as "plunky", with a more bell like tone and improved sustain.
PS: I now have two Fielding tailpieces. one on an 11 in., Dobson, and another on a 12 In. Ramsey. In both cases the tailpiece functions beautifully.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Brooks Masten
A very nice armrest, sturdy, well designed, easy to mount, easily adjustable, and it looks great. Not the most comfortable arm rest I have ever used, but probably the best looking. And, working with Brooks is always a pleasure. Great guy!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Elderly Instruments
Simply terrific!! I have used many bridges, including the Stockwell Medium weight Moon Bridge. But, the 5/8 'Heavy Moon Bridge is a different animal. Can't say enough good things about it!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Bill Rickard on-line at:: Billrickard.com
A very good No Knot tailpiece. I purchased the natural brass, non-plated tailpiece.; excellent craftsmanship, heavy and nice looking.
I put in on an 11 in. tubaphone, replacing an older nickel No Knot. It not only looks better, it improves the tone and the sustain.
Overall Rating: 9
