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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!

6860 reviews in the archive.

White Mountain: Sholo

Submitted by dpgetman on 10/28/2014

Where Purchased: Ron's shop in AZ

Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

My Sholo has an Indian rosewood tonering and a partial internal resonator. It has a rich bottom end and clear mid-tones and treble all the way up the neck. I like a bit more sustain (but do not like overly ringy tones) and this banjo nails it.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

Ron set the instrument up perfectly, but I have tweaked it a great deal to get the sound I wanted. Liking lower action, I filed the nut down a bit to suit my bridge height prefs. I also replaced the no knot with an Ome Sweettone.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

The quality of wood and skill in the finishing are really stunning on this instrument. I get compliments on it wherever I go. Ron is a real artist.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

The hardware is top notch (Rickard?) I travel with my instrument and re-tune when I play a great deal and have found this instrument to be the most consistent and reliable I own.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I had the great pleasure of meeting Ron and Dorlea in Arizona while there on business and to play some 15 banjos he had there, all very solid and beautiful instruments. Ron listened to me play, swapped out bridges, and even gave me a back up tail piece in case the one installed was not to my liking over time. Since then, I have asked Ron for various banjo bits for other projects and he has always gone the extra mile to do right by me. Top marks.

Customer Service: 10

Components

All components on this banjo were top grade, in my opinion.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

In addition to the Sholo, I've played a number of WMBs and really liked all of them. The Sholo is particularly flexible in the sounds I can get out of it, from very plunky to very bright, depending on the bridge, strings, tailpiece, etc. I put on there (and I have played with a good variety). I also own a Reiter Bacophone and an Ome North Star, but the Sholo remains my main daily player.

Overall Rating: 10