All Luthier Reviews (By Submitter)

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Banjo Reviews

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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!

7099 reviews in the archive.

Bill Hayes

Submitted by banjo_robb on 5/25/2009

Overall Comments

Bill Hayes converted an early Gibson TB-100 pot assembly into a RB-4. He had Jimmy Cox re-skin the resonator with a beautiful burled walnut. Bill built the neck out of walnut using customized measurements to fit my hand easily. He did the Flying Eagle pattern on the neck by hand, using paua abalone on a gorgeous piece of Brazilian rosewood. He also did the marquetry inlay of the concentric rings on the resonator.

This Gibson, "Willie", has sounded tremendous since Day One! With its No-hole Dannick tone ring, all the great sounds which it puts forth are magnified without any extra effort on my part. The tone is clear and true along the entire neck, & Willie, being the cannon that "he" is, is a favorite among the banjo pickers at all the jams I attend.

Bill Hayes is a delightful fellow to deal with, in every respect. He is careful to be sure he builds you exactly what you want, sparing no details. His workmanship is incredible. It has indeed been an honor to have such a fine luthier build me this banjo.

Thank you Bill Hayes!

Overall Rating: 10

Robin Smith

Submitted by banjo_robb on 6/10/2008

Overall Comments

Robin built my Kel Kroydon KK10 New Generation banjo. It is made of mahogany with purple highlights. All the hardware is copper flashed plain gold, & the fretboard is MOTS with the purple tinting on the edges.

From start to finish, it was a pleasure dealing with Robin Smith. He is careful to incorporate any special features the player may desire in his/her banjo. Robin's attention to every detail is clearly evident in the finished product.. The workmanship is impeccable! My KK 10, from the start, had a wonderful, deep timbre to it. That was last August 2008 when I got my banjo ("Lillee"). As I had suspected at that time, Lillee is only getting better with time. She has really begun to open up in the past 3 months & is truly a cannon when I need her to be one!

Robin is a gentleman of the first order: pleasant, patient, and just a darn nice fellow!

Overall Rating: 10