I have two custom orders that I have agreed to build.
After these two I will no longer be taking orders for Custom Banjos.
But I will still build with Standard Gibson Inlay patterns.
And will continue to build All Hatfield stock models.
I am getting older and having some health issues and it is all getting to be to much to keep up with all the custom things. A lot of customs one have took up all much enough time to work out the details as it did to build.
Sorry for the inconvenience. But this is something I have thought on for the last 3-4 years and finally decided it is what I must do.
Your health must come before others.
Hello Arthur: Do you still offer your great compensated bridges? I need one in an 11/16" height if you have it.
quote:
Originally posted by jbalchHello Arthur: Do you still offer your great compensated bridges? I need one in an 11/16" height if you have it.
Hi John
Yes I still make the bridges
Thanks
Arthur
I hope to get a Hatfield one day and would be perfectly happy with any of them. Keep em coming.
You have a well deserved reputation of being helpful and accomodating, so I am sure this was a tough decision. From the business side , it is a smart move to be more efficient with your time. Best wishes and glad to hear from you here!
Edited by - lightgauge on 08/22/2023 14:21:28
Here is a Pic of Arthur Hatfield and me from last week. I needed a 5-tring neck & Arthur built one of his standard offerings for me. I sent my pot to him, and he cut and fitted his neck to it. I drove down to his shop to pick it up. From the moment you enter his workshop you can tell you are in the presence of a woodworking craftsman. No CNC equipment here, no laptops, no computer aided design tools. Every workstation has a specific purpose, all the tool benches, tables and jigs are crafted by hand, just like his instruments. The neck sounds great, and I am sure will only get better with time. He matched the finish to the pot. The maple on the back of the neck is stunning. With the quality of the neck being what it is, I can only imagine how fine his Banjo's must be. Arthur looks good and seems fine. He was heading out to a BG fest for a few days.
I lamented in an email about this to another "builder" here who does custom work to lurid boundaries. That was 2010.
People want custom necks and such which cost as much in time and trouble as does a whole banjo.
Your bridge is my favorite example of a compensated bridge because it works. I have a tribute model in Crabapple.
Your contribution will live on long after you make a decision to slow down even more.
You started as a younger person, now you have mentored and served the whole community.
No one can really buy that. You earned my gratitude. Thank you sincerely.
Newest Posts
'Baldwin D Model' 2 hrs
'Baldwin ODE D Model' 2 hrs
'Win 10 Laptop Question' 3 hrs
'Silver Bells' 6 hrs
