Page: 1 2
quote:
Originally posted by barry WaldrepShelby American banjo company is a business, not just a banjo. One that I’ve worked very hard on and very proud of the quality.
I also own banjo.com which is a business. Two separate businesses that contributes to the banjo community and provides income for me, my family and employees.
I welcome feedback, but I do not welcome people attacking my businesses. My prices are in line with anything close to this quality. The tone is excellent and the craftsmanship is spotless and refined.
Although, I have drawings for my future banjo design. There will always be a need for what I just released.
Let me get this straight, you own two businesses and if your customer disagrees with your designs your default is to tell them to not buy it, shut up and keep walking... your taking food off your own table, not only will I not buy one of your banjos based on how your acting here, I aint never gonna buy from the website either. Do you have any other businesses you would like to tell us of so I can shut up and not buy from you? Dammit I just looked up your website and there were two different Bishline's I was contemplating buying... The circus just keeps rolling in trying to buy a new banjo for me! FFS
Edited by - JohnnySilver on 04/25/2025 10:37:46
Seems to me the pricing is roughly in line with new Huber, Sullivan, Yates instruments — admittedly edging towards their top of the line models. The Sullivan’s represent the best bang for the buck, but I’d assume the scale of their operation to be slightly bigger.
So… I dunno. I have some nice banjos. Am I entitled? Seems to me I earned every last one of them busting my butt at my day job. And continue busting my arse learning how to play them, instead of arguing about them on the internet.
quote:
Originally posted by lazyarcherThe negative flaming posts seen here are just why so many have left the BHO.
Truth.
To those reading this thread:
It is worth remembering that...
SAYING IT DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE!
1. Mr. Arcuri came on here and
alleged that Mr. Waldrep
has been personally criticized.
****NOT TRUE****
2. Mr. Waldrep came on here
and alleged his business has
been attacked.
****NOT TRUE****
3. Shelby banjos have been
criticized.
****TRUE****
They want you to believe their hyperbole and exaggerated claims.
Don't believe it!
It's important to stick to the truth.
Even though some on here have
their own truth.
Edited by - Mark Douglas on 04/25/2025 12:03:36
quote:
Originally posted by reubenstumpquote:
Originally posted by lazyarcherThe negative flaming posts seen here are just why so many have left the BHO.
Truth.
Say it ain't so.
Edited by - Mark Douglas on 04/25/2025 12:04:56
And you continue!!!
You criticized without seeing, touching, or hearing. Therefore it’s makes you unqualified to judge.
e.g. —.
Personal attack: “Sam Smith lies when promoting his banjos.”
Criticism: “Sam Smith owns the Midnite Banjo Co., which makes lousy banjos.”
Smith and his company are separate entities and criticism of one is not criticism of the other.
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Rogerse.g. —.
Personal attack: “Sam Smith lies when promoting his banjos.”
Criticism: “Sam Smith owns the Midnite Banjo Co., which makes lousy banjos.”
Smith and his company are separate entities and criticism of one is not criticism of the other.
What clarity!
Thank you.
We’re headed into semantic games here. I don’t see level-headed criticism as “flaming.” Taking any comment that falls short of positive to be a “flame” or an “attack” seems to me to be mistaken. Posters who want only positive affirmation are not living in the real world. That said, I find personal or company attacks that mistakenly denigrate products or actions abhorrent. Calling inlay designs “boring” is very different than calling inlay work “always sloppy and careless” when it is not. OTOH, Art Gariepy, per Bob Flesher, did sloppy inlay work. That’s a fact, neither an attack nor libelous. Flesher told me that when I mentioned the poor inlay work on my Gariepy in an email conversation with him.
quote:
Originally posted by Bill RogersAnother high-quality masterclone maker. I’m waiting for someone to offer something different in the way of, let’s say, inlays. Maybe some newly designed patterns with engravings. I know that experimenting with the shells and tone rings is risky, but I’d like to see some variety elsewhere.
Take a look at Nechville.
quote:
Originally posted by barry WaldrepWow Mark!! This is just amazing!! How rude and disrespectful can you get. I simply started a company and business venture to do what I love and produce quality banjos.
If you don’t like the style don’t buy one and shut up. Do you get happiness from slamming someone who doesn’t create what you like personally?
There is a high demand for traditional style banjos like this and the people who like them would never play anything but this style. The people who play pre war Gibsons would not want anything but those. Everyone likes different things.
Over the past 10 years I have sold more Deering banjos than anyone, in which are great banjos. Some people don’t like Deering but you can’t say they are not good quality.
And I have also put a ton of work into creating and launching Shelby American Banjo Company. I plan to expand my ideas as time moves forward. But the traditional style banjos will remain as constant models.
I just don’t understand why anyone finds it okay to try and hurt someone’s business just because you don’t like it. You just can’t wait to get to that keyboard and start your drama. Do you find it funny? Does it make you feel macho?
You haven’t seen or played one and you make snide comments and judgement calls about them.
I received a disrespectful voicemail a couple years ago. A friend of mine reminded me today that it was you that left it.
Keep up the good vibes Mark. I’m very impressed, just not favorably.
I strongly agree! The vast majority of the banjo market wants a clone of what Earl played. We can always use another high end banjo maker and I wish the Shelby Banjo Co great success.
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Douglasquote:
Originally posted by reubenstumpquote:
Originally posted by lazyarcherThe negative flaming posts seen here are just why so many have left the BHO.
Truth.
Say it ain't so.
It is so...
The prices are in line with other quality builders like Sullivan and Huber. It is a mistake to underprice. There is one builder out there that I think makes excellent banjos. For his own reasons, I guess, he has priced them well below the price of comparable banjos. And that is the only reason the market perceives them to be of lesser value. And once you start low, it's really hard to jack the prices up. It's a lot easier to bring them down.
Adjusted for inflation, these banjos are roughly equivalent to Gibson banjos that were new, maybe slightly above. But you have to look at cost of production and parts, which do not move equal with the things measured in CPI. And Mr. Waldrep does not need to find a professional player to endorse them. He is one.
And frankly, I don't really believe that the market is screaming out for new inlay patterns. Rich & Taylor did new inlays. Deering has had some amazing new inlay patterns. But the market seems to favor the same standard patterns (BT, wreath, H&F, FE, L&B, gull).
Keep driving ahead Barry, if you listened to the trolls, you wouldn’t own Banjo.com right now. I don’t hear anyone criticizing boutique guitar makers like Collings and Santa Cruz to name a couple, that produce instruments closely resembling Martin and Gibson models. Last I checked, they have waiting lists for their very expensive guitars!
Edited by - Lester Crowe on 04/30/2025 05:06:51
Good looking banjos for sure .
Good luck Barry !
quote:
Originally posted by barry WaldrepWow Mark!! This is just amazing!! How rude and disrespectful can you get. I simply started a company and business venture to do what I love and produce quality banjos.
If you don’t like the style don’t buy one and shut up. Do you get happiness from slamming someone who doesn’t create what you like personally?
There is a high demand for traditional style banjos like this and the people who like them would never play anything but this style. The people who play pre war Gibsons would not want anything but those. Everyone likes different things.
Over the past 10 years I have sold more Deering banjos than anyone, in which are great banjos. Some people don’t like Deering but you can’t say they are not good quality.
And I have also put a ton of work into creating and launching Shelby American Banjo Company. I plan to expand my ideas as time moves forward. But the traditional style banjos will remain as constant models.
I just don’t understand why anyone finds it okay to try and hurt someone’s business just because you don’t like it. You just can’t wait to get to that keyboard and start your drama. Do you find it funny? Does it make you feel macho?
You haven’t seen or played one and you make snide comments and judgement calls about them.
I received a disrespectful voicemail a couple years ago. A friend of mine reminded me today that it was you that left it.
Keep up the good vibes Mark. I’m very impressed, just not favorably.
Welcome to the club...Grumpy old men, that's all I can say.
I sell some pretty rare antiques. I used to have a guy that repaired grandfather clock movements for me. One day I stopped at his place to have him clean up a neglected movement. I pointed out, in the rear of my van, the hood and case which was a sophisticated New Jersey production made around 1790. It was beautifully proportioned inlaid mahogany. His only comment was sarcastic "Don't you think the maker could have used less inlay and saved them for another clock?"
There are plenty of 18th and early 19th century clock cases with more inlay than mine had. Given the same condition, the clocks with more decorative inlay were more costly to produce and they cost more today as well.
Some people are never pleased so move on. People come into my store and look at a 200 year old piece of furniture by highly trained cabinet makers and with the best wood. People will often put their index finger on an old blemish and say, "Oh, too bad its damaged." I used to tell them to go to Sears, all their furniture is perfect and I only sell dammaged goods!
Why do so many banjo makers offer so few choices in scale length (I like 24.75") and different neck widths (I need wide spacing at the nut and the bridge)?
quote:
Originally posted by jbevWhy do so many banjo makers offer so few choices in scale length (I like 24.75") and different neck widths (I need wide spacing at the nut and the bridge)?
I think Tom Nechville will build you any neck you want.
quote:
Originally posted by paadamsquote:
Originally posted by barry WaldrepWow Mark!! This is just amazing!! How rude and disrespectful can you get. I simply started a company and business venture to do what I love and produce quality banjos.
If you don’t like the style don’t buy one and shut up. Do you get happiness from slamming someone who doesn’t create what you like personally?
There is a high demand for traditional style banjos like this and the people who like them would never play anything but this style. The people who play pre war Gibsons would not want anything but those. Everyone likes different things.
Over the past 10 years I have sold more Deering banjos than anyone, in which are great banjos. Some people don’t like Deering but you can’t say they are not good quality.
And I have also put a ton of work into creating and launching Shelby American Banjo Company. I plan to expand my ideas as time moves forward. But the traditional style banjos will remain as constant models.
I just don’t understand why anyone finds it okay to try and hurt someone’s business just because you don’t like it. You just can’t wait to get to that keyboard and start your drama. Do you find it funny? Does it make you feel macho?
You haven’t seen or played one and you make snide comments and judgement calls about them.
I received a disrespectful voicemail a couple years ago. A friend of mine reminded me today that it was you that left it.
Keep up the good vibes Mark. I’m very impressed, just not favorably.Welcome to the club...Grumpy old men, that's all I can say.
I sell some pretty rare antiques. I used to have a guy that repaired grandfather clock movements for me. One day I stopped at his place to have him clean up a neglected movement. I pointed out, in the rear of my van, the hood and case which was a sophisticated New Jersey production made around 1790. It was beautifully proportioned inlaid mahogany. His only comment was sarcastic "Don't you think the maker could have used less inlay and saved them for another clock?"
There are plenty of 18th and early 19th century clock cases with more inlay than mine had. Given the same condition, the clocks with more decorative inlay were more costly to produce and they cost more today as well.
Some people are never pleased so move on. People come into my store and look at a 200 year old piece of furniture by highly trained cabinet makers and with the best wood. People will often put their index finger on an old blemish and say, "Oh, too bad its damaged." I used to tell them to go to Sears, all their furniture is perfect and I only sell dammaged goods!
I love it!!
quote:
Originally posted by HighLonesomeF5quote:
Originally posted by jbevWhy do so many banjo makers offer so few choices in scale length (I like 24.75") and different neck widths (I need wide spacing at the nut and the bridge)?
I think Tom Nechville will build you any neck you want.
Its an issue not of special ordering what I want, but why no banjo maker offers multiple neck widths and scale lengths so that you can visit the maker and have 15 different banjos to try. Some fingers are short, some are long, some are thick, some are skinny, etc.
I expect it is due to the cost of having near $50,000 sitting there in 15 different banjos and someone would still want to see something different.
It's totally a side issue with no known connection, but FYI, Shelby Guitars were made for a couple of years (1964-65, I believe) in Shelbyville, TN. That's in Bedford County, not to be confused with Shelby County (Memphis). The venture was a subcontract with Slingerland Drums. They were already having some of their drum hoops (but not banjo hoops) fabricated in a Shelbyville shop. Those were tagged in red, and vintage "Shelbyville Slingerlands" actually carry a small premium today, compared to the much more abundant Illinois-made products.
The same can't be said for Shelby guitars, as such; but the guitar-building side of the shop (Solar Music) was supervised by J.W. Gallagher. He moved his own operation back to Wartrace (still Bedford County), and started producing the considerably more refined Gallagher Guitars there. Rather recently, that business has been purchased (after three generations of Gallaghers) and moved a couple dozen miles to Murfreesboro. Still very nice guitars.
Page: 1 2
