All in search- like so many other pickers, that magical partner for a good flathead tone ring. That would produce that old fat hollow tone with volume to equal the tone. Some were closer than others and surprisingly not according to price point either in some cases!

A  very good friend and of coarse fellow banjo "nut" has been doing some experimenting of his own concerning rims. Not too long ago he mentioned to me his latest positive result in his mad experiments.... He called it the RCM375 Hybrid rim. He had already come up with what I believe to be one of the best three rims I had personal experience with, in his European beech block rims. So, naturally I wanted to try one of these new Hybrid's out for myself.

At that time I was using the engineered 3 ply rim with a Hopkins TC Flat head ring. And was very close to what I really like to hear in a banjo tone. Next, I swapped the ring only out to the JBS Sloan ring with just a touch more of what I like to hear resulting. 

Then finally  in early Dec. 2013 I received the RCM375 to try out with the Sloan ring. Here we go again! Swap out time. At the very moment of laying the picks to the banjo I was sure Randall had indeed struck pay dirt with the hybrid rim. Honestly, I was skeptical right up to the last minute that it would sound any closer to the "magical" tone/volume combination I desire. But was it in my head? Or maybe an illusion that would fade after a few days? Only time would tell.

Well fast forward to present day Feb 2014. I can tell you that after just a few weeks if settling together this combo is my absolute favorite so far. By far! I have built three banjos thus far using the Sloan ring twice and the Hopkins full flat head once in tandem with Randall's RCM375 rim.

Hopefully the owners of these banjo's will find the results that I have with it ! If you are reading this review and have the same itch that I and so many others do, TRY THIS RIM !!!