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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!
7232 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Direct from Huber Factory
Year Purchased: 2006
Price Paid: 3700 ($US)
SUPERB. Full, Deep, Rich sound. Not too bright, not too soft. The walnut gives a smooth sound like mahogany. The resonator gives full sound, that is rich and yet smooth.
Sound Rating: 10
Ready to go out of the box. I've tweaked the rod to increase the action, reducing the buzz when I played hard. That's the only adjustment you need to make. If you want to be overly picky, torque the head to Steve's recommended. Buy the Setup DVD for more tips.
Setup Rating: 10
The finish is BEAUTIFUL. I personally enjoy the walnut burl resonator. One of the most beautiful woods that God has created.
Appearance Rating: 10
Solid hardware. This should last for another 100 years.
Reliability Rating: 10
Huber team is AWESOME. I visited their shop and the are a bunch of good ol' boys working hard to make a living at something they love. Repairs have to be shipped to their shop, but they stand behind their work.
Customer Service: 10
Love the simple look of the nickel plated components. I wanted something that sounded good and was solid construction and components. Nothing fancy, but dependable. Rarely is it ever out of tune, even after sitting for 2 weeks during vacation. Nothing cheap here.
Components Rating: 10
Absolutely. You might find a pre-war Gibson, but the Roanoke will keep up with any Gibson. I wish I had considered some other custom features, like a speed neck, but this one happened to be in the shop when I visited. One day, I might upgrade to a speed neck, but don't need to right now. If you are considering a purchase, I recommend find one to play in your neighborhood or fly to Nashville for a day. E-mail the shop and make an appointment. They are fun folks to visit.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Direct from Huber via John Lawless
Year Purchased: 2006
Price Paid: 3700 ($US)
Sound is complex, full and rich with superb tone maintained over the whole range and all strings. I play a wide range of styles: Scruggs, classical, melodic and the instrument seems to fit all styles well. What surprised me was how well the note is maintained during a slide. When playing a slide on my other instruments, the note tends to have died by the end of the slide so the ending note is barely heard. The Roanoke maintains the sound all the way so that the finishing note is heard clearly and cleanly. This will definitely have a positive effect on my playing style.
The string spacing at the nut seems closer than I am used to on my other banjos, which all feel about the same to me (an old Japanese Ibanez, a Deering Deluxe and a Gold Tone CC100 open back). The strings feel a little lighter than I am used to, although I believe the Huber string sizes are exactly what I normally use on my other instruments (Snuffy's "Slightly Light": 10, 11, 12.5, 20W, 10).
Sound Rating: 10
I tightened the head up to the lowest setting (recommended personally by Steve Huber) after I'd unpacked it and then found the banjo to be almost in tune. I found it had a very easy, fast action, strings a bit lower than I was expecting. I don't intend making any set up changes at the moment. My only mild gripe is that the third string intonation on the instrument is slightly off. I know this is not unusual, but I think the banjo might benefit from a compensated bridge.
Setup Rating: 10
The instrument is perfectly beautiful and I am delighted with it. The rosewood fingerboard is particularly handsome and is a nice change from the ebony on my other instruments. The resonator back is lovely and it seems a shame that it won't be seen much!
Appearance Rating: 10
This is a very well-built banjo and I don't foresee any reliability issues with it.
Reliability Rating: 10
I bought this banjo through John Lawless who was, at the time I ordered it, acting as an agent for Huber. John's service was impeccable. He always responded promptly to my emails in an informative, friendly, courteous and helpful manner.
Unfortunately, he was let down badly by the Huber shop who appear to be less organised than I expected. The instrument was delivered more than two months late. This was said to be due to a delivery of walnut that had to be rejected. I fully understand the problems of buying and using variable natural materials, especially when you are seeking to achieve the highest qualtiy. However, I was not told about the delivery delay until I enquired myself - and two months still seems excessive for this type of problem.
I moved house while awaiting delivery of the instrument and gave my new address to John Lawless, who passed this onto Huber. However, the banjo was sent in error to my old address and so, although it was finally despatched on 19th December, I didn't receive it until 5th January.
The final payment was extracted from my credit card without checking with me first and my credit card details had obviously been held since my first payment. I don't know about the practice in the US, but in the UK reputable companies destroy customers' credit card details once each payment has been completed. (Or they ask for permission before they retain the details.) I might have preferred to make the second payment using some other means, but I was not given the choice, I had to ask for my CC details to be deleted.
There was very little documentation supplied with the instrument, just a single computer printed sheet that gave the Huber "limited lifetime" warranty (one sentence) and some basic instructions for adjusting the head tension and bridge position. There was no information about cleaning or other maintenance. The case supplied with the instrument was not mentioned in the document, so I don't know if it is included in the warranty or not. I would have expected a proper maintenance/set-up document with an instrument at this price - or at least a pdf downloadable from the Huber web site. However, the single sheet simply mentioned Steve Huber's Killer Tone video. Why not give away a video with every banjo? The additional cost would be minimal.
Customer Service: 4
All the components used appear to be absolutely first rate. The tailpiece is Presto type, though. I don't know if this is used because of its low cost or because it is traditional in pre-war type banjos.
Components Rating: 10
This is by far the best banjo I have ever played and I love it. If I had to get rid of any of my banjos, this would be the last. I think that it is very good value for money. But I wish that Huber would sharpen their ideas up and remember that they are running a business for the benefit of their customers.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Huber/Acutab
Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 3778 ($US)
Well suited for bluegrass and fast playing. Using Steve's OEM setup, head to G#. Sound is strong and rich, with lots of low end oomph. Sparkles up high too. Well balanced ... can play with drive, or play soft and easy.
Sound Rating: 10
Perfect out of the box ... head has been tending to loosen, but that's typical on a new banjo. It's mostly settled now.
Setup Rating: 10
Work of art! The walnut is just beautiful. No flaws whatsoever.
Appearance Rating: 10
Rock solid.
Reliability Rating: 10
Acutab and Huber are first class.
Customer Service: 10
The 2nd string D-tuner is pretty sticky ... probably needs a bit of graphite in the nut under the string to let the string move without stick-tion.
Components Rating: 9
Surprisingly, the Roanoke is the least sold in the Huber line. It is my second Huber ... and it is just one phenomenal banjo. If you want a beautiful banjo with a big, strong bluegrass sound, Huber quality and an otherwise understated elegance to it, this is the banjo to get. The speed-necked walnut neck is as smooth as smooth can be.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Steve Huber
Year Purchased: 2001
Price Paid: 3000 ($US)
Growling 4th string, bright sound with light gauge strings. Lots of sustain in Y position. Good volume - cuts through great in jams, but still plays sweet by itself at home. Loses nothing up the neck. Intonation is great with no buzzing.
Sound Rating: 10
Set up by Steve Huber himself. 'nuff said.
Setup Rating: 10
Beautiful burl walnut resonator, walnut neck, rosewood fingerboard. Inlays are tasteful and well-done and not overly ornate. Nice nickel finish. Put together very well.
Appearance Rating: 9
I don't think there is anything better on the market today.
Reliability Rating: 10
Needed a slight adjustment with the resonator fit. John Lawless and Steve were extremely helpful and expedient in getting it taken care of. Turned it around in a couple days.
Customer Service: 10
Super top quality geared tuners (including 5th string). Standard Presto tailpiece. Highly frosted head (I'm convinced this helps with the overall tone). And of course the Huber tone ring.
Components Rating: 10
For anyone looking for a new banjo, the Huber is the way to go. This will be a classic some day. Sure I love the tone, but I also like the ease of playability anywhere on the neck. First class all the way. I've become a lot better player since I bought this banjo.
Overall Rating: 10
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