texasbanjos - Posted - 06/15/2011:  10:30:18

I just picked up a Nechville "Eclipse". It has "Nechvil" on the peghead, which is shaped sorta like a maple leaf. Does anyone else own one of these?

It also has a 10-hole flathead tone ring and a bell shaped truss rod cover. There is no label or serial number that I can find. Isn't this a bit unusual?

texasbanjos - Posted - 06/15/2011:  13:43:30

It also has a black Price SL-5 tailpiece, so it must be an early version of this model.

texasbanjos - Posted - 06/15/2011:  14:28:29

Oops...it has "Necvil" on the peghead, not "Nechvil". Sorry for the typo.

alprice - Posted - 06/15/2011:  19:34:19

In the early days, Tom used the "Necvil" name on the peghead and didn't label them.   The maple leaf is a beautiful design no longer in production.  You have something special there.

dmiller - Posted - 06/15/2011:  21:09:54

The Nechville Nuvo I bought last year has the inlaid "Necvil" in the peghead also.

Mine also has the same Diamond Wing inlay that yours has, but a different peghead than yours.

Tom N. comments on his use of the word "Necvil" on page 41 of this thread.  

texasbanjos - Posted - 06/16/2011:  07:37:51

Thanks for the info guys.

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 06/18/2011:  07:24:50

I got back from the Bean Blossom bluegrass festival a few days ago, saw some old friends, made some new friends, I let every banjo player I met, try my awesome Nechville!  Every blessed one of them LOVED it!  Mostly for it's comfort, and some liked it's uniqueness of tone.  One new and pretty awesome  player that I met was Daniel Patrick from the family group the Daniel Patrick band!  He was the one most excited to play a Nechville.  Very nice guy, and very nice family.  He just joined Banjo Hangout yesterday!  Everyone say hi to Daniel!

pick1936 - Posted - 06/19/2011:  19:51:48

My Classic  Deluxe  with  Coco--Wood  tone  ring  is  sounding  great. I may  try  some  Delrin someday, Not  sure  yet?

nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

dmiller - Posted - 06/19/2011:  20:19:48

I went to count the tone spheres (or whatever they're called) a while back, and I have 76 in mine, instead of the 80.  Not sure what Delrin looks like, but the ball bearings in mine are mostly colored looking plastic ones, intermingled with steel ball bearings.  I'd say it's a 3/4 to 1/4 ratio of Delrin (or whatever) over the steel.  Whatever the combination is, it sounds good.  

Edited by - dmiller on 06/19/2011 20:20:57

Badjer - Posted - 06/20/2011:  07:48:31

Hi Nechville gang,

I'm going to be joining the club today, as the Maple Phantom I purchased (2nd hand) is on the UPS truck for delivery. Capo question for everybody. I've always used a Shubb on my Gold Star and liked it just fine. The Paige capo is something else I have wanted to try. The ability to store it above the nut would keep me from leaving my Shubb in my pocket. I know it needs to be radiused, hence the need for the new one, but what is your opinion on Shubb vs. Paige clik on a Nechville? I'm going to need to get the wider version as I like to capo at 5 to play out of C or F.

Thanks!

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 06/20/2011:  08:04:31

I myself would love a radius Paige capo, but I couldn't find one for sale online.  Right now I have the Shubb radius capo, I'm not really sure which is better then the other, but I would think it would be pretty handy to have the capo on the banjo so you don't forget it.

gnatman - Posted - 06/20/2011:  08:22:44

I bought this capo from Tom Nechville when I was up there at the shop:

banjorev.com/accessories/nstriocapo.htm

I also tried a radius Shubb up there.  I liked this one because it was nicely compact, very easy to store either in my pocket or above the nut.  I also like that the pressure is adjustable, and it is still very fast/easy to take on and off.

Edited by - gnatman on 06/20/2011 08:24:12

jbanjoist - Posted - 06/20/2011:  18:32:19

I have two of those for my 2 Nechvilles also gnatman.

I keep them in the case while I am not playing but while playing I slip the bottom under a "hook" on the upper half of the banjo near the arm rest and it sits there very handy when I need it.

I like them a lot.

Edited by - jbanjoist on 06/20/2011 18:35:24

dmiller - Posted - 06/20/2011:  18:52:26

Mine has has the rolling "capobility" system built into it.  

Even so, I occassionally use a G7th capo which works well also.  

pick1936 - Posted - 06/23/2011:  16:17:05

I hardly ever use a capo, but when I do it's a Rick Shubb. I met Rick back in 1976, at a festival He was selling his stair bridge, and 5 th string capo. back then. he was pickin His old gibson banjo, pickin, ( Maple Leaf Rag) (Tico Tico) (Sweet Georga Brown)) (Lulaby Of Birdland) and all the old pop tunes from the 20's to 40's. Rick was a great melodic picker. anyway the Shubb works very good on My (Athenafied) Classic Deluxe). That 12 pound banjo, was a Little to heavy, for My size, yes for My size, now I got Me wood one, and it sounds real good and I aint a goin back, Oh No I aint a goin back.


Nechville. In Higginsville
Lee Kelso

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 06/23/2011:  20:43:09

One rule I generally try to keep is to not use a capo unless it's absolutely necessary or it sounds better with it!  I like to get the lower end of my banjo as much as possible.

Badjer - Posted - 06/24/2011:  13:26:57

Well...thought I would report back to my own question. Ordered the radiused wide Paige Clik from Elderly and it arrived today. I tried it out for a while at lunch on the Phantom and I think this is going to work our just fine. I was a little concerned taking it out of the package as the sleeve is so much thinner than the Shubb I am used to. However it was not a concern as I had no issue tightening it down to get a clear sound without having to tighten so much to go sharp. I can also capo at the 5th freight when I want to. Which I do...sometimes. I think I could even capo up to 8 if I wanted to, but that would be silly.

Badjer - Posted - 06/24/2011:  13:36:24

Now I have a new question...

I'm struggling a bit with the action on my Phantom. It is considerably higher than what I am used to on my Gold Star. I loosened up the neck and made sure it was as raised as it could be, but it already was. It currently has a Renaissance head on it and I really cranked that down to see if that would help. Is a 3/4" bridge standard on a Phantom? That could be the issue right there as I've always used a 5/8" bridge on my other banjos.

Thanks!

alprice - Posted - 06/24/2011:  15:25:18

Cranking the head will in fact raise the action. Give our shop a call on Monday and see if Tom can talk you through it. Standard bridge is 11/16, but a 3/4 is used at times.

Al

pick1936 - Posted - 06/25/2011:  19:29:51

Tom  You  are  a  great  help.  I have  a  21/32  bridge,  and  Med.  crown  head,   I  may go  to  a  11/16,  or a  3/4th,  and  High  Crown  Head.   Man  these  Nechville's  are  so  adjustable.   I  have  so  many  ways  to  go. THANKS  Guy.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 06/28/2011:  13:52:31

I  went  Nechville  pickin  last  Friday.   Had a  good  time  as  always.  Got  to  say  it  again,  Nechville's  are  GREAT.

Nechville.In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso. 

pick1936 - Posted - 07/01/2011:  14:28:39

Nechville  picken  tonight.   It  does  not  get  any  better  than  Nechville.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 07/02/2011:  20:07:18

I will  be  pick  nicking  and  Nech.  pickin  Mon.   our  family  gets  together   and  plays  music,  My  Bro.On Dobro,  Me  on  Nechville.   cousin  guitar.  a  great  time  should  be  had  by  all.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville

Lee  kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 07/07/2011:  12:36:26

Someone  was talking  about  the  Nechville  Tail  piece.   They  are  perfect,   Solid--No  side  to  side  movement---No  retuning  the  other  3 strings  while  dropping   the  forth  down  to  C.    They  have  a  slight  radius   to  match  the  bridge, and  neck.  I  can  tune  My  Nechville and  drive  3  or  4  hrs.   Pull  it  out   always   in  tune.    I  really  think  everyone  should  at  least   pick  a  Nechville   at  least  once.   Just  Great.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 07/07/2011:  21:15:20

I'm going to be playing a lot of traditional bluegrass in the next week, so today I tightened up the head on my Orion just as far as I could get it, and it sounds awesome! It's got a nice pop and snap to it that makes it great for Scruggs technique, while still retaining the smooth tone for the cool melodic and single string licks! Nechville is awesome!

dmiller - Posted - 07/07/2011:  22:44:50

Well - -  I've had my Nechville Nuvo for 8 months now, and one of the parts on it broke (completely and irreparably) a few days ago.  Not a real big deal, since the part that broke was one of the rubber "o-rings" that attaches the capo to the rolling "capobility" aspect of the Nuvo.  Here's a re-post of the pic (above) of the rolling capo, and you can see the rubber "o-ring" that holds the capo down on the fretboard  as it's attached to the rail system below the fretboard.

Well - -  the rubber "o-ring" on the bass side of the capo broke.  Hey - - it's rubber.  Things like this happen.  Nothing lasts forever.  This means I need to go to Home Depot, and see what they have in stock for rubber "o-rings" like this to get that capo operational again. But - - - I'm not in a huge hurry though because (see that metal piece to the right of the capo and 5 frets higher)?  that's the 5th string capo.  I moved it from the "fifth fret position" down to the nut (it runs on the same rail system as the main capo)/ tuned up the 5th string to a "G" note (open at the nut), and am trying out some interesting combinations of picking with this "new" tuning.   

I can move that fifth string capo back up to it's correct position/ retune the high G string to normal/ and use a G7th capo (until I get to Home Depot), and pretend everything is normal - - - which it will be!   For those of you who haven't seen it  - -  here's a youtube of Donny Little showing what "5 strings to the neck" can sound like on a Yates banjo.   It works on a Nechville too.  

youtube.com/watch?v=vW9d1O27Yag

Edited by - dmiller on 07/07/2011 22:59:41

dmiller - Posted - 07/07/2011:  22:57:06

Oh - -  I forgot to mention that that fifth string that's tuned up 5 frets higher than it should be/

is an American Made Banjo Cryogenic string, and the gauge is 0.12.    

If you haven't done so already, check them out.  

dpete210 - Posted - 07/08/2011:  08:34:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmiller

Well - -  I've had my Nechville Nuvo for 8 months now, and one of the parts on it broke (completely and irreparably) a few days ago.  Not a real big deal, since the part that broke was one of the rubber "o-rings" that attaches the capo to the rolling "capobility" aspect of the Nuvo.  

You can find those rubber O rings in the plumbing section of a hardware store or something like Fleet Farm, Menards, Home Depot, etc.  I felt the original rings that were put on my Zeus Nuvo with the built in capos were a bit tight (maybe they would have loosened up over time, but I felt they were pinching too much) so I went to the hardware store and bought  a size bigger, then when I confirmed the size was appropriate I bought a few spares to store in the case.   I took the original one along to eliminate going by memory.  Once one is looking at the O ring assortment of sizes and thicknesses, it can be a crap shoot trying to pick out the right size without a reference.  Good luck.   

dmiller - Posted - 07/10/2011:  20:14:29

Thanks for the advice about the "o-ring", David.    I've already talked to Tom N. about it and he had the same advice as you offered.  There's both a Menards and a Home Depot within 5 miles of me, and I'm pretty sure one of those two places will have a selection of those rubber rings that'll work for the capo in the plumbing section of the store.  Like I said earlier - - - I'm in NO hurry to get it fixed since this "new" tuning is such a fascinating thing to work with!  It's  a novel concept (for me) to be going lower (at times) on the fifth string for a higher note to complement the tune I might be picking at the time,   Each time I think about re-tuning (back to "normal"), I think of another tune that I'd like to try with the banjo the way it's tuned currently.  

Oh - - - and when I do go to the store, you can bet I'll take the old "o-ring" with me.

When it comes to things like that - - - I need a "hard copy" in hand.

My memory isn't as good as it used to be.  

Edited by - dmiller on 07/10/2011 20:16:53

pick1936 - Posted - 07/12/2011:  12:23:23

I  wish  I  knew  how  to  put on  a  picture  of  My  (Athenafied)   Classic Deluxe.  2004  model.-- Beautiful   Curly  maple.--  very nice  inlay  on  neck, and  head  stock.---  Great   Compound   Radiused   Neck.---  Huge  Great  frets,  bigger  than  on  most  Martin  Guitars..  ---Extra  wide  bone  nut..---Ebony   capped  neck  heal.--  great  cocbolo  wood  tone  ring,  with  all  steel  bearings,   Even   tensioning  of  head.   every  change  You  make  is  just  so  easy.   I  just  do  not  want   to  be  a  Nut  Turner again.--Boring   and   so  slow.  Get  any  tone  You  want.   I could  go  on,  but   People  might  get  the  idea  I  like  Nechville  banjo's.   

Pick  What  You  Like.

Like  What  You  Pick.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville

Lee  Kelso

dpete210 - Posted - 07/12/2011:  19:31:45

It is not difficult to post a picture pick1936.  If you have a digital camera or if you can scan a photo taken by a camera where you have to develop the pictures, you upload the jpg file of the photo to your homepage.  Then to post the photo here all you have to do is click on the "Add Attachments" link you see below the text box.  You will be directed to your photos on your homepage and you choose which photo you want to display.  When you've done that, the image will appear and then you click "Finished.  Below your text box you'll see the photo or photos (if you chosen more than one) in the Attachment List box.  If all is well, then click Post Reply and there you go.   However, if you don't have a way to  upload a jpg image to your homepage, that's another issue.  That probably means a digital camera be put on your wish list.  :)      

The photo here is a back view of my Nechville Classic - no ebony capped heel, otherwise pretty much the same banjo you have.

Edited by - dpete210 on 07/12/2011 19:34:17

Nechville Radiused Neck

pick1936 - Posted - 07/14/2011:  12:47:15

Thanks  Dave, I  will  try.  Your  Neck  looks  great.    I  just  remember  I have  5 or  6   pictures  on  My  Home  Page.  THANKS.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 07/17/2011:  21:00:30

I  am still  trying  to  do the  picture  thing,  But  I had  a  tooth  pulled  past  Wednesday.    Still  Neckin  on  the  Nechville.   So  nice.    (I  don't  Want  To Turn  Nuts.  It  takes  up  to  much  time.  I  would rather  Be  pickin.   With  the   The  Friends  Of  Mine)

Nechville  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 07/23/2011:  13:08:00

I  have  been  working  on  some  Gospel  tunes  on  The  Nechville.   Still   sounding  good.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  kelso

nematode! - Posted - 07/23/2011:  15:44:42

I tried a couple of Nechvilles at a bluegrass festival recently and was intrigued ( esp. the extra wide frets), though I'm a beginner . Are there any dealers in the Seattle area? 

pick1936 - Posted - 07/24/2011:  11:22:48

Hi  Mark.  If  You  like  the  big  frets.---bigger  than  Martin  guitar  frets.  and  The  Compound  Radius neck.   use  any  size  bridge   and  still  keep  Your  action  low. Change  heads,  and  or  tone  rings  in  just  minuets.   change  string  action  height  by  just  a  few  turns  of the hex  wrench.  So  fast,  and  easy. use  (steel),,  (Delrin),,  or  (ceramic)  ball  bearings.  Just  Great.  So  far  I  have  only  used  steel  balls,  I  May  Try  the  others  later.

Nechville. In  higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

alprice - Posted - 07/24/2011:  17:46:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by nematode!

I tried a couple of Nechvilles at a bluegrass festival recently and was intrigued ( esp. the extra wide frets), though I'm a beginner . Are there any dealers in the Seattle area? 

---

pick1936 - Posted - 07/27/2011:  14:03:07

Hi  Al,   do  You  know  if  Tom  will be  in  Mo. or Kansas   next  year??

Nechville. In  Higginsville.

Lee  kelso

alprice - Posted - 07/28/2011:  06:21:45

Hard to say, Lee. Missouri is likely. He has family in St Louis.

dpete210 - Posted - 07/28/2011:  12:43:14

Mr. Al Price, this question has been asked of me a couple of times and I have had to admit ignorance on the matter. I don't remember it ever being addressed on this thread. What is the consensus regarding the difference between the Nechville 20 hole bell bronze tone ring and the 40 hole megaphonic option/upgrade? I have the 40 hole in my Classic, but have never played or heard a Classic with the 20 hole, so recognizing that set up can determine very noticeable differences in sound with the same ring, some, including myself, wonder how different a 20 hole is from the 40. Thanks for any clarification you can offer.

alprice - Posted - 07/29/2011:  07:41:54

Some feel the 40 has a little more punch to it. It is a bit lighter (20 holes worth). I have one of each in my two banjos, and like them both equally well.

Edited by - alprice on 07/29/2011 07:42:38

pick1936 - Posted - 08/02/2011:  12:18:36

I  used to have  a  20  hole  ring in  My  classic  Deluxe,   then  went  with  wood  ring--Timber--Tronic.  It  sounds   Great. and  weighs  7  lbs  easy  on My  bad  back.  The  neck  just   feels  like  it;s  Ready  For My  hands.

Nechville. In  Higginsville.

Lee Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 08/05/2011:  21:02:44

Man  The  remo  head is  settling  in  better  on  My  Coco  Wood  Tone  Ring.   a  pickin  friend  stopped  by  Yesterday   and  We  picked  banjo;s    5 1/2  hrs.  This  thing  was  Wailing,,  Ringin,,  Knockin  Popin,,  Barkin..  and  Zingin.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

dcoventry - Posted - 08/06/2011:  17:13:05

Nechville Northwoods Midnight Storm Banjo

What's up with these? Was it a second labels, less expensive, less bling kind of thing? I'm looking to buy my first 'jo and find the whole Nechville approach really cool. I have no need for something traditional because I have no preconceived notions, and don't know what the hell I'm doing anyway. It's very freeing, really.

dave

dmiller - Posted - 08/06/2011:  18:08:21

quote:

---

Originally posted by dcoventry

Nechville Northwoods Midnight Storm Banjo



What's up with these? Was it a second labels, less expensive, less bling kind of thing? I'm looking to buy my first 'jo and find the whole Nechville approach really cool. I have no need for something traditional because I have no preconceived notions, and don't know what the hell I'm doing anyway. It's very freeing, really.



dave

---

Hmmm.  Ya got me there.  I don't see these listed on the Nechville site at all. Now I'm curious about them too!

It says Northwoods on the peghead/ it uses a lot of Nechville parts/ but NO heli-mount system.  Interesting.

Maybe alprice (or someone in the know) could chime in here about these? 

dmiller - Posted - 08/07/2011:  11:01:36

OK - - looking around on the web, I found this:

"Supreme craftsmanship from the Nechville shop is evident in every note.

dcoventry - Posted - 08/07/2011:  11:13:13

D,

Thanks for the effort and info. Just so you know, I did a little research myself, but am not so fluent in banjo'ese.

So. What does it all mean? I'm thinking the Midnight Storm in the classifeds might be a decent deal? Yes, no maybe so?

I really like the non-traditionalist yet-still-sounds-great attitude of the instruments and folks that play them.

For those who know of such things, I play a Rigel G5 mando and am looking for the banjo equivalent or thereabouts.

Thanks for all your help. This place is great, fun and funny. Some places are not.


dave

alprice - Posted - 08/07/2011:  11:39:39

The Northwoods was a traditional/conventional design banjo we imported and set up over here as a low-cost option for folks. No longer in production. It was a good buy for the money-- but not a Heli-Mount. It did carry the Nechville inline tailpiece and comfort armrest.

dmiller - Posted - 08/07/2011:  12:12:38

Hi there Dave.  To answer some of your questions - - - The really nice thing about that banjo is the price.  Most Nechville's cost more.  Mine was 2,500, but it was a used one.  Had it been new, it would have been MUCH more.  The Midnight Storm in the classifieds looks like a very decent banjo, and has a flange and tension hooks like any other banjo.  

It's been truly said - - "There's Nechville banjos, and then there's everything else."  I'm not knocking any other brand at all,  but ALL banjo makers  (Gibson/ RK/ Stelling/ Yates/ Deering/ etc., etc., etc.), use the traditional tension hook and nut with a flange system.  If you want to take the "non-traditionalist"  approach to banjo (and thinking of a Nechville), I'd suggest getting one with the Heli-mount system.  It is flat out the absolute FASTEST way to do adjustments/ change the sound/ change the head/ etc., etc.

After saying all that - -  I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Northwoods in the classifieds AT ALL, especially since it'll be your first banjo.  Nechville's are nortorious for their clarity of sound/ staying in tune/ and tone.  That Northwoods is much better than a "beginner instrument", but because of that fact it'll be all that much easier to learn on.  Good luck in whatever you decide.   

Edited by - dmiller on 08/07/2011 12:13:38