dmiller - Posted - 08/07/2011:  12:56:49

Here's the Heli-mount system.  The banjo head/ the sound of the banjo/ the tone of the banjo can be changed by using two wrenches that work in the geared inner workings you see here.  No other banjo made has this adjustment possibility.

These are pictures of my Nechville, and you can read about it on page 48 of this thread.  

Here is the tension hook set up on the Northwoods banjo - - - - - > > >

The difference between the two is that each one of those hooks has to be tightened/ loosened/ adjusted/ to get the head arranged to your preference. Also - - all 24 of those hooks have to be completely removed to change the head on you banjo (not something that's done too often), and the strings have to be taken off too.  Changing a head and getting the banjo back in playing condition usually takes a good two or so hours (at least it did for me).  With the Heli-mount on the Nechville, it took me 22 minutes from start to finish, and I didn't even have to take the strings off to do it.  

dcoventry - Posted - 08/07/2011:  19:13:20

Now this really is interesting to a newcomer to the wacky world of banjo's. I'd think that technology would be embraced as a pain freeing step forward.

HOWEVER, I am familiar with the insular world of mandos, and guitars, and dobros.......and BG 'jo players could not possibly be immune to the legacy of the originators. Older is not always better, but it is always older.

I have no preconceived notions or bias, so I like the approach of the Nechville's. A buddy of mine said, "What the hell man. Those DO NOT sound like a Mastertone, the grail." This did not phase me as I had no idea what he was talking about. See, ignorance is occasionally bliss.

Alright then, I am going to wait patiently, play a bunch, and look for a reasonaby priced Nechville to get in my way.

I can't thank you kind and patient folks enough, especially dmiller.

dmiller - Posted - 08/07/2011:  20:52:09

Ha!!  If you're looking for the "Holy Grail" sound (like Earl's banjo),

don't go shopping for a Nechville!  I think the Nechville sounds better, but that's me.

Let the flaming begin!  

dcoventry - Posted - 08/07/2011:  23:32:57

dmiller,

I took it on the chin a few times on the Mandolin Cafe over the fact I wasn't buying a Gibson, I was getting a mando with a pickup, and I thought bluegrass meant the Seldom Scene with Lou Reid.

See? It's that ignorance is bliss thing popping up again!!

gnatman - Posted - 08/08/2011:  06:59:31

Just to add to dmiller's comment about the Nechville sound.

I've been trying to learn the banjo for a couple of years now. My first banjo was a $300 beginners instrument, nothing fancy at all, but it got me hooked. Then I jumped right up to the Nechville. I got to play a number of them at the factory, and get the full experience from Tom. He showed me how to change them around and get all sorts of sounds and feel out of the banjo, it was fantastic. I really feel like you can get a Nechville to sound like anything you want it to.

I've never tried to make it sound like Earl's, but I get constant compliments on the look and sound of my galaxy phantom.

dpete210 - Posted - 08/08/2011:  07:59:22

No flames from here.  I have several different banjos and like them all:  a Gold Star 100, an RB 250, Deering John Hartford (which now has a Nechville neck), a Deering Deluxe and a Deering Maple Blossom.  Eventually I will try to get down to a couple banjos, but I have developed a fondness for all of them and find it hard to decide which I would part with.  Oddly enough, an observation  I have made over the several years now that I have been playing banjo is that the only times I've had someone come up to me and tell me how good the banjo sounded or that they liked how the banjo sounded has been when I am playing my Nechville Classic.  I don't interpret this to mean that my other banjos don't sound good, however, I believe those who have made the effort to tell me this have noticed something different and pleasant with the banjo.  Admittedly, I have a ways to go before I can be called an accomplished banjo player, but I love playing my banjo.  In my quest to find the sound I prefer, I have discovered that I like all of my banjos.  I find I prefer the Deering sound to the Mastertone sound, from my perspective hearing the banjo from behind as I play, not that either is less good, just preferred, and I believe it has to do with my ears or the air conditons/atmosphere on a particular day.  But I have discovered that every time I pick up my Nechville I am pleased with its sound.  So it comes down to Nechville and Deering as my preference.  I currently have 3 banjos in my avatar, Nechville Classic, the Hartford with a Nechville neck, and Deering Maple Blossom.  These are my favorites.  While my Nechville banjo is very versatile and can be set up to give me a range of sound, I can not make it sound like my Maple Blossom or my Hartford.  I can't make it sound like my Gold Star or my RB 250.  But what I can do is to make it sound GREAT.  So to cut to the chase, if one is looking for a great sounding, easily adjustable, and fun banjo to play, then a Nechville fills that nicely.  However, in my opinion, if it is the Earl Scruggs sound that comes from a Mastertone banjo one is after or prefers, then one is better off buying a Mastertone style banjo.  I like to think of learning the banjo as a fun journey trying out different banjos.  Along that journey I happily acquired a Nechville banjo and life is good.   

Edited by - dpete210 on 08/08/2011 08:03:39

budbennett - Posted - 08/08/2011:  08:42:41

i got a nechville BECAUSE it didn't sound like a gibson.  i really enjoy that my banjos have different voices and since i had one already that sounded like a gibson, i wanted something different.  different kinds of music sometimes need a different sounding banjo and that's what i got.

JRice43315 - Posted - 08/08/2011:  10:50:01

I think they look great and wish there was a dealer close to home so I could try one out. I really like the Classic Deluxe and the Vintage both are beautiful and I'm sure they sound as good as they look.

pick1936 - Posted - 08/08/2011:  12:33:37

Hi  Jonathan,   My  nechville  is  a  2004  Classic  Deluxe.   came  with  a  bronze tone  ring.   Beautiful  Curly  maple.  light  brown  stain,  with  a  special   formula  finish  high  gloss  does  not   hang  up  when  playing  even  with  a  little  sweat.   It  has  a  Compound  radius  neck,  and  bridge,  with  slight  radius  of  tail  piece,  tail  piece  is  thick, ,,  and rock  solid.   I changed  the  bronze  ring  for  a  Cocobolo  wood  ring,  it  sounds   great,  and  weighs  7  lbs.   I  have  80  steel  balls.  My  theory is  80  balls  of  steel  pushing  against  a  wood  ring  gives  it  the  metallic  Tone.  I  may  try  some  Delrin, and  or  Ceramic  spheres   later?   It  sounds great   now.  I  see  You  live  in  Mo.  so  do  I.  I  will  be  going  to  the  festival  at  Clinton  Mo.  first  weekend  in  Sept.   I  will  have  Mine  with  Me  if  You  can  make it.    You  can  play  it,  see  how  it  works.  Or  if  You  could  make  it  here  to  Higginsville,  Mo.   You  can  let  Me      know,  and  come  over.   This  will  probably  be  My  last  banjo, unless  I buy  another   Nechville?    Once  You  get  hold  of  a  Nechville   Neck,  it's  hard  to  let  go.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

dcoventry - Posted - 08/09/2011:  21:47:49

Hey folks,

I said I would wait patiently for a Nechville to get in my way and 2 pop up in the classifieds.

Are they a good deal? Is Maple OK as opposed to Mahogany? Will I ever love again? Wait, not that lst one, I'm fine.

Seriously, that's alot to drop to get my first Banjo, but I have played music for 25 years and DO NOT LIKE sh*tty instruments.

What say you all?? To buy, or not to buy. THAT is the question.

dave

dmiller - Posted - 08/09/2011:  21:51:03

Hi Dave - - - Hang on and let me look at the classifieds.  Which one are you looking at??

P.S. - - mine is maple, and I was dubious about Maple at first - - but I love it.  

Edited by - dmiller on 08/09/2011 21:51:48

dmiller - Posted - 08/09/2011:  21:56:39

I checked out the classifieds.  Is it the Phantom you're looking at?

dmiller - Posted - 08/09/2011:  22:15:02

FWIW - - I have two Mahogany banjos here (I love em both).  I always swore that my next banjo (if there was a "next" banjo) would be a Walnut, and I had NO interest in the Maple sound whatsoever.  Maple is for fiddles (my previous perception) and NOT  for banjos.  The Nechville i bought last year was (sadly) a Maple banjo, but the price was way too good to pass up, so I bought it anyway.  Once i got the banjo here at the house, I got an IMMEDIATE education about how good Maple can sound.  

dcoventry - Posted - 08/09/2011:  22:27:57

dmiller,

Apparently you have the burden of helping guide me here. And for that, you have my thanks.

Yeah, I'm looking at the phantom. It's purty, and my maple MANDOS sound good, but I'm at a serious loss here for info. I will diligently search the forum for info, as I should, but someone's gotta talk me off ledge, or push me.

I'm itchin' for one though. So it's gonna be soon for sumthin'. I know myself that well!

dmiller - Posted - 08/09/2011:  22:40:45

Dave - - I just looked at the ad, and I saw who the seller was.  Bill-in-Me is one of the more respected neck builders/ restorers for old Gibson banjos here on the BHO site.  He does impeccable work, and would never misrepresent anything he had/ has for sale.  No - - I don't know him personally, but his reputation preceedes him by what everyone else has to say about his quality of work.

The Phantom he's offering for sale at 2.2 grand is a steal.   I got my Nuvo from Tom N. for 2.5 - - and mine (new) would have been thrice that price.  When Gnatman got his Nechville - - He and I had some conversations about it through email.  He (like myself) was doubtful initially about making such a large financial commitment/ but after all was said and done - - both of us rested easier at night, knowing we made the right decision.

Seriously - - you-can-not-go-wrong with that offer from Bill.  I'd say jump on it as soon as possible.

Good luck, with whatever you decide to do.  This is the real deal, knocking at your door. 

Edited by - dmiller on 08/09/2011 22:51:22

Mad4banjo - Posted - 08/09/2011:  22:49:29

Hey, Gnatman - Been meaning to write and ask you where you got the black tailpiece for your Nechville.  I have a Nechville Classic with a black head, and frankly, the silver coloured tailpiece looks bad to me.  Thanks!  Maddie

quote:

---

Originally posted by gnatman

Just to add to dmiller's comment about the Nechville sound.



I've been trying to learn the banjo for a couple of years now. My first banjo was a $300 beginners instrument, nothing fancy at all, but it got me hooked. Then I jumped right up to the Nechville. I got to play a number of them at the factory, and get the full experience from Tom. He showed me how to change them around and get all sorts of sounds and feel out of the banjo, it was fantastic. I really feel like you can get a Nechville to sound like anything you want it to.



I've never tried to make it sound like Earl's, but I get constant compliments on the look and sound of my galaxy phantom.

---

goldtopia - Posted - 08/10/2011:  00:46:32

Don't Silvertone look like the Dalai Lama.

Bill.O

motleyminstrels.co.uk

elohim-ufogods.co.uk

alprice - Posted - 08/10/2011:  06:54:17

quote

:

---

Originally posted by Mad4banjo

 

Hey, Gnatman - Been meaning to write and ask you where you got the black tailpiece for your Nechville.  I have a Nechville Classic with a black head, and frankly, the silver coloured tailpiece looks bad to me.  Thanks! 

Maddie

quote

:

---

Originally posted by gnatman

Just to add to dmiller's comment about the Nechville sound.



I've been trying to learn the banjo for a couple of years now. My first banjo was a $300 beginners instrument, nothing fancy at all, but it got me hooked. Then I jumped right up to the Nechville. I got to play a number of them at the factory, and get the full experience from Tom. He showed me how to change them around and get all sorts of sounds and feel out of the banjo, it was fantastic. I really feel like you can get a Nechville to sound like anything you want it to.



I've never tried to make it sound like Earl's, but I get constant compliments on the look and sound of my galaxy phantom.

---

 

---

Black tailpieces are availble from Nechville.  $60 + shipping.  Email me at alprice@nechville.com or call (747)2BA-NJOS.

Al

Mad4banjo - Posted - 08/10/2011:  07:57:04

Thanks, Al. Will do it when I'm in the States at the end of this year.

StraitsBlueGal - Posted - 08/10/2011:  08:51:52

I've got an opportunity to see actual Nechvilles tomorrow - actually see and play with the radiused necks, see if the instrument in total feels lighter, etc. Can't wait!

I'm all in favor of new technology but it's so hard to test and judge from photos (and being able to touch and play without buying first - and considering returns if your ideas from photos were wrong - is pretty nice).

gnatman - Posted - 08/10/2011:  11:33:37

I bought my Nechville for 2.6 grand, and consider it a very fair price. It came with the black tail piece, not sure if that's standard or not, but Tom said mine was a slightly upgraded version of a standard Galaxy Phantom. As dmiller said, he kind of pushed me into buying it when it popped up, and I'm glad he did. Still love it. And every time I go to my banjo lesson the second I go to start tuning (rarely necessary actually, it seems to always be dead on) my banjo teacher always says the same thing, "Man, I missed that sound."

gnatman - Posted - 08/10/2011:  11:40:27

Just looked at the one posted in the classifieds, and yeah, that looks like a great deal. The phantom is easily my favorite Nechville. I was sad to see that that one didn't have the galaxies and planets on the neck, and then I realized that not everybody is an astrophysicists and wants their banjo to be space themed...I'm just glad that Nechville is out there making instruments for all the banjo playing astronomers.

So yeah, if you can live without planets on your neck, I'd jump on that in a heartbeat.

alprice - Posted - 08/11/2011:  15:51:25

quote:

---

Originally posted by StraitsBlueGal

I've got an opportunity to see actual Nechvilles tomorrow - actually see and play with the radiused necks, see if the instrument in total feels lighter, etc. Can't wait!



I'm all in favor of new technology but it's so hard to test and judge from photos (and being able to touch and play without buying first - and considering returns if your ideas from photos were wrong - is pretty nice).

---

Have a great time!   Put them through their paces.

pick1936 - Posted - 08/13/2011:  13:24:54

The  more I  play  My   Timber--Tronic  Classic  Deluxe  the better  it  gets.  It  is  The  Best  banjo  I  have  ever  owned.   I hear  some   who  say  the  price  is  to  high.  Not  So.  just  look  at  what  You get.  The  best  neck ever.   Compound  Radiused   board.   nice  big  frets.  ability  to  move  neck  connection  for  best   string  Height.   use  any  height   bridge.   Change  from  bronze  ring  to  wood  ring.   Change,  or  intermingle  Tone  Spheres    (Steel)  (Delrin)  (Ceramic.   change   tone  rings,  and  or  heads,  In  minuets  witout  detuning  strings.   There  is  no  banjo  that  can  do  what  a  Nechville   does.   Plus  soooo   many  tones,  and  sound  You  can  dial  in,  just  GREAT.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

jbanjoist - Posted - 08/13/2011:  19:21:16

I have two Nechvilles. A mahogany Vintage and a custom in maple.

To my ears the mahogany is more open sounding, a tad deeper maybe.

The maple is focused and sweet.

BOTH sound great and I play them equally.

You won't go wrong with either.

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 08/15/2011:  07:12:10

WHEW! I just got back from the MBOTMA festival, and it was a blast! I could tell you all EVERYTHING that happened, but one thing in particular that you Nechville fans might be interested in is that Zach Gilmer, new and awesome banjo player for one of my favorite bands Sierra Hull & Highway 111, is now playing a Nechville! I met Zach after seeing the band perform, and we both ended up going to the Nechville booth to jam and trying out the different models! I think he liked them.

alprice - Posted - 08/15/2011:  08:49:10

Which model did Zach get?

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 08/15/2011:  11:11:03

He got a Nextar. I saw him do a couple of shows with it, and it sounded great!

Yellowhouseroad - Posted - 08/15/2011:  13:27:01

A friend of mine Greg Kautz just sent me these videos of Zach on stage playing the Nechville Nextar!

youtube.com/watch?v=b03AK5yAoAE

youtube.com/watch?v=-mNHBo9dDg...l&list=UL

dmiller - Posted - 08/15/2011:  13:43:49

Thanks for adding those clips, David.  

It's been a few years since I've been able to attend the MBOTMA festival.  

Good to see that old logo hanging there on the banner on the stage there!  

Ya know - -  I got to thinking (watching those clips) just HOW WELL Minnesota made instruments 

are flourishing and showing up all over everywhere.  

Eminence bass/ Dahlia fiddles/ LaPlant mandolins and guitars/

and of course - - Nechville banjos. 

Edited by - dmiller on 08/15/2011 13:44:49

alprice - Posted - 08/15/2011:  14:39:53

Sounds good from here. Thanks for posting the links, Dave!

pfc54u - Posted - 08/15/2011:  16:09:03

I have admired Nechville banjos from afar for quite some time now. I recently noticed the Nechville Nuvo that has more technological innovations than any other of his banjos. The only glitch that I have noticed is that his compound radius fingerboards have too large a variation from my point of view. If I were to win the lottery (do you still have to play to win?), I would buy a Nechville Nuvo.

jscourt - Posted - 08/16/2011:  06:21:57

My new custom 5th-string capo Phantom arrived on June 6 and it's been played just about every day since. I agree with Lee that it's the very best banjo for me. It is a beauty with standard Galaxy inlays and figured maple. It has the cocobolo tone ring with titanium and weighs in at about 7 pounds. Being the standard Phantom Galaxy fitted with the 5-string capo the order took about 3 months. The special 5th capo is a fine piece of work and is really fast to make a change. The crew at Nechville did an excellent job on it. The free Dogwood Designs strap they through in was a nice touch.

I can't wait to "wow" the jammers down in Rockport, TX, this winter. Here in MO during the summer thay are listening to more banjo pickin' from me and I think they like it. It has already been to gigs at church, nursing homes and community jams here at Stockton.

Thanks Tom, Dave & crew,

Jerry Courtney
in Stockton, MO

jbanjoist - Posted - 08/16/2011:  15:50:47

Congrats Jerry!

Doesn't it feel great to be a Nechvillian.

pick1936 - Posted - 08/18/2011:  09:57:59

Hi  Jerry, sounds  like  You are really  getting  around  town  with the Nechville.   And  I bet  You  will  Really  surprise Your  fiends  in  Texas.   Warning  when  a  banjoist  gets  ahold  of  a  Nechville. It's  hard   foor  Them  to let  go.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 08/18/2011:  09:59:42

Hi  Jerry, sounds  like  You are really  getting  around  town  with the Nechville.   And  I bet  You  will  Really  surprise Your  fiends  in  Texas.   Warning  when  a  banjoist  gets  ahold  of  a  Nechville. It's  hard  for  Them  to let  go.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

jscourt - Posted - 08/18/2011:  12:30:52

Lee, I guess you can imagine that your comments on your Classic banjo, and the other satisfied customers on this thread had a lot to do with my decision to order a Nechville. Well, that's very true. There's no greater testimonial than a happy banjo player. The jammers in TX are classic country players for the most part and play in keys all over the place. So the built-in 5th capo will get a workout.

Keep on pickin'
Jerry, Stockton, MO

dmiller - Posted - 08/18/2011:  12:49:53

jscourt - - - hey there.  What's a "built in" fifth string capo for the Phantom?  Does it have the rail system like the Nuvo does?  My Nuvo has the rails on both sides of the neck for the main rolling capo, and for the fifth string capo.  Mine has all five strings to the peghead, and no tunneled fifth string like the Phantom has.  I'm curious what a built in capo looks like for a Phantom.  Do you have any pictures of it?  Thanks!  

pick1936 - Posted - 08/20/2011:  21:05:16

I will  get  to  do  a song  at  church  in  the  morning.  Fundamental   and  Independent.   and  lot of  good  fun.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

jscourt - Posted - 08/21/2011:  13:22:46

Hi dmiller,

I apologize for the quality of the attached pictures; my macro isn't working well on my camera. I think the rail system for the 5th capo on my Phantom would be similar to the one on your Nuvo, except it begins at the fifth fret and goes all the way up the neck.

I've been wondering what the system would look like on the special XXV edition banjos. Nechville refers to it as a "movable nut".

Jerry

Side View

Side View 2

Top View

aalborg - Posted - 08/22/2011:  00:26:23

ah really wanted one of these beauties.. but the place I "ordered it" took the opportunity to tweek the price while waiting for delivery..and not in my favor.. ill have to give it a miss for now

briln - Posted - 08/26/2011:  09:50:39

Like so many of you I tried a Nechville and was super impressed from the start. In March i had double bypass surgery (BTW, I'm doing great) and in April, my 60th birthday. In June I ordered my birthday present, a custom Walnut Galaxy Phantom, with the cocobolo tone ring (1/2 Delrin 1/2 ceramic) and fingerboard (narrower for my small hands), bound head, copper/bronze helimount /tailpiece/ resonator bolts. Tom even ordered the Reunion Blue gig bag instead of the hardshell (much more useful). Needless to say he has been amazing (patient and receptive). Well he called and it is being assembled/setup and shipped out next week. I am trying to savor my excitement. It's not like I don't have any good banjos since I now play a 1983 Stelling Sunflower and a Deering 25th Anniversary with the Jens Kruger tone ring. I think the Phantom, though will be a whole different animal. I am really excited about the narrower neck. Maybe i'll be able to work on "Dear Old Dixie.". Wonder if the radius fingerboard will also help on the 5th string fretting which I find so difficult?

Edited by - briln on 08/26/2011 10:05:35

jbanjoist - Posted - 08/26/2011:  16:18:37

Congratulations!!!!

You WILL love your new Nechville, possibly to the point of forsaking all your other banjos.

Happened to me!

pick1936 - Posted - 08/27/2011:  20:41:30

It  seemed  to  Me  the  Nechville  necks  were  a  little  wider,  unless  You  custom  ordered   one.   I'd  bet  You'll  love  that banjo.   and  yes  You  should  be  able  to  fret  the  5th  much  better.

Nechville. In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

briln - Posted - 08/28/2011:  00:02:10

Yes, it was a custom order and I discussed with Tom about slimming down the neck and using a standard spaced bridge instead of the slightly wider one he usually uses. That's why i am looking forward to seeing how it turned out. Hopefully it's Perfect for me.

pick1936 - Posted - 08/30/2011:  13:23:07

On  My  Nechville.   The  neck  is  about  standard  or  slightly  wider.   But  The  whole neck  is  so  fabulous   Slim    just  seems  to  fit  My  old   hands.     will  never  own  another  banjo, Unless  another  Nechville.

Nechvillw.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso. 

briln - Posted - 08/30/2011:  14:57:13

So far it looks like the banjo should arrive on Friday, unless Fedex updates the arrival again. According to Tom the slimmed down fingerboard is about 1/8 " narrower. I will put it through its paces and let you know.

j2wood - Posted - 08/31/2011:  21:58:34

OK I bought a Nechville Orion. I don't actually play banjo (at least that well) but my son does. His name is Orion so I guess it is just the natural choice for a banjo. His teacher plays a Nechville too and Orion really likes it. Is there anyone out there in the BHO that has this model and what do they think of it?

dmiller - Posted - 09/01/2011:  00:02:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by j2wood

OK I bought a Nechville Orion. I don't actually play banjo (at least that well) but my son does. His name is Orion so I guess it is just the natural choice for a banjo. His teacher plays a Nechville too and Orion really likes it. Is there anyone out there in the BHO that has this model and what do they think of it?

---

Never have picked on an Orion, but here in Minnesota there's Nechville banjos in almost any jam session.  Mine's a 17 year old Nuvo, but it plays (almost) identically to all the other newer ones.  If you got the Orion with the Heli-mount system, it'll be the same as most Nechville's (imo).  It can be "fine tuned" to sound like you want to hear it, with NO nut turning or any of that other time consuming stuff that goes on with any (and all) other banjos made either here in the USA, or China, or wherever,

I just googled Nechville to refresh my memory about the Orion, and I now remember that it's a more traditional looking banjo than some of the "radical looking " designs Tom N. has for the other models (especially thinking of the peghead designs).  The "guts" of the Nechville (the Heli-mount frame - - - with no flange/ no nuts or hooks/ and no co-ordinator rods) will continue (I think) to be the best overall selling point of his banjos.  

I  guess I'm of the opinion (like pretty much all other Nechville owners here), that once you get a Nechville you''ll never go back to another "nuts and bolts" banjo unless it really strikes your fancy, and you have the money to buy it to "add to the herd".  Regardless of which Nechville banjo you decide to buy,  you're going to be one happy camper when it shows up at your doorstep.  And  - - any "buyer's remorse" you might feel initially when sending in the check for it (like I did when I bought mine 10 months ago), disappears the instant you have it in your lap, and pick those first few notes on it.  

Edited by - dmiller on 09/01/2011 00:09:29