banjo bill-e - Posted - 03/04/2013:  13:17:10

Thanks for the info. I will eagerly await developments at Nechville. 

Denton - Posted - 03/04/2013:  13:27:47

NP. By the way. Grammy Award winner Tim Carter bought an Excelsior with a Phantom neck.

alprice - Posted - 03/04/2013:  19:59:15

Bill, I have one with a Saturn neck that can easily be swapped with a tunneled fifth neck.   The Excelsior is defined by the Heli-Mount frame, machined rather than cast.  Sleek.    A pop on reso is an option.  Call me and lets order one up for you.  

Al

747-222-6567

pick1936 - Posted - 03/12/2013:  12:13:07

I  have  not  been  picking  My   Timbr-- Tronic  Classic  Deluxe  for  some  time.  Wife  and I  have  been  sick.  The  last  time  I had  played it  was  3  weeks  ago.  The  John  Pierce  Med.  strings  have  been  on  it a  Year,  and  1/2   I  tightened  the  head   put  it  in  tune  put  away  with  a  small  humidifier.  got  it  out last  night,  It  was  still  in  tune, I picked   it  for over an  hour.   How  sweet  it  sounded.   I  am  thinking  about  getting  40  Ceramic  balls  from  Tom,  and  mixing  them with the  steel??   BUT  it  sounds  GREAT  as  is.  I  have  the  head   tightened  just  by  ear,  as  to  get a  great  Knock,  and  Pop  while  picking  close  to  bridge,  and  then  move   up  midway  for  the  Bark,,  Bite,,  and  Zing.   If  it  (sounded)  any  better  I  couldn't  stand  it.   Like  I have  said  before,  If You  never  have  tried  one,  You  are  cheating  Yourself.  You  can  change  the  action  in  a  few  minuets.   Same  with  tightening  and  loosening  head.    AND  When  You  wrap  Your  Left  hand   around  the  neck  You  will  feel  The  beauty  of  it. 

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

 

pick1936 - Posted - 03/21/2013:  20:26:04

How  great  it  is. Played  My  Timber  Tronic  Classic  Deluxe  today.  It  is  sounding so  good.  I have  the  head  tension  right  on.  Setten  Flatt  On  Ready.   I am  still  open  to  anyone  who  has  never  seen  or  picked  a  Nechville, who  lives  in  Missiouri  area,  50  miles  east  of  K.C  Mo.  There is  no  pickers  here  in  Higginsville.  Hope  to  go to the  jam in  Lees Sumitt   tomorrow  night  If  We do  not  get  all the  snow  They  are  calling  for. This  baby  is  a  real  joy  to  play.  Think  I'll  go back  and  pick some  more.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 03/25/2013:  19:58:49

Man  Man.  (Sittin  Flat  On   Ready)   (Cowboy  In  Town  Trouble  expected)    Pickin  Nechville  all  day    just  a  Joy   to  pick,,  to  wrap  a  left  hand  around.   The  neck  is  V  shaped  from  hand  stop  to  the  5th  fret,,  then  goes  into  a  c shape   No  doubt   about  it  The Best  neck   I  ever  played  on,  and  Their  have been  Many.  back  in  1976  down  at  Farmington  Mo.  Doug  Dillard  was  drunk,  and  letting  a  bunch  of  us  guys  pick  around  on   His  fancy  Old  Gibson..   in  1974  I  got  to  play  Rick  Shubb's  old  Gibson,  both  nice  but not  nearly  as good  as  a  Nechville   Neck.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

uncledaveh - Posted - 03/26/2013:  11:34:27

Hey Lee (pick1936) - I'm sure you have spoken about this before, but I would appreciate it if you could tell me about your experience with the Timber Tronic tone ring. Thanks in advance and have a great day.



David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook

The Rockdale Ridgerunners



Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

Edited by - uncledaveh on 03/26/2013 11:36:22

pick1936 - Posted - 03/26/2013:  19:05:22

Hi  Dave,   some  years  back,  I  met  Tom  at  Columbia  Mo.  at  a  McDonalds,  He  took  apart  a  banjo  with   wood  tone  ring,  then  Mine  with  the  bronze  ring,   We  switched  out  the  bronze  for  wood,  after  We  rounded  up all  the  steel  balls.   I went  home.  Now  before  I  left, with  the  Bronze  ring  in  it  I  recoded  about  30  min. of  tunes.  after  getting  back  withe  same  banjo  with  wood  ring,  I  played  the  same  30  min.  same  tunes,  same  finger  anchor, AND  There  was  no  noticable  difference in  sound.  It  seems  to  Me  with  80  steel  balls  pushing   wood  rim,,  against  wood  tone  ring   resulted  in  mettalic  sound,  and  only  weighs  7 lbs.  on  digital  bathroom  scales.   I  really  like  it,  and  can  stand  against  the  best  in  jams.  Thanks.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

 

uncledaveh - Posted - 03/27/2013:  05:49:41

Hey Lee - Thanks, I appreciate the information. I'm considering purchasing a Nechville and wondered about the lighter wood tonering.
Have a great day and keep picking.

David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook
The Rockdale Ridgerunners

Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 03/27/2013:  08:59:06

Do the balls just fall out and go everywhere when you take it apart?

alprice - Posted - 03/27/2013:  14:41:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjo bill-e

 

Do the balls just fall out and go everywhere when you take it apart?

---

They could, if you aren't careful.  They are resting in or on the tone ring.  But if tipped or jostled... well, you know the rest.

jswkingsfield - Posted - 03/27/2013:  15:18:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by uncledaveh

 

Hey Lee - Thanks, I appreciate the information. I'm considering purchasing a Nechville and wondered about the lighter wood tonering.

Have a great day and keep picking.



David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook

The Rockdale Ridgerunners



Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

---

 Well, Dave, I'm not the greatest picker, but on my home page, I have 2 clips comparing the titanium-topped wood ring in a Nechville Classic DLX, with a Kulesh-equipped RB-4.  I think they're pretty comparable sound-wise.

uncledaveh - Posted - 03/27/2013:  15:41:57

Janice - Thank you for the clips. Nice job.  I would agree that the two banjos are very comparable sound-wise. Have a great evening.



Hot dog!



David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook

The Rockdale Ridgerunners



Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

 

Edited by - uncledaveh on 03/27/2013 15:42:22

uncledaveh - Posted - 04/01/2013:  12:00:15

Denton (or anyone else who knows) - How is the removable resonator attached on your Moonglow (Excelsior)? Thanks in advance for any info.

Hot dog!

David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook
The Rockdale Ridgerunners

Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

Denton - Posted - 04/02/2013:  12:51:51

It is a fricton fit with rubber pads. I found that a little talcom powder applied to the rubber pads is helpful. I have messed around with it a bit. Tom has my inputs on it. It works good the way I have it. I keep a small bag of talac that I got at a pool table supply store that comes in a small cloth bag inside a plastic bag. Keeps things neat.

Edited by - Denton on 04/02/2013 12:57:51

uncledaveh - Posted - 04/03/2013:  07:18:24

Denton - Thank you for the response and information. I take it that you are most pleased with this banjo.

Hot dog!

David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook
The Rockdale Ridgerunners

Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

Denton - Posted - 04/03/2013:  13:58:14

That is a fair statement. I wanted dual purpose and got it. Now I just need to learn to play.

uncledaveh - Posted - 04/04/2013:  05:46:28

Denton - Again, thanks for your response and the information. Keep pickin' and have a great day.

Hot dog!

David “Uncle Dave” Holbrook
The Rockdale Ridgerunners

Now good people, we’re going to play this next tune with more heterogenious constipolicy, double flavor and unknown quality than usual! Make it light on yourself.

Denton - Posted - 04/04/2013:  09:32:38

I also required a stoutly built banjo that coud be disassembled and put into a suitcase to make it down the river bank to a skiff when doing crew change. Also to fly with and be subject to humidity extremes. Moonglow is that for sure. It is just too nice to subject it to all that. Maybe this summer I'll bring it to work with me.

bjango53 - Posted - 04/05/2013:  02:21:07

  My new Phantom Timbr tronic just arrived and boy am I happy, workmanship and sound are outstanding

straight out the box, even my playing seems to have improved .  Big thanks goes out to all at Nechville.

Any advice on the best type of strap to use ?

gnatman - Posted - 04/05/2013:  05:28:05

I see it says "currently out of stock" on the website, but I got one of the custom straps from Dogwood Designs that are sold on the Nechville website. I'd give them a call anyways, I seem to remember they were sold out when I wanted one too, but they made me one and sent it to me a week or two later. It's a great strap, can't recommend it enough.

nechville.com/straps.php

bjango53 - Posted - 04/05/2013:  06:19:40

Thanks gnatman,  we are banjo twins   cept mine has the cascade inlay.

dmiller - Posted - 04/21/2013:  18:16:44

on the Dogwood design straps.

I've also found a good (tooled) leather belt works well too.

pick1936 - Posted - 04/26/2013:  12:34:38

Going  to  the  Jam  in  K.C.  Mo.   Nechville   Time.   lovely.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

 

Denton - Posted - 04/30/2013:  23:35:25

There is another detail about my Excelsior Moonshine. I had bought one of the last Gibson Mastertones to come out of Kalamazoo and an RB250. I sure was proud. It was shiney untill I took it to the boat along the gulf coast. The zinc immediatly tarnished and I was dissapointed that I couldn't polish it back shiney again. Salt water is heck on zinc. Anyway the Excelsior is zinc coated and polished and I didn't want to hide the shine or let the shine get dull again so I asked Tom if he could come up with a transparent color to show off the shine and give the color depth like a candy apple paint job. Tom said he thought he could. The result is evident and he came through with flying colors. I would call that listening to a customers request and bending over backwards to deliver. Cudo's to Nechville.

Edited by - Denton on 04/30/2013 23:39:47

pick1936 - Posted - 05/10/2013:  20:07:06

I'll  be  short  this  time.  Nechville  banjo's  Great.

Nechville. In  Higginsville.

Lee  kelso

 

imac50 - Posted - 05/15/2013:  12:11:53

Just thought I'd share this picture of me jamming at the Edinburgh Banjo Club. No reason. I just like it!

Iain at the Edinburgh Banjo Club

jbanjoist - Posted - 05/19/2013:  17:50:45

Played my Vintage along with a friend at a local nursing home function.

That banjo was sounding great and the folks loved it.

They get excited when they someone about to play a banjo and I get excited when I am about to play a Nechville.

Well, my Nechville!

Lee knows what he's talking about.

Denton - Posted - 05/19/2013:  18:32:47

yup

Tedd - Posted - 05/20/2013:  23:18:43

I've gone on the road with Tom Nechville about 3 weeks each of the last 4 years, and I get to see and hear some of the greatest players you don't even know.  These folks come out of the "hollers' and "gaps" and pick the sunshine out of a "banjer".  I love seeing them get converted by the playability and variety of tone when they get a Nechville in their hands.  I saw this happen with Sonny Smith one year ago, and now he's playing his Diamond Joe model.  Most of you won't know Sonny unless you've seen him at the Hatfield McCoy Dinner Theater or in a contest over the years.....he is an incredibly tasty and talented player.  This year we had Sonny and four time national banjo champ, Gary "Biscuit" Davis, together and I was right in the middle of 2 amazing pickers playing 2 amazing Nechvilles......I'm thinking we might have hooked Biscuit....actually the banjo just does the work. 

pick1936 - Posted - 05/30/2013:  11:01:06

I  played  My  Timber--Tronic  Calssic  at  the  K.C.  jam  last  friday.   it  was  sounding  great  as  usual,  glad  I  had  such  a  light  banjo.  My  back  is  so  bad  I  could  not  play  those  heavy  banjo's,   People  Who  have  never  seen,   Picked,  or  heard   a  Nechville   are  really  missing  a  treat.

I  could  list  all  the  great  things  about  a  Nechville, But   I  need  to  stop  for  now. My   back  is hurting  sitting  here,  BUT  THANKS  TOM..

 

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

rmcdave - Posted - 06/02/2013:  06:30:55

Here in Pennsylvania it's that time of year again. You know -- the humidity goes from about 20% up to about 70%. I get up this morning and, like I do every Sunday morning, grab my coffee and my Phantom and proceed to entertain myself. But this morning I notice that there's a tiny buzz on the frets. A quick check with the ruler confirms my suspicion that the dreaded PA humidity has indeed affected my setup.

So I mention to my wife (who happens to be cooking me breakfast at the time) that I believe it's about time for a neck adjustment. She says "Don't start anything now, I already have your eggs started".

I walk into the other room, grab my allen wrench, make the necessary adjustment, and retune. Perfect!

All before my eggs were done. Damn, I love this thing. My wife too...

banjo bill-e - Posted - 06/07/2013:  11:01:19

Anyone ever use a natural skin head on a heli-mount banjo? Since hides need more frequent adjustment, it would seem like the ease of adjusting tension, and making it even all around, would be a good match, no? 

JohnTN - Posted - 06/07/2013:  16:11:31

Concerning the Flux Capacitor, I think you should find another name for it. To the electrically-minded, the term is oxymoronic and nonsensical. More importantly, the name suggests an electrical device, which it is clearly not.

Maybe start another thread soliciting suggestions for a new name.

dpete210 - Posted - 06/08/2013:  08:58:41

quote:

---

Originally posted by JohnTN

 

Concerning the Flux Capacitor, I think you should find another name for it. To the electrically-minded, the term is oxymoronic and nonsensical. More importantly, the name suggests an electrical device, which it is clearly not.

---

   One advantage to having your own company/product is you get to choose what you are going to call your products.       Perhaps there is some humor intended in the selection of the name and one should not try to apply a literal definition to the gizmo any more than one should apply a literal definition to what Tom calls the steel balls used in his cyclotronic design:  tone spheres.  (nechville.com/cyclotronics.php)

Mike Rowe - Posted - 06/08/2013:  09:48:32

You're awesome, Dave. My first reaction to that post was far less charitable.

jbanjoist - Posted - 06/09/2013:  18:24:08

I tend to over play strings, meaning for too long a time. Maybe because even old strings sound good on a Nechville.

But when you put new ones on and the settle in a bit, wheeeww, she sure sounds g-o-o-d!

Aint that right Lee?

Guy - Posted - 06/10/2013:  00:15:43

I have that same problem. I keep thinking that I must change my strings but then I can't resist knocking out a couple of tunes. Then I get carried away by the great sound of my banjo and completely forget about my strings. That is 'til the next day... ad infinitum...  

pick1936 - Posted - 06/13/2013:  08:52:25

My  wife was  on  face book  and  found on  Tom's  site  a  guy  picking  (Somewhere  Over  The  Rainbow)  Mostly  Melodic,  BUT   Great  picking,  and  great  Sound.  He  also  so  just  bought  a  Tone  Ring,  and  other  metal  making  parts plant.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

 

Edited by - pick1936 on 06/13/2013 08:58:01

JohnTN - Posted - 06/19/2013:  10:39:40

I tried a Nechville banjo for the first time yesterday. It is certainly innovative compared to traditional style banjos, with the even tension system, compensated bridge, beveled armrest, tone spheres, and flux-capacitor-style heel connection. This one also had a radiused fingerboard.

This was a used instrument, and the inlay pattern (planet with ring) identified it as the Saturn, but it did not have planetary tuners as currently shown on the Nechville website. It did have the standard (non-tunneled) fifth string tuner on the neck. It was lighter in weight than the other similarly-priced banjos, not quite as loud, and seemed to have a more mellow tone. I didn't realize until after I got home and looked it up that the Saturn has the wood tone ring. That explains the lighter weight and along with the walnut neck explains the mellower tone, I assume.

The store also had a new Galaxy Phantom. The storekeeper said it sounds more like the traditional bluegrass banjo than the Saturn. I intended to try it, and wish I had so that I could compare its sound to the traditional banjos I picked up, but I got sidetracked and did not.

As for the flux capacitor, it is clearly a simple yet effective, ingenious method of adjusting string action. For those whom I offended with my previous post, please accept my humble apology. I did not intend to offend.

dpete210 - Posted - 06/19/2013:  20:08:06

John, as with any banjo, set up is crucial and often when I hear folks talk about a mellow sound when speaking of a Nechville banjo it may just be that the banjo head is not as tight as it should be to get a punchier sound.  I keep the head on my Nechville at 90 with a drum dial (sometimes a bit more).  I currently am using a wooden tone ring in my Nechville Classic (I also have the steel tone ring to swap out if I choose), and it has all the volume I need.  I like using a Renaissance head when I am using the wooden ring, and to get a good crisp bluegrassy sound the Renaissance needs to be tight.  

There is a volume difference between the wooden ring and the metal ring.  But a nicely tightened head in conjunction with the wooden ring can surprise a picker.  It is nice to have the option of playing either one.  The cyclotronic design makes it fairly easy to switch rings or tighten/loosen the head when one wants to do so.   

Hope you get a chance to try the Phantom, and if you go back, check the head tension on that Saturn and if too loose for your liking, ask to tighten it and play it again.  You may be surprised at the pick up in volume and punch.  

Tedd - Posted - 06/27/2013:  22:07:51

My friend, Arthur Hancock, had his RB-75 mangled (broke the neck off at the pot and the headstock too) by the airlines on the way back from Telluride....I'm taking one of my Nechville's to Alaska but I'm just taking the neck off and packing it in my suitcase...it will take me 10 minutes to get it playing when I get there.  It is just another benefit of such a flexible system.

Guy - Posted - 06/28/2013:  02:54:46

Indeed Tedd,

Some Nechvilles owners are nervous about doing that because we've got so used to the complicated rigmarole you would have to go through for a conventional banjo, we are still ultra nervous about doing something as drastic as removing the neck.

I would urge Nechville owners to remove this doubt. It really is very easy and can be done in a couple of minutes. Tom's design is genius in it's simplicity and it's very easy to adjust your neck back to where you like it.

Guy  

jswkingsfield - Posted - 06/29/2013:  09:03:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by Guy

 

Indeed Tedd,

Some Nechvilles owners are nervous about doing that because we've got so used to the complicated rigmarole you would have to go through for a conventional banjo, we are still ultra nervous about doing something as drastic as removing the neck.

I would urge Nechville owners to remove this doubt. It really is very easy and can be done in a couple of minutes. Tom's design is genius in it's simplicity and it's very easy to adjust your neck back to where you like it.

Guy  

---

Indeed.  Just received my latest goodie from Tom & Jeremy -- custom, slimmer radius neck for my Classic.  Which meant I had to pop off the old neck, and put on the new one.

I, Klutzy Woman, got the old neck off in less than 10 minutes, including time to remove old strings.  All of 5 minutes to position & bolt the new neck on.  None of this finagling of neck to pot fit, that you experience with the Mastertone style banjo.

Cannot ask for better customer service & input, than to deal with Al and Tom.  Banjo teacher's introduction of thumb fretting is great fun, but lead to discovery that creaky, slightly arthritic thumb joint wouldn't cooperate on the original, wider radius neck without pain, but the thumb works OK with my other banjos.  (Hey, doc, it hurts when I do this.  Doc: Stop doing that.)  Tom suggested a neck swap, and it was the perfect solution.

Denton - Posted - 06/29/2013:  19:52:13

Love it

Denton - Posted - 06/30/2013:  05:58:48

Love it

pick1936 - Posted - 07/05/2013:  13:46:26

I  played My  Timber--Tronic  Classic  Deluxe  at  Church  Sunday.    after  church  We had  hot dogs,  and  burgers  outdoors.  My  wife  played  My   53  year  old  Gibson  flat  top  guitar  along  with  Me  on  the  Nechville.  We  played  America,,  bringing  In  the  sheaves,,  I  shall  not  be  moved,,   Just  a  closer  walk  With  Thee,,   Open  Neck  Key  of  C.   Then  in  key of G  We  played  Send  The  Light,,  Golden  Slippers,  and  a  few  more  I forget  what  some  were.  The  wood  ring  was  really  ringing,,  Honkin,,  Knockin,,  Barkin, and  Popin,  and   Zingin.

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

pick1936 - Posted - 07/07/2013:  12:59:51

Pickin  a  little  bit  today.  It   plays  so good,  and  sounds  so  Great.  What  more  can  I  say.   (GREAT).

Nechville  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

Debbiej - Posted - 07/07/2013:  13:35:01

Lee you're a great spokes person for Nechville. They ought to use you for some nechville posters.

I have to say I sold my Nechville Phantom just 3 weeks ago. I miss it so much I just had to order myself another one. I'm not going to let this one go. I really miss the tone and the feel of my nechville phantom but won't anymore by the end of this week. Thanks to Turtle Hill.

Debbie