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mikefitz6 - Posted - 06/20/2012: 11:48:15
I am posting for the first time in years. I am finally motivated to get back into playing and decided to look at different banjos. I ran across a guy who had several models of Nechvilles. There was a catch. I had to meet him in a parking lot of an Old Chicago's in Greeley, Colorado at 11:00 PM. He had several banjos but mostly Nechvilles. After trying several models I surprised my conservative self and at 2:00 AM bought a Galaxy Phantom. I thought I wanted a Classic, but even the seller thought I played the Phantom the best. He even gave me a nice discount!
Sound a little shady? Well, the seller assured me he was an authorized dealer and I believed him.
His name was.....Tom Nechville! He was on his way to a festival in Teluride Colorado. I called him to ask some questions about a used Classic deluxe (check out Todds Classic ad from Denver, he was extremely personable and you would be happy with him if you bought his banjo) and Tom said he would be glad to meet me despite the time. He waited while I fumbled with the banjos and I just felt the Phantom played so well and the sound was what I wanted. I just have a little hard time with the nontraditional peghead and the fifth string tuner in the wrong place :-). It is growing on me and appeals to what little rebellious spirit is hidden deep down inside.
I have a nice Deering Sierra, but it just wasn't quite right.
Hats off to Tom for going what I consider to be above and beyond. Now I have to really start to practice and get back into this.
Thanks to all for the great information on this site that helped in my decision.
Mike
f#dead - Posted - 06/20/2012: 12:04:50
If you're like me at all, you're gonna love not having the 5th peg on the neck. Yes I know anyone can learn to play anything but the freedom of the tunnelled 5th is pure ease. Congrats on the purchase. You got a great banjo. You're lucky someone didn't call the cops after hearing banjos in the alley late at night. 
Fathand - Posted - 06/20/2012: 12:19:13
I met Mr Nechville at a seminar in Toronto. He seemed like a nice guy and the type that might do business at 2am.
slammer - Posted - 06/20/2012: 12:24:57
Cool story ans Welcome Back!!! Hats off to Tom!!! Slammer!!!
lespik - Posted - 06/20/2012: 13:01:09
I've heard of guys getting their fix in parking lot's at 2 a.m. , never knew what it meant. 
DonovanGT - Posted - 06/20/2012: 13:06:24
Tom Nechville is an incredibly nice individual with great ideas!
trapdoor2 - Posted - 06/20/2012: 14:28:10
He is a shady character...2am fits Tom to a "T". "Psst. Hey buddy, wanna buy a banjo?" 
I don't think Tom sleeps. At the Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy, you can look up into the rafters during the daylight hours and see him up there hanging by his toes.
Phantoms are great, once you get used to the missing tuner and the odd peghead, you'll be kickin' out the tunes.
Well done and welcome back.
1935tb-11 - Posted - 06/20/2012: 17:51:26
there is no telling where you might see tom at,, all i know is he has a wood tonering banjo with a tunneled 5th string called a XXV that is fantastic. i played it at merlefest this year,,, i feel in love with and if i had the money that day i would have bought it. but i promised my wife , that no more purchases until we put on a new roof and shutters. so i am on hold right now. it was a great banjo,,lightweight, good tone and played like a dream.
terry m
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 06/20/2012 17:52:46
banjered - Posted - 06/20/2012: 18:40:19
2 AM? I dunno. Tom probably stole them from himself. You probably bought yourself a "hot" banjo. Try not to get arrested.....Banjered
Guy - Posted - 06/24/2012: 13:22:49
Knowing Tom a little bit, this comes as no surprise to me. 2:00AM is as good a time as any to talk banjos...
Pretty good anecdote though, you could dine on that with the right people 
"Did I tell you about the time I scored a banjo at 2 in the morning? ..."
Guy
jswkingsfield - Posted - 06/24/2012: 17:19:43
Hmmmm. Are you saying you took 3 hours to wear him (Tom) down at 2 a.m., or did it take Tom 3 hours to wear you down! 
NDJohn - Posted - 06/24/2012: 18:25:13
I've been in Tom's shop several times, and have always been impressed with Tom himself. A rare individual with all the quiet insight of an innovative engineer, coupled with a genuinely friendly, outgoing personality who enjoys interacting with people.
Congratulations on the purchase. You can bet on Tom being there for you if you need anything done with the banjo
Best,
John
mikefitz6 - Posted - 06/24/2012: 21:35:00
It took 3 hours because there were several banjos to try and then he had to set mine up so it was ready to go. My wife did not even know I left the ouse because she was asleep. That made for an interesting discussion the next day. "you bought a WHAT at 2 AM?". I told her she has several dozen shoes and I only had two other banjos. You need different ones for different occasions plus the banjos will last way longer than a pair of shoes. Of course she ruined the analogy by bringing up the dumb cost arguement. Wives can be so had to reason with!
alprice - Posted - 06/25/2012: 06:56:56
quote:
Originally posted by mikefitz6
It took 3 hours because there were several banjos to try and then he had to set mine up so it was ready to go. My wife did not even know I left the ouse because she was asleep. That made for an interesting discussion the next day. "you bought a WHAT at 2 AM?". I told her she has several dozen shoes and I only had two other banjos. You need different ones for different occasions plus the banjos will last way longer than a pair of shoes. Of course she ruined the analogy by bringing up the dumb cost arguement. Wives can be so had to reason with!
I've always told my bride that a good banjo is much cheaper than either a shrink or a cardiologist. Congratulations on your new banjo!
Al
jswkingsfield - Posted - 06/25/2012: 06:57:44
quote:
Originally posted by mikefitz6
It took 3 hours because there were several banjos to try and then he had to set mine up so it was ready to go. My wife did not even know I left the ouse because she was asleep. That made for an interesting discussion the next day. "you bought a WHAT at 2 AM?". I told her she has several dozen shoes and I only had two other banjos. You need different ones for different occasions plus the banjos will last way longer than a pair of shoes. Of course she ruined the analogy by bringing up the dumb cost arguement. Wives can be so had to reason with!
I know this has been posted previously, but on the subject of wife's shoes and whether additional banjo is needed, you might want to see this handy guitar flow chart:
guitarsquid.com/posts/flow-cha...ars/7771/
It is quite likely, however, that you have just justified the purchase of additional shoes. Or worse, a new handbag.
In defense of my gender, I will disclose that I am the WIFE with 2 banjos, in the process of ordering #3. OK <sheepish shrug>, so that omits the one I gave away, and the one I sold. My husband can't object, because he currently has 4 bikes in the garage (+ at least 7 seats, a half dozen panier sets, just gear, gear, gear galore). But neither of us ever snuck out of the house to buy one at 2 a.m.!
CAPT Steve - Posted - 06/25/2012: 14:10:54
Janet--I'm one of those guys that's into both banjos (4) and bikes (3, with another in mind probably next year when certain new 'gear' that I'm anticipating comes out); so, I understand your comments COMPLETELY! That's a mighty fine flow chart; we do need the corollary banjo one, though.
MikeFitz6--As the proud owner of a walnut Galaxy Phantom, I can understand how seductive the Nechville allure can be. In that dark parking lot, you didn't stand a chance.
Steve
Edited by - CAPT Steve on 06/25/2012 14:14:32
buckbybanjoboy - Posted - 06/26/2012: 03:19:54
Guy introduced me to Tom when he came over a couple of years ago, and with a few good friends, had a jam with him. I was impressed with Tom, his banjos, and his philosophy about all things banjo, so I got me an Athena. Beautiful.
Nuff said !!
banjoy - Posted - 06/26/2012: 05:04:38
Kewl story. Tom also hand-delivered my banjo to me, in Asheville, NC two years ago. He had just finished at MerleFest and he met me at a jam session there along with Al Price, and hung out for while, and I took posession of my Athena.
Tom is one of the nicest folks out there, and very truly interested in his customers.
....if he had wanted to sell you iPads made out of wood, however, that's a different story 
caddielad - Posted - 06/26/2012: 13:29:32
quote:
Originally posted by jswkingsfield
I know this has been posted previously, but on the subject of wife's shoes and whether additional banjo is needed, you might want to see this handy guitar flow chart:
guitarsquid.com/posts/flow-cha...ars/7771/
Bwahahaha!... (beer departs via nose)
Bill
Edited by - caddielad on 06/26/2012 13:30:20
Helix - Posted - 06/27/2012: 05:07:02
See, this is good, the stuff of legend. It's called will call.
We had a will call recently, drove a big rig in from upper peninsula, the yoop. We met at the truck stop in the evening. I locked my car in case somebody tried to get two more banjos in there when I wasn't looking.
You guys should do a poster, Pssssssssst, hey buddy I've got some banjos in my trunk, meet me, don't be late. Too ripped, gotta go.
Guy - Posted - 06/30/2012: 12:59:31
quote:
Originally posted by buckbybanjoboy
Guy introduced me to Tom when he came over a couple of years ago, and with a few good friends, had a jam with him. I was impressed with Tom, his banjos, and his philosophy about all things banjo, so I got me an Athena. Beautiful.
Nuff said !!
Tom is coming over again in September. Hopefully we can set up a meet and greet at the Oddhouse again. Be sure to bring your Athena, I've no doubt Tom would want to give it the once over and tweak it if necessary.
Guy
Guy - Posted - 06/30/2012: 13:03:39
quote:
Originally posted by banjoy
Kewl story. Tom also hand-delivered my banjo to me, in Asheville, NC two years ago. He had just finished at MerleFest and he met me at a jam session there along with Al Price, and hung out for while, and I took posession of my Athena.
Tom is one of the nicest folks out there, and very truly interested in his customers.
....if he had wanted to sell you iPads made out of wood, however, that's a different story
A guy came into the shop where I work just recently. He'd made an ipod docking station out of some wood and the horn off a trombone. I have to say it sounded and looked fantastic. Be great for festivals, no extra batteries or PSUs.
buckbybanjoboy - Posted - 06/30/2012: 14:10:47
Just let me know when Guy, I'll be there.
