Playing Since: 2009
Experience Level: Novice

Interests:
[Socializing]

Occupation: "Retired" School District Lead Carpenter

Gender: Male
Age: 68

My Instruments:
Bought a Goldstar 200 from fellow member Dan Pennington and couldn't be happier. I took it over to show my banjo teacher and he loved it. Dan sold me a great banjo at a great price and I would deal with him again in a heartbeat. He was more than fair and extremely helpful. Thanks again Dan
I added a flat top that Dick Guggenheim allowed me to help him make. It is a walnut banjo with a Kelush Big Ten ton ring, Grover tuners and more. I love it. We are starting a birdseye maple archtop at this time; I love working with Mr Guggenheim. You can't find a nicer more patient guy. Thanks Dick for everything.
The archtop is finished. Dick Guggenheim sold me a lot of the hardware thank GOD. He was very good to me on pricing and really sold me great parts including a 1950's Gibson archtop tone ring, a two piece flange and one of his baked walnut/ maple rim. I couldn't ask for a better banjo. Dick did an incredible job and to;d me how to highlight the birds eyes with stain and not take away from the natural look. I then applied a French polish. It turned out beautiful and sounds great and loud. I really was tought a lot from Dick. He is a great wealth of knowledge and I'm very thankful he was so willing to share his knowledge with me. I had no idea what it really takes to make a quality banjo. To all the banjo builders I take my hat off to you. I use to build custom homes for 25 years and building a couple banjos with Dick humbled me and gave me a true respect for all the luthiers, you raised the level of the true craftsman.

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Earle Scruggs, Dave Hum, Ross Nickerson, Rhonda Vincent

Classified Rating: (+2)
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 7/25/2009
Last Visit 4/9/2022

I have lived in the same town all of my life. I work for our local school district. I've been married twice. The first one I lost to Kidney Cancer. I'm still happily married to the second one. I have four kids Two of each. Both of the girls are starting college. One of them is here and the other is leaving for Iowa on a bowling scholarship. Both of the boys are working. We are pretty simple folks we like to can and cut firewood. We heat our house with wood. I guess that's why when my friend gave me my banjo I went for lessons. Unfortunately I got side stepped and put it down for 3 years. I was looking for something else in our closet and ran into it. I pulled it out and played around a few days with it. Next thing I know i called my banjo teacher and met with him for about two hours. He tuned it for me and showed me how to emergency tune it. I told him that I want to start back up in my lessons in September. There is too much going on getting my little one off to Iowa before that. I really love playing that banjo. I have a hard time putting it down. I think I am going to save to buy a new bluegrass banjo around Christmas. Maybe sooner. Part 2: Well it's been a year and a few months since I started and I am starting to get better. I have never played an instrament before so I took quite a while to get my fingers and eyes to work together. I love it when I get the song right. I'm still way too slow but I am starting to speed up. I have a very patient teacher who seems to know just how far I can be pushed. It makes it interesting but not overwelming. I love the challenge