So with all the buzz going on about Bill's new website I thought it was prime time to show off my new banjo, and first non entry level banjo (my first upgrade from a Goodtime Special).
Here's an excerpt of a post from my "shopping advice" for the full back story go here : http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/222890
"I made the trip up to Bill Rickard's (whom i'd only heard about a few weeks ago) shop a couple days later. Boy let me tell you I was in banjo heaven! Bill is a really great guy, and an excellent craftsman, I immediately fell in love with his work and his passion for the trade. His partner spent alot of time showing me different banjos and talking to me about them as I played. And Bill later on took my Dad and I on a tour through his workshop and explained to us the many different techniques he uses and the processes he goes through in order to build some very fine quality banjos.
It was truly a great all round experience that my Dad and I will cherish for years to come.
And now for the best part, I settled on a Rickard Spunover 12" dobson with an antiqued finish, antiqued hardware, and a 3 part curly maple neck. Bill also really took the time to test different bridges with me (which he fabricates, and are of equal fantastic quality) until we got one that I really liked.
It is currently set up with a fiberskyn head and steel strings with a silverwound 4th, and it sounds and plays like a dream! I'll try to get some pics and maybe some sound files up soon. Eventually I'd like to try a skin head with nylgut.
I think Bill is a pioneer in our banjo world and i'm surprised his name does not get mentioned very often when it comes to full finished banjos. He is mostly recognized for his hardware, parts and kits.
I also love the fact that its Canadian made!"
This banjo really sings! Its taking a bit of getting used to the neck, its a bit thicker than my goodtime, which are in general very thin, but the transition is going well. Im also trying to play over the neck at the scoop, which I never really have before. Although I enjoy playing over the head, I like the of the harmonic sound over the neck, and I like having the option of switching depending on the mood im in, or sound I want.
And at first I was loosely stuffing the banjo with a small dishrag, but I'm realizing that I think I like the sound of it unstuffed better... I'm still undecided, but I've never really liked the sound of an unstuffed openback untill this one!
Here are the pics, and the sound files will hopefully come later on this week, Cheers!