New Banjer

Last August I got to 'baby sit' a custom banjo built by Jason and Pharis Romero for a week or so. Inevitably I fell in love with it and promptly placed myself on the build list for one. The lead time is currently around four years and going northwards - so a long wait basically. Every once in a while, Jason comes up with an instrument which is not on the build list as such. When this happens, it is offered to those on the waiting list who are interested. Names are placed in a hat and a draw happens. Well folks, I won the raffle. I've had to forgo my place in the build list but I'm delighted to be getting a stonking instrument without having such a long wait. Details as per Jason's original email below :

Hi all,

Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the winter so far. This is an email to everyone on our waitlist to let you know that we have a "luthier's choice" banjo for sale this month, and we'd like to offer it first to everyone on the waitlist before putting it up for public sale.

This is a pretty exciting banjo. Overall, it's inspired by the early Ashborn-era banjos, with some new takes. Pictures are on our website- www.romerobanjos.com/14355/14355.html
The specs are all listed there, but a few particular details that really make this banjo special include:
- the neck is figured birdseye maple with figured birdseye overlays
- the scoop is a new custom shape, great for clawhammer and fingerpicking
- the back of the peghead has our first ever Ashborn-inspired dart (we have totally fallen in love with this detail and can't wait to put it on future banjos)
- the rim has a finishing technique Jason learned from his good friend Scott Walker at Scott Walker Guitars. Scott developed the finish for one of his electric guitar models, with the goal to have a finish that looked like the instrument had been found on the bottom of the ocean. Essentially we have coated a rock maple 12" rim with several coats of bronze, and then used some unique finishing techniques, including iron oxide and various other patinas, to give it an aged metal look and feel. It's the kind of finish you'd see on a Tiffany lamp; it's textured to the touch and has a protective lacquer finish as well.
- the tone of this banjo is simply amazing. Something happened with the all maple build, the rosewood tonering, and the bronze coating. We're having a hard time letting it go. Sound clips will be up on the site hopefully this week sometime (in between baby feeds and naps).

And here is the e-mail I got from Jason after the draw :

Hi Ian,
I'm happy to say we just had the drawing and we pulled your name out!

Aside from everything I mentioned about this banjo in the original email I'd like to mention again I'm really proud of this one...... I know with the overall aesthetic It would appear to be pushing the boundaries but most details are borrowed from 19th century banjos. It is one of the most unique banjos I have created so far..... and though I can make no real claims just yet.
The bronze coating on the rim has definitely added something special to the tone!

I'll send another email on later today with payment options. If you could please send us a shipping address and current phone number.


Best for now,

Jason

Obviously, I am rather happy...

I should have this over here within the next couple of weeks and will post some pics.

Cheers,

Ian