Pot hardware is basically clone of Gibson, with a clamshell tailpiece and a two-leg arm rest, which, alone, is engraved (read: stamped-in design). Hardware: planetary pegs which seem to be a bit better than the usual Asian pegs. There is no inlay at the 15th fret, (this is where the Gibson Mastertone block would have been). But it looks very good with extremely tight inlay work. It does not have the sparkle of real pearl. Inlays are not real pearl, rather some similar man-made material. Peghead: reminiscent of the old Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Layde #2. Marked "Made in Korea."ĭesign is very similar to a Gibson RB-5 Wreath, except that the sunburst finish goes from black to reddish yellow. I found no finish blemishes, no pits on the metal parts and excellent workmanship. Overall, the fit, finish and hardware quality is very high. The custom made Stanleytone comes with arch top standard. Several other makers do offer an AT as an option. This and the Gold Tone AT-250 are, I believe, the only production arch tops currently available. Morgan-Monroe MRHB-1 Arch Top tone ring, Rocky Top BG Series. Wayne Norman (originator of this basic list) has purchased a Morgan Monroe archtop. I have not had a chance to examine one first hand. #Alvarez banjos history seriesMorgan Monroe in mid 2004 has introduced a much fancier series with very intricate inlay and such at very attractive pricing. While the distributor has a reputation of making good on these things, not all dealers will go to the hassle of getting things fixed. Instruments have arrived at dealers with flaws. There seem to be considerable quality control problems at this writing, and a significant number of I suspect they all pass parts around anyway.ĭecember 2003: Caveat. Headstock pattern is like the BMI/ BC Cho (Wave) banjos I have seen, though an eBay seller of these new said it was probably Samick. MNB-1 (Rocky Top) has a rolled brass tone ring, probably like an RB-100. #Alvarez banjos history plusMNB-2 with tone ring is described at over 11 lbs., tube & flange construction, flamed maple resonator, nickel chromium plating with engraved arm rest, 24 brackets, eagle claw tailpiece, three piece laminated maple neck with rosewood fretboard and wreath derived inlay with the wreath on the headstock reversed, plus some other changes. Morgan Monroe - Korean, current, named for a state forest in Indiana. Mann - like early Aria, Alvarez, Epiphone He closed his email with "BTW, I really enjoy playing it." I'm still learning about the tone ring fit, it is loose, clear of the pot by up to 1.5 mm in The wood under the tone ring is lightly finished, ie not to a gloss, so there will be good contact there. Janos has had his apart, and wrote that it is an 8 or 9 ply light colored pot.likely beech but not mahogany as described on the seller's website. One of the 2 instruments rated at was poorly set up when received. It is not going to be a controlled bell bronze foundry casting by any means. I would presume the steel parts of the primers are included in the mix, the powder residue will probably cook out. There is a lot of that brass lying around on the ground in Asia, and the kids are probably commissioned to bring it in to the village for collection. My guess that the current spate of banjos with brass tone rings (Morgan Monroe comes to mind, also one of the Gold Tones) is because someone has realized you can use spent ammunition casings to cast them, just like all the statuary and horns and such that are sold inexpensively by the roadside here. If it is as described and reasonable quality, which is possible given what it costs to actually build a banjo over there, it could be a super deal. The wood parts look similar to Korean Epiphone, also a Gibson offering. Maple w/ sunburst finish, H&F, rosewood fingerboard, one piece flange, brass tone ring, planetary pegs w/ geared 5th (Ping brand?), clamshell tailpiece, white plastic inlays. So even though there is a 90 day money back policy shown, it does imply that if you buy one, there will be very little after the sale service, if they could not be bothered to reply to an inquiry before the sale. Wayne Norman and I corresponded about this banjo a while back, and he sent an email to the sellers asking specific and informed questions about the details. After being out of stock since about April 2003, they are now again listed. Music Yo is a division of Gibson(!) The price and information on the MusicYo site were enticing the price was $350-400 or so, did not include a case and shipping. Some appear to be Samicks, there is also one with an eagle head inlaid in marquetry into the maple resonator that seem more BC Cho like. Lark In the Morning - I don't know what names they have put on these current instruments. Leo Deluxe was especially fancy in the inlay department. Marketed by Fender (Leo Fender, get it?), endorsed for a while by Doug Dillard. Leo - Japanese, about the quality of Ibanez, ie good, 1980- 88.Įarly 80's.
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