Jim let me play the Mack Crow not long after he got it. Not only is it a good sounding banjo, but it has one of the best feeling necks I've ever played.

I remember playing a 6 checkerboard at Frank Neats the flange was broke in one spot, but ever 6 ive ever heard sounds awesome

I like when the pros make mistakes. The little people are given hope when we see it.

<3

Tis sweet to be remembered

INHO..a prewar without the original rim AND ring no longer qualifies as a true prewar..but most people totally disagree with me...BTW..have u ever played a Yates?...closest thing to a prewar to my ear

Thats good picking Brian...but...IMHO..u are producing too many piercing overtones...i think if u lightly put ur pinky on the end of the bridge ur tone will be about like Sonny's!!

OK...Huber strings...brand does not matter..its the gauge of each string that matters...so what are the gauges of each?

I bought a Buck Creek banjo from Arthur Hatfield in 2024. When I received the banjo it had shop dust all over the case. When I opened the case and lifted out the banjo, a part fell off on the ground. I removed the pot cover and saw that it came off the tailpiece. Arthur didn't bother to adjust the tailpiece either. The intonation was so bad that the instrument was unplayable. I tried unsuccessfully for hours to adjust the bridge position to correct the intonation, but something was wrong with the banjo because the intonation couldn't be corrected. The banjo had a bad buzz on the fourth string, so I had to loosen the truss rod, but I stabbed my hand on one of the 1/2" sharp strings that he carelessly left sticking out. Blood was everywhere. I took a photo of my injured hand and sent it to him, but he got upset with me and told me to return the banjo for a refund. I was so disappointed and deeply hurt that Arthur took my $3,000 and sent me a piece of garbage. The nicest sounding instrument in the world is totally worthless if it won't play in proper intonation. I didn't want a refund, I wanted a professional banjo, but Arthur refused to work with me as a customer to remedy the problem. I lost over $200 in wasted shipping charges because Arthur was dishonest to honor my decision to buy a banjo from him. At the first sign of trouble he just decided to refund my money, wasting all my time and money, even though I offered to return the banjo for a different one with correct intonation. I think Arthur is crooked. He did me wrong! Even worse, when I told him that I cut my hand open because of the sharp strings that he left sticking out, he refused to apologize. He never apologized for anything. I sent him a photo of my bleeding hand so he could see what he caused. He couldn't have cared less. You don't just take somebody's money, send them shoddy workmanship, and then get upset and merely refund their money when they complain. That is a coward's way out, not the ethical or manly thing to do. I kindly wanted Arthur to work with me to fix the problem, but he was too arrogant and rotten to do so. The guy has grown too big for his britches. I deeply regret that I ever ordered a banjo from this horrible man. RUN from this place! Thank you for reading.

What a sound!

Always amazing. R.I.P. Mr. Mills.

RIP Jim. Will miss you.

Amazing how people still think these are still Gibsons when they yank out the original tone ring and put a clunker in it. Its not a Gibson anymore.

bluegrass at least 3 hours a day, everyday, all day and night is common too, Vince always in the rotations

Great/Awesome 🪕 player & Awesome 🪕👍💯

As a young man Vince Gill lived in CA in his late teen years and played with Byron Berline briefly and they made a live record on which Vince played mandolin and one of his lead vocals was on this song Good Woman's Love. Byron Berline and Sundance Live at McCabes on Takoma Records. I was lucky enough to be in the audience.

I want to watch just a bunch of times a lot of knowledge seems like Jim's teaching, I recently got a Vega banjo and I did not know that it was a Martin that when I bought it I don't know nothing about banjos I'm a guitar player drummer harmonica piano... But now it's going to be the banjo I never even knew about the holes sound hole banjos, I guess you call it a no hole but I'm learning. But the vega is sweet,loud and doesn't drink..(ha haha), I do tune to a lot of different tunings but it's kind of like the first three strings of the guitar so that kind of helps me I'm trying to put it all together the notes and stuff I wrote them down on the paper, but I'm on my way.. also got a fiddle I have been f****** with an old lesson caught in it from 1938, I bought a new bow for it, talk about sound is close to human voice as you can the fiddle is it maybe Next to slide guitar,no equal..and i can't forget piano.rip jim.." (heaven its home above....) Sacred numbers Flatt and Scruggs"

Awesome I think I figured out what no hole the hole means the holes are in the Chrome I guess

The 1934 Recording King was shockingly good, especially for being a Wards offering. Although I love Gibson, I'd almost consider trading for that Recording King.

Jim was a great man and good friend, RIP.

Nice sounding TY. What’s the year and SN?

Thanks for doing this David, great to hear Mike play his rare banjo! If I'm not mistaken, that's Mike's 1938 RB-12, #411-1. The first of the four RB-12's that were made by Gibson in the prewar era! Those of us banjo fans who live far from the Knoxville action at Banjofest are grateful to you!

I just noticed how far down toward the first string Jims picking hand is when he plays. Meaning slightly lower than most peoples. I think this would give his thumb easier access to the second and third strings and maybe even the first.

RIP Jimmy. A dear friend gone on.

Son!

Maple banjos always crack better.

Too bad bluegrass don't at least pay the same as all this Nashville cookie cutter country crap.Vince Gill should have been doing this,it's his Calling and now he don't need money so bad he can actually play whatever he wants

He’s so bloody good. Complete note separation.

Great job!

Omg doc

They'll throw dirt in my face before I part with dis one..."" Love it

We all love Earl a lot! But to say nobody could tote his case 😂 what about Don? Reno was truly the best he just didn’t have the right hand Earl had but he had “it” and he was a wizard on the fretboard

Miss this great guy

great picking.

I love bluegrass, and this is fantastic

Paul Elliott was my great grandpa. He passed when I was young, but I always enjoy the stories about him

good pickin old timer

Great prewar tone at it's best !!!!

I love bluegrass!

Mr. John Lafoy is a fine representative of the bluegrass community.

Way to bright.

I know Jim Rollins I am from South Carolina and I took from Al O’ steen. Dave Duncan good to see you Jim

Any information on where this banjo ended up? It's phenomenal.

wow I love to own one like that I can't afford one it's great ty

What a banjo.

Steve is a good forceful banjo player...Jack Baker NYC/NJ

Steve Huber, knows a lot about banjo, "builds a Great""man what a GREAT BANJO PLAYER. Rodney Carter

One of very best ever in my opinion!!

Larry is one fine individual!!!

Definitely without a doubt the 2nd no hole.