A Visit to Romero Banjos

From the tiny town of Horsefly, British Columbia, Jason and Pharis Romero create some of the most unique fretted instruments available today. J. Romero Custom Banjos pay homage to early old-time open-back banjos but with thoroughly modern improvements. They are unique, artistic banjos that look as stunning as they sound.
Film director Matt Miles travelled to Horsefly to interview the Romeros both about their banjos and their music career. He created this film for the Fretboard Journal magazine. The Fretboard Journal is a quarterly print magazine dedicated to the art of fretted instruments and good music-making.
Created for the Fretboard Journal by:
Matt miles - Audio recordist, camera one and editor.
Lindsay Marie Stewart - Still photography and satellite b-roll camera
Chris Wilson - Camera two and lighting
Go to the FJ's website - fretboardjournal.com - to see even more exclusive interviews, podcasts, performance videos and more. The Fretboard Journal is the guitarist's bible, featuring in-depth interviews with legendary players and builders, photo essays and more. Every three months, subscribers receive a new, 128 page keepsake issue of the magazine in the mail.
www.fretboardjournal.com

[@KM-om1dy]

Such a beautiful video story of joy and happiness. I teared up a few times watching two beautiful people so grateful and finding true love 🕊️

[@beeoxford255]

I happen to have watched this video over 10 times. The production value, the quality videography, purity of the music, storytelling, everything about this is spectacular. I play the banjo a little bit and am addicted to this couple and their music. Thank you!

[@rsaathoff]

What a blessing. It brings tears of joy to see people able to live what they love. I'd just love to do this and live in such a place.

[@guywolff]

SO many good thoughts for Jason & Pharis loosing that beautiful shop to fire this week .. I know thay will bring it back with beauty and grace ... All the best , Guy

[@TwoCatsUp]

Oh my God, I had no idea, thank you for bringing this to our attention, what an absolute heartbreaker, so so sad, it's like, WHY??? Just Unreal.

[@Cj12sings]

Awesome!!! marriage made in heaven...the unification of Art, Love, Life....

[@DanDDirges]

Wonderful! Something magical about the Banjo. The Romero`s seem like nice folks.

[@AlwaysWorking2008]

I am the very proud owner of the first partial fretless that Jason built. I can not rave enough about what an insanely AWESOME banjo it is!!! Stunning beauty, killer sound, and plays like a giant stick of butter. Not only that, but Jason was incredible to work with...had great suggestions & ideas, but insisted on incorporating my ideas in the design. IMHO, he's the best builder alive today. Thanks Jason!!

[@albertmorgan9021]

You guys are awesome , love to see people living the life they want to live what a tremendous blessing thank you Lord for witnessing such God bless y'all

[@gregoryncurran]

this is a dream life. I will own a Romero Banjo one day.

[@netwonc]

Outstanding video, great story, a real team together. Thanks for sharing.

[@farside1951]

Just love them!

[@Joyfulminimalist]

Beautiful home, beautiful music. You all are an inspiration. From one artist to the next.

[@kakouchak]

J'écoute quelques unes de vos chansons (Wild Bill Jones, etc.) depuis une année. Maintenant je vois cette vidéo. C'est excellent. L'existence de personnes comme vous me réjouit dans un monde qui prend de plus en plus les allures d'un merdier cosmopolitain. Bravo, du Québec rural !

[@malthus101]

This was amazing.... had a Romero banjo on my "to buy one day" list for probably 10 years now! Found an old photo of it and looked them up on YT, found this mini doco. So great... absolutely great music, I know nothing about Old Timey music (other than what I heard in O' Brother Where Art Though, heh) and I don't know how to play the banjo, just guitar a little bit. It's still on my list! Would like to go there and discuss the design with them personally. Great stuff.

[@malthus101]

still on my list (3 years after this original comment sigh) except now, the wait time for a banjo is now 6 years. F**king kill me, fml.

[@roundmidnightsuttree]

Saw you last night in Portland. Glad you have melded playing music and building fine instruments in a place you love. Best wishes to the two of you and your daughter.

[@julianhobrough1290]

I've very much admired the Romero thing. I work in wood - 'fine cabinetmaking'. I recently got some incredibly intricate hand made inlays for a neck from craftsmen in Vietnam who work sitting cross-legged on a clay floor. Maple leaves, all sorts of things. They cost me basically relatively nothing, but are so intricate I cannot find how to inlay them properly without a microscope and nano tools. Computer aided cuts would make life easier for Romero, and it's a lesson to be learned > build fire-proof. Beautiful instruments.

[@jleacock2]

Pure inspiration....thank you.....

[@AndrewBenW]

This is such a great production. More like this one would be utterly fantastic.

[@mikefinley4367]

Enjoyed the video. Love the artistry, craftsmanship. You two have helped each other make a part of this journey of experience something worth while for you both as well as others. Do me a favor, love deeply but know it's a temporary experience and that something greater than us all made each of you and is the master artisan all others fall short of. Name it God or whatever but know it's all temporary and do not let that depress you but be thankful as there is greater beyond this. Live. Love, respect and in the last breath smile and let it all go ready to embrace the new. One of you will go first and remember it was temporary but be thankful for that partner who shared the journey and know he or she belongs to the master artisan, not us.

[@richardfiske]

That was wonderful! Love the banjo you made for me. The one with the inlayed winged Heart ❤️ bless you guys for all you do and share

[@elholt7095]

Love this sound from the banjo! Makes me want to pick mine up! Cheers! BTW Enjoyed this video and the songs!

[@MLOI18775]

dream life, nice people, superb banjos.

[@andrewmunro1551]

Awesome guys, love your tunes and your craft !!!

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

Love these stories, so jealous but in a nice way.

[@thegogetter222]

Amazing video... I'm blown away.. seriously.

[@jakewollin6262]

I'm such a fanboy of Pharis and Jason. You two are an inspiration! Is there anywhere I can find you singing that "Hang Me" song besides this viddeo? I love it :)

[@peteeastmuremusic]

What an interesting couple and such fine musicians. Hope to say hi to you in person down the road, best wishes!!

[@Tron2pointOh]

You guys are living in heaven.

[@muddybanjo]

I wish I could see his chording hand on that SallyGoodin song!! Love it.Oh to own one of those beautiful banjos! Maybe someday.

[@robpfisher]

this just brings happiness....

[@DaveCaulkins]

Very nice vid! Very attractive banjo! I live above Chico in Cohasset and am a melodic banjo player. Noticed your curved bridge. Im sure it helps with that sharp third string. I really enjoyed this! Thanks for posting. Good B playing too👍

[@johnnybx3254]

God Bless Y’all 🙏

[@donaldfransson2827]

Thank You - great art and Music. Aniando Sweden

[@kyleaylward6678]

These are realll nice

[@ItHappens117]

Tallest Man On Earth brought me here. Good stuff!

[@Volaths]

Same!

[@Aniando]

Beautiful music, beautiful art. Aniando Sweden

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Amazing!

[@ricktoole9991]

I always wanted to learn how to play banjo , now at 70 to late

[@jamieholmes5443]

Who wouldent want that.. Just amazing :)

[@robcrawford9657]

lovely!

[@douglasbaker9589]

And bring it back they did; after the fire the entire community united to help them rebuild. Seems that if anything they're better than ever.

[@malthus101]

there was a fire??

[@pipyetothepost]

great vid

[@michaelling3056]

Is that the Romeros singing? That's such a nice cover, I wonder if I can buy it anywhere.

[@beeoxford255]

Michael Ling you can! They're everywhere from ITunes to their website. I love their music.

[@bennis123]

What's the melody played at the start? I'm looking for more of this mellow beautiful banjomusic.

[@sarahbenlolo9973]

That's their version of "Cumberland Gap"

[@martin701]

Just picked this up and so sorry that the fire happened. Best wishes to you both and hope all is well. Beautiful instruments and great warm old time sound but the only downside is that I live in the UK and I think I'm right in saying that there are export restrictions on rosewood and shell which limits the options a bit. Would love to own one of these lovely pieces of exquisite craftsmanship which would be a real joy to play

[@geofflb6537]

M S There are restrictions that's true, but so many beautiful alternatives. We chose Chechen for the tonering, fingerboard and other trim and a combination of copper and brass (some of it fire salvaged) for the decoration. Have a look at #17414 on their website - it arrived safely through UK Customs last November and is absolutely gorgeous. So don't despair!

[@sunnysachdev5039]

Please can anyone tell me the name of the song he’s playing at 3:15? Beautiful stuff.

[@mrfester42]

Speaking as a man, the crowning glory of this whole scenario is having a great gal like that where both of these folks have so much in common. I'm very envious.

[@banjoqedas7637]

Nice

[@holychest13]

What tuning was he playing in for New Railroad?

[@Mandolatron]

Pretty sweet couple.

[@TwoCatsUp]

How are they doing after that horrendous fire?

[@geofflb6537]

Rex Hamann They're doing great! There's a 2018 mini-doc from CBC Vancouver North by Northwest that shows them in their new shop. A link on the J Romero Banjo Co Facebook page.

[@TwoCatsUp]

Thank you for this, that is so awesome to hear and I'm so glad you let me know what's going on. I will be sure to take a look at the vid. Just got one of their CDs. Thanx again!

[@snafujag100]

I want his life.......

[@larryr.devine6122]

Can you build me a Ban-Jammer withicopper accents. Larry Devine the Rivermen Researcher