Luthiers, Part 1: Banjo Maker Frank Neat | Kentucky Life | KET

One who makes or repairs stringed instruments that have a neck and a sound box is known as a luthier. The name comes from the French word for lute, which is one of the oldest plucked string instruments.
In the first of a three-part series about Kentucky’s luthiers, we travel to Russell Springs to meet Frank Neat, who makes bluegrass banjos. Neat’s customers have included the top bluegrass banjo players in the world, from the late Earl Scruggs to J.D. Crowe.
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[@jfloyd2919]

Best banjo builder and specialized banjo repair man ever IMO

[@whovisionsCGI]

Don't understand why anyone down thumbed this. Frank is an icon banjo builder/repairer. I wish I owned a Frank Neat banjo.

[@redlinemando]

@Whovisions Unfortunately, there are at least 6 idiots out there in the world who have time to do nothing else but downvote YT videos.

[@lars-akehedman3424]

I bought my Stanleytone from Ralph Stanley back in 1987. It's a goldplated nr37 from the first series, still have it still love it

[@maverickdallas1004]

Frank Neat's Stanleytone is one hell of a banjo. I wish I would have bought one when I had the chance!

[@robinengland5799]

I have a Osborne Chief banjo built by Frank, it is incredible! The neck is the best I have ever played, glad I have some of Frank's work!

[@curtvaughan2836]

Me too! Bought one after Nashcamp back in 2005. It is still my nicest and favorite banjo.

[@johnnybx3254]

Great history! Excellent work!

[@skipmilligan]

TURTLE MAN!!!! AYE AYE AYE AYYYYYYE!!!! Love The Turtle Man, and I love Banjahs.

[@nedkline886]

thanks, now i know when i see a pre war gibson conversion for sale with a frank neat neck on it i know what it means and it is alot more than i imagined

[@redlinemando]

Ricky Neat is one of the best, if not the very best!!!!!!! He's also one of the very few left who still actually hand cuts the pearl they use. I've watched him & I've never seen anyone better!!!!!!!

[@sirwoofsalot]

Great video. First time I ever seen a left handed banjer. And a fiddle on the lap . . . And that girl wasn't no slouch neither. Good Stuff! Thanks for posting.

[@banjomakr]

Great video, Mr. Neat!

[@robinengland5799]

Just bought my second Frank Neat Osborne Chief!! Just can't get to many Frank Neat banjos!

[@p.steven2413]

Really Nice Information Here . Thanks For Sharing All This . Stay Blessed . The Best Of The Best Here !

[@jackiewilburn3063]

A friend of mine and great banjo player Wade Hill in Knoxville, Tn had an old Stanleytone raised head that he bought from Ralph years ago. Tragically it was lost in a house fire a couple years ago. Wade is ok though

[@redlinemando]

Unfortunately, I heard he passed not too long ago.

[@jackiewilburn3063]

@@redlinemando He did. I was playing with the Alex Leach band at the time and Alex got the call at WDVX. Talk about heart broken. I've known Wade since I was 12.

[@redlinemando]

@@jackiewilburn3063 I always wanted to meet Wade. I knew of him from playing with Clyde & Marie Denny several years ago & I had heard him on recordings. We had passed each other playing for some of the same bands, but never really met. I always heard he was a real character & a great musician.

[@Sean-Ray-Studios]

Great video. I love my Frank Neat banjo.

[@gregward3264]

..have several --the best

[@TBnGod]

Amazing work!

[@geraldwest3428]

American Icons, the lot of them!

[@RobertShyanNorwalt]

Doug Unger out of Peninsula OH is very great at inlay also.

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

Oh my word... one of my best friends for life is a hundred pound tortoise (and a wee one the size of a White Castle burger, same kind, sulcata tortoise). The only turtle or tortoise I'd ever seen in relation to banjos before was a Greateful Dead (Phish? no..Dead I think) reference, but I'm not huge on them and certainly didn't want to advertise them. I'm really liking the turtle or tortoise made of shell for Turtle man. I'd love to just realy slowy make my own banjo, but I'd better knock out a couple basic ones first. Despite being a decent craftsman of premium archery bows & banjo bridges, I'd hate to make a banjo with three years of downtime in inlay only to figure out it had crummy intonation cuz I did something wrong. I guess, though, if I wanted to do some inlay over time I could get a trusted, slotted fingerboard and be working on it. I've done fine lapidary and wouldn't screw that part up. I have a Foredom tool I want a motor & cable for & they've got that great inlay holder for it at Stew.

[@Biblicalgiants]

Wow..I wish he could fix my old Kay!

[@carolinabella7023]

Brill!

[@romandybala]

What's the possesive apostrophe on the word banjo's on the door sign for. ?

[@megacharlieifihealy5327]

do you make tenor 19 fret banjos ??

[@redlinemando]

If it's a banjo, he can probably build it.

[@BrahimbousstaOfficiel]

Like ❤❤❤