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Custom Bluegrass Banjos | Handmade | Handcrafted The Bishline Banjo Company specializes in handcrafted, custom banjos. These handmade banjos are created to exacting specifications based on customer preferences and requirements. As an accomplished musician and proficient luthier, Rob Bishline possesses the complete skill set required to create outstanding custom bluegrass banjos. Being both an accomplished musician and a master luthier gives Rob a special insight into the fundamentals of creating fine handmade instruments as well as a musicial perspective on tone, playability, and timbre. Fine Custom 5 String Banjos Begin With Select Hardwoods The creation of fine custom bluegrass banjos begins with the selection of exquisite and exotic hardwoods. These select hardwoods are the primary building block of top quality 5 string banjos. The Bishline Banjo Company is very selective and efficient in their use of these rare and exotic woods. Careful planning before and during the production process ensures that maximum yield is achieved with each piece of wood. The goal is to create some of the finest custom banjos ever built while preserving an ample supply of natures finest hardwoods for future generations. The Bishline Banjo Company offers select hardwoods in the production of their custom banjos which include:
The Bishline Banjo Company will also create a custom banjo from any special piece of wood supplied by the customer. If you have a piece of heirloom wood that you would like to see fashioned into a custom bluegrass banjo, contact Bishline Banjo Company today for a consultation and quote. Wood Finish Options And Colors The Bishline Banjo Company offers both stained and natural finish options. Option 1: Staining: Also as a rule, the staining process is usually applied in the "sunburst" fashion. This gives the stain a "graduated" or "gradient" appearance. The "sunburst" finish is widely accepted as one of the more aesthetically pleasing wood finishes applied to musical instruments. However, if the customer requires a solid stain application without the "sunburst" characteristic, Bishline Banjo Company will produce a banjo to customer specifications. Option 2: Natural Finishes:
Premium Quality Birch Rims The Bishline custom banjo is constructed using the finest parts available. All parts included in the construction are made in the U.S.A. The select hardwood rims are no exception. Having access to the finest rims available in the American marketplace, Bishline has chosen vintage three-ply maple rims and Tony Pass birch wood rims for it's custom 5 string banjos. These rims include:
These rims are considered to be "standard equipment" on Bishline custom 5 string banjos. However, if the customer has a specific requirement for a certain rim and would like to include a different rim as part of the construction process, Bishline Banjos will produce a banjo to customer specifications. Premium Quality "Bell Brass" Tone Rings - The Heart Of The Bluegrass Sound The tone ring is one of the most important components in the construction of a 5 string bluegrass banjo. The tone ring is the central component that gives the banjo it's definitive sound, warmth, character, and tonal quality. All Bishlines come standard with the Bishline tone ring. The Bishline tone ring is the result of years of research and development. The Bishline tone ring is known for it’s impeccable sound.
The Bishline tone ring is considered to be among the best tone rings available. However, if the customer has a specific requirement for a certain tone ring and would like to include a different tone ring as part of the construction process, Bishline Banjos will produce a banjo to customer specifications. Handcrafted Custom Banjo Necks The neck of the 5 string banjo is arguably the most important component of the instrument. In the hands of the master musician, the neck is the component which sets one custom banjo apart from another. The playability, setup, and action on any stringed instrument is key. Bishline banjos are known for their superior setup and playability. Bishline banjo necks are smooth, fast, accurate, and easy to fret. As an accomplished musician, Rob understands how to setup the "action" on the neck in such a way as to produce speed, comfort, and fluid movement. Bishline custom banjo necks are offered as one-piece or laminated necks. The preferences of the individual musician will dictate the type of neck that is right for their application. Many consider one-piece necks to be a traditional configuration and the only option. Others argue that laminated necks provide benefits which include making the neck stronger by optimizing stability when book matching the vertical grain of the wood. The bottom line is that each individual musician knows what is right for their purpose. Bishline Banjo Company will work closely with the customer to build the banjo neck that meets their specification. Bishline banjo necks include the following: The standard neck deploys the 5th string tuner at the fifth fret. The tunneled neck deploys the 5th string tuner on the headstock of the banjo. True to it's name, the 5th string enters a "tunneled" chamber just above the nut and emerges at the fifth fret where it assumes it's place among the other four banjo strings. The benefit of a tunneled 5th string neck is obviously the elimination of the 5th string tuner at the fifth fret. Bishline banjo necks are available in two different scale options. The scale options include: Bishline Headstocks The Bishline banjo is recognized by it's unique headstock designs. There are currently two designs that come in three choices. The two designs are the Bishline "standard" or "traditional" and the tunneled fifth string "arrow" design. The "standard" design is more of a "traditional" headstock pattern cut from the wood and appeals to many of the traditional bluegrass musicians. The "standard" design is unique in that the pattern of the headstock is unlike any other brand and has become recognized as exclusively Bishline. The tunneled fifth string design looks more like the tip of an arrow. The two headstock designs work with either of the two neck designs and are available in the following configurations: The headstock of any custom banjo is important to the musician as it is integral to the overall appearance of the banjo. The choice of the style of headstock is the decision of the customer. Bishline Fingerboards The banjo fingerboard or fret board is another critical component of the 5 string banjo. Handcrafted Bishline banjo fingerboards can be fashioned from different select hardwoods. The most common hardwoods requested are ebony and rosewood. The fret boards are meticulously crafted to ensure proper fit, superb playability, and aesthetic beauty. The fret board wood can be specified by the customer when placing the order for a custom banjo. The fingerboards (fret boards) include the following options: While the flat design is the most common and most requested, Rob will create a radiused fingerboard for musicians who prefer a radius on the playing surface. Custom Banjo Hardware Bishline Banjo Company uses only top quality hardware in the production of it's handmade banjos. Like many other aspects of a custom banjo, hardware is important from a structural aspect and is very important to musicians from an appearance standpoint. Some musicians prefer plain hardware while others prefer elaborately engraved hardware. In any event, Bishline will build to customer specifications and preference. Bishline hardware includes the following options: Decorative Inlay Patterns Bishline custom banjos come with various decorative inlay patterns. The Standard and Custom models have pre-assigned patterns that come as "standard equipment" on the particular model. The decorative inlay pattern can be changed on any Bishline banjo to meet the specifications of the customer. Inlay materials include the following options: While mother of pearl, abalone, and wood marquetry are the most popular materials requested, other options may be available according to material availability and customer specifications. Contact Rob to discuss custom options for decorative inlay. The following decorative inlay patterns are available on Bishline custom banjos: Custom, unique inlay patterns can also be created if requested by the customer. Additional Optional Features Bishline custom banjos can include various custom features and options. Your imagination is the limit when customizing your own Bishline banjo. Some of the most requested options include: If you have questions about specific features or options, be sure to contact Bishline Banjo Company here: Bishline Banjo Company frank (at) bishlinebanjos.com |
