Bales Mahogany Reviews

Bales Mahogany submitted 9/4/2008 Submitter Okinell (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Bales Banjos Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid 3995.00 ($US) Sound First off I have yet to have a dislike. I know that everyone that owns his or hers banjo thinks their's is the best. But if your after that "growly" sort of loose pre-war Gibson sound your not going to find a better instrument.......period. The lower notes are powerful and the notes up the neck are just as sweet and bright at the 19th and 21st frets as they are down the neck. The sustain up and down the neck is well balanced, but doesn't over do it and get that obnoxious "ringing" some banjos do. Having played two other maple banjos I must admit I am sold forever on the rich, full, and much more balanced sound of mahogany. What I continually find amazing is how you can literally feel the resonance of sounds through the resonator and even into the neck. Sound Rating 10 Setup The banjo was setup by Ronnie Bales when I got it. The strings were lowered, of course, but Ronnie had marked the "sweet" spot for the bridge as he had played it in his shop. Ronnie is fanatical about his banjos and won't ship one until he feels the banjo has just about settled down for the most part. He sent my banjo with one of his bridges and as we have discussed at some length, it seems that at least on these mahogany instruments that bridges with fewer growth rings makes a considerable difference. The head was set up to roughly a G# that is right at 90 on the Drum Dial drum tuning instrument. I have had to re-tighten my head once so far to get a consistent reading on my Drum Dial and also had to move the bridge up about a 1/16 of an inch. The action is perfect for me and Ronnie really tries to work closely with you on that. He really is amazing how he can visualize just what your after, but continually reminds you that if it is not right to send it back and he will recut it, at NO CHARGE. The only thing that I warn you of is that he packs his banjos very carefully and just make sure to remove the resonator and remove ALL THE BUBBLE WRAP between the coordinating rods and the banjo head. Setup Rating 10 Appearance To say that this banjo is easy on the eyes would be a considerable understatement. The attention to deal and extreme craftsmanship is reflected in the flawless finish you will find. Ronnie cuts his own veneers for all of his resonators and only after studying the piece of wood for its greatest esthetics. The inlaying is precise and finished meticulously. About the only way to describe the depth you will find in his finishes is much like the if you've ever been to a crystal clear lake. If you've ever stared into the water from the shore of a sparkling clear lake with the sun shinning through it and that optical sensation of depth you realize is much the effect you get from the many coats of lacquer Ronnie insists on using Appearance Rating 10 Reliability All the hardware is from Prucha, unless you send your own. I sent him a full set of Keith D-Tuners, so that is the only difference on mine. Ronnie would use Keith tuners but has chosen another brand to try and keep his prices down, but will use what ever you want. The rest is all hand made by Ronnie Bales. I don't have the vocabulary to quite describe the increadible finish of his banjos. LIke I recently posted, Ronnie DOES NOT use fillers or sealers as these are all plastic. He uses all nitrocellose lacquers and it takes him days of spraying, sanding, and reapplying coat after coat of lacquer. This is the way any fine musical instrument should really be made. That is one of the reasons that the old Martins have gained such value. The lacquer is not just a protective coating, but is part of the actual instrument and has to conform, shrink and expand, and age along with the wood that the instrument was made from. This is one of the reasons that "nothing really does ring like a Bales". The staining he uses along with this lacquer creates a virtual depth in this mahogany that I have never seen before. Also finishes like this, if you do mar it can be repaired and buffed out usually with few issues or problems. `Most mass produced instruments use polyurethane and UV finishes that can be applied quickly and moved on out with little regard for the tonality. Its the "bottom line" their after, not sound. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service Thesre instruments are guaranteed for life, or as long as Ronnie is around to service them. Ronnie and his wife Myra are two of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. You would think that they were lending out one of their kids when they sell you a banjo. He tells everyone, that he'll give you your money back if you don't like it. How can you argue with that? Customer Service 10 Components There is nothing that Ronnie puts on his banjos that he sells that he wouldn't or doesn't have on his own personal banjos. Ronnie was in the construction business for years before this and knows and appreciates quality parts, materials and workmanship. He personally goes out to small lumber mills and hand picks the wood he uses. Even then he will only cut and use the wood where the grain is right for what ever he is making at that time. Where most manufacturers could get 20 necks out of a board, Ronnie might get only 10 and then might cull even from that lot. He has now started working with Bill Blaylock on his own signature tone rings From the sounds of this first one there are going to be some sad faced over priced trendy tone ring owners. I personally have Blaylock Bear Tracks/J. D. Crowe ring .and wouldn't trade or change for anything, but I might get another Bales mahogony with Ronnie's signature ring. Components Rating 10 Overall Comments I would recommend any of the Bales banjos to anyone. I have told Ronnie that I really believe that there is going to be some banjo players looking in the mirror and wondering why they dropped 6 figures on an pre-war Gibson when they start hearing one of the Bales banjos. To say I would buy another Bales if mine were stolen is an understatement. I'm about to order my second one just in case....does that tell you something? The average price of a Bales right now is about $3995.00. To me that is unbelievable! What your buying is SOUND.........not a load of bobbles, bangles, glitz and glitter that does nothing unless your into "eye candy". Do yourself and your audience a favor and check out Bales Banjos............. Overall Rating 10