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Dear Brooks...last weekend my travels took me to Rochester, and the musician friends we were staying with took us to Bernunzio's, which I've always wanted to visit. When you walk in and look to the right, you are faced with s mind-boggling line of the MOST incredible banjos imaginable. I played bluegrass sine 1962, and have a great old Mastertone. I still do that occasionally, but since 3 years ago at Banjo Camp North, where my wife and I were bluegrass faculty members , a convergence of Dan Gellert, my old buddy Reed Martin and a few others send my banjo vehicle literally screaming off the clawhammer exit, where I've mostly stayed. So my first love now is old-time, and that ALWAYS leads me to the open backs. Well, right smack dab in the middle of the row was one of your new Bacon tonering Spartans, with flush frets, 14 hooks and a slotted paddle head. (I knew it was yours right off from the penny!!). It was probably the most elegantly simple banjo in the row, but if it had had a long arm, it probably would have grabbed me by the neck!! I ignored all the Tubaphones , Whyte Laydies and Stewarts and went right for the Spartan. I picked it up, sat on the stool in the middle of the room, and in 30 seconds, despite NOT having gone in there expecting to spend what I can barely afford for another instrument, I knew there was no way I could leave without it...so I didn't. I sat there, planning what to sell when I got home, and I was so overcome, I thought for a moment that I would have to ask my wife to bring me a brown paper bag to breathe into!! I've had it a week now, and it has seriously opened a new world of playing for me. It is the best banjo I have played, hands down (although I love our Enoch Tradesman and a great old rolled-rim banjo Stewart-ish I found not long ago in a shop right here in Saratoga Springs, New York, where we live). I expect that very soon it will be the only banjo I will WANT to play!! Congratulations of creating crack in 5-string form!! And seriously, THANK YOU most of all for having created that masterpiece that fate brought me to....Best to you....Dave Kiphuth, Greenfield Center, New York Hey Brooks! Remember me? I bought one of your banjos about a year ago, I'm a librarian in North Carolina. Man, I just wanted to tell you how much I freakin' love my banjo. Like if the house was in flames, that'd be the thing I grabbed. The sound has settled in over the year and it just warm and plonky and sparkly and I'm honored to play it. Anhoo, hope Portland is treating you nice and that work is just the right amount of busy. Heather
I just got my new Brooks banjo in the mail, and I LOVE this banjo! This year I decided it was about time I had a banjo custom made to my exact specifications. Just let Brooks know what you've always dreamed about, and he'll make it for you. My Brooks banjo is fretless, black walnut, with a Whyte Laydie tone ring and skin head. This banjo is beautiful to look upon and sounds great--a sweet tone on the slower tunes, but plenty of "pop" for fast, punchy clawhammer. My friends here in Kentucky can't seem to put it down. Brooks banjos have my highest recommendation--thanks, Brooks!
Hi Brooks; One wonderful thing is that the bridge you made works very nicely with this banjo (normally I have to mess around with different bridges I have built until I find one whose resonance works optimally with the banjo). As with the silverspun, your craftsmanship remains continually excellent and the banjo looks just beautiful. Best Regards, Ray Alden What I've always liked about your work is that it feels like you put a little of yourself into each banjo you make. Every one of em that I've ever held or played seemed like it was special and unique, like you were present when building it and really care about what you're doing--artistry, I guess. They don't ever feel like they were pumped through an assembly line process or rushed to get out the door. That's why I want to own another one of your banjos, so please take as much time as you need to make another special banjo, know what I mean? Isaac Enloe Brooks, What a fine machine, It has just enough pop to its plunk. i am hearing different and new tones i have never heard before come from my other banjos. and not to mention it is one good lookin instrument!!!!! I could not be more satisfied Thanks again Mike Groves Dear Mr. Masten, My name is Fred Zipp, I live in Fort Collins CO. I recently bought your banjo #75 from John Bernunzio and felt that I should write and let you know that this is the most amazing instrument! For sound, playability, and looks I think it is just the best out there, period. I own a few banjos, old and new, and this one has become an instant favorite...when I can get it out of the hands of a couple of banjo-playing pals. Thanks for a great instrument, I will be spending a lot of playing time with it, and I'll let everyone know where they can get their very own! Fred Zipp
To sum up, I'm totally thrilled with my banjo and couldn't be any happier.
I just hope I haven't done too good a sales job for you over here, or I'll be
having to wait years to get my next one!
I've got two words for you;
Damn son!!!
I wanted to tell you how happy I am with my banjo. First thing, it smells and looks good. Secondly, and more importantly, it sounds great. Thirdly, it is a real pedigree item in terms of construction. I have owned quite a number of banjos, trying to find a sound and setup that I am happy with. Something not too shrill like a lot of current stuff, good volume, with a nice sustain but not too much, something that sounds at home with old-time but that copes with more contemporary tunes. This banjo does just that. The best thing is that the setup on it lets me play gentle and also lets me really work hard and give that banjo a darn good frailing when I need to. The sound works so well on slow and fast melodies that I have gone back to a number of tunes that I first learnt to play and they just come out so well. The construction is excellent, and the care and attention starts in the quality of the individual components. I am really pleased I opted for the skin head as it gives me the “plunk” that I wanted. The neck profile really works for me too. Ultimately, it is the really flexible instrument that I hoped it would be and it is just a pleasure to pick it up, sit down and play it. Thanks again, Mark Adams, Scotland I've tremendously enjoyed working with Brooks getting the banjo I wanted. He made me a simple, elegant and stellar fretless that I love so much I'm having him make me another fretted!! His willingness to work with me is amazing and his knowlege of banjo history allows him a breath of choices and details. His instruments are playable all the way up the neck. The tung oil method of finish he uses is the finest I've ever played on. There's no hint of drag at all that I've gotten from other finishes. I recommend him with the highest of praise. Alan Ransenberg Portland, OR Hey man, this dang thing sounds great. Real old timey for sure. Everything on it is flawless and just exudes this cool old time feel. Yous da man Richard Stooksbury Nashville, TN Hello Brooks, I must say your banjos are very impressive. Keep up the good work and if you have some extras we would be willing to carry them. John Bernunzio Bernunzio vintage instruments Rochester, NY I first played a Brooks banjo in North Carolina and it pert near blew me to the floor. Since I was merely a student at the time and struggling to even eat regularly, there wasn't much chance of it making the journey back to Kentucky with me. So I saved what money I could, all the while inquiring about Brooks' character from folks who know. "Interesting," I thought as the stories were propelling the man into mythical proportions. A few months later I wrote the real Brooks an email describing the banjo I would like to play but to be built with his eye for detail and feel of old time music. After several brainstorming sessions we had a plan. I flew out to Portland in January, 2006 during the Portland Old Time Gathering anxious to see what Brooks had conjured up. I recognized this banjo the first time I saw it. It came to fruition beyond my wildest imagination. Brooks Masten builds banjos with the hands of a one hundred and fifty year old craftsman and the eyes of a true artist. I have never been more grateful to possess an instrument as I am for this banjo which is now an essential part of my musical endeavors and is sure to vibrate with the sounds of the southern Appalachians long after I am gone. In other words, this is one hell of a banjo. Brett Ratliff Morehead, Ky |
