Hidden Treasure

About three years ago, I started playing the five-string banjo, the instrument of Bluegrass music. On February 22, 2008, we were visiting our daughter in Washington, D.C. One of her friends was selling a very nice banjo. I had played one in 1977 for a little while. Then children came along. And very long story short, I sold that banjo. Well, Aunchalee decided it was time for me to have a banjo again, so in 2008 we bought a nice used Deering "Sierra" banjo and I began taking lessons.

Well after three years of playing, the frets were wearing, so I called Deering to see what it would cost to have the frets replaced. An arm, leg, and first-born were not what I had envisioned, but that's what they quoted me. So I began to look around locally for a luthier--the guy who fixes stringed instruments. I came across a fellow in Russell Springs, Kentucky--Frank Neat--who said he would replace the frets at a very reasonable cost. So, on this past Tuesday, Aunchalee and I headed down the road to have my "Sierra" re-fretted.

When we get to his shop, we come to find out that not only does he repair instruments, but he and his son build them from scratch (so to speak). As a matter of fact, he builds banjo's for Dr. Ralph Stanley ("O Death" from O Brother Where Art Thou), Sonny Osborne (he and his brother Bobby made the song "Rocky Top" famous) and local legend J. D. Crowe.

Aunchalee asked if he had any there that he had built. He said he did, and he brought out one of his "Kentucky" models. Salavating, I stared! Mahogony neck and resonator. Rosewood fingerboard. The "flying eagle" inlay pattern, mother-of-pearl hand inlayed by son Rick.

When I turned 60, I had my eye on a new banjo. Timing wasn't good and it didn't happen. I always said to Aunchalee, maybe I'll get a new one for retirement.

Well this "Kentucky" was so sweet. Aunchalee said, "You just have to have it." That's what I heard anyway.

So I got it. Yesterday, I had my bi-weekly lesson, and I mentioned Frank Neat to my banjo teacher. He about fell out of his chair. He said, "Frank is THE world-sought-out banjo maker, hands down. His workmanship is legend. The sound of his banjos are second to none!" As I did research, I found out that Frank, in 30 years, has never advertised. He doesn't need to. His product speaks--plays--for itself!

I had no idea. Go figure! Found his name with a Google search looking for "banjo repairman."

I tripped across a treasure. And even after I wrote the check and drove it home, I still didn't realize what I had gotten.

Once in awhile, we discover hidden treasure. And sometimes we don't even realize what we have!

Here's a couple pix.

See ya around!

That's Frank Neat with me.