News from American Made Banjo Company is that Bill Evans has joined Charlie Cushman, Casey Henry & Aaron McDaris as an endorser of the Kel Kroydon Signature Series banjo line. Bill’s Signature Series banjo will be an Antique Gold Plated Maple model and be offered for sale. He is in the process of designing his own hand engraved model which should be ready soon. Bill Evans Signature banjo will be available with or without engraving.
The Bill Evans Signature Series 5 String Kel Kroydon Banjo was developed for Bill’s personal use. Bills banjo combines the set-up knowledge of Charlie Cushman, the impeccable craftsmanship of Robin Smith along with the 20 Hole Dannick Tone Ring developed by Tom Mirisola.
I love the classic tone of maple and gold and the new Bill Evans signature Kel Kroydon banjo comes as close as anything I’ve heard to capturing THE sound. It’s also extremely playable – it works for both hard driving traditional bluegrass and contemporary styles. This is something that’s extremely rare in any instrument, new or old. It’s what I’ve been waiting for all my life – Bill Evans
The Bill Evans Signature Banjo features:
Presentation Tiger Maple Neck, Pre-war Style Maple Resonator, 2 Way Truss Rod, W/B/W Binding, Ebony Fretboard/Peghead Veneer, Standard Fret Wire, Hearts & Flowers Inlay Design, Bone Nut, Dannick 20 Hole Tone Ring, Gotoh Tuners, Geared 5th String Peg, .656 Timeless Bridge, Heartland 3 Ply Maple Rim, Old Gold Plated Hardware, Kel Kroydon Engraved Presto Tailpiece, Remo Head, American Made Co Cryogenic Strings, Stained Lacquer Finish, Hardshell Case and a Lifetime Warranty. Banjo set-Up by Charlie Cushman.
Those Kel Kroydon banjos are magnificent! I was lucky enough to be in San Francisco in January this year (2009) and spent 3 hours with Bill Evans at his home. Bill put a banjo into my hands that I didn’t want to stop playing – it was the prototype of the Bill Evans Signature. Later, in Virginia, I bought a Robin Smith Custom from a guy in Charlotesville and can say for sure that the workmanship and choice of woods is second-to-none. This combination of a prestige-picker’s wish list, the Mirisola Dannick tone ring and Robin Smith’s craftsmanship topped off by Charlie Cushman’s set up skills will be a killer of a banjo! Thanks for the opportunity to share the thrill!