Bob keeps an eye out for old banjo parts and likes to piece together banjos just to see what he can come up with. After Bob puts the instruments together you’ll generally find him giving them away to folks in need. Bob’s most recent project is one that we think our friends in the banjo community will find really interesting and heart warming.

During his latest scavenging for parts, Bob found himself with an old Oriole block rim, all the necessary metal, an old Gibson resonator (early 50’s at our best guess) and the most interesting part a prewar plectrum neck. You might ask why an old plectrum neck would be of any interest to a fellow that puts together 5 string banjos but that’s the coolest part, especially for those that like to fiddle around with banjo parts and pieces. Bob saw an opportunity to take an old discarded neck (it was actually quite a disaster, with numerous holes in the peg-head, just pretty much left for the trash bin) and turn it back into a useful neck for this parts banjo project. He started by splitting the neck in half and then inserting a piece of old growth maple between. The lamination gave him a neck blank large enough to reshape the original narrow plectrum neck into a five string banjo neck. It turned out fantastic.

Bob is originally from southwestern Virginia, a place well known for it’s large pool of traditional music loving musicians. He found out that his relative Clay Lillard had not only taken up the banjo but he had become quite accomplished at the instrument. For about the last year he has been the banjo picker for traditional bluegrass artist James King.

A number of years prior Clay lost his father suddenly. Clay’s father was a banjo player and due to circumstances (which we won’t get into here) unfortunately none of his father’s instruments found their way to Clay. Bob was aware of this situation and felt his relative deserved a fine instrument with which he could follow his vocation. Well you know how the story ends. James and his band took a little pit stop at the store but the real reason for the stop over, unbeknown to Clay, who was very pleasantly taken aback by the whole experience. Needless to say when he saw a banjo hanging on the wall with his name on the truss rod cover he was more than a little surprised!

Bob you’re one fine friend and we’re proud to know you.

Keep pickin’ that 5 Clay!

We like to share photos of our Sullivan family of banjo pickers when we get them.  Our friend Hal Pylant is shown here picking his Vintage 35  maple.   Hal purchased his banjo from our good dealer in Georgia – Banjo.com  When you’re in the Marietta, Georgia (Atlanta vicinity) be sure to stop in and see Mark, Hayden, John and the gang at Banjo.com

If you have a current photo of you and your Sullivan banjo, drop us an email and we’ll be happy to include you in our blog.  You can send the photo to Murrell at mthixton@fqms.com

Join other BHO members for a real-world gathering at the Sullivan Banjos/FQMS showroom in Louisville, Kentucky!

Eric Schlange, owner of the Banjo Hangout, is collaborating with the folks at Sullivan Banjos to do a meetup gathering in Louisville on Friday night, October 14th. Eric will be there (he’s in town working with Sullivan on a web project) and he would love to meet as many BHO folks in person as possible!

Of course, Eric’s not the main attraction… the Sullivan boys will have some beautiful banjos on hand to be played, including the whole Sullivan line and Myrtle, the pre-war Gibson style 3 that inspired their new Vintage 35 line. We’ll also have refreshments, hangout time with other BHO folks, impromptu jams, and who knows what else!

Angeline The  Baker

Pike County Breakdown

We have the pleasure here at the Sullivan Banjo facility to share space with First Quality Music. Jim Smoak is on the teaching staff of the First Quality Music Academy and teaches banjo here every other Saturday. Jim has been playing banjo since the early 50’s and thoughout his career has played with such greats as Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Jimmy Dickens, Hylo Brown and the Timberlands. Jim’s career has streached for more than 50 years and he is currently playing with “Jim Smoak & the L.A. Honey Drippers”. Clik on Jim’s Bio to see more. Jim will be preforming at “The Depot” in Salem IN on Saturday, Nov 27th 2010 from 1 to 4 p.m. for their annual Christmas Open House.

Jim has been playing a custom Sullivan Banjo built specifically for him by the late Bill Sullivan (Founder of First Quality Banjo).  Jim and Bill picked many tunes together after the lessons he taught. 

Jim is playing for us today a song called “Eight More Miles to Louisville” with Sullivan Banjo Company’s very own Tony Wray.

III Tyme Out and Tony Wray play a tune called Fireball Mail.

Great Job Stewart!

Jeff Sullivan,  Sullian Banjo Co.