We posted last month about the scholarship fund established by Steve Huber (Huber Banjos) to raise money for the college education of Latham and Will Calveard.

The two boys are the sons of Sam Calveard, a former Huber employee and friend to the acoustic instrument world who left his position at Huber when his wife, Beth, was nearing the end of her battle with cancer, an intractable foe against whom she was unable to prevail. The fund was established to help Sam to recover from remaining medical bills without worries about the boys college costs.

Steve made a startup donation of $2500, and tells us that a number of other sizable contributions have been received, along with many more smaller ones.

Now, Huber has joined forces with The Banjo Hangout to offer a new Jim Mills model Huber banjo valued at just under $5,000 in a raffle to further benefit the Calveard Scholarship Fund. Raffle tickets are only $10 apiece, with no limit to the number any individual can purchase.

Tickets can be purchased online until June 15, and the winner will be announced on June 30. All proceeds will go to the Scholarship Fund.

It sounds to us like a great way to support a worthy cause in our own backyard - and maybe even grab a $5000 banjo for only $10!

We received a note recently from Shayne Bartley informing us that he and Ray Craft were in the process of reforming Unlimited Tradition. The band was a popular fixture on the festival circuit in the mid-to-late 1990s and officially disbanded in 2000.

During their tenure, the band has included such members as Scottie Sparks, Randy Kohrs, Steve Huber, Harold Nixon, John Lewis and Jason Hale in addition to Craft and Bartley. They released two CDs, Lost In Time (self-produced) and She’s Gone on Doobie Shea.

After the band broke up, Craft went on to perform with the short-lived Rock County, and Bartley did time with 1946 and Karl Shiflett - and spent the summer of 2003 on tour with country super stars Brooks and Dunn.

Shayne says that Bobby Hicks will be joining them on selected dates this summer, and that more details about the new band membership will be announced shortly. He also mentioned that they are in discussions with a number of labels now, and hope to have a new recording later this year.

There is no Unlimited Tradition web site at this time, but anyone interested in talking with them can find Shayne on MySpace, or reach him by phone (859-321-9874) or email.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m. Shayne just contacted us to say that they do now have a MySpace page for Unlimited Tradition. It shows that Shayne will be playing banjo, Ray will be on guitar and Nick Chandler on mandolin. You will also find their shows for this summer to date.

If you’ve done business with Huber Banjos in the last few years, chances are you had a conversation with Sam Calveard. Sam handled customer service at Huber from 2005 to 2007, and made a lot of friends during his time on staff. He has been a long-time friend to the banjo world in general, having worked for years at both Gruhn Guitars and Gibson.

Steve Huber is asking all his customers and friends to join him in reaching a hand out to Sam during a time of need. Sam’s wife, Beth, passed away on March 22 after a lengthy bout with cancer, leaving him with the sole responsibility of raising their two young sons, Will and Latham.

Huber has established a scholarship trust fund account for the boys’ eventual college education, so that Sam can attempt to recover from their crushing medical expenses without also worrying about college costs for his sons. Steve has made an initial donation of $2500 to set up the fund, and asks everyone who has done business with Huber - or who cares about banjos and the people who make them - to send along whatever donation they can to help Sam’s boys.

I think we all know that the folks who toil for years to bring us quality music and fine instruments rarely earn the sort of income that makes retirement and college planning easy. Steve Huber asks that you examine your finances and see if they allow you to make a contribution to this worthy fund.

Online (PayPal) donations are enabled on the Huber Banjos web site.

Banjo maker Steve Huber got a late Christmas gift yesterday - the birth of his son, Christopher Steven Huber.

Steve and his wife Heidi welcomed Christopher on Friday morning (12/28) at 9:18 a.m. (EST). He weighed in at 8 lbs., 6 oz. and was 20” long.

Steve said that he had been whispering “thumb, index, middle” into the baby’s ear all day.

Congratulations to the Hubers on the new addition to their family, and to proud grandparents Marty and Charmaine Lanham of Nashville Guitar Company as well.

Niall Toner will be on Ireland’s RTÉ Radio 1 this week with the first two installments of his Nashville Sessions series, recorded while he was in attendance at the IBMA World Of Bluegrass convention earlier this fall.

These shows will air at 1:00 p.m. (EST - 6:00 p.m. local UK time) on December 27 and 28 and feature interviews with several performers, songwriters and instrument builders Niall caught up with in Nashville. Guests include Greg Cahill, Pete Wernick, Barry and Holly Tashian, Steve Huber, Goldheart, Broken Wire, Steve Kaufmann, Keith Sewell and a number of others.

Additional shows to be broadcast in 2008 will be announced shortly after the new year.

RTÉ Radio 1 broadcasts over the air at 88-89 FM, and listeners worldwide can tune in online via live audio streaming.

Niall is also hard at work finishing up his latest CD, We Believe In Clean Endings. He says it will feature 13 of his new songs, and a release date for next year should be announced by February.

Steve Huber and his talented team of craftsmen at Huber Banjos have a new model in their line.

The Berkshire was introduced officially at this past October’s IBMA convention in Nashville and is featured in their 2008 catalog. It was designed to address customer demand for a flame maple, nickel-plated banjo, and is the first to feature Huber’s new Hearts & Petals inlay pattern.

Like all Huber models, the Berkshire is made with the Huber Vintage Flathead tone ring and their hide glue, 3-ply maple rim, steel coordinator rods, one-piece die cast flange and a rosewood fingerboard. It sells for $3975, and more photos and details can be found on the Huber site.

Also newly introduced on the Huber site is Steve’s stainless steel banjo capo, precision machined for smooth operation and tuning accuracy. They are available in either nickel ($120) or gold plate ($140), and either can be shaped to match a radiused fingerboard for an additional $10.

You can request a free copy of the 2008 Huber banjos catalog by calling the shop at 615-264-4959, or by email.

Steve Huber, founder and owner/operator of Huber Banjos, has launched a new web site. BanjoTown is designed to facilitate Steve’s secondary passion, buying and selling vintage Gibson banjos.

His Huber line has as part of its raison d’etre to build banjos that emulate the sound, look and playability of the classic banjos from the 1930s, a vision sparked by his fondness for collecting vintage banjos. Over the years, Steve has become one of the banjo world’s “go to guys” as a broker for the sale of valuable older banjos, and BanjoTown will allow him to take this aspect of his business online.

Huber hopes that the site will not only allow buyers with a serious interest in obtaining a pre war banjo to find out what he has for sale - with multiple photos - but also assist sellers, especially those unfamiliar with the banjo collector’s world.

“I think a lot of people generally understand that older instruments might be valuable, but if they have their grandfather’s old banjo, and are considering offering it for sale, they just don’t where to start. We want to build a site that makes that part of the process much easier, and allow them to get in touch with us to find out more about the process.”

All instruments in the Gibson banjo line will be offered, including four and five string models, plus banjo mandolins and ukes - as available.

As Steve has more time to devote to the new site, he plans to post some of the Gibson historical data and collectible ephemera he has amassed over the years.

Visit BanjoTown online to see what it’s all about.

Continental Divide banjo picker Dale Perry is the most recent respected 5 string pro to sign on as a Huber Banjos endorser. He joins such top banjo players as Sammy Shelor, Jim Mills, Ron Block, Cia Cherryholmes, Jason Burleson and Greg Cahill on the Huber artist roster.

Dale selected a Huber Kalamazoo model, and has been using it on stage this past few weeks. His initial reactions to the new axe have been quite positive.

“This instrument is incredible!! It went from Steve Huber’s hands, into the case, back out of the case and in my hands playing on stage is the span of about 20 minutes. No set up, no tinkering… I just hooked up the strap and blasted off.

This banjo and sounds as much like a pre-war Mastertone as anything I have ever played.”

Find out more about the various Huber models on their web site, or see where to catch Dale and his new banjo on the David Parmley & Continental Divide schedule page.

Here’s a feel-good story, one about which we have been aware for a few weeks, but have waited until now to mention, once the episode played out. As an admission of interest, let me say up front that it involves a good personal friend of mine, Steve Huber, who is also an advertiser here on The Bluegrass Blog. Without regard for that, the story involves an admirable act on Huber’s part, one worthy of wider attention.

Several weeks ago, a friend mentioned to Steve that he had seen a posting on the BanjoHangout.org discussion boards from Maj. Corey Seats, an Operations Officer with the 875th Engineer Battalion, stationed in Iraq.

Corey posted asking if anyone might have a banjo available for sale at a modest price which he could keep with him on the base. His batallion, an Arkansas National Guard unit from Jonesboro, spends their days looking for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and he had been leery of shipping his personal banjo over to Iraq.

Huber’s first reaction on hearing about this was that he wanted to do something, and asked his friend, Dave Foster, who frequents the BanjoHangout, to contact Corey and ask that he email Huber directly. Once they got in touch, Huber told Corey that he would like to assemble one of his Lancaster model banjos from parts he had on hand in the shop, and ship it to the base at no charge, along with one of his Huber capos and a strap.

Needless to say, Seats was floored by the offer, and very appreciative of Huber’s generosity.

“Man, I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t cover it! It certainly wasn’t my intention to try to get a free banjo! I am very familiar with your banjos, and those that play them. Jim Mills, Barry Abernathy, Sammy Shelor, and Cia Cherryholmes are all favorites of mine. I’ll have to put on my Jim Mills DVD (yes, I brought it with me), and TRY to match him note-for-note!”

He received the banjo a few days ago, and sent along this photo of himself with his new Lancaster.

Huber said that he didn’t see this as such a big deal, and was happy to have been able to do something concrete in return for the sacrifice these men and women in uniformed service make on a daily basis.

“You think about those guys over there risking their lives, and want to do something to show your appreciation other than just sending money to an organization somewhere. This opportunity to do something for Corey just landed in my lap, and I feel grateful for the chance, even if it only helped this one guy.”

Corey Seats has been playing banjo for more than 25 years, though only seriously for the past four. His home is in Jonesboro, AR, where he lives with his wife and two small children. He has been in the military for 14 years, in the National Guard this past 11.

He now describes himself as a “Huber customer for life.”

On a related note, you may be interested in the efforts of Operation: Music Aid, who help obtain musical instruments for the use of US military members who are in recovery or rehabilitation for injuries incurred during their service.

Charlie Daniels has also been involved in helping get musical instruments to service men and women stationed overseas through Operation Heartstrings. He discussed this with us in a GrassCast interview last year, which you can hear online.

We posted an announcement last week of the new Huber Ron Block model banjo. It is a near-replica of the pre war Granada Ron has been playing for many years, which was designed and will be marketed with his cooperation.

Ron, of course, is the long-time banjo player with Alison Krauss & Union Station. He passed a long a few word about the new Huber that he wanted us to share with our readers.

“I love the Huber Ron Block model. It has high-end clarity, yet still maintains warmth and midrange without muddiness; the tone remains constant at any dynamic level. The workmanship and attention to detail are top of the line. The way it looks makes me want to pick it up, and the way it sounds keeps it in my hands. Huber Banjos radiate excellence.”

Further details on the Huber site.

Huber banjos has just announced the latest in their signature artist series banjos, the Huber Ron Block model. The new banjo is patterned after the pre war flathead Granada that Ron has played for years as a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station, and is a faithful replica but for the use of a one piece flange in place of the tube and plate fitted in the original.

Ron’s Huber model is made with a curly maple neck and resonator, finished in dark brown. The neck is wider than the stock Huber, and inlaid with the classic Hearts & Flowers pattern, as is the fiddle cut headstock. The banjo is gold plated, engraved with the same Granada pattern as Ron’s pre war, and finished with an antiqued binding to approximate the appearance of an older instrument. Like all the Hubers, it features the Huber tone ring, and their 3 ply, hide glue maple rim and rosewood fingerboard.

The Ron Block model will sell for $4950.

In keeping with Ron’s personal set up preferences, each Block model Huber will be assembled with an 11/16” bridge, and with the head tensioned more loosely than the common Huber practice - tuned to a G rather than a G# note. They will be shipped with a slightly heavier string gauge as well, again as per Ron’s set up.

Steve Huber told us that he was excited about the new Block model while it was being prototyped, and felt like it sounded great when it was first assembled. When Ron came by the shop and played it himself, though, that distinctive tone was immediately present.

“Ron gets a terrific tone, and this set up really suits his right hand. We are pleased to be able to offer this replica banjo for Ron, and for the many banjo players out their who admire his sound.”

Additional photos can be found on the Huber web site.

Huber Banjos got its start in 1997 when Steve Huber introduced his Vintage Flathead banjo tone ring. Steve’s earlier investigations had shown him that the alloys used in most modern banjo tone rings differed significantly from that which was used for the vintage, “pre war” banjos so prized by banjo pickers and collectors alike. He felt that this difference was a key reason why modern banjos tended to respond differently, and his background in metal manufacturing and machine work provided him with the background to consider making and marketing a vintage replica tone ring for pre war banjo enthusiasts.

The Huber tone rings were immediately successful, and before long, Steve Huber was hatching plans to build a banjo as well, also with the intent of “doing it the pre war way.” Knowing that the tone ring was but one piece of the puzzle, he began a serious study of the many other components of the five string, flathead tone ring banjo. The goal was to help him understand what made these fine banjos from the 1930s and early ’40s so sonically distinctive, and to incorporate these materials, designs and methods of construction into his new banjos.

The banjos were introduced in 2001, and have been embraced by a number of top pickers, with Jim Mills, Sammy Shelor, Cia Cherryholmes, Jason Burleson and Steve Dilling among the many Huber endorsers.

Huber initially made only banjos that were uniquely styled, but with introduction of the Jim Mills and Sammy Shelor signature models, they have begun to offer replicas of classic pre war banjos as well. The interest these banjos have generated has led to the introduction of a new line of reproduction models from Huber.

Five models exist in the Huber Vintage Series, each designed as a replica of one of the pre war classics. These are professional quality instruments, and are priced accordingly between $4200-$5000. That may look steep, until you consider that the original, five string flatheads on which these are styled can go for between $50,000-$100,000, if you can find one!

You can click either of the images below to see a larger version, and many more photos and product details can be found on the Huber Banjos web site.

 

  

Huber VRB-G
© 2006 The Bluegrass Blog

  

Huber VRB-3W
© 2006 The Bluegrass Blog

 

The Huber banjos web site has just been updated with information on their latest addition - the Sammy Shelor signature model banjo. This new Huber is based on a prized pre war, style 75 banjo that Sammy owns, built using the same double cut headstock shape and distinctive “Birds & Bows” inlay pattern as the original 1930s vintage banjo, but made with a wider, radiused fingerboard as per Sammy’s preference.

The Shelor model uses a mahogany neck and resonator, much like the custom Huber Lancaster model Sammy had been playing of late. It is constructed with the same components, and assembled with the same attention to detail that has made Huber such a popular choice among banjo players in recent years, and sells for $4350. More details can be found on the Huber site.

“The new Huber ‘SS’ model is without a doubt the best banjo I have ever played without 65 years of age on it. It looks, plays, and sounds like my original 75. It kills!”

Sammy used his new signature model Huber to record a number of tracks with the newly reorganized Lonesome River Band, and they are available for free download on the band’s web site (quick, free registration required to access the audio).

Following up on the critical success of their Team Flathead CD, Huber Banjos is set to release a second volume of recordings featuring popular bluegrass pickers on new Huber Banjos. Where Team Flathead focused on the banjos themselves, with each Huber model being featured on at least one track, Cuppa ‘Jo is more centered on a group of seven pro pickers who use a Huber to practice their craft.

This time out, Huber is featuring Jason Burleson (Blue Highway), Greg Cahill (Special Consensus), Cia Cherryholmes (Cherryholmes), Joey Cox (BlueRidge), Jason Davis (Kenny & Amanda Smith), Steve Dilling (IIIrd Tyme Out) and Jim Mills (Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder). Each player picks two tunes of their choosing, using their own personal Huber banjo.

The official release date is set for October 24, to coincide with the start of the IBMA World Of Bluegrass convention in Nashville, TN. Copies will be available on site from Huber Banjos, or pre-release orders can be placed with AcuTab to be shipped that week.

Audio samples are available on the AcuTab site as well.

Your blog authors were heavily involved in this recording, being produced by John Lawless of AcuTab and recorded by Brance Gillihan at Clear Blue Productions.

I added some new photos to the header of the website yesterday. They rotate randomly every time the page is loaded. The photos that are now in the rotation were all taken here at my studio, either by myself or my good friend Dave Carney. Here’s some info about the instruments that are now included in the rotation.

• Collings D2H - owned by myself
• Huber Lancaster - owned by John Lawless
• Triggs Mandolin - owned by Dan Miller
• fiddle - owned by Ron Stewart

Now I just need to find a dobro and bass to photograph!

Steve Huber, owner and builder of the popular Huber Banjo line, has stepped back from performing to focus his attention on banjo production, and just played his last show with The Kenny & Amanda Smith Band. Steve expressed a mix of emotions about this decision:

“I spent much of my life hoping for an opportunity to perform in a successful bluegrass band, touring and recording music at a high level while both challenging myself musically, and entertaining people at the same time. It was a great pleasure for me to achieve just this with Kenny & Amanda, and I thank them for allowing me to play a part in the development of their distinctive sound.

Of course I’m happy to see the success of Huber Banjos, and as demand for the banjos grows, it is that much more important for me to be in the shop as opposed to traveling with a band. My staff can ensure that production continues in my absence, but as the band has gotten busier, it seemed more and more clear that my first commitment needed to be in the shop.

On top of that, when my daughter Katie was born this summer, the lure of the road lost a good bit of its luster and I reached the decision that being at home with my two girls (Katie and my wife, Heidi) was more important than playing banjo with the band, and I offered my notice. I’m sure that they will find an able replacement and continue to perform and record top notch music. I wish them all the success they deserve.”

Steve said that he expects to do some playing around Nashville, and will be available as a sub banjo picker as needed, but has no plans to perform full time again in the near term.

As of September 1, 2005, AcuTab will no longer function as the marketing and promotional arm of Huber Banjos, nor the sole source for ordering and customer service. This exclusive relationship which has existed since Huber Banjos launched in 2001 has served both companies well, but changes in future plans for both both AcuTab and Huber have suggested the need for Huber to bring all marketing and promotional efforts in house.

AcuTab will continue to carry Huber Banjo accessories and may resume offering Huber Banjos on a non-exclusive basis at some point in the future when Huber production is better able to keep pace with the growing demand for these fine banjos.

More details about this changeover can be found on the AcuTab web site.

The Del McCoury Band has a new member. Del has hired bassist Alan Bartram to replace long time band member Mike Bub, who left the band two months ago. Here’s the announcement that was made on Del’s website:

As of August 23, 2005 the Del McCoury Band made Alan Bartram a permanent member! Alan will play bass with DMB, following Mike Bub’s departure from the band earlier this year. We’ve got Alan working on a bio for us right now and we’ll have that posted on here soon…check back to find out more about this new member of the band! Welcome Alan!!

Alan is an experienced player having been a member of The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band for some time now. Prior to that he played with the group 2nd Edition (their website is way outdated, which means they still have some info about Alan). He was here in my studio in June, to record on the new CD project for Huber Banjos. Pictures from that session can be found here.