Jd Crowe Blackjack Banjo

Crowe - Blackjack (REB-1583), 1980 Musicians J.D. Crowe: Banjo, Baritone & Lead Vocals Doyle Lawson: Guitar, Lead & Tenor Vocals Larry Rice: Mandolin, Lead & Baritone Vocals Bobby Slone: Bass Production Credits Produced by Dana D. Recorded at Lemco Studios, Lexington, KY Engineered by Cecil Jones. Crowe RB-75 Blackjack $ 4,000.00 These beautiful banjos were made for a limited time and are very desirable; constructed to emulate the prewar Granada of the twenties.

Submitted by The Old Timer (see all reviews from this person) on 5/24/2014

Where Purchased: BHO Classifieds

Year Purchased: 2014
Price Paid: $3000+ ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

It's my first mahogany banjo and it has EXCEEDED my expectations after very minor set up work. Loud. Quicker note decay than my 1990 Granada. POWERFUL up the neck on the 1st string. Great 4th string I play traditional bluegrass. There's nothing about its sound that I dislike. I think I like it more than my Granada.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

It was pretty good (used). I tightened the head just a bit to A. Put on a new Sullivan roasted 11/16' bridge, and an AMB tailpiece (the factory Presto had broken at the bend and was unusable, repaired with epoxy)

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

Mahogany is plain grain, not the 'stripey' grain like you see on some new Asian Masterclones, thank goodness. Good old Gibson 1930s reddish-brown mahogany color. All inlays, bindings, marquetry, woodwork, etc typical very good Gibson. The copper flash under the gold (or maybe is it over the gold?) has aged very unevenly, with very dark areas (almost like tarnish) on some of the tension hoop, gold very faint on the tension hooks. Armrest looks really 'old' with some wear on it, brass and copper showing through a little. Engraving is typical late Gibson 'faint, cursory', not at all as good as the pre-war work. But you can see it. However, no complaints, I really like its looks.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

Hardware is excellent except there is 'slop' in the ivoroid tuner buttons on the shafts. However, as is apparently typical, the original Presto tailpiece broke in half at the bend. Someone tried to repair it with epoxy which didn't work. I have put a gold over copper plated AMB tailpiece on it. Of course it's missing the Blackjack engraving n the cover. Finish is excellent. A thoroughly professional banjo.

Reliability Rating: 9

Gibson Jd Crowe Blackjack Banjo

Customer Service

The seller was very friendly and communicative. We met in person to examine the banjo and do the deal. Of course Gibson is no longer any use at all on banjo issues, so I expect no support from them at all. After 45 years of picking I feel quite capable of taking care of this (or any) banjo.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

Late Gibson Presto tailpieces have a reputation of breaking I guess. Ivoroid tuner buttons don't fit the shafts tight and have slop. The Blackjack inlay is the first original thing in years in banjos and I like it a lot. The Crowe pot is really outstanding and feels, looks and sounds terrific.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

This banjo sounds, looks and plays better than I had any right to expect. It may be slowly becoming my favorite over the Granada, which is saying a lot! It 'shrieks' up the neck on the 1st string like some prewars I've played. Good 'BONG!' on the open 4th string. Intonation is excellent, neck very well made and the 'V' is different but feels great.

If they're all as good as this one I'd have to recommend them whole-heartedly!

Setting Up Gibson Jd Crowe Blackjack Banjo Tab

Overall Rating: 10

Submitted by The Old Timer (see all reviews from this person) on 5/24/2014

Jd Crowe Blackjack Banjo Tab

Where Purchased: BHO Classifieds

Year Purchased: 2014
Price Paid: $3000+ ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

It's my first mahogany banjo and it has EXCEEDED my expectations after very minor set up work. Loud. Quicker note decay than my 1990 Granada. POWERFUL up the neck on the 1st string. Great 4th string I play traditional bluegrass. There's nothing about its sound that I dislike. I think I like it more than my Granada.

Sound Rating: 10

Setting up gibson jd crowe blackjack banjo tab

Setup

It was pretty good (used). I tightened the head just a bit to A. Put on a new Sullivan roasted 11/16' bridge, and an AMB tailpiece (the factory Presto had broken at the bend and was unusable, repaired with epoxy)

Jd Crowe Blackjack Banjo

Setup Rating: 9

Crowe

Gibson Jd Crowe Blackjack Banjo

Appearance

Mahogany is plain grain, not the 'stripey' grain like you see on some new Asian Masterclones, thank goodness. Good old Gibson 1930s reddish-brown mahogany color. All inlays, bindings, marquetry, woodwork, etc typical very good Gibson. The copper flash under the gold (or maybe is it over the gold?) has aged very unevenly, with very dark areas (almost like tarnish) on some of the tension hoop, gold very faint on the tension hooks. Armrest looks really 'old' with some wear on it, brass and copper showing through a little. Engraving is typical late Gibson 'faint, cursory', not at all as good as the pre-war work. But you can see it. However, no complaints, I really like its looks.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

Hardware is excellent except there is 'slop' in the ivoroid tuner buttons on the shafts. However, as is apparently typical, the original Presto tailpiece broke in half at the bend. Someone tried to repair it with epoxy which didn't work. I have put a gold over copper plated AMB tailpiece on it. Of course it's missing the Blackjack engraving n the cover. Finish is excellent. A thoroughly professional banjo.

Reliability Rating: 9

Customer Service

The seller was very friendly and communicative. We met in person to examine the banjo and do the deal. Of course Gibson is no longer any use at all on banjo issues, so I expect no support from them at all. After 45 years of picking I feel quite capable of taking care of this (or any) banjo.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

Late Gibson Presto tailpieces have a reputation of breaking I guess. Ivoroid tuner buttons don't fit the shafts tight and have slop. The Blackjack inlay is the first original thing in years in banjos and I like it a lot. The Crowe pot is really outstanding and feels, looks and sounds terrific.

Banjo

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

This banjo sounds, looks and plays better than I had any right to expect. It may be slowly becoming my favorite over the Granada, which is saying a lot! It 'shrieks' up the neck on the 1st string like some prewars I've played. Good 'BONG!' on the open 4th string. Intonation is excellent, neck very well made and the 'V' is different but feels great.

If they're all as good as this one I'd have to recommend them whole-heartedly!

Overall Rating: 10