| Home page* Purchase Page* About Fults Tailpieces* Blue Ridge Pin Page* About Fults Mounting Systems* Testimonial Page* Peek Page* |
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Endorsed by Curtis McPeake of McPeake's Unique Instuments
Curtis McPeake, a veteran five-string banjo player and recording artist, started one of his first groups, "Curtis McPeake and the Rocky Valley Boys". Later in the early 1950's he appeared on some of the "Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs" TV shows. After Curtis played with Bill Monroe for about two years, he joined Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper and then signed on with WSM as a staff musician and continued to work as a studio recording musician. From 1969 until 1987, Curtis played with Danny (Davis) and the Nashville Brass. Curtis McPeake has been involved with the music industry as a collector and dealer of fine vintage and new instruments, and he continues that business today. It virtually rids the banjo of excessive overtones. I heartily recommend this tailpiece". Curtis McPeake, “McPeake’s Unique Instruments” www.CMcPeake.com |
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Charlie Cushman speaks highly of the Fults 1934 Tailpiece
Charlie enjoys playing music with a variety of artists and friends. He is an in-demand session player on banjo and guitar and is available as a free-lance artist. He also enjoys working on Mastertone style banjos, and appreciating antiques. When he's not involved in music, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Charlie Cushman www.CharlieCushman.com |
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Ross Nickerson "Fults Tailpieces are the Best"...
Ross Nickerson is a Pinecastle recording artist and the author of Mel Bay's, The Banjo Encyclopedia, Bluegrass Banjo from A to Z |
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Béla Fleck is often considered the premier banjo player in the world. A New York City native, he picked up the banjo at age 15 after being awed by the bluegrass music of Flatt & Scruggs. While still in high school he began experimenting with playing bebop jazz on his banjo, mentored by fellow banjo renegade Tony Trischka. In 1980, he released his first solo album, Crossing the Tracks, with material that ranged from straight ahead bluegrass to Chick Corea’s “Spain.” In 1982, Fleck joined the progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival, making a name for himself on countless solo and ensemble projects ever since as a virtuoso instrumentalist. In 1989 he formed the genre-busting Flecktones, with members equally talented and adventurous as himself. "The Fults tailpiece is a fine piece of work, it has it's own sound and on some banjos, it can work miracles. It is a great addition to the banjo set-up toolbox." Bela Fleck www.BelaFleck.com |
| *Bill Palmer* testing of the Blue Ridge Model, Cumberland testing soon to follow. |
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I come from a musical family. My father, the late Dr. Willard A. Palmer, was a renowned musical scholar, instrumentalist and teacher. He was the author of 790 musical items that were published by Alfred Publications, among them Alfred's Basic Piano Library, The Palmer-Hughes Accordion Method, and much of Alfred's Masterwork Series. He inspired me to excel in as many things as I possibly could. For many years, I played banjo, mandolin, guitar, electric bass, accordion and other keyboards in nightclubs, pizza parlors, and other venues, mainly in the Houston area. My main interests were bluegrass music, blues and jazz, although I have an affinity for many other idioms, also. For personal reasons, partially because of artistic burnout--partially because of the challenge, I decided in 1974 to become a full time magician. However, recent events have caused me to rekindle my interest in music. I have written several books for piano, which are published by Alfred Publishing Co. I also wrote a book of sacred songs for electronic keyboard, called The Easiest Way to Play Your Favorite Sacred Songs. During my previous career as a musician, I taught banjo and guitar for Charlie Cash Studios of H & H Music Co. and Westview Music Studios. While working for them, I wrote How to Play Folk and Bluegrass Banjo.This book was published by Alfred Publishing Company, but was discontinued before the recent bluegrass boom. I now have the rights to it, and should be issuing a revised version of it, concentrating on bluegrass music, in the near future. If you have any interest in this at all, please drop me an e-mail and let me know. "The Fults tailpiece offers the most stable system I have seen for mounting a tailpiece. It will give you a rock steady basis for your strings to attach to. The workmanship is flawless. Before I experimented with the Blue Ridge tailpiece and a handful of tone pins and kicker pins, I was firmly convinced that these things would not affect the sound of a banjo. Man! Was I wrong! The Blue Ridge tailpiece will give you all sorts of tonal possibilities. I still haven't discovered all of them yet. I recommend this tailpiece without reservations." -- Bill Palmer, M.I.M.C. AAFOUF#000084 www.BanjoWizard.com And more of Mr. Bill Palmer's review Click here. www.BanjoWizard.com/fults |
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Used and endorsed by Dale Perry & friends
Banjoist, Dale Perry, hails from Wayne County, West Virginia. Starting out on a guitar purchased for him by his grandmother, Dale soon found his real interest in the banjo. His first was a Kay, he received at the age of 11. Inborn talent and hard work landed Dale with his first job in music as bass player for the Travelers Quartet, where he made his first recording. In 1985 Dale hired as bass player/bass singer for the Bluegrass Cardinals. There he honed his now legendary bass singing skills. In 1994 Dale teamed up with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Now reunited with David and Randy, Dale supplies Continental Divide with rock solid banjo and vocals as only he can. Off stage, Dale enjoys time at home with wife, Patty, and fishing. He also owns and operates a recording studio at his home near Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. Dale Perry. |
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I've been familiar with Bob and his tailpieces for a few years now, and I can say that besides being an inventive designer and superb machinist, he is someone who is always looking to improve his products. He is interested in crafting banjo tailpieces that help a good banjo produce a great tone, but which also have the advantage of being very adjustable. This lets all banjo players tweak their tailpiece setup to their hearts' content to come up with different shades of that great tone. I've have several of Bob's tailpieces installed on my banjos, and they all sound good. I currently am using one of his newest models, the Pro-5 with the super adjustable XYZ mount on my Prucha Professional banjo. I can't ask for a more solid tailpiece, which is great for minimizing tuning problems, and which also improves the already loud, clear, crisp, and sweet sound of my Prucha banjo (making it even better sounding than it did with the best available Presto tailpieces I have tried) The tailpiece also has a traditional appearance, which I like. I would highly recommend this tailpiece to anyone who likes a Presto type sound, but wants more stability, adjustability, and even better tone and more volume. -Peter Schwimmer Schwimbos Banjohangout page with some Great Pickin |
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Endorsed and Praised by Todd Taylor
On a trip with his family to Disney World in Florida, Todd saw a banjo on a river boat. You could say a chord was struck, for at that early age of six, Todd found what he wanted to be. A year later, after much badgering, his mother ordered Todd's first banjo from the J.C. Penny Catalog, at age seven, a lifes work began. Little did anyone know at the time that one day his music would be heard around the world and he would be Known as the "Banjo Man." Starting out, it was a lot of work for one so young, but Todd was diligent. He taught himself by listening to records, and polished his craft with the help of music teachers Walker Copley and Dan X. Padgett. During this time his twin brother, Allen, developed a similar foundness for the guitar. This eventually led to the very talented musical formation of the "Taylor Twins." Their star rose in the country music field and soon they were cutting albums, appearing on the top TV shows of that time, and touring with some of the biggiest names in the business. stays in tune better as well, and they really make my banjos sound even better. Bob Fults has really in my opinion made the best Banjo Tailpiece that has ever been made. Todd Taylor... The Banjoman. www.ToddTaylorBanjoman.com |
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Nuka and his outstanding Bluegrass from the U.S. to Germany.
I play several musical instruments but have to say the instrument I play best & also have played the longest (30 years) is the 5-string banjo. I have a lot of experience as a musician. I am the 1980 North Carolina state 5-string banjo champion & also the 1990 Virginia State 5-string banjo champion. My banjo is an early eighties model Gibson RB-3 reissue with a Tony Pass thin skirt birch rim installed. The Cumberland, the Blue Ridge, & the 1934 model. The Cumberland seemed to give my banjo more treble & brightness while still maintaining a very balanced well rounded sound. The Blue Ridge appeared to give my banjo more bass and punch with a lot of power & sustain. Both increased the loudness of my banjo. The Blue Ridge has the option of using additional tone & kicker pins which are hollowed out threaded pins filled with different types of materials & can be used to help you achieve lots of different tones from your banjo. I really like the sound without tone or kicker pins as well. What can I say about the 1934 model? This super-charged presto type tailpiece is my personal choice because I like the tone it gives my banjo, the way it looks & the catchy name "1934"... It makes me feel more as if I'm playing a prewar :) Mr. Bob Fults is an outstanding person to do business with & in my opinion has the most well made banjo tailpiece on the market & has certainly done his part in helping to lay down the foundation for the golden era of banjo making which I feel we are seeing today. Kind Regards, nuka Hear nuka's fantastic playing style, Mp3's, Video's and more on the Fults Tailpieces. www.nukasbanjopage.com |
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Highly Praised by Ron Guadet of Special Edition Bluegrass Band
Special Edition was formed in 1994, in Moncton, New Brunswick. The band consists of (from left to right) Shane Douthwright, Ron Gaudet, Marcel Duplesis, and Dennis Douthwright. Special Edition is one of the fastest growing bluegrass bands in Eastern Canada. The band took home most promising band, and male vocalist of the year at the 2003 Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Awards. Special Edition was selected to perform as an opening act for country stars Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw during their Eastern Canadian stop for their Summer 2003 Tour. Special Edition’s debut self-titled album was nominated for recording of the year at the 2002 Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Awards. Special Edition is a hard driving bluegrass band with a strong focus on vocals. The VOLUME, LOWS, MIDS, HIGHS, SEPARATION, is nothing short of incredible. Thanks Bob, that's one heck of a tailpiece. You really put a lot of pride in your work, you can see and hear it. Ron Gaudet "Special Edition Bluegrass Band"
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Al Spencer and The Mountain State Bluegrass Express
Tune in to The Mountain State Bluegrass Express Band www.themsbe.com |
Plus check out the
Testimonials & Discussions on the
Personal and Individual Testimonials
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I would like to put in my testimonial. I’m no veteran banjo picker, but I’ve played guitar for 33 years, and in that time I’ve learned to appreciate superior hardware for instruments. Also, having worked in Engineering as an Industrial Designer and technician for 14 years, I feel I can offer some accurate input to the quality of the Blue ridge 20 Fults tailpiece. First, bass response and clarity improved greatly from the bottom to the top of the neck of my Gold Star GF85. This must be due to the solid mount along with the combination of metals used – brass nickel plating, with lead. The adjust ability of these tailpieces is also beyond anything else I’ve seen on the market. Finally, the fit and finish is the best in the business. You do such a nice job on these tailpieces in every respect, I can’t do them justice in my description. Players just simply need to see and hear the difference to fully appreciate. Thanks Much!! Al Belville |
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Let me be the 10,000th person to post great things about Fults Tooling: I ordered my Blue Ridge model 30 last Wednesday and got it that Saturday. When I emailed a question about the order, it was answered personally that same day. The product itself was very simple to install, and does everything it was advertised to do and more! Sounds great, and the tone pins, kicker pins, and pitch changing capability make it really fun for tinkering. You can completely change the way your banjo sounds in just a few seconds! If you need a new tailpiece, give Bob Fults your business. He still does it the old fashioned way. You won't be disappointed! Colin, “Bela Fleck- the best who's ever been, the best there will ever be.” |
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Hi Bob, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the full sound I can get out of my banjo due to your tailpiece. I've got a' 37 TB-2 conversion with a no-name but excellent quality repro mahogany neck w/ Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The TB-2 came from my late father in law that played it in a dance band in the 40's-50's. The tenor neck was the old celluloid fingerboard style with the frets shot and fingerboard severely gouged and rutted. When I inherited it I had visions of a 5 string conversion, but had to wait 2 years to save up for all the parts. Your tailpiece was the final part and it was well worth it. Even with the original brass tone hoop, this banjo makes the hair on the back of my arms stand up. It has such a balanced tone, not too bass-ey, not to treble-ey, just as a good banjo should be but with a crack like a bull whip. The sustain is remarkable, I'm sure due to the rock-solid mounting system. The thing that I was worried about, putting such a "modern" tailpiece on such a traditional banjo was put to rest as I realized the design paid homage to the tailpiece most associated with bluegrass banjo, the venerable Presto. Thanks for designing a banjo tailpiece that has me rediscovering old songs I used to play but got bored picking because of the "sameness" of the sound and tone on my '84 RB-250. Even an old saw like "Cripple Creek" takes on new life with this banjo. Best regards from a satisfied customer, Jim |
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Bob- My Blue Ridge tailpiece arrived last week and was an easy install indeed. As expected, it has produced the deep and mellow tone I was looking for and the fourth string comes on particularly strong. Have had the chance to play publicly twice since install and people have comment that I was playing unusually well. I had to tell them that it was the banjo that was playing so well with the new tailpiece. I will probably opt for some of the tone pins later after I have played a while with new tailpiece. FYI, I installed a KatsEye bridge with the Blue Ridge and it is a great combination. Thanks for a great product, Kent |
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Hi Bob, I got the Straight Line Tailpiece Saturday & put it on Sunday. What a difference! I'm glad you talked me into it. (just kidding) Seriously, I'm glad I didn't wait because this is fantastic. Great tone & volume with no overtones. I've been goofing around with the "Brand X" tailpiece for so long I thought I was going to go insane. Your tailpiece is sturdy & easy to adjust. Plus it looks Beautiful. I couldn't be happier. Thanks very much. Dave |
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My order arrived safely and I installed the Blueridge 30 on my Ode model C Saturday night. I was skeptical about the tone pins (ebony and copper) since I have dropped many dollars on banjo "dodads" over the years. I am now a true believer and will spread the word. I'll like trying the stainless and high carbon pins when I see them available. This old banjo- 24 years never sounded so good. You are on to something here. Thanks again: Pat, Derry,Pa. |
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I dont generally buy into the notion that this hardware or that hardware makes much difference in the sound of a banjo, "I GOD WOODROW" was I wrong! Just got a Fults cumberland with rear tention tuner tailpiece, installed it on my ESS with Mcpeake tr and sent an already great sounding banjo "to the moon Alice"! Great sweet tone and sustain,and believe it or not , kinda like after washing your car it drives better. I think it plays faster. Bob Fults is quitely building these in his shop in ILL. Super nice guy to talk to and his workmanship is incredible. Ive orderd the Blueridge as well and Ill report on that when I receive it. CHECK IT OUT! Dave. |
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Hey guys I just had to say that I just got my new Fults tailpiece in the mail last week. It made a BIG difference on my '90 ESS. When I called and talked to Bob Fults he was very nice and super helpful. I was asking him about a straight-line model and he said he had made a couple of proto types, he agreed to sell me one of them and it is great! He hand makes each one and the quality is superb. Have a great day.......Ken |
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Mr. Fults... I'm very, very happy with my Blueridge tailpiece. The tone without the tone pins is fabulous. Very clear, especially up-the-neck; the best sound out of the pre-war conversion that I've ever had. My band member friends immediately noticed it. Thank you again, Andy. |
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