Testimonials

I first played a Brooks banjo in North Carolina and it pert near blew me to the floor. Since I was merely a student at the time and struggling to even eat regularly, there wasn’t much chance of it making the journey back to Kentucky with me. So I saved what money I could, all the while inquiring about Brooks’ character from folks who know. “Interesting,” I thought as the stories were propelling the man into mythical proportions.

A few months later I wrote the real Brooks an email describing the banjo I would like to play but to be built with his eye for detail and feel of old time music. After several brainstorming sessions we had a plan. I flew out to Portland in January, 2006 during the Portland Old Time Gathering anxious to see what Brooks had conjured up. I recognized this banjo the first time I saw it. It came to fruition beyond my wildest imagination. Brooks Masten builds banjos with the hands of a one hundred and fifty year old craftsman and the eyes of a true artist. I have never been more grateful to possess an instrument as I am for this banjo which is now an essential part of my musical endeavors and is sure to vibrate with the sounds of the southern Appalachians long after I am gone.

In other words, this is one hell of a banjo.