Testimonials

What’s to be said of a craftsman who unintentionally pins both thumbs to the shell of a cabin he is building with a pneumatic framing stapler, and alone on the job site in the remote border country of the southern Rockies, remains patiently for his companion on the project to return from a trip into the village to free him with a wonder bar. Clearly this would make that person one hellacious, uniquely qualified, double thumb banjo player. For my money, and I am not naming names, that person could be Brooks Masten, a craftsman above reproach, and, thumbs down, my choice for the finest traditional banjo fabricator working today; also my favorite musician on said instrument as well. Unwilling to thumb his nose at apprenticing with the great mid-generation luthiers, this person has distinguished himself as someone incapable of resting under the thumb of convention by producing the Spartan, part instrument and part weapon.

My first Brooks banjo is #07, a calfskin over a White Lady tone ring with an internal resonator, the latter pushes the low and mid back through the skin for a perfect warm and tubby voice. The ring handles the high with a clarity that still amazes me after many years of faithful service. There are several other unorthodox features to this instrument which have turned a few heads and caused many more to exclaim I want a banjo configured exactly like this.

My #22 is equally unique in all respects. This calfskin 13 5/8’’ fretless minstrel with a 27 plus inch scale and fitted with heavy gauge gut, speaks with boss authority tuned to low A. Twenty-two continues to make me arrive late at the office.

It bears mentioning that I am guilty, perhaps as others have (in the old days), to demand special features on a banjo that departed from what Brooks holds as tradition and faithful reproduction of period instruments. Old Number Seven is such a departure. From the beginning I have referred to this guy, my favorite banjo, as “the Hybrid,” while Brooks prefers “the Mutant.” Instruments in the current catalog appear unique as well, exotic and traditional at the same time. I know from first hand experience that Brooks will continue to make great leaps with every instrument he crafts, that the most recent I have played are truly his best work, and by god, I have thumbed through all the catalogs and web sites and banjo pest holes out there. Brooks, I have two words for you, be have.