Great! Let us know what you think once you get some time in on it.

I've gone back and forth with 11" and 12" open backs and just sold two 11-1/2" open backs that I made. I guess it's just my age setting in, but I really like the smaller 11" as a "ultimate" in size. I gotta say that the 11-1/2" open backs are a really great compromise for those who have difficulty with the choice.

I guess it really depends on what tone you are looking for. Some love plunky, some love plinky, and some love something in between. I have a Mastertone banjo and two open backs with 11" pots, and now the new Hoyt with a 12" pot. They both have pluses and minuses. I had a Deering Americana 12" that I sold. It just didn't sound any different from a standard Goodtime.

Been through several banjos.I now have a 1907 Clifford Essex Special xx with a white laydie tone ring.11 inch pot.Glorious banjo...my search is over.

I've heard them described as a "Whyte Laydie on Steroids" :up:

11" Vega Old Tyme Wonder vs. 12" Vega Old Tyme Wonder
 

I sent back the 11" Vega Old Tyme Wonder because of a couple of cosmetic flaws and a desire to hear the 12" Vega Old Tyme Wonder. I received the 12" Vega Old Tyme Wonder a couple of days ago, and in this neophyte clawgrasser's hands I'd say that, overall, I prefer the 12" version to the 11" version. The 11" version had a more trebly tone but still had plenty of banjo-shaking bass and it felt like a baton that could be twirled around like a drum majorette would do. The 12" version sounds more fat and mellow but still with decent treble and clarity. The nice thing about the 12" version, because of its rim's slightly heavier weight and larger diameter, is that when sitting in the lap, it's more resistant to downward neck rotation than the 11" version while playing. Also, being only a few ounces heavier than the 11" version, the 12" version is still light on the body! Frankly, I could be just as happy with either the 11" Vega Old Tyme Wonder or the 12" Vega Old Tyme Wonder. Photos of this and all new banjos in the family coming soon.

Still liking it?

I'm loving The 12" Vega Old Tyme Wonder as it's light and fun to play and I think it looks nice too. How about your new Hoyt Whyte Laydie?

Wow! I better get some photos of my banjos up here quickly like I've mentioned I'd do. Sorry for the delay.

The Hoyt is great, and I bought a second one with a 29" scale and like it too. On a whim, I bought the Hoyt that Elderly had and received it about a week ago. That one has no tone ring, just a wooden rim. It was the deadest sounding banjo I've ever played. I have now ordered a Wildwood Troubador and hope to get it this week. That will round out my collection. Well, let me change that, I do have a Pisgah on order, but that won't be ready until July.

Thanks for the update! I've also been perusing the Wildwood Troubador at Elderly Instruments. My next banjo may be an Ozark Banjo Company custom with a brass tone hoop. There are several videos on YouTube of Lukas Pool, the company owner, demonstrating his various banjos. The Hoyt banjos are also under my consideration.

BoneDigger, I think you'll like your Pisgah! You may have already seen these earlier Pisgah demonstration videos, but if not, here they are:

This one shows Topher Stevens playing various Pisgah rim configurations but not the Tubaphone or Whyte Laydie models.


This video shows Patrick Heavner playing a Tubaphone model:


Here's Patrick playing a Whyte Laydie model:

Thanks! Yes, I checked out a lot of videos and reviews before ordering anything. I ordered the Possum model with integral wooden tone ring and full fretboard (non-scooped).

Last week I put a deposit down with Ozark Banjo Company for a custom banjo with the delivery time being about a year. My custom banjo will look similar to the cherry one Lukas Pool is playing in the below video but mine will have the following specs:

Neck & Pot Wood: Mahogany, 26 3/16" scale length neck, Block construction on pot

Fretboard Wood: Ebony, railroad spikes at 7th, 9th and 10th frets

Fretboard: Fretted

Head Stock: Vega

Scoop: S Scoop + $75

Heel: Vega

Pot size: 12"

Bracket Shoe: Ball Shoe + $25

Hardware Plating: Nickel

Tone Ring: Rolled Brass

Banjo Head: Fiberskyn

Inlay: Man in the Moon on headstock+ $50, Cascade of Stars on fretboard+ $25

Pot Cap: Pot Cap + $50

FOR A LARGER FORMAT VIEWING PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/6vw2gt2-MLc



http://ozarkbanjo.com/

looks like it's gonna be amazing!