Nice Find! I've not heard of this brand but it looks interesting and needs further research on my part. Thanks, Paul!

Ken LeVan is a very honest and talented builder. He has been a long, long term contributor in the Banjo Building, Setup, and Repair section at Banjohangout.org and has his own website as well:

http://levanbanjos.com/levanbanjos.l....com/Home.html

He also has an extensive interview on the Craig Evans series "Conversations With North American Banjo Builders", available through the Smithsonian Folkways collection.

Around this time a year ago, when I placed my order, Ozark Banjo Company indicated that my custom banjo build would begin about a year from that time. I haven't heard anything from the company in about 10 months and I sent them an email a couple of weeks ago regarding any information they can give me as to when my build may begin, which should be anytime soon, I guess. I still haven't heard back from them ...

Current Banjos:
Vega No. 2 Tubaphone
OME North Star Walnut
Eastman EBJ-WL1 Whyte Laydie
Vega 12" Old Tyme Wonder
Rickard 12" Maple Ridge Dobson
Pisgah 12" Walnut Tubaphone
Bart Reiter Regent Whyte Laydie
Deering Sierra Flathead

I think festival season occupies a lot of Lucas and Eden's time, banjo building is the more part time endeavor for them.

Thanks, and I can dig where you're coming from but if they're going to be in the banjo-making business, maybe they should pay more attention to it, especially after tying up a $400 deposit for over a year?

I think it's often the case that folks who enter into the instrument building business set unrealistic expectations for themselves that they don't realize will be hard to meet.

There's also those who simply don't handle scheduling well and then try to sweep customer demands under the rug.

I have a friend who put own a $500 deposit on a custom neck for an open back with a very well known maker and he gave up trying to get him to return e-mails and calls after 5 years of trying. That's been about 15 years ago and the prospects of him getting anything (ever!) are obviously long in the past.

The builder is still building and selling banjos. Just don't send him any money...

Ozark Banjo Company now has an announcement on their website that there is a 2-year wait for a banjo. When I ordered mine a year ago, there was a 1-yr wait--maybe I'm getting closer to my time for my custom banjo? I still haven't heard from the company in over two weeks since my last email ...

I got on a banjo builders wait list about 5 years ago, when there was a 2-year wait. Still don't have it yet. I hope you fare better.

I have ordered custom builds from three other banjo builders who all delivered on time.

For me, good communication with the builder is the key. Hopfully Lucas will get back in touch with you sooner rather than later.

Thanks for relating your experience! My Pisgah Custom only took Patrick about 5 weeks from order to delivery. I wish Eden & Lukas would communicate more quickly. Maybe, I can go on their FaceBook page and post a message they'll see in a more timely manner? More to come ...

Finally, A Response From Ozark Banjo Company!
 

From Eden & Lukas, Saturday, July 13, 2019: "We're hoping to get your banjo started by the end of this year. Our builds have been taking longer than usual lately, people have been adding on to their orders and while it's super exciting to be sending out these banjos- those features and details end up taking a lot more time. We're also having a baby girl this September and will be taking a bit of time off from the shop to settle into life with her. I want to apologize for the longer than anticipated wait time and thank you for your patience and understanding. We'll be in touch later on this year to finalize the details and get your build underway, in the meantime please feel free to be in touch anytime with questions or changes to your order. We've got some great new features we've been doing lately and have a great new source for our Cherry. Sometimes even figured/curly Cherry- it's truly gorgeous! Hope you're well and playing lots of banjo these days!" Eden & Lukas

Given the above response from Eden & Lukas, I'm more than willing to wait longer for my Ozark Custom 5-String Banjo! May They Be Blessed!

Eastman EBJ-WL1 Whyte Laydie Video Review
 

I got mine directly from its originator, Bernunzio Uptown Music, here in Rochester, New York, and I can attest that this is an excellent value for a recreation of the 1903 A. C. Fairbanks Whyte Laydie No. 2, 5-String Banjo.



Eastman EBJ-WL1 Whyte Laydie Banjo Specs:
Neck Material: 3 Piece Maple w/ Ebony Strip
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard Radius: Flat
Nut: 1 11/32
Fretwire: Jescar FW37053
Scale Length: 26"
Rim Material: Maple
Rim Dimensions: 3/8" thick x 10 3/4" width Rim 3/8"
Body Top: Coated Remo Head
Body Back/Sides: Open Back Maple Rim
Binding: Fingerboard
Binding Material: Ivoroid
Inlay: Pearl Diamond, Star, Diamond
Hardware Color: Chrome
Head Skin (Top): Remo BJ-1012-H6
Bridge: Maple/ Ebony Top
String Spacing: 10mm
Nut Height: .022"

String Band Triple Threat!
 

My latest guitar and banjo acquisitions: Larrivee D-40M Legacy, Taylor 717e Grand Pacific Builder's Edition Wild Honey Burst, Vega #2 TubaPhone 5-String Banjo.

http://www.kingstontrioplace.com/Lar...TubaPhone1.jpg

Now, that is one good looking trio! You'll enjoy these beauties for years to come, SpruceTop!

Best,
Jayne

Thanks, Jayne! More banjo and guitar photos coming soon.

Current Banjos:
Vega No. 2 Tubaphone
OME North Star Walnut
Eastman EBJ-WL1 Whyte Laydie
Vega 12" Old Tyme Wonder
Rickard 12" Maple Ridge Dobson
Pisgah 12" Walnut Tubaphone
Bart Reiter Regent Whyte Laydie
Deering Sierra Maple Flathead Resonator

Playing my now 2-year-old Pisgah Custom Appalacian Walnut 12-inch Tubaphone today reminds me of the great tone, playability, and value this banjo represents! I heartily recommend the Pisgah Banjo Company!

Pisgah Banjo Company

http://www.kingstontrioplace.com/Pis...r Frontal2.jpg http://www.kingstontrioplace.com/Pis...ead Front1.jpg
http://www.kingstontrioplace.com/Pis...rter Rear1.jpg http://www.kingstontrioplace.com/Pis...mbly Rear1.jpg

http://www.kingstontrioplace.com/Pis...head Rear1.jpg