Wildwood Banjo Co. has been quietly building banjos since 1972. We believe that building a great banjo is the best form of advertising. We depend on people telling people about our instruments.
Wildwood Banjos are hand made from the finest woods and hardware available, offer a range of models in both open-back and bluegrass banjos from the simplicity of the Minstrel to the ornate inlays of the Soloist.
Our production is limited to maintain the highest in quality control, while keeping a personal approach to business. We want you to enjoy the experience of buying a Wildwood Banjo almost as much as playing it.
The frailing/clawhammer banjo has always been the mainstay of our company. It happened in a funny way. Back in the mid 70's, Art Rosenbaum and John Burke (respected traditional clawhammer recording artists) were passing through our town on their way to Kick'n Mule Records (in Berkeley, Ca.) to record new albums. They each bought a Wildwood Banjo, used it in the recording, the banjos appeared on their album cover, and well, you can guess the rest of the story.
The clawhammer banjos feature a slightly wider maple neck, with thier own version of the tubaphone-style tone ring, some models with bracket shoe bands, and all with a sound and character unique to Wildwood. All banjos are available in your choice of woods.
There are 4 traditional models, ranging from the simplicity of the MINSTREL to the elegance of the BALLADEER. Open back banjos rival the best of the past. All models feature maple necks, ebony fingerboards (pegheads and heel caps). Nickel-plated brass hardware and fiberskin heads are standard on all models. The extent of the fancy fiddleback maple and mother of pearl or abalone inlays increases with each model. It is important to note that the basic construction, sound, and playability are the same throughout the line.
Bluegrass Banjos deliver sound with style and character. Feature a “flat head style" cast tone ring, one piece cast resonator flange, fancy fiddleback maple or American black walnut necks inlaid with mother of pearl and abalone, binding and purfling, and fancy figured matching resonators. These banjos are truly hard driving workhorses designed to make serious bluegrass music!
There are three models within our bluegrass line. The Artist, The Paragon, and The Soloist.
As with all Wildwood banjos each successive model has fancier figured woods for necks and resonators, and more complicated or intricate inlay patterns. We believe that there is no room for compromise when it comes to playability and sound-but you should have a choice as to how your instrument looks.
For those of you that are stuck in the 50's and early 60's we offer a Long Neck version of all our stand open back models except the Balladeer.
Wildwood Banjos
1055 Samoa Boulevard
Arcata, California 95521
(707) 822-8040
For more information contact All About Jazz.
