Banjo Setup & Maintenance
How Banjo Bridges Are Notched at the Huber Banjo Factory
Mar
Our banjo tech Tara made a trip to the Huber Banjo factory in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where she has trained under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling. While she was there, Steve and Bennie let her notch the bridges we were bringing back to Banjo Warehouse. We caught it on video.
Tara handles the setup on every banjo that leaves Banjo Warehouse head tension, action, bridge placement, string height, intonation. Getting to work at the source, with the people who make the components, is exactly the kind of training that matters.
Why We Use Huber Bridges on Everything
We put a Huber maple and ebony bridge on every banjo we set up here. Not because it’s convenient because we think it’s the best bridge available. Steve has them made in the USA from 50 to 100 year old maple by Bryan Sims, exclusively for Huber Banjos. The same bridge goes on every new Huber banjo that ships from Hendersonville. It’s the same one that goes on every banjo that ships from Yellow Springs.
The bridge is one of those components that players sometimes overlook, but it has a significant effect on tone, volume, and intonation. The density of the maple, the profile of the feet, the fit against the head all of it matters. A poorly fitted bridge costs you tone. A well-fitted one doesn’t.
About Steve Huber and Bennie Boling
Steve Huber has been building professional-grade bluegrass banjos in Hendersonville, Tennessee since 1999. His VRB series instruments are played by some of the most serious pickers in bluegrass players who could use anything and choose Huber. Bennie Boling has been part of Huber Banjos for years and brings deep technical knowledge to the shop floor. Having Tara train under both of them is not something we take lightly.
What This Means for Your Banjo
When you buy a banjo from Banjo Warehouse, Tara sets it up. That setup includes a Huber bridge, fitted properly, along with Huber strings. It arrives ready to play. We’ve been doing it this way for years and we’re not changing it.
If you want to pick up a Huber bridge for your own banjo, you can order one directly from Steve for $30 at huberbanjos.com. Available in Standard and Crowe spacing, 21/32″ and 5/8″ heights.
Questions about setup or looking for a banjo? Call Geoff at 404-218-8580.
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