There will be new Islander brand banjos in the future, but there won't be anymore Ash Leaf models, which makes these instruments collectible, as well as superb banjos in their own right.
Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom (PRWEB UK) 29 August 2013
The Great British Banjo Company has made available the final three Islander Ash Leaf handmade banjos: the last that the company will produce.
The Islander Ash Leaf, hand-built in Great Britain for the company by banjo craftsman Malcolm McLeod, was launched last year but only made in a limited edition.
The openback Islander Ash Leaf combines traditional clawhammer styling and building techniques and a beautiful ash-block rim, with ultra-modern carbon fibre stiffening in the neck.
The Ash Leaf banjo is endorsed by Bob Minner, superb solo player and acoustic guitarist and banjoist for the Nashville country star Tim McGraw.
"Bob heard about 'the new Brit banjo' and sought us out. Happily, when he played the instrument for himself he was very keen to become an endorsing artist," said Great British Banjo Company managing director Simon Middleton.
Bob Minner said: "Let me say that I would be hard pressed to find a finer instrument. The attention to detail is simply wonderful in every regard, and the tone is all anyone could ask for in an open back banjo. I particularly love the full thick neck profile, reminiscent of the great banjos of yesteryear. The ash block rim is also tonally exceptional. I am eager to start recording with it. A stellar instrument."
The final three Islander Ash Leaf instruments are now available on the company's own website and through its general retail outlet Banjos Direct.
The Ash Leaf can also be obtained as a reward by pledging on a Kickstarter campaign which is raising funds for The Shackleton banjo, the company's new low-cost British-made instrument.
The Islander Ash Leaf costs £1667.00 (plus 20% VAT in the UK and other EU countries).
"We will be very sad when the last Islander Ash Leaf banjos have gone, but we are very proud of what's been achieved with the instrument. It has had a great reception and fantastic publicity in the USA and Europe as well as in the UK," said Simon Middleton.
The Islander Ash Leaf has even made the fashion pages, appearing in a 'festival fashion' spread in the August 27th edition of UK celebrity magazine "OK!"
"There will be new Islander-brand banjos in the future, but there won't be anymore Ash Leaf models, which makes these instruments collectible, as well as superb banjos in their own right," Middleton added.
"For the next year or so we are concentrating on The Shackleton banjo which we believe is the first large scale production banjo to be made in Britain in about 60 years, and will absolutely be the only low-cost British-made banjo."
The company is hoping to raise £30,000 towards the development of The Shackleton on Kickstarter and has made a campaign film using local musical and film-making talent.
Company Information:
The Great British Banjo Company Limited, which also owns online specialist store Banjos Direct, is based in Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
The company works with local craftsmen as well as instrument manufacturers in other parts of Britain.
The business was founded by brand adviser, business author and musician Simon Middleton and has grown rapidly to become the UK's best known banjo specialist retailer and manufacturer.
In 2012, the company launched the Islander Ash Leaf banjo, hand-made for the company in England, which has received glowing reviews from professional players in the UK and the USA.
The Great British Banjo Company is a private limited company, owned and managed by a small group of family and friends in Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
For further information, visit: http://www.thegreatbritishbanjocompany.com/.
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