Folk of the Wood & Crafters of Tennessee present
An Introduction to Crafters of Tennessee
5-String Banjos

To know the history of Crafters of Tennessee is to know the history of American music in the 20th century and the instruments that brought that music to life.

For thirty years, master luthier Mark Taylor has been building some of the finest musical instruments in the world. He has dedicated his career to the preservation of the standards and craftsmanship seen in the classic instruments of American music in the 20th century. Inspired by his father, legendary dobro virtuoso and vintage instrument collector Robert "Tut" Taylor, a young Mark Taylor began his career repairing vintage instruments from his father's collection. He studied and soon mastered the inner-workings of these classic American instruments and put this knowledge to work designing and building guitars, banjos, resophonic guitars, and mandolins.

In 1971, Mark and Tut created Tut Taylor Music, and introduced the original "Tennessee" banjo, now a mainstay in the collections of bluegrass banjo players the world over. In 1976, the pair renamed their operation Crafters of Tennessee. A full line of banjos, flat tops, mandolins, and resophonic guitars, including the legendary "Tut" Taylor signature models soon followed. Over the next 3 decades, Crafters of Tennessee produced the preferred instruments of acoustic musicians the world over. In 1993, Mark Taylor teamed up with master builder Greg Rich to form Rich and Taylor, and created yet another line of world renowned instruments. In 1996, Mark resumed production under the Crafters of Tennessee brand name, and this production continues today.

Throughout the last third of the 20th century, Crafters of Tennessee was dedicated to building instruments the way they were meant to be built, with care and precision, by the hands of craftsman, and in the U.S.A. In 2001, Crafters of Tennessee remains dedicated to this same principle. In our manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Nashville, TN our team of skilled craftsman combine the very best in woods, materials, and skill to produce a remarkable line of resophonic guitars, banjos, flat tops, and mandolins that will be treasured by today's musicians, and cherished by generations of musicians to come.

Crafters of Tennessee •14919 Lebanon Rd. • Old Hickory, TN 37138
(615)773-7200 Fax: (615)773-7201 • www. crafterstn. corn
Vintage Sunburst (VSB) is available at a $100 retail upcharge.
Please Note: Crafters of Tennessee reserves the right to change price and/or specifications without notice. This would affect the discount pricing offered by Folk of the Wood.

Testimomials:

Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 02:50:27 -0700
Subject: banjos and airplanes

I must once again give accolades concerning your site and your business (I have
purchased a Kentucky 620 and several straps and other accessories from you over
the past few years). But my question this time centers on air travel.
I have recently purchased a Crafters of Tennessee Flathead Deluxe with
customized work. Needless to say I paid quite handsomely to obtain it. Several
times a year I fly across country and bring my banjo along to play with family
and friends. I have flown with my old banjo (an Epiphone MB250) and never had
any trouble other than one busted string and some scratches on the case.
However, I have heard plenty of horror stories concerning baggage handlers
damaging instruments, and I wonder if I'm relying too much on luck. While I was
concerned with my old banjo, I must admit I'm petrified with the thought of my
new investment meeting such an end. Besides loosening the strings and removing
the bridge, is there anything you recommend to help protect a banjo for air
travel? Carry on is no longer option given the new security protocols. Are
there any cases for cases as I'm not too keen on getting the gator skin case
scratched up yet either?

I would also like to give an unsolicited endorsement to Crafters banjos. I
spent over a year testing and retesting banjos across several states looking for
the banjo that would be my "lifetime" instrument. Crafters Flathead was one of
the first ones I tried, and I have found nothing has matched its sound for
bluegrass picking. It has an extremely powerful engine and a sharp bite that
simply bested the (the other makes) that I tried.

Thanks,

Brent

Greetings Brent,

Thanks for the testimonial on the Crafters...I've found them to all be great sounding instruments both in their Dobro and banjo line-up...

The best option I heard of to date, for safe travel, would be the Calton case...these cases are built like a fortress...any way you look at it, cargo instrument travel will always be a gamble...

Wishing you the best in your research efforts, Mickey

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