Bill Evans model Kel Kroydon banjo

Bill Evans is the latest professional banjo player to be recognized with a signature model Kel Kroydon banjo, made by the American Made Banjo Company.

Bill’s banjo has a maple neck and resonator, with a Hearts and Flowers inlay in the fingerboard. A Dannick flat head tone ring is installed, manufactured by American Made Banjo, and is plated with an antique gold. When the banjo is offered for sale in the near future, it will be available as shown in the accompanying photo, or with a custom engraving pattern which Bill is designing himself.

Tom Mirisola, president of American Made Banjo, is delighted to have Bill on board. He also shared news about their having recently acquired their own machine shop to manufacture to Dannick tone rings and the other metal parts used in assembling the Kel Kroydon banjos.

Evans has been using the banjo of late for his many banjo workshops, and his shows with Megan Lynch in support of their new CD, Let’s Do Something, and is pleased with his signature model Kel Kroydon.

“I’m excited to be associated with Tom, American Made Banjo Company and the Kel Kroyden nameplate. I take an association of this kind very seriously and I wanted to be sure that we had come up with an instrument that equaled and maybe surpassed any other professional grade instrument available in terms of tone, workmanship and playability. The Bill Evans KK is the result of a collaboration between Tom, Robin Smith, Charlie Cushman and myself with the goal being to create an instrument that sounded as close as possible to the prewar instruments that I’ve been associated with over my career.

The classic sound and tone of players like Earl Scruggs and Sonny Osborne rings in my head every time I pick up the banjo – that combination of maple and gold for me can’t be beat. I also need an instrument that’s at home with styles other than bluegrass. The KK is the only new banjo that I’ve played that works for me in all settings. The tone, response and feel of this banjo is right for both traditional bluegrass and more adventurous playing. And it’s got a big sound! When I’m on stage with Megan Lynch, it’s often the only instrument you hear as I support Megan’s singing. This banjo is allowing me to work at an entirely new level of dynamics and power and I can get a pretty amazing array of sounds from it.

I’m out there teaching at a lot of music camps and I’m doing more touring than ever these days. It’s not a day that goes by that I don’t get an inquiry from someone wanting help selecting a banjo. I’m also good friends with most all of the banjo builders and manufacturers out there internationally and I’ve owned and played quite a few instruments built by these various companies and individuals. I value each and every person that’s out there building banjos! For these reasons, I wanted to be associated with a company and with an instrument that I could sincerely feel was the very best for me and what I try to achieve with my music, my teaching and my career. I think the American Made Banjo team has achieved this with the Bill Evans KK.”