Nechville Saturn

For the last 30 years, banjo designer Tom Nechville has pushed the limits of the 5-string template to maximize its sound, playability, and overall potential. The Nechville Saturn combines many of Tom's innovations, and it delivers powerful resonator tone that isn't just another approximation of a '30s Mastertone. The Saturn produces a fuller sound with a wider range of tones than a traditional resonator. Part of that is thanks to the Saturn's Walnut resonator (instead of the more common Maple), which gives it a slightly different tone than you might expect from a traditional resonator banjo.  We ordered this Saturn (serial #3037) with Nechville's new Hybrid tone ring, which makes it substantially lighter weight than a standard Bronze tone ring. The Hybrid is Nechville's newest design, and it looks like the familiar all-wood Timber-Tronic ring with a soft metal hoop on the edge that comes into contact with the head. This adds a familiar metallic chime and just enough mass to increase t