Ken Mort'sRock Banjo!

From John Alcorn from Years Ago

I don't know if Bob Rock played this type of music but it is cool.  A Bob Rock tenor banjo...
https://vimeo.com/103678889

From R. DeGrange

Here is a Bob Rock banjo that he built to emulate a Bacon Banjo.  Pretty neat.

An RB-4

This is the first RB-4 I have ever seen. Note the different inlays...dang, this one looks good.

Tenor Banjo!

Guys, this is one of the few Bob Rock tenors I have seen. This beauty is from Rechtsanwalt Daub from Denmark!

An Email from Tara

I am so excited to be e-mailing you! I live close to Nashville, Tennessee and I am 100% positive that I have a Bob Rock banjo. I have taken my banjo to dozens of places and had it looked at but no one had ever seen one like it. I just stumbled on your web site trying to find out for sure what it is. People thought it was Gretch or maybe a Vega but I`ve never seen one of those with the pearl inlay like whats on mine. Mine has both the moon and star on the head as well as the Fleur de lei. Also the inlays on the neck are identical to the one pictured on the site. The body I`ve been told is cast aluminum, and the back is beautiful wood that comes off, although there are no markings on the inside, or a name of any kind. And I`m even more sure because my dad has had the banjo in his possession since the 70`s and got it while living in Pennsylvania, somewhere near maybe Allentown or Skippack I believe. It is the most amazing souding instrument very solid and clear, the tone of it is unmatched, and especially since it sat around in a garage or barn for nearly 40 years. I am 24 and my dad recently came across it again and gave it to me since I love bluegrass and have recently taken up the banjo myself. I don`t have any pictures downloaded of it, I was really just trying to get some info. Thanks so much for your website, I love old instruments and am so happy to finally know the home that mine came from. If you want, I could mail you a picture or 2 of it, it`s one of my most prized and cherished possessions.
Thanks so much for readin this, and for the information!
-Tara

From Steve Millard...and thanks!

My wife and I knew Bob Rock back in 1975 when we ran a general store in Chenysville, just east of Clearville, south of Everett, PA. I bought his VERY FIRST handmade banjo for $40 from 2 beautiful elderly twin sisters, whom I also learned how to play clawhammer. They played this banjo, and sang old mountain songs in lovely harmony. I have no idea why they sold it to me, except to encourge me to play. To this day I kick myself for not being mature enough to have recorded their music (I was just a kid).

I still own his banjo, that has 'star' and 'moon' pearl inlays that he carved out of large pearl buttons from his mothers coat of the '20s era. It's an open back banjo that plays fantastic to this day...strong and vibrant! We were invited to a 'Banjo Orchestra Convention' in Willamsport, PA (I think...it was along time ago) by Bob and his wife and were very welcomed as some of the youngest folks to show an interest. Imagine, 25 banjos of various sizes on one stage playing band and minstrel tunes all at once! At that time, however, I was mostly interested in 'Old Time' music. I was inspired to learn how to build banjos from Bob (who also had a blacksmith barn where he made his rims and head ring from scratch!)... but Eliza and I moved on soon after we were relieved of the store chore. I have several pics of Bob holding his 'Gibson' copy at his house from 1974. Thought ya'll'd like to know.
Steve MillardMILLARD DESIGN - Yancey County