For years, Patrick “Doc” Huff has been blazing the trail of innovation with his banjos. Number 227 is a Soprano Banjo, named “Georgina” by Doc’s daughter, and comes fully loaded with everything that makes Doc’s banjos unique. The scalloped and compound radiused fretboard (with bronze frets) gives the player ultimate control over their style: one can at once play “Georgina” like a regular fretted banjo, or play by sliding along the fretboard like a fretless banjo, which results in a smooth, gliding change in pitch. Add to that two of Doc’s other specialties–the “Frailer’s Tension Hoop” (which has a relief notched in the hoop to allow easy frailing) and his “Frailing Platform” (which allows the player to comfortably frail to their heart’s content)–and you find yourself in the presence of a banjo unlike any other. Not one to rest on his laurels, Doc has also built the neck and pot out of a combination of exotic tonewoods: Wenge, Padouk, Bilinga, Bubinga. The resultant tone is warm and full with great sustain for such a small banjo. Lastly, Doc handcarves the heels on each banjo, and this one features his trademark scalloping, which looks organic, like curving roots or a rockface. This banjo comes with an Access softshell case.