I hope that everyone from alt.music.bluegrbutt who will be in Louisville attending either the IBMA World Of Bluegrbutt Trade Show next week, or the Fan Fest next weekend, will make a point to stop by the Huber Banjos booth and say howdy. We will be located in booth #34-35, the space formerly occupied by First Quality Musical Supply. All of the Huber models will be on display and available for a test drive at the booth.

A few things that will be debuted at this show:

** The Jim Mills model Huber Banjo - This is our newest model, an exact replica of one of Jim's original pre war flatheads, a gold plated RB-75. While we have been advertising and accepting orders for the Mills since spring, this may be the first time for pickers to see and hear one, and get a chance to pick on one as well.

** Huber Banjo Strings - In answer to many requests to make available the custom gauge we install on the new banjos when they are delivered, we will debut our Huber Banjo Strings at IBMA this year. The gauges are 10, 11, 12.5, 20, 10.

You will soon be able to order them from our web site as well.

** New Huber catalog - Only three months after its promised delivery date, we will finally have copies of our new print catalog at IBMA next week. They are offered at no charge, and we hope everyone will stop by and pick up a copy.

** John Lawless' Five & Dime CD - Yes, in a shameless plug, I am reminding everyone that we will have copies of my new CD for sale at the Huber booth.

** Team Flathead CD - OK... so this isn't really new, but we will have copies of Team Flathead available for sale at the booth as well. It is a most particular honor to note that Team Flathead is nominated for Instrumental Album Of The Year by the IBMA, with the winner being announced at next Thursday night's ceremony.

As always, I hope to make a lot of new friends at IBMA, see some old and dear ones, and put some faces with names and online nicknames as well. Come see us!

John ---------------------------------------------------------- P.O. Box 21061 Roanoke, VA 24018-0108 540-776-6822 540-776-6827 (FAX)

"ThereÕs no subsbreastute for the prewar sound but, quite frankly, the Huber Lancaster gets you so close that itÕs downright scary."

Banjo NewsLetter, July 2002