ZEPP Country Music, Inc.

P.O. Box 306
4 East Third St.
Wendell, NC 27591-0306
Local: 919-365-5189 or Call Toll Free within USA: 866-365-5189

ZEPP Country Music is proud to have been the first to offer Chuck Lee banjos by the Chuck Lee Banjo Company, Inc. of Ovilla, Texas. Chuck makes a high quality, exquisitely detailed line of banjos, as you can see below!

Lone Star Deluxe

The Lone Star Deluxe is Chuck's "work horse" banjo. It has the all the fit and finish of the other models. It's like the horse that a cowboy "really" rides, the one he chooses when it's time to get the job completed. It has clean peghead lines, a Dobson style heel and a frailing scoop. Like the others it has a laminated neck, a double action truss-rod and a Scalloped Bone nut. It has a striped ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay. There are no inlays on the fingerboard but one Lone Star on the peghead. It has a wooden tone rim on a 11-inch or 12-inch, two-ply rim, and Waverly or Pegheds brand planetary tuning pegs.

While it does not have fingerboard inlays, it does have side marker dots. It is set up with a overtone-reducing no-knot tailpiece and a Renaissance Head to give a great old-time sound. Click here to hear no. 033.

Lone Star Deluxe Vintage 12-inch A simple, but killer banjo! Click on thumbnail or link for more information

Click here to hear Lone Star Deluxe no. 033.

See and hear a Lone Star Deluxe played (3MB .wmv)

The Lone Star Deluxe is $1950 and $2000 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are available, of course.

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Deep Hollow Fretless

This fretless model has a 11- or 12-inch, 2-ply maple pot with a wooden tone rim. It is available with an optional brass overlay covering the fingerboard to roughly where the 9th fret would be.

The neck of the example most recently in stock is walnut laminated for strength and aesthetic appeal, and features a "Dobson" heel. The peghead has a beautiful overlay with no inlay, and, as is the fingerboard, it's underlain with dyed woods; its Waverly brand planetary tuners have ebony buttons.

Its bracket shoes and tension hoop are of non-plated brass, while its brackets and nuts are nickel-plated. It is set up with a Renaissance head and a No-Knot tailpiece for that deep, old-timey sound.

The Deep Hollow comes standard with steel strings. Nylgut strings, which you can hear with this link, are available, or course.

The Deep Hollow is $1900 in 11-inch and $1950 in its 12-inch configuration. The brass overlay adds $100. Out of Stock
Hardshell cases for either size are available, of course.

Hear a Deep Hollow with Nylgut strings.

See and hear a Deep Hollow banjo played (3MB .wmv)

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Ovilla

Chuck conceived this model after examining an old Dobson banjo. It has has a scooped, ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay. Shooting star inlay at the 5th fret, as well as MOP side markers inlaid on the edge of fingerboard. The Dobson peghead has Chuck's "Girl Sitting on the Moon" inlay.

Its neck is made of various woods. It has a Dobson heel for a traditional look and feel, and a 25.5-inch scale.

The 11- or 12-inch 2-ply maple pot has a shaped wooden tone rim. It comes set up with a Renaissance head and No-Knot tailpiece, to give a great old-time sound. Click here to hear no. 035.

Here is an Ovilla having a cherry neck , and Waverly brand planetary tuners (Pegheds brand are also available).

The Ovilla's price is $2200 and $2250 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are, of course, available.

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Prairieville

This banjo has a an 11- or 12-inch maple pot with a rolled brass tonering..

Prairieville 12-inch Mellow as it gets with that 12-inch, rolled brass tone ring! Click on thumbnail or link for more information

Here's an MP3 sound clip of a Prairieville.

The Prairieville is $2300 and $2350 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are, of course, available.

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Cottonwood

New in March of 2008, the Cottonwood figured here was Chuck's first.

This one is a walnut banjo, featuring highly figured and flamed walnut! The scooped, ebony fingerboard has Chuck's offset inlays as well as side marker dots. The peghead has a fleur de lis inlaid, and it has Pegheds brand planetary geared tuners that masquerade as fiddle pegs!

The 11-inch pot features a Dobson style tone ring, and the rim itself is made of figured walnut.

The instrument is set up with a No-Knot tailpiece and a Renaissance head. The Dobson tone ring gives this banjo a really strong mid-range, while the bass has little sustain, and really balances well. I really like the sound! See and hear this banjo played (5.4MB .wmv), or just hear the MP3.

Cottonwood 12-inch Great mellow OT banjo! Click on link or on thumbnail for more information

The Cottonwood is $2550 and $2600 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are, of course, available.

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Glen Rose

Glen Rose 12-inch This one had a cherry neck and 12-inch cherry pot with Electric tone ring. Click on link or on thumbnail for more information

The Glen Rose is $2750 and $2800 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are, of course, available.

Hear an 11-inch Glen Rose. .

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Chalk Mountain

This particular banjo has a three-piece cherry neck with a gorgeous finish. The striped ebony fingerboard still has Chuck's signature offset dot inlays, and his "Texas" scoop. The ebony overlain peghead has a new abalone inlay. This particular instrument features planetary geared pegheds brand 4:1 anodized aluminum tuners that look just like ebony, violin-style tuning pegs--really sharp! Even the 5th string peg is one of these most cool planetary geared tuners! Waverly brand planetaries are also available.

This Chalk Mountain 12 has a 2 ply, 12-inch maple pot with a purple heart tone ring. set up with a Renaissance head and No-Knot tailpiece for a really deep, plunky old-time sound.

Out of Stock. See and hear this banjo played (6MB .wmv)

The Chalk Mountain is $2550 and $2600 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are, of course, available.

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Marble Falls

The Marble Falls starts with a very old peghead style. The peghead has a Lady standing on a marble out cropping with a large pot pouring water into a pool. It has a multi-piece neck of varying premium woods. It comes with a Dobson shaped heel, a 25.5" scale, a double action truss-rod and a Scalloped Bone nut. Ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay. This model comes with a Tuba-phone tone ring on an 11" or 12" two-ply rim 1/2" thick. Pegheds brand or Waverly brand planetary tuning pegs are available. It has pearl side dots, a no-knot tailpiece and a Renaissance Head.

Marble Falls 12-inch Maple neck and 12-inch walnut pot with Tu-Ba-Phone tone ring. Click on link or on thumbnail for more information

The Marble Falls s $2750 and $2800 for 11- and 12-inch pots, respectively.
Hardshell cases for either size are, of course, available.

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• Chautauqua

  Chautauqua Vintage 11-inch Chuck's Silver Bell model. Click on link or on thumbnail for more information

  See and hear a Chautauqua played. (7MB .wmv).

  Click here to hear another Chautauqua.

  The Chautauqua is $2850, and is only available in 11-inch configuration.
  A hardshell case is, of course, available.

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• Custom Chuck Lee Banjos

  Custom 12-inch Dobson Celtic Knot Highly flamed maple, gorgeous Celtic Knot on peghead, Dobson style tone ring. Click on link or on thumbnail for more information

  Custom Fretless:

  This is a one-off piece Chuck created in early 2006. It has a 12-inch wooden tone rim made with special, flamed maple.

  It has a Dobson heel on its dyed-woods, laminated neck of predominantly oak., and Chuck has added a lady-playing-banjo inlay just above his Texas scoop on this instrument.

  The peghead is simple, with an ebony overlay, and on the back it has Waverly brand planetary tuners.

  It's set up with a Renaissance head, No-Knot tailpiece and Nylgut brand strings; it's ready to play in your string band! Hear this banjo.

  This unique banjo is Sold, but the next one below, is not!

  We have a second custom fretless in stock now. This is very similar to the above-described banjo, except:
  
  • Its 12" maple pot has a rolled brass tone ring installed.
  • It also has slight cosmetic differences--the inlaid lady has a different color dress, and the 12" pot on this one is dyed black.
  • The addition of a tone ring raises its price slightly, so this unique banjo is $2270!

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