To celebrate his 25 years in the banjo building business, Tom Nechville has put together all the most requested banjo ingredients for the benefit of 25 lucky players. With over 30 years of hands-on banjo building experience, Tom has designed his own ultimate banjo, and is sharing this limited edition: the Nechville XXV.

According to Tom, the XXV, a modified Phantom, is a model of ergonomic, acoustical and aesthetic engineering unparalleled in the banjo world. Each component of the banjo is shaped by Tom's sense of optimal design. As with all Phantoms, the XXV features a tunneled fifth string and compound radiused fingerboard. Tom has chosen a golden maple finish for the neck and resonator. The banjo has the lightweight Timbr-Tronic tone ring, but it is also available with a standard Nechville tone ring.

But it is the surprising yet subtle details that put the XXV in a class of its own. A mini rolling 5th string nut ensures smooth tuning on the fifth string. The cocobolo rosewood fingerboard has elegant offset dot position markers. The Helimount frame and tailpiece have a copper finish, and the tuners are gold plated.

No more than 25 of these limited edition Phantoms, each one numbered, will be made. The cost is surprisingly affordable; about the same as a regular Phantom model.

When I received the first XXV I was so impressed that I purchased it for myself. I predicted that they would sell out quickly, and I was right. Nechville has already sold them all. We ordered a total of eight, and although we've only received two so far, most of the others are already spoken for. So, if you want one of these, don't hesitate!