Bill Ford has been a member of "New Mode Grass" since 1979 playing both fiddle and banjo and singing bass. He is a Scruggs style picker with a little chromatic mixed in. He played banjo and fiddle for six years with the "Bluegrass Revelation" gospel band, one year with Maryland Ramblers and four years with Raggedy Grass. He has done many substitute band gigs for other bluegrass groups over the years and plays violin in church on a regular basis.
Bill is experienced in instrument repair - especially banjos, having built many banjo necks from scratch. As another interest, he makes, sells and shoots original style Kentucky long rifles in both flint and percussion locks. These rifles feature hand carved and shaped stocks, usually out of curly maple and hand made brass or silver fittings. he is also a "modern" gunsmith and has a Federal Firearms License and operates a repair shop in Leedstown, Virginia.
