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Oak Mountain banjo

1/17/2021

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Finished this cool banjo a few days ago, a more traditional style than most of my other mountain style banjos. Similar to my early builds, based on the plans from the legendary 'Foxfire' book.

10" Oak pot 
Skin head
Maple neck
Walnut fingerboard, 26" scale
Maple flush frets
​Nylon strings
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Merry Christmas

12/24/2020

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Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year to all of my customers. Huge thanks for all of the orders this year.

Plenty of cool banjos already booked in for 2021, lots of other stuff planned too... we'll see what happens!!
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The Caveman and The little Birdie banjos

11/17/2020

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Check out the latest custom builds, I'm super chuffed with how they both turned out. My first banjo made from Honduras Mahogany and Pau Ferro, I'll definitely be using both woods again!
The Caveman:
11" American Black Walnut block rim
Rolled brass tone ring
'Menzies' goat skin head
Ebony rim cap'
American Black Walnut neck
Ebony 25.5" radiused fingerboard
Rickard 'Cyclone' tuners
Walnut arm rest
Copper/brass inlays, based on cave paintings.
​Medium GHS Americana strings
Little Birdie:
12" Honduras Mahogany 3-ply rim
Indian Rosewood tone ring
Fibreskyn head
Pau Ferro rim cap
Honduras Mahogany neck
25.5" scale Pau Ferro fingerboard
Rickard 'Cyclone' tuners
Inlaid Ebony 'Wren' in scoop
Medium GHS Americana strings
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Latest Walnut commissions

10/17/2020

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Here's the latest 2 Walnut banjos, fresh from the workshop!

Top Slideshow & Video
12" Black Walnut block rim
2-piece Black Walnut neck
Dobson tone ring
Goat skin head
25" scale length
Ziricote fingerboard and peghead overlay

Bottom Slideshow & Video
12" Black Walnut block rim
2-piece Black Walnut neck
Rolled brass tone ring
Calf skin head
25.5" scale length
Ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay
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Semi fretless + progress on next batch!

9/18/2020

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Finished this semi-fretless a few days ago for a customer over in France. A new Walnut neck for a vintage pot (supplied by customer).
It has a 12" pot, with the bridge situated close to the centre of the head, for a nice deep, plunky tone. 24.75" scale length.
Here's where I'm at with the next batch of open-back commissions. Rims, necks, fingerboards and peghead overlays are all glued, ready for working on over coming weeks.
From top left clockwise:
Rob's - Walnut neck, 12" Walnut rim, Ziricote fingerboard and peghead overlay
Ali's - Walnut neck, 12" Walnut rim, Ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay
Andrew's - Walnut neck, 11" Walnut rim, Ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay
Jon's - Honduras Mahogany neck, 12" Honduras Mahogany rim, Pau Ferro fingerboard and peghead overlay
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Maple Tackhead Banjer

9/3/2020

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The latest tackhead commission:
12" 2-ply Maple rim (lightly flamed)
Walnut rim cap
Maple neck
26" scale length
Goat skin head
​Nylon 'Minstrel' strings
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Latest Cherry Banjo

8/7/2020

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The latest commission.
​
11" 3-ply Cherry rim
Dobson tone ring
Cherry neck
Ziricote 25.5" scale fingerboard
Ziricote peghead overlay
​Fibreskyn head
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Update and stuff

7/26/2020

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Since I haven't posted anything in a while, I thought I'd better!
Below are some photos of the current batch of commissions, a varied selection, all coming along nicely.
Clockwise from top left:
Cherry, 11" rim with Dobson tonering, Cherry neck with Ziricote fingerboard and peghead overlay.
Walnut semi-fretless neck for 12" vintage pot, the fretless plate will be German silver.
Maple tackhead, with 12" pot.
Rosewood, Spruce and Ebony. A little project I've been planning for myself for several years, might get a chance to get stuck into it later in the year.
All Walnut openback, this one will be very similar to the Walnut 'stock' banjo that I recently sold.
Another Walnut banjo, this one will have Ziricote for the fingerboard and peghead overlay, and a Dobson tone ring.

As I said, these are all spoken for, but I do still have a few, very tasty banjos for sale on the 'banjos in stock' page.
I received a nice email from a customer, this week, along with some photos, which I truly appreciated.
It gave me the idea, that it would be really nice to have a 'rogues gallery'  page! If you have a photo of yourself, with your 'Ballard banjo/banjos' please send it over to me, don't be shy, it would be great to see :)

'Hi Leon, Thought you might like to see your banjo in it's new home with the proud owner.  Also in the photo are my custom Brook guitar made in Devon & an Eastman uke. Banjo takes pride of place!  Banjo sounds superb & so easy to play. The neck is beautiful & silky & the Walnut looks gorgeous.

Thanks again
Gary'
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For Sale - 2 Open Backs

6/29/2020

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Just finished these two open backs, and listed them on the 'banjos in stock' page, check 'em out! 

Top:
12"Walnut rim
Rolled brass tone ring
Calf head
​Walnut neck
25.5" scale length

Bottom:
11" Ash rim
Integral Cherry tone ring
Renaissance head
Lightly flamed Maple neck
26 3/16" scale length
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'No frills fretless' 2 of 4

6/2/2020

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Number 2 of the 4 fretless banjos is now finished, and on the 'for sale' page, number 3 is currently on the oiling bench and will also be listed next week!
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