It has been nice (and a little overwhelming) to get back in the workshop the last couple of days, after returning from our family hols!
It took a while to remember where I was up to, but I think I'm now ready to really get stuck in next week.
The plan is to get Bob's tackhead ready for oiling by the end of the week, followed closely by the Walnut 'Dobson' stock banjo(I'm fed up having it laying around the workshop!), both should be complete by the end of September.
I'm also hoping to have Roger's tackhead and Corentin's mountain banjo well on the way by the end of Septemeber, which will leave October and November free to continue with Stephen's open back, start on Mike's fretless and finish Bob's mountain banjo. I can then get on with Rainier's 'classic' style open back in Decemeber, and that'll be another year done and dusted, scary!!
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Below are a few pics of what's what. No picture of Stephen's or the Walnut banjo, as they still look the same as my last post (but not for long ;)
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Left: Roger's tackhead (Front), Bob's tackhead (back)
Middle: Corentin's Ash mountain banjo (front), Bob's Walnut mountain banjo (back)
Right: Rainier's Ash/Cherry 'Classic' banjo

Been getting on well with the next batch of banjos the last few weeks.
First 4 pics are Stephen's open-back, a 3-ply Cherry rim with Ebony cap and rolled brass tone ring, the Maple neck looks like it should have some lovely flames!
The middle 3 pics are the 'stock' Walnut Dobson mentioned in an earlier post, I'm aiming to have it completed and for sale around September.
Bottom 2 banjos are Bob's Ash tackhead and Walnut mountain banjer. These 2 will be heading up to Scotland when finished and joining the Minstrel I built for Bob last year!
I'm building another mountain banjo alongside Bob's, which will be pretty much the same and for sale later in the year.

Just finished these 3 'stock' banjos this week, more photos, audio and prices are on the 'banjos in stock' page. If you are on my list of commissions and would like to put your paid deposit toward one of these and cancel your order, that's fine.
The lovely little 'A' scale Walnut banjo is perfect for jamming with fiddlers when playing A or D tunes, the brass rod tone ring and goat skin head give it a super sweet tone that cuts through nicely, it is also extremely comfortable.
The two Cherry/Purple heart banjos look beautiful, and each with their own unique sound, the 11" Whyte Laydie has that distinctive tone that will cut through any session, its sister has the richness that only a 12incher can provide!
In case anyone was wondering about purple heart, aside from the foul stench of vomit when being cut, it is in an ideal substitute for the now restricted Rosewood. It is very similar in hardness and workability, but much prettier than either Rosewood or Ebony.
​Let me know if you have any questions.

Just finished David's 6-string, really punchy tone. This is the 2nd 6-string I've made for David, mainly to be used in sessions, it has been strung up with an additional high G string and tuned to an open G tuning, the other banjo is mainly being kept in a 'D' tuning with an extra bass string.
Audio file will follow shortly, once I familiarise myself with the extra string!

11" Block Cherry rim
​Cherry neck
Whyte Laydie tone ring
Renaissance head
25.5" scale Ebony fingerboard
Walnut caps

The 3 stock banjos should be finished by the end of next week, keep an eye out for those!

Just started oiling these 4 banjos, David's 6 string and three stock banjos. They should all be finished in two weeks, the two Cherry/Purple hearts and the Walnut one will be be up for grabs once complete. See my earlier post for the specs on these, and keep checking for photos, audio files and prices!
Once I have these out of the way, I'll be getting on with some mountain banjo and tackhead commissions, along with getting parts prepared for some open backs due out later in the year and a stock Walnut-Dobson banjo.

Just finished this nice little Cherry mountain banjo for Matt.
Cherry pot and neck
Rosewood fingerboard and peghead overlay
Goat skin head
Ash tone ring
Heavy gauge nylon strings, tuned a step or so low

Just finished David's banjo, another super sweet Walnut 11incher!
11" Walnut block rim with rolled brass tone ring, Fibreskyn head and Ebony cap.
Walnut neck with 25.5" scale Ebony fingerboard.

One of my customers has just had this lovely leather case custom made for his 'Suffolk slugger' banjo. The case was made by French craftsman Gilles Garneret www.facebook.com/anchesetcuirs/ 

Been a bit slack on the updates of late, but certainly haven't slacked on work! Been busy slotting fingerboards, getting necks glued, turning rims, gluing caps and fitting tone rings ready for future commissions. The last photo shows various bits and bobs of my workload for much of the year, parts of your banjo will be amongst that lot of you're expecting delivery this year!
Top left is David's Walnut banjo, just needs the neck shaping, heel cut, frets installed and a jolly good sand. Hopefully I'll have it ready for final sanding by the end of the week.
Top right is Matt's Cherry mountain banjo, evreything is glued ready for working on whilst oiling David's banjo.
Bottom left, David's Cherry 6-string Whyte Laydie is taking shape, rim is all finished apart from sanding, still a fair bit to do on the neck, and possibly some inlay??
Slightly more frequent updates are on my instagram page: www.instagram.com/ballardbanjers/ 

Finished up Sam's Ash minstrel this week, lovely deep tone!
12" Ash 1-ply rim
Goat head
Ash neck 
Walnut fingerboard, 27" scale length, Maple flush frets
Gotoh tuners
Inlaid brass star in peghead
Nylon strings
Maple bridge


It was great to meet Davy last week, when he travelled down from Scotland to collect his Cherry open-back. It was a really nice surprise when I logged into my website this afternoon to find the lovely comments he wrote!

Back on with David's 6-string, Matt's mountain banjo and David's open-back next week.

Just a little reminder that I'll be updating my prices next weekend, so if you would like to commission a banjo at the current prices let me know this week. Wait time is around 10 months, so Jan/Feb 2020.

We finally finished my son's banjo...turned out pretty cool!

Ash pot and neck, 23.5" scale Rosewood fingerboard and peghead overlay, mother of pearl 'zombie' head, 8" Renaissance head.

Had quite a productive week, Sam's minstrel should be ready for oiling sometime next week, just need to carve the neck, sand and stain.
David's Walnut banjo is coming along nicely, rim is glued up (just needs an Ebony cap), neck is also glued up.
Glued up David's (different David!) Cherry rim, hopefully get the neck blank glued up next week.
Also hoping to start gluing bits for Matt's Cherry mountain banjo.