It has been a pretty busy week! Tony's banjo is nearly ready for fretting,  MOP was inlaid today and after the fingerboard is leveled I will do some simple engraving to enhance the look. 
The 'aged' brass overlay looks great on Tom's banjo, just need to visit the hardware store to get some more brass screws, it will also have a matching brass plate on a curvy scoop.
Alan's banjo is all shaped/carved and ready for a final sand before staining black.
Also, I've made a good start on the next batch by cutting, planing, slotting and profiling all of the fingerboards.

Once again I will be increasing my prices slightly in April this year, if you wish to take advantage of the current prices then you can place an order for 2017 before April 5th (my order book is currently full until January). The price increase won't affect orders already placed.

Commissions have been piling in this year and I now have enough orders to take me up to Christmas, delivery estimate on new orders is now Jan 2017.
It is great to know I have enough work to keep me busy for the rest of the year, bills will be paid, food will be on the table and the kids might even get a Christmas present in December!
Unfortunately, this means I doubt I will get a chance to build any 'stock' banjos this year and try out any of the new ideas I have, but, I do have some exciting commissions to build, including a 6 string banjo (a standard 5 string but with an extra low G string).
​Below is a little update on the next 3 commissions.

Getting ready to blacken this Maple banjo, just need to finish shaping the neck first.

Laying out the 'mother of pearl' inlays for Tony's banjo, I glued the fingerboard on the neck today and will hopefully do the inlay and engraving next week.

Spent a couple of weeks experimenting with household products to achieve this gnarly looking brass peghead overlay for Tom's banjo.

11" Black Walnut rim with Ebony cap
Dobson tone ring
Calf skin head
Black Walnut neck with 25.5" scale Ebony fingerboard
Slotted peghead and 5th