Got this little A-scale banjo finished and strung up today. The pot is an unnamed oak, spun rim with all original hardware from the early 1900s with a new American black Walnut neck. I decided to try a slightly different set-up to my usual by changing the neck angle, making the scoop a little deeper and adding a 3/4" bridge to make this a fantastic frailing banjo. The action over the entire fingerboard is nice and low (1/16" at the 12th fret) but enough space to drive a truck under strings where the right hand hammers! The tone is nice and bright, I changed the bridge in the photo to one of my lam/comp Cherry bridges which works wonders. I'll be photographing and recording it over the weekend as it is now up for grabs at a very modest price. I've also made some steady progress on banjos for Sean(left) and Paul(right) this week, rims are turned down to thickness ready for final shaping of tonering and rim caps and then drilling of bolt holes.
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You can't beat a slotted peghead! Just finished this commissioned Cherry banjo, turned out looking pretty awesome, if I do say so myself! Fitted with an Ebony tone ring, this thing has a fantastic sound. ,I decided to finish off this little project I started months ago, I made a new Walnut neck for the old spun pot I had laying around. A little more sanding and the neck will be ready for oiling next week and then assembly and she'll be up for sale.
Whilst I apply the many coats of oil to the Walnut neck I shall get cracking on Sean's Cherry banjo, a 12" Cherry rim with Rosewood tone ring and a 24.75" scale length with some brass and MOP inlays. Just finished these two, the one on the left is Olly's left handed Cherry/Maple banjo which could be heading to the Cornish Bluegrass festival this weekend! The one on the right is an all Black Walnut open back which is now for sale on the 'banjos in stock' page. A sound file/video will follow shortly, when I get time.
It has been a while since my last post so here's what I have on the bench at the moment.
Just started building up a finish on these two banjos, the Walnut burr overlay on the Maple neck is beginning to look pretty smart. Both banjos should be ready for assembly early next week, the Maple/Cherry 'lefty' is a commission but the all Walnut banjo will available for purchase next week, so keep an eye on the 'banjos in stock' page! I also managed to cut the slots and start shaping the 'ramps' on the commissioned Cherry slothead banjo today. Everything's groovy! |
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