executor - Posted - 11/13/2009:  16:31:19

I'm attempting to put one of these together and, since I have no experience with this type of thing, I need a little help.

What is the best way to attach the banjo neck to the mandolin body? Should I try to cut one of those dovetail neck joints? I'll need to cut the neck maybe around the 15th fret so the fretboard can overlap onto the mandolin body. What should I do with the truss rod?

And also, does anyone know why banjolas don't have normal banjo bridges? They look more like guitar or mandolin bridges. Is there any disadvantage to using a normal banjo bridge?

Thanks

Dan Pennington - Posted - 11/14/2009:  06:08:30

Look into bolt on guitar neck methods. Very similar to how a banjo neck is bolted to a rim.



The heel on the left is on a guitar I built in 2001 and I've got it apart because I'm refinishing it. Two bolts go through the neck block inside the guitar body and screw into the metal threaded inserts in the neck. The heel just sits flat against the guitar body with the fingerboard extension glued down to the top of the guitar.

The one on the right is part of a kit that I'm going to build this winter in Texas. This one has a tenon that fits into a slot in the neck block in the body. Neck bolts are screwed into the neck just like a banjo. You don't need coordinator rods.

I had considered making a banjola from a mandolin kit body and a banjo neck, but then I just bought a banjola. Don't like it, it's for sale now.

Dan in Minneapolis


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