DEmery - Posted - 11/26/2012:  18:39:26

A few weeks ago I started a thread with Jason Burns' slot head Dobson. Many of you have viewed his work and soon it should be complete. A good friend of Jason is Lee Sproull of Birmingham, Alabama. Lee is is a player and one of those fellows that has full time employment but loves to build banjos one at at time...and they are great. A few weeks ago mrphysics sold one of Lee's banjos to a BHO member in California and she was delighted. I own Lee's woody #5. It is one of the strongest banjos I've owned by any builder and is perfectly executed. I was so pleased with the woody we decided to build another banjo.

This banjo is aimed at capturing the thin rim Whyte Laydie sound. While my interest was not aimed at reproducing a Whyte Laydie visually...we chose very fancy curly maple with a 25 1/2" scale, a 3/8" maple rim at 3" deep, and a Whyte Laydie tone ring. Most of my banjos are 12" rims but we elected to build this one at 11".  Lee has bent the rim and completed the rough carving on the neck. I am attaching photos and as the project comes to a close we will post finished photos. 

Lee is a detailed builder and does a tremendous amount of hand work. I hope you enjoy seeing his work.   David E. 

Rough Carving Complete #9	Back Plate and partial carve #9	Partial Carved Neck #9	Scoop #9
Neck Pre Carve #9	Headstock Templates	Neck Blank - Presentation Grade Curly Maple	Rim Capped #9
Rim Bent #9

DEmery - Posted - 11/26/2012:  18:44:49

Just to show you an example of Lee's work...here are shots of Lee's Woody #5. David E.

J.L. Sproull Woody #005	J.L. Sproull Woody #005	J.L. Sproull Woody #005	Sproull Woody
Sproull Woody	Sproull Woody	Sproull Woody	Sproull Woody

aeroweenie - Posted - 11/26/2012:  19:35:36

Gorgeous banjo!  Do you know how the rim was finished?  That is exactly the look I want on a rim I'm making but the few approaches I've tried on samples have not come out like I want.

DEmery - Posted - 11/26/2012:  19:50:05

Lee referred to it as an ebonized finish. The wood is old maple salvaged from a hand rail system out of a hospital in Birmingham. Hopefully Lee picks up on the post and shares what he did to get the finish. It is perfectly black and consistent. The new banjo will be ebonized on the exterior and natural maple on the inside. David E.

JLSproull - Posted - 11/27/2012:  07:01:40

David, I appreciate you starting this thread and hope to have more photos soon. The rim on #5 is finished with stewmac black and clear lacquer spray cans. The rim  has an ebony end cap and cocobolo tone ring. I taped off the tone ring and shot a couple coats of black. I then removed the tape and shot several coats of clear sanding with 1200 between coats. I then sanded the finish off the flat surface of the ebony end cap reveling the ebony. Finally I rubbed the entire rim down with 0000 steel wool leaving a satin finish. David's new rim will be done this way as well. The ebony end cap will allow for good transition from the outer black side to the natural interior side.
Lee s

blockader - Posted - 11/27/2012:  07:46:50

very nice! did you win the lottery or somethin david?

i think that white laydies do sound much better on 11" rims.

-justin

DEmery - Posted - 11/27/2012:  08:13:18

Justin I wish a lottery was involved. Over the years I've gathered a group of banjos by different builders and my sense is both banjos available and builders have changed in a positive way..., so I sold off several pieces to put back into new banjos. Early on I found one Romero on the market and bought it. It is a tremendous banjo so I decided (with the encouragement of good friend John Balch) to have Jason Romero build me another. It was delivered a few weeks ago and a thread is posted of Romero #12321. At the same time I had conversations with Jason Burns and Lee Sproull to build different banjos for me so each is distinct. This thread was started to show Lee's progress; and there is another thread with Jason Burns progress on a slot head. It has been a process of selling and building that has worked out really nice.

Lee builds a truly special banjo. His woody #5 is surprisingly clear, has lots of volume, and the musical quality of his banjos is outstanding. I look forward to getting #9 from Lee soon. David E.

blockader - Posted - 11/27/2012:  08:23:49

was just kiddin around...

rubicon - Posted - 11/27/2012:  16:05:30

Congratulations Dave this banjo is going to be wonderfull Lee is quite an artist !

DEmery - Posted - 11/27/2012:  16:16:40

Thanks for your comments. Lee is excellent to work with and is a methodical builder. I look forward to seeing how it turns out. David E.

DEmery - Posted - 12/07/2012:  06:03:35

Lee Sproull started #9 for me this past spring. Early on Lee sent photos of the process of bending the maple rim. The outside ply of this rim is from the same maple salvaged from a Birmingham hospital hand rail system used on #5. It is spectacular tone wood based on the performance of my Sproull woody. The inside ply is fancy curly maple Lee had in stock. The outside ply will be ebonized while the internal ply will be natural finish to match the neck and dowel.

I should get photos soon of the neck that is in final carving and shaping; but I did get images of the rim being turned along with a finished shot with the brass tone ring in place. All hardware will be aged during the final process. The rim looks great and more photos will be posted soon when Lee is ready to show me the neck. David E.

Turning #9 Rim .2

Turning #9 Rim

#9 Rim Turned with Whyte Laydie brass tone ring

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/07/2012:  06:24:47

Looking good!  

rubicon - Posted - 12/07/2012:  14:12:19

Fine Job Lee !!

jhynakin - Posted - 12/07/2012:  19:30:29

Love the raw brass tone ring.  Nice lathe setup too 

DEmery - Posted - 12/08/2012:  10:44:47

Jason I am with you on the raw brass look. It looks about as good as that relic nickel finish on the slot head...doesn't it? I do feel the look will be particularly nice agains the highly figured curly maple Lee has chosen once the tint is added to the finish. David E.

DEmery - Posted - 01/14/2013:  03:27:26

DEmery - Posted - 01/14/2013:  03:33:57

For those that are looking in on Lee Sproull's build of the Sproull #9..., I got a download of photos last night. we are closing in on wrapping up the banjo and this coming week Lee will be drilling for hardware. I showed these photos to John Balch last night. We agree the pics show the detailed, clean work Lee does that delivers a well balanced and playing banjo. Lighting is a little bright; but if you look closely you will see the neck is very figured maple. The rim is 2 play maple with the exterior taken from salvaged maple railing out of a Birmingham hospital and interior ply figured maple Lee had in his stock. The exterior will be ebonized while the interior finished to match the neck and dowel with a brown tone stain toning down the yellows in our maple neck. The brass Whyte Laydie tone ring is fitted to the rim and the balance of hardware will be brass with relic finish. Hope you enjoy the photos. David E.

jbalch - Posted - 01/14/2013:  05:57:42

That is a great looking project.  Should be an awesome sounding addition to your collection.

Lee's work is incredibly precise and fantastic quality.  Great materials too! I like the idea of a Whyte Laydie ring on the thin rim - but a little deeper than normal.  Can't wait to play it....

jhynakin - Posted - 01/14/2013:  06:50:48

I have always liked the way lee carves the back of the neck for the 5th string. It's a very clean streamline look. Goes well with that peg head design too.
Jason B.

chickenpickin - Posted - 01/14/2013:  07:18:30

Great looking workmanship right there!!!

Tim

rubicon - Posted - 01/15/2013:  15:40:14

I agree with Jason this is a fine looking banjo neck and a very nice build I send congrats to  Lee for his outstanding workmanship !! Those Birmingham boys really know there stuff !

Edited by - rubicon on 01/15/2013 15:40:44

rubicon - Posted - 01/27/2013:  18:36:32

Just checking in on the progress any updates ? .....Drool drool 

Jonnycake White - Posted - 01/28/2013:  14:01:17

Very nice workmanship there - lots of nice subtle details like the banding under the fret board, the 5th string neck side carving, and the old time heel cut out.

DEmery - Posted - 02/19/2013:  11:04:14

Lee continues to make good progress on the Sproull #9 and last night update photos were sent my way. Lee's simply does immaculate, detailed work on his banjos and the photos show it dry fitted in the white with hardware in place along with a temporary bridge and head. It is under string tension after the neck was set so Lee can dial in on the bridge height. The bridge will be ordered from BHO member Tim Purcell this week. The Balch Hide Head has already been delivered; but Lee is using a mylar head and temporary bridge for tweaks and set up.

Hopefully Lee gets a moment  to comment; but at this point most of the structural building is nearing completion and Lee will focus in on finish of wood and metal components. Hardware will be lite brass aged and the highly figured wood will be brown tone natural. I simply want the yellow knocked out. Lee ebonized my Sproull Wood Rim #5 and again he will do this - but in this case only the outside of the rim will be ebonized. The rims inside will be finished like the neck and dowel.

If you look closely we went with a deeper rim. It is my hope the depth will provide good bottom end to the Whyte Laydie tone ring and the skin head will give it a nice voice. I hope to know in the next few weeks. More as Lee send photos. David E. 

Sproull #9 back plate with tuners mounted

Sproull #9 dry fitted in white with temporary head and bridge

Sproull #9 dry fitted in white with temporary head and bridge

Sproull #9 dowel and heel

rubicon - Posted - 02/19/2013:  12:05:36

My compliments to Lee on a  a fine looking banjo ! I really like the peg head shape , and the neck profile is simple yet very elegant , thanks for taking the time  to keep us posted with the pic's Dave , I look forward to seeing it's completion    Kudos !!

DEmery - Posted - 02/19/2013:  12:42:21

I appreciate the kind words. I couldn't be more pleased with his work on this banjo. David E, 

DEmery - Posted - 02/20/2013:  18:09:31

Tim Purcell is providing bridges for this banjo. Tonight Lee asked for two bridges in different heights to test drive the banjo soon. These will be black locust from the 1860 beam from a barn in Tennessee. I have found these bridges to work very well with tone ring open back banjos. John Balch has provided the goat skin head so we are closing in on final steps for this banjo. David E.  

DEmery - Posted - 03/16/2013:  13:34:38

Lee continues to wrap up the #9 Whyte Laydie thin rim banjo and it is expected to finish by month's end. I got a couple of photos this past weekend with the relic finished hardware, early finish on the ebonized rim, and the brass dot positon markers. Finish was starting on the neck and inside of the rim during the week. Hopefully we will see some photos of that soon; but this is the photo update from a week ago. David E.

position markers #9

eobonized rim #9

relic hardware #9

DEmery - Posted - 03/16/2013:  17:22:29

Later today I got some photos from Lee Sproull with finish applied to the neck. I chose a brown tone stain on the figured maple and it really pops the curls nicely. Here you go. David E.

Edited by - DEmery on 03/16/2013 17:23:22

#9 neck with finish

#9 neck with balch hide head and tim purcell bridge

#9 neck with finish

chickenpickin - Posted - 03/16/2013:  18:07:50

Nice looking maple, David......and I like the brown color. I'm anxious to hear how it sounds with the Locust bridge and John's hide head. 

Tim

rubicon - Posted - 03/17/2013:  02:17:54

This has turned out really well I love the neck finish can't wait to see it all pulled together

jbalch - Posted - 03/17/2013:  05:52:21

Looks like another great banjo from Lee.  I hope to see it soon.

mrphysics55 - Posted - 03/17/2013:  18:23:28

As I have David's permission I intend to go over to Lee's and have my way with #9 before it leaves BHAM.

hockeydudde - Posted - 03/18/2013:  08:42:09

Beautiful banjo!

What is running down the inside of the neck, pictured in the picture with the whole for the dowel being drilled? Carbon fiber stiffener?

JLSproull - Posted - 03/19/2013:  17:19:01

Its African black wood that extends just pass the scoop. It reinforces the heel area to accommodate the adjustable truss rod slot.

DEmery - Posted - 03/19/2013:  18:57:58

Mr. Physics you do have permissioin to gently have your way with #9 before it heads home to Florida; but be kind. David E.

mrphysics55 - Posted - 03/20/2013:  15:59:20

Trust me David E.  

DEmery - Posted - 03/21/2013:  01:16:22

Last night I received unexpected photos from Lee after finish was applied to the interior rim to show the curly maple. The exterior is ebonized and capped with ebony. Too, Lee dry fit the neck to show the contrast of the stained finish matched to the rim. Oil finish is being applied so we can keep a natural look and feel to the wood. The idea of finishing the inside of the rim came to me one morning early in the build and Lee liked the concept. I think it turned out well. At this point we are getting close to completing the project with all metal hardware relic finished and ready to assemble. David E.

Sproull #9 Rim

Sproull #9 rim and neck

#9 neck with balch hide head and tim purcell bridge

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 03/21/2013:  04:28:17

David - A real beauty - this banjo really looks incredible! Can't wait to see it all together and get a report on the sound...

DEmery - Posted - 03/21/2013:  06:40:58

I appreciate your comment about Lee's banjo. You may have seen the #5 banjo Lee built; but this banjo is build on the idea that a Whyte Laydie model would take a very strong woody banjo design and do something special with it. We went with an 11" rim to gain focus; but deepened the pot to put bottom end on the note. Other than that we simply chose a different wood, headstock and oil finish. Lee's work is as clean as it comes and he shared a note last night with the above photos saying it has turned out really well. I should see it soon. David E.

Edited by - DEmery on 03/21/2013 06:42:20

J.L. Sproull Woody #005

J.L. Sproull Woody #005

Sproull Woody

Sproull Woody

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 03/21/2013:  10:39:37

Honestly David - Lee's work looks as good as anything I've seen if not better - really fine attention to the details. I also love your aesthetic choices (with all your recent banjos in fact) but this one really has me lusting for a Sproull of my own! I need another banjo like a need a hole in the head...

DEmery - Posted - 03/24/2013:  11:51:51

It looks like from the note received this afternoon that Lee Sproull will string up#9 tonight and giver her a whirll. The oil finish has been applied along with the lacqure ebonized finish to the exterior of the two ply maple rim. The hardware is relic finished and ready. These are the photos of our banjo ready for assembly and set up as of today. I couldn't be more pleased with the results. David E.

Sproull #9

Sproull #9

Sproull #9

Sproull #9

rubicon - Posted - 03/24/2013:  13:53:44

Tremendous Job Lee this banjo looks Great !!

JLSproull - Posted - 03/25/2013:  09:54:20

I appreciate all the kind words and hope to have finished  photos for David soon.
Mr.Physics, I'm bringing David's banjo to Jason's shop this afternoon. If you can't make it give me a call and maybe we can get together before Friday.

Lee s

   

DEmery - Posted - 03/25/2013:  09:59:20

Now Mr. Physics...remember to treat her nice. David E.

DEmery - Posted - 03/28/2013:  04:30:54

Over the past year Lee has been patiently working away on the Sproull #9 and it is complete, ready to ship, and based on the photos turned out absolutely as hoped. This thread started in November and a couple thousand views later those that watched saw the early design choices, carving, rim bending, and lately relic finished parts. During the past couple of weeks Lee has tuned up the fine points and applied the oil finish to the brown tone stain we chose with this figured maple banjo. It made a trip to visit Jason Burns at the shop this week for a check of set up and a little playing. Lee has spent a few hours hammering around on it to be sure it meets his expectations. Everyone was pleased. White Lee has not been a fan of the Whyte Laydie tone ring; he feels it sounds "fantastic" as he put it on his two ply thin rim. My thanks to Lee for adding #9 to my banjos group. Thanks too for John Balch for supplying the Balch Hide Head and Tim Purcell to the locust bridge. Here are the finished photo. David E.

chickenpickin - Posted - 03/28/2013:  04:46:33

David, that's a beautiful instrument!! If it sounds like it looks you'll have a jewel to treasure. I really like the headstock design and lamination...very unique. I'm curious as to what Lee used for the side dot material. I like it.

Tim

Edited by - chickenpickin on 03/28/2013 04:47:04

DEmery - Posted - 03/28/2013:  04:56:22

Thanks Tim. If I understand the position markers; they are brass with the center drilled. My guess it is filled with ebony dust. Hopefully Lee picks up on your question and gives a better answer. David E.

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 03/28/2013:  06:04:43

Ridiculously nice - I'd *LOVE* to play this thing...