frihauf - Posted - 04/14/2010:  11:15:46

Now that is cool. gives the banjo some more personality.

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/14/2010:  20:30:06

Again, I thank each of you so much, Y'all are wonderful and I glad you like this new direction.

T-HOOP #2

In addition to this tension hoop, I've decided to use one of Bill Rickards dowel stick ferules on this banjo. So if you have been enjoying this there will be several more days of engraving.

Back to the t-hoop...

I've decided to have Huck Finn, the King and Duke make an appearance on Othello. So using my fine line marker they enter the foray on their trusty raft.



Here it's just started.





Whack, whack, whack!



There we go, I may give Jim his own frame later. After all this is on the bottom side of the banjo.

rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/15/2010:  03:23:20

love the way you develope a "theme" for your banjos. i try to do the same with mine. othello is very impressive, i am enjoying this thread immensly and learning alot as well. thanks, steve

bordertownbrown - Posted - 04/15/2010:  06:28:44

Dan, I love the new tension hoop engraving!

Richard

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/15/2010:  19:51:10

Steve & Richard,
Thanks so much. I should be done with all tis engraving and such soon. Then I can get on to pickin'!

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/15/2010:  19:59:48

END BOLT DOCTORIN'

Today I reworked the end bolt for Othello.

Basically I used a standard Bill Rickard end bolt. This is a nicely shaped, high quality piece, still I wanted to add my own spin on it.



I loaded it up in my small lathe. This brass is rather soft so I formed it using wood working tools.





Complete.

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/18/2010:  19:05:36

Engraving (next)

Well yesterday I spent my day visiting with folks down at Holiday, TN. I was there for a wonderful Banjo-Fiddle contest put on by Holiday School, I believe it is called the South-east Regional Contest. There were so many geat folks that I was privileged to visit and pick with, It was great to see my buddies compete, Luke Richardson (2ed), Daniel Pitts (3rd.). I also got to show some of my new engraving to master engraver William Moore.

Anyway back to the engraving...

We are now heading towards the half way point of the hoop engraving. This time I'm going to engrave another portrait, Jim the runaway slave in Huck Finn. Of all the characters in Twain's immortal work Jim is my favorite.

Here he goes.

First I sketched the image out on the hoop and set to engraving.














After Jim was complete I set off engraving the aria under the tailpiece.

Slingerland - Posted - 04/18/2010:  20:29:48

Looks great!

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/20/2010:  08:18:45

Thanks Slingerland... here's some more.

ENGRAVING R. E. LEE

I felt the need to include General Lee so here he is...

Deering_Dude - Posted - 04/20/2010:  11:10:26

My oh my oh my oh my. I cannot find my socks because this thread keeps knocking them off!

P.S. I recently built a sort of "Home-Depot" banjo. When you finish this banjo, I'd consider parting with my new homemade/Home-Depot banjo if you're interested in a trade. :)

rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/20/2010:  12:18:10

dan,
the last tension hoop was beautiful, but this one fits with the "river" theme much better. very nice job!!! thanks for your help, i will be posting picks of mine very soon. i would appreciate any input you have since i sort of plan as i go. everything is change-able until im finished.

steve

Ronnie - Posted - 04/20/2010:  12:20:17

Will she be ready to show us at UDMD???

ogletj - Posted - 04/20/2010:  17:45:37

Edited by - ogletj on 04/21/2010 18:12:19

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/21/2010:  08:53:30

Thanks to each of you...

Deering Dude, Call me and we'll talk about boot!

Steve,
Will do!

Ronnie,
YEP!!!

Tommy
Glad you saw her.


Well folks, here is a bit more!

MORE T-HOOP ENGRAVING

More truth is out! Here is the real engraver! My grand son Ryland.



Here is the start of work on Natchez.











More tomorrow...

rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/21/2010:  09:12:46

dan, here is a link to the thread on my project. hope you enjoy since you and richard inspired this. thanks again.
banjohangout.org/topic/176500

DEmery - Posted - 04/21/2010:  15:27:10

Dan. Nice continuation of the steamboat theme. The first tension hoop had hook ports. Is this grooved for hooks or split to accept hooks. Appears so. I like that style for a variety of reasons. Good to see the progress and I look forward to seeing it assembled soon. David E.

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/23/2010:  05:19:56

Steve,
Your banjo neck looks great!
David,
Thanks, here's some more.



Yeas ago Natchez, Mississippi was two distinct towns. The rich land owners with their plantation mansions on the top of the bluff and the warehouses, saloons, hotels and houses of ill repute down under the hill by the Mississippi river. In the 1870's this was a major river port. I've chosen to illustrate Nachez Under the Hill along with three steamboats tied up at the wharf.

Here we go...

First the drawing.



Then the engraving.







Now a steamboat under way.







Working up some background.

Bagpussfrog - Posted - 04/23/2010:  05:52:00

good stuff, Dan! really fits in with that theme.

rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/23/2010:  06:03:54

very nice dan! i am very impressed by the ideas, the artistry and the size. i went to an engraving school but everything there was done with power engraving, hand engraving is really much more impressive.

bordertownbrown - Posted - 04/23/2010:  07:17:04

Dan, Wonderful illustrations on that hoop and so well executed!

TTreppa - Posted - 04/23/2010:  13:26:22

Dan,
Ryland is really going to enjoy playing the Ebony Banjo. He'll even have a long tale to tell about its construction. It sure will be a family treasure.
Hang in there.
Terry Treppa

drummerboy - Posted - 04/24/2010:  08:11:11

Very interesting project. I was curious about a couple of things. First, are you laminating up the neck or did you find a chuck of ebony large enough to take it out of a solid piece?
Second, how does a banjo made from ebony sound? Any sound clips out there for people to hear?
Finally, I was a bit shocked to see that table saw set up where you were cutting into what looked to be a metal slot with a shallow cutout in it? I'd be very careful of that trick. why not have a wood backer board with the same angle you want cut on it with your stock running out past the end of it? No risk of hitting metal with a running blade that way. Just a thought. :)

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/25/2010:  08:23:46

Shaun, Steve, Richard & Terry,

Thanks for your kind comments.

Dave,
The neck was laminated up from two pieces of Gabon ebony, two pieces of maple and a single piece of Indian rosewood. There should be some some clips of this banjo soon for folks to decide on sound. The jig you saw is a cut off jig for creating the rim blocks. I took a look back at my photos and they really don't show all of the details. It has no chance of the blade hitting it as it has a stop only allowing a short amount of movement.

Dan

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/25/2010:  08:49:06

BRACKET SHOE PAVA'(engraving...)

Yesterday I had a large time in Paducah, Kentucky where I did a workshop on engraving. Afterwords Debra and I helped my good pals Bawn In The Mash celebrate their five year anniversary as a group. It's funn how the years add up.

Anyway friends we are on the way towards completing this project... hopefully the light I see at the end of the tunnel is not a train!

So today we will look at the bracket shoes again.

Here the shoe is on the layout jig



Pava'ing.









Another one...



Power engraving on the cheep! A Demmel loaded with a diamond bur cuts the wheel lines.








Pava'

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/26/2010:  20:41:13

TEST DRIVE SOON

What a time! Here goes... putting the banjo together for a test drive.

Brackets going on. The nuts are 1/4 " which allows the use of a bracket wrench to tighten them.



The finish being cleaned out of the bracket bolt holes with a reamer.





More shoes...









Here a head that I pre-stretched and mounted is placed on the rim. For this test drive I'm using the Bill Rickard 12" White Lady tone ring. Later on I'll try the others. You will note that the hardware is still mostly not yet plated. After this test I'll tear the banjo back apart and get all the silver plating done. Perhaps I can be there for the plating and shoot some photos for y'all.





Here I'm wetting the head to allow it to stretch and fit.



Lining everyting up...



Putting on the brackets.




All of 'um on! Just a day away...

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/26/2010:  20:55:57

NECHVILLE/ MOONSINE/ KNOWLES

Here are some photos of a banjo that I will be posting a classified for in a day or so.

It is a real original... truly so. It is the original proto-type of the Nechville Moonshine. Tom later changed the model to its present more conventional features. Tom and I designed the features of this instrument and I did all of the inlay work. The design is of a banjo player picking his Ole 5-string in the Moonshine.

omiimii - Posted - 04/26/2010:  22:13:34

Just to put it out there, you Mr. Knowles, are a complete madman
and I mean that in the best possible way!

Bagpussfrog - Posted - 04/27/2010:  01:13:42

I'm starting to get very excited Dan! I cannot wait to hear you get a tune or two out of it, and although it's not finished, I can see how amazing it already looks, that rim is so beautiful, with the hardware, skin and neck all on, it just looks fantastic!

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 04/27/2010:  04:08:50

Isn't it rewarding when the parts start coming together to make an instrument of the universal language and is also a work of art! It's a beauty in the making... looks great , Dan!

frihauf - Posted - 04/27/2010:  11:50:10

It's hard to believe after seeing all of the incredible workmanship you have put into this, but I do believe that after seeing it start to take shape the SUM is definitely greater than the parts.

Ben

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/27/2010:  19:02:41

Allen,
You ain't the first to say that of me...

Shaun,
I hope you'll come over the pond and visit with us, Othello and I that is.

Marvin,
Yes it is rewarding. Thank you.

Ben,
Thank you, I'm glad to have it getting to this point.

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/27/2010:  19:26:43

PUTTIN' 'ER TOGETHER

Well here she goes together.

Here's Othello, the neck placed in the rim.



Now that the head is dry I'm stamping it. I designed and had this stamp made up when I made David Emery's Goshen. It is for the ROYAL BANJO HEAD CO. of Rome, Conn.





Here is the neck, ready for the nut and tuners.



A little final polish... I'm rubbing with my bare hand. This really helps slick spirit varnish up.



I got excited and forgot to make photos of installing the tuners, making the first bridge, installing the tailpiece, nut (and all that entails), stringing and basic quick set-up. Still I did remember to shoot me listening to her first song .



Currently in this incarnation Othello is equipped with a White Lady tone ring, after I tear her down for plating I reinstall a Tubaphone and see how that sounds. Instruments change so rapidly in the first few days of life, I will look forward to hearing her voice as it matures. At this point and time the banjo has a very pleasing, interesting, strong, clear yet full sounding instrument.

Gomer - Posted - 04/27/2010:  19:49:29

As with every journey, There is a beginning that follows the end. Congratulations. It was a great ride. Thankyou! TCW

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/27/2010:  20:31:57

Tom,

Don't get your hopes up yet... the trip is not yet complete!
I guess I should say that the banjo is not yet complete, just very, very close.
Dan

Edited by - DanKnowles on 04/27/2010 20:32:48

f#dead - Posted - 04/27/2010:  20:36:24

Hey Dan, I've lurked this thread all along. I'm still here and glad to see the sum of the parts. I like the raw brass tones matching some of the inlay colors. Well done, the banjo and this thread.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 04/27/2010:  20:48:18

Wow!!!!!!! It's a real museum piece - an art museum, that is! But she should only end up in a museum if there's a banjo picker always there to play her.

brokenstrings - Posted - 04/27/2010:  23:37:12

Dan, I like the raw brass too. Why not leave the metal parts as is?

rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/28/2010:  04:55:17

that is beautiful dan, well done!

GSCarson - Posted - 04/28/2010:  05:44:12

What am I going to read with my coffee in the morning now Dan!!!???

Bravo!, wonderful job. I think you need to test the Tubaphone and Dobson rings, a couple different heads, make a dozen different bridges, and maybe change the tailpiece a few more times to keep this thing going Dan.

Best regards,
Glenn

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/28/2010:  06:01:47

Jessica & Greg

I to like the raw brass. I really like the look of the brass as it ages. Still, this is a banjo that should be valued around $10,000 and at that price the plating should be special. Also silver tarnishes and ages so nicely that I think it will have a wondeful visual appeal.

Marc,
I guess it'll have to be in my museum... Thank you.

Greg,
Thanks, I'm not done here yet. I'll try to be in on the plating (with my camera), putting 'er back together, bridge making, setup, trying different tonerings, mp3s and etc.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 04/28/2010:  06:49:16

Looking great, Dan. How do you like them tuners? I've been considering a set myself...

I'm with you, I think the silver plating will just make this banjo pop!

===Marc

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/28/2010:  13:48:21

Marc,
Thanks it looks like I eed the extra support!!

DanKnowles - Posted - 04/28/2010:  14:15:45

PHOTO TYME

I have made a bunch of photos for y'all of Othello. I have yet to break it back down to be plated, perhaps I'll do that tomorrow. Tonoght though I'll try to create som recordings that I can post.

Just a few thoughts on the banjo.

She keeps changing and her voice is maturing and becoming fuller. I see a spot or two which I need to spend some spirit varnish time on when it is apart. Although the pegheads tuners must be the most elegant which I have ever seen, I don't really like them. They are not as smooth nor do they hold as well as conventional planetary geared machines. I will probably change them to another brand which I will have silver plated. Still all in all I am quite pleased with this instrument.

On to the pictures... ENJOY!

brokenstrings - Posted - 04/28/2010:  14:24:15

Wow!

rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/28/2010:  14:33:27

i see you engraved the ferrule,will have to look back and see if i missed that part. from what i can see, it looks good.

DEmery - Posted - 04/28/2010:  17:28:26

Dan, what a great project and final result. The tension hoop is a perfect flow on the theme and I feel a good choice even though it required a rework...which knowing your standards didn't surprise me. How many times have I seen you continue to work a detail until it was what you expect? Many times. I know it plays great and look forward to hearing the sound samples. On one hand I am excited to see Othello complete; on the other hand I will miss seeing the updates. David Emery

omiimii - Posted - 04/28/2010:  18:29:57

I have pegheads tuners on a tackhead banjo I have and I'm not that crazy about them
either. They look better in photos then in person, when it becomes apparent that they
are plastic. I also don't think they hold that well.

Dan, throughout this thread I have found myself wondering what else you could possibly
do to customize a banjo. I thought you had already done everything and then you go and
stamp the head....gee wiz. Nothing get's past you does it. Is that stamp based on a real
manufacturer or is it completely your own invention?

Deering_Dude - Posted - 04/29/2010:  06:52:35

I knew this day would come and it's more beautiful than I imagined. Thanks for sharing this with us - what a work of art!

Viper - Posted - 04/29/2010:  08:29:34

Word don't work here, but perhaps my slack jaw and general look of awe does the trick. It's amazing to the whole thing as one. Anxious to see what else is to come.