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etparadox - Posted - 04/07/2014: 19:05:45
Home Depot will often sell some hardwoods too, which will hold up better with time. You can likely get an appropriately sized piece of maple for the neck.
chip arnold - Posted - 04/08/2014: 06:58:45
3/4" stuff is okay for the neck. Glue two pieces together to get 1 1/2" width. Glue "ears" on the peghead to get the necessary width there.
Elderly sells nice goat skin heads cheap.
You can make your own pegs or buy from Elderly or Ebay.
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/08/2014: 16:36:19
#5 stained and finished.
The stain was Min-Wax golden oak (had used this stain on a display cabinet and was curious to see how it would look on a banjo).
Really pleased with the finish, which was a spray-on semi-gloss lacquer. Was able to get it a lot smoother this time.
bornold - Posted - 04/08/2014: 17:16:42
Wow Noah those look amazing! The photos are a bit blurry though. Think you could post some clearer photos?
DEmery - Posted - 04/08/2014: 18:34:01
Lawrence sent an update recently. The finish and wrap up on this banjo will take place during April. He has to break it down and finish it in sequence since much of the banjo cannot be reached for finish assembled. I asked Lawrence about coffee staining the goat skin head; and he experimented on the process with a travel banjo he was taking on a hiking trip. He was very pleased and felt the white skin being muted was a very positive feature. My goal is to darken the curly maple with brown stain and leave it very organic with an oil finish. After the figured walnut fingerboard is oiled to a nice, dark tone; the stained head will go in place and topped off with Nylgut Reds. I look forward to seeing it soon. David E.
etparadox - Posted - 04/09/2014: 19:38:18
The two string sets are for different tunings. The classical set is like normal banjo strings. The minstrel set is for low tunings, where open g becomes open d.
The head will work fine.
peedee - Posted - 04/10/2014: 04:56:11
Thanks! Coming from the guitar world, I wasn't sure why you needed different strings for different tunings. I guess maybe the different diameters of the strings are customized for a particular tuning.
Edited by - peedee on 04/10/2014 05:06:53
peedee - Posted - 04/12/2014: 08:29:16
If you haven't seen this you HAVE to check it out. This episode of Folkways by David Holt got me started on my quest to build a mountain banjo a few years ago.
Folkways - Music from the Hills
video.unctv.org/video/2365195219/
Edited by - peedee on 04/12/2014 08:30:40
Yanni - Posted - 04/13/2014: 04:04:34
Now that was just wonderful to watch. Thanks for the link :)
Ian
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/13/2014: 10:47:04
peedee,
Thanks for putting that link here.
StPeteNick - Posted - 04/13/2014: 13:18:10
peedee,
That was a great video, thanks for posting.
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/14/2014: 18:12:23
Complete! -- except for the mech. friction 5th tuner which should be here tomorrow, but went ahead and made a wooden one to see how the 'jo sounded.
Got the head almost too tight (took me almost an hour to get the head in and the back screwed back on), but it seems to have the most volume compared to the other four I've made.
Enjoy! ;)
Stringbean45 - Posted - 04/14/2014: 22:56:29
Hi all,
Got in another interesting little Mountain Banjo with John Hartford's Signature on the Head.
It has a Remo Fiberskin 2 six inch head on it, along with Gold Keith De-Tuners on the second and third strings, and Gold Planet Tuners on the First and Fourth, and 5th strings.
Someone has put an electric pick-up taped to the bottom of the head.
I would love to find out any information on the banjo. Who made it, did John Hartford own it at one time, and just signed it for someone at a Festival?
The Banjo is very well made, with beautiful inlays on the neck, and Tailpiece.
I put a topic in the Collector's Corner, but so far haven't got any reply on it.
Check out the pictures, and tell me if you know anything about it.
I'm new to the Mountain Banjo World.
Thanks,
Don
Edited by - Stringbean45 on 04/14/2014 23:04:07
Robin Clark - Posted - 04/22/2014: 01:41:20
Hi,
I was given these two mountain banjos about 6 months ago. One is an Ellis Wolfe in maple. The other was signed by Frank Proffitt Jr in Nov 1972 but I don't know who the maker was (Hicks or Glen perhaps?)? Perhaps someone here can spot that? I think it is walnut? I've left the Ellis Wolfe strung with light wire strings (tuned down) but have nylon strings on the other (also tuned down). The nylon strung one has become my 'pick up every day' and 'take anywhere' instrument. It sounds best tuned down a little, which suits my voice, and it is the first instrument I've really felt comfortable singing with - so I've ended up learning a load of old fiddle tunes as songs!!!! Anyway, both instruments are now living with me in the Welsh mountains.
Robin
cbcarlisle - Posted - 04/22/2014: 08:22:37
First of all, Robin, congratulations! You must have very special friends to have been given these banjos. I have a couple of Frank, Jr's banjos: one he made with Clifford Glenn and one with Ellis Wolfe. Compare details and see if you notice any resemblance between your two.
Robin Clark - Posted - 04/22/2014: 08:51:15
quote:
Originally posted by cbcarlisle
First of all, Robin, congratulations! You must have very special friends to have been given these banjos. I have a couple of Frank, Jr's banjos: one he made with Clifford Glenn and one with Ellis Wolfe. Compare details and see if you notice any resemblance between your two.
Thank you for the information! There's no resemblance between the two instruments, the build and feel are very different. The Ellis Wolfe is quite 'refined' with a fairly narrow neck and the other far more basic and earthy with quite a chunky neck. I suspect the darker one was made by Clifford Glen as it looks very different to the one made by Ellis Wolfe.
Robin
peedee - Posted - 05/02/2014: 19:56:01
Well I thought I would post some photos of the build so far. Now it has some refining to go and I'm no Norm Abram so bear with me. I'll post some more photos as things look a little more perty.
I have really enjoyed the process so far. I've not really built any woodworking projects before this one. I've learned a lot about different woodworking aspects along the way. Very therapeutic and relaxing!
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/02/2014: 20:25:18
PeeDee that looks great so far! What kind of wood did you use?
peedee - Posted - 05/02/2014: 20:34:23
Thanks! I ended up using 3/4" poplar from Home Depot. The charge you by the foot so I was able to pick out one width for the pot area and another width for the neck.
Edited by - peedee on 05/02/2014 20:45:29
cbcarlisle - Posted - 05/06/2014: 11:45:44
Just to cover all the bases, don't miss my description of another (old?) mountain banjer from Seattle. I hope someone recognizes it. banjohangout.org/topic/284303
Edited by - cbcarlisle on 05/06/2014 11:48:41
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/06/2014: 17:31:52
So my #2 is almost complete. This time I am making a fretted mountain banjo. I am getting ready to finish the neck but I am not sure if I should apply finish to the side of the fretboard or leave that unfinished? Any advice would be appreciated
etparadox - Posted - 05/06/2014: 19:13:05
Probably. What finish are you using? It's pretty typical to finish the side of the neck. If you have a layer of finish that stops on a surface it will be easier to chip that if it is on an edge.
rudy - Posted - 05/06/2014: 19:36:41
quote:
Originally posted by BungleBanjo
So my #2 is almost complete. This time I am making a fretted mountain banjo. I am getting ready to finish the neck but I am not sure if I should apply finish to the side of the fretboard or leave that unfinished? Any advice would be appreciated
Finish up the side.
It looks like your frets aren't completely seated. Not sure if you bevel your fret slot edges before fretting, but that will make fret seating tight against the board much more likely.
Also I'll suggest you might really like the look of undercutting the fret tang and filling the slots:
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/07/2014: 07:54:42
Hi Rudy,
Thanks for the advice. Yes, my frets didn't all seat properly. They seem to be pretty secure and I had to do a lot of filing to level them. This was my first experience with frets--I obviously have a lot more practicing to do! I love the look of the filled slots. Any idea where I can find some information on the proper procedure for doing that?
B
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/07/2014: 09:22:06
Etparadox,
i think I'm going to finish it with minwax wipe-on poly
etparadox - Posted - 05/07/2014: 09:26:29
Doing filled slots is easy enough. You basically cut the tang of the fret so it doesn't come all the way to the edge. You then makes some ebony sawdust and fill the side of the slot. Add in a bit of glue and the ebony dust will remain in place. Then just sand the side to level everything out.
etparadox - Posted - 05/07/2014: 09:28:17
Make sure you mask the face of the fingerboard well, especially near the edges before you start applying the finish. get the tape to have full contact with the wood between frets. even with this be prepared to do a little clean up on the face before you oil it.
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/07/2014: 15:28:43
Thanks! I will definitely try that on my next banjo. And thanks for the advice on taping the fretboard.
rudy - Posted - 05/07/2014: 17:17:20
Bungle, The photo is more of less self-explanitory. etparadox explains it pretty well, although you can see the process of sanding makes its own dust and fills in the voids before a tiny bit of superglue is wicked in over the top of it. The key is to relieve the fret tang a bit shy of the endge before driving the fret in.
If you're using a wipe on finish you do not need to tape the board, just go sparingly on your rag so you don't have clean up to do from putting on too heavy of a coat of finish. You can always clean up the edges of the board after the finish has dried.
flatfootjohnny - Posted - 05/11/2014: 14:59:23
ive just completed one of two mountain banjos. Both have been made to look like they've been hanging around in an old barn up in the mountains for a couple of generations. I'll be experimenting in the next few days with a comprison between the usual wood tone chamber and with rolled brass tone ring
peedee - Posted - 05/12/2014: 09:27:20
Wow nice job! I like the old rustic look
Edited by - peedee on 05/12/2014 09:27:37
C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 05/12/2014: 15:03:22
Well done Johnny, they have an ancient look about them, a bit like me.
flatfootjohnny - Posted - 05/12/2014: 22:12:54
Haha, cheers guys. I'll be uploading a video soon.
guitarman8491 - Posted - 05/13/2014: 04:51:34
Viewed the video..very nice comparison of the wood vs brass toe ring and bridges. You did a great job bringing these mountain banjos to life!
RG - Posted - 05/13/2014: 14:42:23
That's a sweet looking cherry banjer Chip...nice!!
peedee - Posted - 05/24/2014: 20:50:15
Chip.. Nice banjo!
I'm almost done with my first attempt. I've posted a photo below. I will post a final photo once I put the bridge and strings on tomorrow. I followed the Proffitt instructions this first go round. I used, poplar from Home Depot, Minwax water based American Walnut stain, Tru-oil, a goat skin head, chimney pipe from lowes, and some tuners off ebay. So far I am VERY pleased with the finished product!
I do have one last question. I need to place the string guide pin for the 5th string. Do I need to calculate its placement? I put a string on and got a general idea where I should place it but I wasn't sure if I should be more precise based on some formula. I guess it just acts as a guide so I don't need to worry about it too much. I need to go to Lowes and find a good flat head screw because I didn't see anything in my junk bins in the garage that would work.
Edited by - peedee on 05/24/2014 20:51:09
peedee - Posted - 05/25/2014: 07:09:24
Thanks Chip! That was exactly what I was looking for.
Pete Moose - Posted - 05/27/2014: 13:03:21
Hi everybody! I'am a newcomer on BHO, but I read down these 30 pages, and people here seem so kind and full off indulgence that I feel free to post these pics of my first banjo building that I finished this morning, after almost one year of hesitation concerning the finishing itself.
I must say a lot of thanks to Rudy, whose Banjo Nouveau plans and a lot of other tips were incredibly helpfull.
Everything began with the book "Earl Scuggs and the 5-string banjo" (1968- Peer International Corporation), then Internet surfing brought me the rest.
Wood :
Neck : reclaimed Beech and Sipo (including a piece of the back of my wife's Grandad old closet as a veener for the stock head)
Two halves pot : Upper and bottom layers : an alder shelf from the next store.
Middle layers : beech from 2 Ikea cutting boards (bad idea: cheap and easy for making a one-piece ring but the end grain parts turned easy to split )
Hardware :
from Stewmac except the tail piece : a 0.99 USD bottel-opener from Target, different nuts bolts and washings from the hardware store, nut and dots cut from a bone ( I remenber this excellent boiled beef with vegetables), prepared according to the process everybody can find on the net.
Finishing : n+n wiped coats of water based polyurethane (a common french brand)
It was fun, it took time, but less time that I need to learn to play something right!
C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 05/27/2014: 14:12:48
It looks very good Pete, and welcome to our Forum from Australia.
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/28/2014: 06:42:36
peedee,
That looks great! I'd love to hear how it sounds once you have the strings on. I remember having a terrible time finding the right screw for the 5th string at Home depot and Lowes. I had much better luck at a small independent hardware store.
BungleBanjo - Posted - 05/28/2014: 06:45:14
Welcome Pete,
That banjo looks great! Nice work!
chip arnold - Posted - 05/28/2014: 09:35:15
Not a mountain banjo, but for anyone who likes the vintage Bacons, check this one out. Linda has decided to sell her beautiful Special Grand Concert. It's also listed on BHO classifieds.
mountainbanjos.wordpress.com/m...for-sale/
Pete Moose - Posted - 05/28/2014: 14:17:21
Sorry, Chip Arnold, you are right, I enthusiastcaly wandered off the point with my post.
Thank you C Nyal de Kaye for your kind words. Thank you too, BungleBanjo.
Peedee and BungleBanjo you built amazing and beautifull banjos, yours are the mountain ones, simplicity of which turns out to be the contrary of plainness
chip arnold - Posted - 05/28/2014: 16:16:54
No, No, Pete! I was referring to the Bacon banjo (not a mountain banjo) Linda has for sale and apologizing in advance for my own thread drift!
And I think your banjo is beautiful. I especially like the tensioning system.
Noah Cline - Posted - 05/28/2014: 18:13:51
quote:
Originally posted by peedee
Chip.. Nice banjo!
I'm almost done with my first attempt. I've posted a photo below. I will post a final photo once I put the bridge and strings on tomorrow. I followed the Proffitt instructions this first go round. I used, poplar from Home Depot, Minwax water based American Walnut stain, Tru-oil, a goat skin head, chimney pipe from lowes, and some tuners off ebay. So far I am VERY pleased with the finished product!
I do have one last question. I need to place the string guide pin for the 5th string. Do I need to calculate its placement? I put a string on and got a general idea where I should place it but I wasn't sure if I should be more precise based on some formula. I guess it just acts as a guide so I don't need to worry about it too much. I need to go to Lowes and find a good flat head screw because I didn't see anything in my junk bins in the garage that would work.
I've been using Hillman round-headed brass screws #2-1/4". They're small enough, and the slot is also the right size for steel and nylon strings, with the nylon being what I've used. Got these at Lowes in a 12 pack
Edited by - Noah Cline on 05/28/2014 18:14:36
guitarman8491 - Posted - 05/28/2014: 19:03:39
Pete welcome to BHO and nice first build!
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