Dean-O-Craft - Posted - 09/15/2011:  09:06:48

I just finished a new banjo that I hope you may find interesting... I used an old solid aluminum pot I bought at the Breaking Up Winter festival a few years back. When I bought it, I built a fretless neck with a fingerboard of maple, cherry, and walnut joined by spalted hickory bowties. I have always liked the look of bowties used in joinery. I also used a spoke nut truss rod that is adjustable at the scoop. At that time, I used a blockish headstock shape that looks better with inlays. I made a bronze tension hoop and used a fiberskin head. I played the banjo some, but the nuts protruded past the back and made it uncomfortable by poking me in the chest. I finally came up with the idea to add a matching resonator made from the same woods. I also reworked the headstock shape to make it little pretier. I just finished this and it plays and sounds great! I have attached some pictures, and you can view the banjo on my website also.  

deanocraft.com/fretless.html

Dean-O-Craft - Posted - 09/15/2011:  09:13:10

Here are some photos:

Outside of Resonator	Inside of Resonator	Back View	Fretboard bowtie at 12th fret
Fretboard bowtie at the 5th fret	Front

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 09/15/2011:  09:15:11

That's one banjo I'd love to hear...got any sound files?

Delfield - Posted - 09/15/2011:  13:17:10

That resonator is gorgeous Dean!  So is the fingerboard!  Very original.  Awesome craftsmanship. 

I'd love to hear it, as well.

Jeff

Edited by - Delfield on 09/15/2011 13:20:25

Dean-O-Craft - Posted - 09/15/2011:  13:57:39

Well you know, they are easier to build than play.... I'll see if I can get one before I leave for the island of pubs.

HolyGrass - Posted - 09/15/2011:  14:47:54

Very nice! I love the resonator. The bowtie joinery is very, very cool too!
Can't wait to hear it, as well!

ananok - Posted - 09/15/2011:  19:06:27

That is a beautiful banjo. really shows attention to detail and craftsmanship.

great job!

stigandr5 - Posted - 09/16/2011:  07:21:21

That's gorgeous! I've been intrigued recently by the idea of fretless resonator banjos. I'm waiting with anticipation to hear it! Also, I really dig the bridge. Looks like a substantial piece (which I like in my bridges).

Dean-O-Craft - Posted - 09/16/2011:  07:56:07

Stigandr5, The bridge in the photos is made of mountain laurel. I was trying to make a decent recording last night and decided to make a new bridge... I used a piece of ebony and made a solid ebony moon bridge. I like the sound, but I am not much of a fretless player and did not get a decent recording last night. I'm still trying to get a decent recording posted, but may run out of time before I go out of town. Where's Delfield when you need him?

Thanks for all of you guys comments so far!

Dean-O-Craft - Posted - 09/16/2011:  09:00:05

Alright, I made a recording of me playing the banjo. I apologize for the playing in advance... I need some practice with the fretless. Check it out here

youtube.com/watch?v=ydXfS1kFa0Y

rudy - Posted - 09/16/2011:  09:22:13

Nice work, Dean!

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 09/16/2011:  09:33:44

That's a cool banjo...and no need to apologize for that playing.  Is that a fiberskin head?  Very mellow sounding banjo.

stigandr5 - Posted - 09/16/2011:  15:00:38

I've never heard of mountain laurel. What's it like to work with? Can you get it in the Midwest?

Dean-O-Craft - Posted - 09/18/2011:  13:36:34

Mountain laurel is a shrub sized tree that grows in the higher elevations in the Appalachian mountains. It does not get very big, and it grows very slowly so it has tight growth rings. It is not commercially available to my knowledge.

Also, the head is a fiberskin. 

Waltj - Posted - 09/18/2011:  14:11:46

Really a nice banjo and it sounds great. Thanks for sharing.

Walt

frankiej73 - Posted - 09/18/2011:  17:45:12

Wow! That is pretty dang impressive! I like the use of a pot for the pot. I love that 3 piece fretboard too. Looks like the pieces join at the 5th and 12th fret, giving it position markers of sorts, correct? Thanks a lot for sharing!