DEmery - Posted - 03/28/2013:  07:02:54

Todd while this banjo does not have a slot head or other Dobson style head stock; the neck profile and heel is Dobson. Many of the Dobsons were cut (I think to allow adjustment access) and covered with a brass plate. I attached a photo of my Jason Burns slot head designed after a Dobson and you can see the plate. Lee does not use the plate and simply mimicks the design with the cut slot and extends the fingerboard. Also attached is the Sproull #5 Woody I own that is designed the same way. David E.

Edited by - DEmery on 03/28/2013 07:04:30

Scoop 2

J.L. Sproull Woody #005

Todd Treadway - Posted - 03/28/2013:  11:56:23

Thanks! After reading your response, I did some research on Dobson banjos but couldn't find a definitive answer about the heel slot; but at least I know now why it's on your banjo!

jbalch - Posted - 03/28/2013:  14:19:41

David & Lee:

The new banjo looks awesome. I can't wait to play it in in a couple of weeks.  Thanks again for choosing one of my hide heads for it.  I'm truly honored.

Todd:

My theory regarding the heel design is that it evolved from early Minstrel banjos.  H. C Dobson made some innovations, but the cutout design was not his (It was much older). It continues today mainly as a style preference.

I think it evolved from improvements to older minstrel designs.

Early banjos had deep scoops at the heel so that the neck joint was below and clear of the head and tension hoop. I don't think this as a "frailing scoop - in modern terms.  It was so that the neck attachment did not interfere with installing and tightening the hide head. See the reproduction minstrel banjo by James Hartel below:

I assume that someone had the idea of extending the fingerboard playing surface above the scoop - and the "heel cut" was born:

Here is one such banjo:

Henry Dobson added a brass plate to cover the end of the fingerboard and extend it over the top of the head.  This did two things - it allowed playing all the way up - even over the head ... and it covered a gap between the end of the fingerboard and the tension hoop.  That gap made it possible to change the head without removing the neck. I think that is referenced in H. C. Dobson's patent application.

Edited by - jbalch on 03/28/2013 14:30:50

DEmery - Posted - 04/02/2013:  17:03:40

Just short of a year since my initial chat with Lee Sproull about building me a deep, thin rim banjo with a Whyte Laydie tone ring; it arrived today at the office. I posted the finished photos from Lee a week or so ago. Photos do not show the extremely well executed details in #9 and for sure photos don't describe how this banjos sounds. For those that feel a Whyte Laydie is harsh; I would enjoy watching their expression when playing this banjo. With the 3" deep rim there is bottom end and the tone is pure. It is responsive at each position on the fingerboard and intonation is perfect. Lee sent a note and as in the past confessed his question about how this banjo would perform. Lee has become a fan and discussed how much he enjoyed playing #9. If I understand his comment there may be a little separation anxiety. After a year of building this piece I suppose it is tough to push it out about the time it is actually a banjo.

As I've commented many times; I own another of Lee's banjos. The quality of his work is unsurpassed and the attention to detail is obvious. He was a pleasure to work with and while he is not a production builder; the banjo moved along at a good pace and is headed to Tennessee on a trip in the next few weeks for a little work out.

I don't do good photos. John Balch has been my source of photos over the years. Too, John typically produces good sound samples and is equipped to do it well. I will be with John soon and once photos and sound samples are made they will be posted. Thanks to Lee for a great banjo. Also thanks to John Balch for supplying another of his high quality skin heads; as well as Tim Purcell for getting two ebony capped locust bridges to Lee for this project. David E.

chickenpickin - Posted - 04/02/2013:  17:39:08

Thank you for choosing my bridges for this project, David. I look forward to hearing the sound samples. It is a beautiful instrument. Lee has exhibited craftsmanship at it's finest.

Tim

jbalch - Posted - 04/02/2013:  19:32:06

I can wait to see it.  The photos from your phone look awesome.  Congratulation to you and Lee for a great collaboration.

YorkshireWannabeOldTimer - Posted - 04/06/2013:  01:36:35

That's another beautiful banjo: Birmingham is a hotbed of fine banjo making!

Dominic

DEmery - Posted - 04/06/2013:  08:25:53

Dominic it does seem that Birmingham has its share of builders. I have played #9 a lot since getting it earlier in the week. It is an extremely strong banjo and equally attractively built. I have one more banjo in the completion process. If you haven't seen Dan Knowles's thread "A Luthier's Life; take a look at the slot head he just finished. I will pick it up at Dan's shop in Paris, Tennessee this coming week. David E.

DEmery - Posted - 06/02/2013:  17:13:02

I had the pleasure of having Lee Sproull and family drop by for a visit in St. Augustine. For those that followed this thread on the build of #9 he also built the woody #5 that I've enjoyed for quite some time. Lee sat and played everything I have and it is always interesting to see a builder play his banjos. He is very generous toward the other builders I have had opportunity to use such as Jason Romero, Dan Knowles, William Mosheim and Jason Burns. Banjo players tend to gravitate to one particular banjo and depending on the player/builder it does vary. Lee kept playing Dan Knowles 1840 Jacobs copy and Ole' Abe that Dan use to play years ago on his riverboat tours. It was a good time and I wish he could have stayed longer. Attached is a photo of Lee holding two of his banjos #5 and #9. It was good to see them together again and I if he ever passes through Florida again; I hope he stops in and hammers around on my banjos again. Not only is he a great builder - but he is a fine old time banjo player too. David E.

Lee Sproull visits and is holding his banjos #5 and #9

J.L. Sproull Woody #005

jbalch - Posted - 06/02/2013:  18:07:00

David:

You have the BEST collection of banjos, by contemporary builders, that I am aware of.

Lee's are surely "second to none" of them. His work is stellar!

I hope you had a great time together today!

jhynakin - Posted - 06/03/2013:  05:42:26

Wish I could have been there to play some cool banjos!  Lee is a great player. 

Jason

DEmery - Posted - 06/03/2013:  06:58:33

Interesting story to tell you Jason about the slot head banjo you built when I visited Dan Knowles to pick up his slot head that wrapped up. I too wish you could have been there and hammer around on a few banjos. Maybe one day you will pass through. Hopefully I will wander through B'Ham and catch you later in the year............ David E.

DEmery - Posted - 07/13/2013:  14:49:11

For those of you that followed the building of Lee Sproull on his #9 banjo; I had the opportunity to visit Uncle Dave Macon Days with long time friend John Balch and use the banjo during the visit. We had an opportunity to do a local radio promotional program in Murfreesboro and then go to the UDMD event to play music with a few players on stage to open the festival. Lee's number #9 was a superb banjo in all ways and those that viewed his work was so complimentary of his meticulous attention to detail. John always takes some photo shots of my banjos during our visit..., so here are a few taken this weekend. David E.

jay_m - Posted - 07/13/2013:  15:59:23

this man has a very good aesthetic sensibility