Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/15/2013:  17:21:40

Dave,

That's nice! The recording is only about 1/2 done and I've started a list! BTW I'm with you on that last comment!

Ellen,

Yes the Mandora D'Amore will make her record debut on this project. We revisit a n old favorite called_________  _________  ___ __________ with an arraignment that I am more than pleased with. (Song to be later announced)

Darren,

I am fascinated by the Steampunk style too. I've started collecting thing up for a future Steampunk banjo.

Glenn,

I LOVE IT!!! Especially the scroll peghead...and yes this has really got me thinkin'!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/15/2013:  17:43:14

FRIDAY

Today was a Friday (what an obvious statement) . I like obvious statements though. For me Friday is usually a very good day, often with many visitors in the afternoon and today was no exception. BHO member Woodturner stopped in for a visit and a listen to yesterdays recordings as did my friend and Fiddler extraordinary Danny Conger. With all the visitors I still accomplished quite a bit and here is just a bit of it!

First thing after I drug my tired (late night) butt into the shop I had the studio stuff to pick up...

Then it was on to one of my true loves... cutting pearl, well almost here it's a piece of Corrian...

Here's some pearl! Gold lip pearl from Australia...

After the pieces are cut out they're tossed off into a jar of Acetone to melt the glue that adheres the pattern piece to it...

Cuttin' on the Sun...

Some folks seam to think that it always works just hunky dorie fer me... not always as here. This is my first try at cutting the earth. Frustratingly it broke apart into many little pieces right around the isthmus of Panama. I'll try again soon.

Gluing together the 8 or 9 pieces of Saturn...

Saturn.

Gluing up the sun...

The Sun glued...

MORE SOON!

Kaelri - Posted - 11/16/2013:  14:36:48

Quote from 

Dan;" Yes the Mandora D'Amore will make her record debut on this project. We revisit a n old favorite called_________  _________  ___ __________ with an arraignment that I am more than pleased with. (Song to be later announced)"

Sure made my night to come home after a tiring day of tiling at my new-old house to see that you will indeed include the Mandora on the new CD! I will also guess (to myself quietly) as to what the song may be.   Can't wait to hear it.

Ellen

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/16/2013:  17:06:40

Ellen,

I noticed this last night... I THANK Y'ALL FOR READING!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/16/2013:  17:25:09

AND THEY CALL THIS LUTHERIE!

Hay Kevin...Are ya readin' this un? Well here you are, in for another morning of guitar building working at thicknessing some rosewood back plates for a new guitar. His ((and Eric's) guitars are now in the spray booth getting slicked up! Boy are they looking great!

Last months I started this sculpture over at the Art Academy and yesterday I went by and visited Martin Pascall (the ceramics instructer). He pointed up to a top shelf and asked had I noticed that this had been fired... So I carried it down to the shop and late this afternoon I glued all of the various parts together. 

This one is a take off from the Thinking Man. I think I'll title it BANJER MAN!

Here I'm checking Banjer Man's seat fit...

He may be praying that I won't... but on goes the epoxy anyhow...

The Banjer bandaged in place while the epoxy sets...

Maybe not in correct order but here is Eric working on the bridge for his guitar that is in the spray booth...

BANJER MAN. Clay, Ebony, Brass & Epoxy...

My new little buddy and me...

MORE SEEN!

WillT - Posted - 11/18/2013:  06:59:06

Hey Dan, when is the rim getting here?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/18/2013:  17:17:08

Will,

Thanks for asking. I expect it any time.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/18/2013:  17:48:53

MONDAY

A great big SHOUT OUT goes to Tom Bergan! I hope your flight to Tennessee went well!

Today (among many other things)I finished up STEAMPUNK 1 and was able to give it to my son Sam.

Here I'm treating the fingerboard with a spot of  Dan's not so secret sauce... its main ingredient is pure Walnut Oil. Most walnut oils have vitamin E added to them to keep it from setting up, the pure oil has no additives. This is the same thing which may be used on food utensils, children's toys & etc.

In my box I had a used Fossil mammoth ivory guitar nut... I'm repurposing it to be a banjo nut. Here I mark it to length....

After cutting, shaping and polishing the string slots are laid out.

And then cut...

After it was all put together, strung and setup I called Sam who dropped everything and rushed over... it's amazing how banjers do that to a person!

MORE TOMORROW!

Woodturner - Posted - 11/19/2013:  08:19:28

This is a better show than Duck Dynasty.  :)

cbcarlisle - Posted - 11/19/2013:  08:46:42

But not as hairy...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/19/2013:  18:49:50

Glad you like it! Maybe I'll grow  beard if Debbie will let me!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/19/2013:  19:08:32

TUESDAY

I just got home from the shop after an afternoon of teaching a bunch of wonderful folks. Eddie, Debbie and I are at the table (he's here because we head out to Vicksburg in the early AM) discussing how his new Windows phone is rated G. No blue words on that phone!

Earlier in the day though I spent a bunch of time designing for Pine Cone's banjo and then I went to cutting material for Will's banjo inlay project.  Here I'm furiously sawing!

Here are the some pieces cut to date...

(top left going right around)Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter, Mars, Mars and your anus.

Here they are laid out on Will's neck...

NEXT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/19/2013 19:09:03

Big O - Posted - 11/19/2013:  19:44:23

Hi Dan it is very nice work and craftsman I love working with wood but in this line of work I know it take time and patience to make something you will love and appreciate for years to come as in my profile pic I made this chair it is made of maple from a farm land dead wood tree. I want to learn how to make my own banjo and I have loads of ideas. In a couple years I plan to move to Camden TN with my Mom (she gettin up there need someone to help take care of her) so can I be your student someday? My starting wood would be Hickory would this be a bad idea?
Chuck

WillT - Posted - 11/20/2013:  20:21:09

Amazing work so far. Uranus and Neptune need to do the switcheroo. We knew Earth was going to be a PITÀ.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/22/2013:  20:45:59

Chuck,

Thanks! It would be fun having you come and be a student. In Camden you would be just down the road.

As for hickory I've never worked with it and really have no opinion of its viability as a tone wood. I suppose that a properly cut and seasoned piece would behave somewhat like a white oak. This is only a guess though. Perhaps some other BHO members have worked with this timber and have an opinion.

Will,

Glad you are approving! If I have some energy (after this river week) I may try to cut a bit more before your lesson on Tuesday. Still I'll have it where you can see what we have then.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/22/2013:  21:01:35

MADE IT TO MEMPHIS

Eddie and I along with about 142 other passengers arrived in Memphis, Tennessee tonight...Oh did I miss the rest of the trip? HuH?!? You say that I haven't been telling tales for several days... Ok I guess I better back up and try again.

Wednesday morning bright and early my bass playing pal Eddie Coffey and I exited from my home in Paris, Tennessee fro about a seven hour drive down south to Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/22/2013:  21:16:11

I've had some weird issue with my computer so I'm gonna try and finish the earlier post here:

We were set to play on the Queen of the Mississippi (on Wed. eve.) which is shown docked here in Vicksburg next to the American Queen....

The next photo is from the Queen at dusk looking down the Yazoo river towards the Mississippi river...

Photo #4 is of a tow on the Lower Mississippi river. Here it is not unusual to see 49 barge tows. It is amazing to watch a captan bring such around some of the river bends!

Photo #5 is of Thursday's banjo class. It feels great to see folks pick up the basic clawhammer like in these classes!

Photo #^ Memphis at dusk tonight.

Danny Conger and my son Samuel are meeting us here tomorrow to ride back down to Vicksburg. Two more shows and a long trip back home on Monday and this touring season will be complete.... It has been wonderful, but it will be great to be home for a few months!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/23/2013:  06:27:58

Dan

You make these road trips, oops I mean river trips, good to follow.  Just wondering when was it that you were walking bare footed on deck?  Nice solar system.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/23/2013:  06:49:40

Dave,

To answer your question with perhaps not too long an answer....

When I was a boy I remember in the fall of the year riding down the River Road outside of Sacramento, California in the early nineteen sixty's Chrysler Imperial  with my dad. Off in the river rising like a phantom in the mist  was the Delta King, a derelict in the river with her stack, wheelhouse and Texas deck rising like a dream from the water. This for a boy with a big imagination who swam in the words of in Samuel Clements, this was the stuff of fairy tales. Though it was years later when I first stood upon her decks, I skipped and ran every inch barefoot in my mind. When in as an adult I trod the decks of the Delta Queen, the River Explorer, American Queen, Belle of Louisville, Queen of the Mississippi and the Mississippi Queen I knew that Huck had come home.

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/23/2013 06:58:16

kwl - Posted - 11/23/2013:  10:11:11

I have sold several mountain dulcimers made of  hickory. They have a mellower sound than cherry or walnut, but very pleasant. At least for mountain dulcimers hickory is very nice tonewood. I do not know how it would be on a banjo. I have never tried that.

Ken

cbcarlisle - Posted - 11/23/2013:  10:59:12

I may get some argument but I feel banjo necks are more structure than tone and hickory is strong enough.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/23/2013:  15:39:09

SATURDAY ART

We left Memphis headin' south just a few hours ago. Soon it will be time to again perform. The band is all here and we are raring to go. But in the meantime I have some photos of a few recent small paintings which I've made... these are 4"X4" and are to be Christmas gifts...

La Dog

The Family

Snowosaurus

Eye eyE

MORE SOON!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/23/2013:  21:22:40

Dan

Who ever gets your Saturday Art will be a lucky person.  I particularly like "La Dog".

Bufo Bill - Posted - 11/24/2013:  04:31:30

La Dog is my favourite too, although they are all lovely.
All the best from Bill. :D

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/25/2013:  18:04:01

Dave & Bill,

Thanks, that is my favorite too! I'll try to remember to scan the three that I did on the boat this trip.... and see if y'all like any.

Noah Cline - Posted - 11/25/2013:  18:07:48

Dan,

Did you finish the mountain 'jo that you were working on last? Interested in seeing how it turned out.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/25/2013:  18:15:37

Noah,

Pretty much so... I'll be turning a bunch of tuning pegs for several old banjos in the next few days and some will adorn this instrument.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/25/2013:  18:26:05

AIN'T IT GOOD TO BE BACK HOME AGAIN

(in Paris)

Just got home from a looooooonnnnng drive from Vicksburg, Mississippi. I'm glad (at this moment) that this is the last trip of the season. In about two weeks I be river itchin' again! What do they say about the grass?

Tomorrow morning I'll be getting up early so Debbie and I can drive a friend of ours up to the airport in Nashville. Then it will be rush back to teach the afternoon away.

But on to what has happened the last few days!

Friday evening a couple came on board who had been canoeing the Mississippi river. They started at the head waters in September and arrived in Memphis on Thursday. They are aiming to canoe all the way to the mouth of the Mississippi... Here they are setting out on a freezing cold Saturday morning.

This photo is called SELF PORTRAIT IN WATER.... do you see it?

Here is my Sunday morning banjo class! What a unique group of students... and they all got it!

Sunday afternoon we went to the Illinois memorial in the Vicksburg Military Park. I'm not sure how the camera did this....maybe it was Eddie's speed!

CHILL TONIC playing oh so seriously in the Sunday night performance... Come on, Where are the smiles boys?

MORE SOON!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/25/2013 18:27:05

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/25/2013:  21:24:02

Dan

That second to the last photo wasn't caused by the camera, it was caused by a crafty operation after the fact.  

Paul R - Posted - 11/25/2013:  22:03:17

Well, Dan, for once I have to disagree. I like "The Family". It has a sense of "wonderment" that isn't in the other, whimsical, works of art. All good stuff, though!

Big O - Posted - 11/26/2013:  15:29:54

Thanks Dan and Ken also Curt give me something to look forward to and find a really nice piece of that fine Hickory I believe it be worth a shot I would like it to be a two tone color wouldn't that be nice huh?
Dan it would be more of an honor to work with you working on this project and I will learn so much that I will use every second count.
Bad news is ya might not be able to get me to leave???
Thanks again.
Chuck

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/27/2013:  16:32:19

Dave,

I guess I'm busted!

Paul,

Thanks, I'll try and post some more as they get finished.

Chuck,

Well I guess I'll take my chances!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/27/2013:  17:01:19

UPDATE 4 WILL

and everybody else too!

The day before Thanksgiving... at least here in the U.S. that's what it is. Tomorrow on the day we will go to my in-laws to celebrate. When folks ask, "what are you thankful for?" I have to answer Family and wonderful in-laws are very much included there!

I hope each of you have a wonderful day tomorrow even if it isn't a holiday where you live!

I got quite a bit done on my buddy Will's inlay today. But having forgotten the SD card  (until late in the day ) I didn't get any photos of me working. Still I came home and got the card and was able to make these photos of the pieces.

As you already know this banjo is named Galileo. So down near the rim we have the man himself with his telescope searching the heavens. Once this piece is inlaid and leveled I will engrave it which should make it kick!

Uranus was a kind of purple, which just wasn't correct so it was changed to this blue lapis. It is filled with silver and brass dust. the grey one is Neptune and is also filled with brass dust.

The Galileo spacecraft was quite tricky to both cut and then fit into Jupiter. The antenna were especially difficult to cut without breaking. The one inlaid into Jupiter is maybe .020 wide.

Here is another of the little paintings...

MAYBE MORE ON THANKSGIVING...

Noah Cline - Posted - 11/27/2013:  17:04:22

Really like the different colors throughout the Galileo inlay.

Btw, what is the Jupiter inlay made of? It's pretty whatever it is.

Edited by - Noah Cline on 11/27/2013 17:05:56

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/29/2013:  07:00:25

Noah,

Thanks, I like being able to use the different colors. Jupiter is basically a product called Recon Stone. It is man made and synthetic  rather than say pearl which is a natural production. I don't remember what the color is called.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/29/2013:  07:07:42

WHAT'S SO BLACK ABOUT FRIDAY?

I'm told this is Black Friday. But the sun is brightly shining on this cold (20's) late Fall day. I wonder, What's so black about Friday?

I got up early and have been painting for several hours (I'll head down to the shop in a bit) all the while listening to Ted Talks. I just listened and some what watched Abigail Washburn's Ted presentation. It is amazingly moving. So much so that I am posting a link so you can watch it also. It is well worth your time.

youtube.com/watch?v=RDIy58g9n2k

bill t - Posted - 11/29/2013:  07:50:28

Dan, Thanks for the youtube link. "Amazingly moving" indeed! I've never heard of "Ted Talks". Bill

The Pope - Posted - 11/29/2013:  11:42:52

Ted talks are speeches that famous and not-so-famous people do & there is a series of them. I just saw one where a teenager built a fusion reactor in his garage. I imagine Google knows where they live.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/29/2013:  15:57:35

FRIDAY EVENING....

The sun has set on this the 29 day of November. What a nice day this has been. I walked down to the shop around 10:30, stopped on the way and talked to my neighbors Sandie & John. She is a fine artist in stained glass and he is a retired painter. Great folks and mighty good neighbors.

  As much as I might try I can't seam to leave Will's inlay project alone... it just keeps calling, Work on me Work on me! So being a sucker I did...

I've got a Mars that I like ok, but I think that I can do a better one and sweet mother Earth needs cutting. So I printed and then glued the patterns to their respective pieces...

Yep here is more of that Reconstituted stone. Denim Lapis & Kingman Blue Tirquoise for earth. Mars is being cut from a bit of red abalone prepared bark (I make this up) and a very peachy pink piece of Tennessee river muscle shell. I want the red planet to be at least somewhat of that color. The South-American continent was cut earlier from some green abalone heart.

Oh ya, I set up this mandolin while I waited for the glue to dry...

Here I am a-sawin' away!

Mars cut out and checking the fit...These blanks are of different thicknesses.

BHO member Richard Parks & his girlfriend Emily stopped by for a visit. I was so excited to see them. Richard is a former student of mine. Both he and Emily are teaching school in the Cincinnati aria.

I was able to finish putting both the Earth and Mars together while my visitors were there. These will need a bit of circle truing then they will be ready to inlay. I only have a few small bits of pearl left to cut for this project...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I hope it's not the City of New Orleans!

C YA SOON!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/29/2013 16:02:12

Nels - Posted - 11/29/2013:  16:12:11

Beeeeutiful work!!!  

Big O - Posted - 11/29/2013:  21:05:52

sad day for me discovered the back plate on my banjo broke completely off the frame. The drill holes were offset from support systems made it split and the frame fell right off I was surprise. Now what to do?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/30/2013:  05:32:08

Nels,

Thanks so much!

Chuck,

If what I am seeing in your photo is correct, you will need to back fill the screw holes with glue and a toothpick, then screw it back on. Or you could play it open backed . Many times these banjos sound better without their resonator. Please post some more photos of your banjo and the damage just to be sure before you attempt the repair.

Big O - Posted - 11/30/2013:  08:56:38

Ok Dan here some more hope it helps seem like some have a crack between them?

Scout - Posted - 11/30/2013:  15:29:45

Dan, I just found your blog a few days ago and have spent the better part of that time catching up on your posts. How do you manage to accomplish so much in a 24 hour day? I am blown away by your craftsmanship, musicianship and not only your willingness to share what you have learned with others but your ability to show these learnings in a clear and understandable manner. Thanks so much for your generosity and keep the posts coming.

Chuck

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/30/2013:  19:53:57

Chuck (number 1! ),

This is quite fixable. I think that I've got one of these resonators down at the shop. If I do I'll attempt to break it like yours (this is a very common break with this design) and show everybody how to fix it. In the meantime play it as an open back. Even if you are a three finger player these usually sound much better without the resonator.

Chuck (number 2! )

I'm glad that you are enjoying the posts, Thank you for your kind words. You know it's funny I don't feel like I don't get done near enough every day.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/01/2013:  05:52:44

89,000 READS

I noticed that we had reached 89,000 reads on this post over night. A LUTHIER'S LIFE  was started Dec. 8 of last year. This is amazing to me. Thank you for hanging in with me!

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 12/01/2013:  07:20:38

Judging from this photo, above, luthiery has made you look young again, Dan...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/01/2013:  17:58:22

Lew,

Oh if it was only true! That is my grandson Ryland.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/01/2013:  18:10:57

PAINTINGS ON SUNDAY

Have you ever attempted to remodel a old house's bathroom? I've promised my wife to have ours done by Christmas and I think that I might just make it. Today I finished the plastering and texturing of the walls. Tomorrow before I head into the shop I intend to paint the ceiling and then perhaps tomorrow evening I can get the walls painted. It is amazing how much better It is looking all even and white.

Here is a little update an the miniature paintings or as I like to call them, the small pointillist studies. Today during a break from the bathroom I grabbed a tube of black paint, painted the paintings sides and then (after they dried) set them out for a photo. I still have several more to do before Christmas but I think that I'll make it.

One of the guests on the Queen just sent me this photo....

from the shop, tomorrow!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 12/01/2013 18:17:23