Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/26/2014:  17:53:16

Doug,

Thanks!

Curt,

Actually all of those banjos belong to somebody else... I did build the though. The one behind Doc is one of my "Old Cremona" Minstrel banjos and the other is a reproduction 1850's Jacobs banjo. I will be soon offering some more of these 1850's Jacobs banjos for sale.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/26/2014:  18:28:47

WEDNESDAY

With this banjo a long term project was finished today. And did that feel great! his little fretless (ca.1880's-1900) received a new head, tailpiece, tuners, bridge, nut & strings + some other attention. I guess I sort a drove another banjo under it and drove off with the same old banjo! Here I'm staining the head...

The brand new/ old primitive tailpiece... 

Laying out the nut top. That is the fingerboard being protected by the tape...

Here's the whole batch ready to leave for home real soon!

MORE TOMORROW!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 02/26/2014:  18:58:43

Really nice restoration, you would never know they were touched..really great !

Kaelri - Posted - 02/26/2014:  20:37:55

I see so many stories of "yesteryears" when I look at that last photo. 

Maybe someone played one of them once next to the woodstove in my old, old house. 

Edited by - Kaelri on 02/26/2014 20:39:09

DEmery - Posted - 02/27/2014:  03:20:06

Dan what is the story on the batch of old banjos? David E.

Kaelri - Posted - 02/27/2014:  06:39:51

I am really curious about the banjo that sits 2nd from the right in that last photo. The pot on this banjo, to my "old eyes", almost looks like some sort of inverted pie tin? 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/27/2014:  21:52:00

THURSDAY

Doug, Ellen & David,

Thank you for your kind comments and questions. Tonight I'm gonna try and answer them in this post.

But before I do, did y'all notice that we have reached 120,000 reads. That just boggels my mind. Thank y'all for joining me here on the BHO!

These all came from one client. Over the years I have restored quite a few instruments for him and most of them quite old (even older than me!). Most of these I think that he bought at auction or other sales of that type. They all arrived in various states of neglect and disrepair. Broken this and missing that. Most were absent their tuners. Some had broken or missing heads. A couple were missing multipal pieces of wood.

Now the objective with these was to bring them back to life, but not look at all like they had been touched, except to put the strings on. This is the guiding principal in most of my repair work, but here the idea reached a new importance. These repairs were to be more in the line of conservation almost like the preservative work of a museum. All of these repairs must be reversible. The repairs must look as though the hands of the original builder did them and to be from the same time period in which the instruments were built.

With all that said, lets take a closer look at the banjos...

This one we call the "stop sign" banjo. Its body was quite twisted and distorted and the back was missing a couple of pieces. Can you tell which ones were replaced? I hope not...

This one was missing veneer on the top. The body required very extensive rebuilding just to hold itself together and I wish that I had taken some photos of the salvaging of the inside of the head. Although you can't see it it is the work inside of the head that I am most pleased with. There were several time I had to put the banjo away to keep from cutting the old head out and just replacing it. It could be very frustrating! But the head just looked too cool with all the funk of the years on it. Furthermore it was what I felt was the right thing to do.

TUNERS. Most of these are new... but not all. Can you tell which are new? How bout which are the original ones?

Ahh yes Ellen... it is an old pie tin. Sort of like a precursor to the cookie can/ cigar box banjos of today. As one would expect, It has a very metallic sound.

I've always liked these old shield bracket shoes. Yep, four brackets, that's all! Oh yes and this is  new head....

My personal favorite of the bunch. Who ever built it was the best builder. The tailpiece and head are not original to this banjo. Also this one arrived covered with decorative tape! Red and white. All over the poor thing. The tape was all removed but it changed the paint underneath it. So now it reflects and looks darker but in most light it doesn't show.

I hope I've answered everybody's questions. This was a fun and very interesting project, not the least of which was thinking and wondering about all the stories these banjos could tell!

More Tomorrow!

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 02/27/2014:  22:07:36

I really enjoyed that post Dan, thank you very much.

I just love those old banjo's. Reminds me of the Museum of Appalachia.

My favourite is ... all of them. I couldn't pick just one.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 02/28/2014:  04:15:42

Dan..If these old banjo's could talk they would say thanks Dan for saving us from the hands of someone without your sensitivity. Amazing work!

Nels - Posted - 02/28/2014:  05:38:14

Really like the 'integrity' of your work on the old ones!!  

Kaelri - Posted - 02/28/2014:  06:00:30

Thanks so much for taking the time from your obviously busy days to answer our questions. I know I continue to learn much in this thread.  I think there is such beauty in these old banjos.

Ellen

Dave1climber - Posted - 02/28/2014:  07:14:09

Dan

Very Nice!!  They all look old and original.  

kwl - Posted - 02/28/2014:  07:42:10

Dan, it is very kind and thoughtful of you to show us these wonderful old banjos. I enjoyed meeting each one up close and personal. Thank you for taking the time to post this.

Ken

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/28/2014:  18:46:34

C Nyle, Doug, Nels, Ellen, Dave & Ken,

Thank you so much for your kind comments. It is my privilege to do these posts.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/03/2014:  09:46:56

MONDAY

Ice & Snow (mostly ice)

This is quite interesting... I'm home, it's Monday morning and we have about 3 inches of granular ice and about 1 inch of snow on the ground. And it is still snowing. 

This weekend we had our grandsons here so I guess that I get to play catch up instead of grandpa!

Saturday:

Erick completed his guitar! Here he's playing it for the very first time. What an excited boy he was! He named it WOODY, I suppose honoring the Toy Story character, maybe because it's made of wood.... I've a video of him playing it and I may Youtube it soon!

Sunday evening we left early to meet the boys father down on interstate 40 at the Waverly, TN exit (143). The weather was promising to be very interesting.  It was raining when we left and it was showering ice when we returned. Our last 35 or so miles were on ice. Rough as that was it was even worse for our grandsons and their father. Hitting standing water on the freeway they hydroplaned off the freeway. Fortunately no one was injured. 

Around 9PM last night I shot this photo... this is not snow, just ice...

This morning I went out to walk the dog and I took my camera along. This is what the old Knowles manse looked like. 

Debbie opened up the chicken house and this is what the chickens did...and are still doing! You want us to go out? I think not! Ah... Dave... they are not chicken dinner.

So what does Dan do on a morning like this? I fire up the La Pavoni Europiccola and enjoy my espresso. I've been putting cinnamon between the two scoops of grounds in the porta-filter somebody told me that makes it Cuban coffee. I don't really care where it comes from cause I like it. This one made a good crema, I'm proud of it. So Tom Bergan and all of you other coffee roasters & espresso makers, this photo is for you!

So what else does a banjo player do on a day like this? Grab up my ebony banjo and play a song about Flying Ponies!

More very soon!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/03/2014:  10:10:16

Dan, We expect the bad winters up here in CT, but you all have had your share this year for sure. I'll take the snow over ice any time. Hopefully we will all get some relief as spring quickly approaches. It was 12 here this morning and I opted out from working in the shop and did what you did, played banjo!

Dave1climber - Posted - 03/03/2014:  12:17:03

Not chicken dinner?  Pet chickens?  For the eggs?

Welcome to the "Polar Vortex", for those not used to this kind of weather it can be quite exciting.  Not necessarily the good kind.

DEmery - Posted - 03/03/2014:  17:36:11

Dan I hate it your chickens are out there shivering and the weather in general is not cooperating. It was a reasonably nice day and I happened to step out in the driveway to take a photo to send my daughter in Albany, New York where they have seen their share of cold this winter. I offer it to say it may be time to come visit me and pick a day or two. David E. 

 

Kaelri - Posted - 03/03/2014:  20:12:20

quote:

---

Originally posted by DEmery

Dan I hate it your chickens are out there shivering and the weather in general is not cooperating. It was a reasonably nice day and I happened to step out in the driveway to take a photo to send my daughter in Albany, New York where they have seen their share of cold this winter. I offer it to say it may be time to come visit me and pick a day or two. David E. 

---

Can he bring the chickens David?..............they're cold too.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/03/2014:  20:45:43

Doug,

I feel yer pain....

Dave,

I'm not sure about this Vortex thang...

David,

If I could just drive on this stuff, my bags would be packed!

Ellen,

I hadn't heard from David about the chickens or my wife, kids, grandkids, dog, friends....

Paul R - Posted - 03/03/2014:  21:32:03

Dan,

I try to refrain from posting too much here, 'cause you have enough to do without my adding to it, but I want to add my thanks to everyone's. It's amazing that you continue to educate us about instruments, music, and, well, living. Your efforts to post daily consume much time on your part while we get to look in on our own time. There are loads of us who tune in to "The Dan Knowles Show" on a regular basis.

Polar vortex? Remember when we just called it a cold snap?  Glad nobody was hurt in the car. The first rule of driving in ice and snow: slow down! - even on the freeway.

Hey, as I type this I'm listening to the latest David Francey CD, So Say We All, featuring the CH banjo playing of the super-talented Chris Coole. If you get the chance, check it out. I saw them in concert on Friday night, and it was a terrific show. Nice guys, too, to chat with afterwards.

Oh, and "chez Knowles" is a very nice house!

DEmery - Posted - 03/04/2014:  04:22:12

Ellen as for the chickens...they are welcome if they come fried with a side of turnip greens. David

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/04/2014:  05:16:32

Paul,

Thanks, Post all you'd like, I always appreciate your comments!

David,

Turnip greens, I love turnip greens

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/04/2014:  05:39:22

TUESDAY

Question, so what does the Luthier do when stuck at home due to ice and snow? He finishes up the bathroom. 

I suppose that this post should be dedicated to Ellen and her husband who are working through a similar project. Mostly for me it was installing the plumbing, hooking up the sink & toilet. Then there was touching up the paint and yada, yada, yada.

After words last night I made some photos to send to my mom and then I thought that y'all might like to see it too. So here goes....

The steamboat floor (oh ya, I'm not done... look at the cover plate...

Ok, now it's time to rotate your computer monitor counter clockwise... You would think after all the photos this guy posts that he'd get this right! this is a just a bit of whimsy, a fish door knocker on the bathroom door!

There was a hole in the original wains coating, most likely a pipe went through here. About a foot above this is another hole which was crudely repaired in some older time. This one too appears to have had a repair that failed. I painted it up and installed a friend. The frog has a very creative name...Frogg.

More soon!

Kaelri - Posted - 03/04/2014:  06:08:35

quote:

---

Originally posted by DEmery

Ellen as for the chickens...they are welcome if they come fried with a side of turnip greens. David

---

David,  My husband would have said the same thing! Too funny!

Kaelri - Posted - 03/04/2014:  06:22:27

Thanks for the dedication Dan! Our bathroom is nearing completion too. We are painting today and tomorrow, then have to finish up the trim work. Our floor, however, is ordinary and not nearly as fancy, artistic, and beautiful as yours! By the way, we did write a sharpie message on the wall....before the shower was installed. (Picture below) My husband thought this one was funny. Well, only two more bathrooms to go....and a kitchen...and a utility room...and...well, I am sure you understand! We love hearing your home construction tales as well as the fascinating lutherie stories. 

Thanks for taking the time when you can.

Ellen

Dave1climber - Posted - 03/04/2014:  08:22:47

Dan

Thats a bathroom that would be a pleasure to visit.  Great floor, and good looking room.

Ellen

Clever

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/04/2014:  10:27:30

Ellen,

Thanks! For us it's two down, six to go! Maybe 7 or 8 if we do the upstairs.

Dave,

It is, makes me want to just go in there and feel good about what we've done.

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 03/04/2014:  10:40:05

Dan, I know you are a busy man but jbalch tells me you have experience of fan fretted banjos in my topic: banjohangout.org/topic/280809 

I'd love to hear your views on them in you can spare a few minutes...

Anything would be much appreciated.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/04/2014:  12:30:01

Your bathroom floor mosaic is amazing.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/04/2014:  16:58:26

Lyndon,

I've built several fan fretted instruments over the years. I'll check out your post and jump in and "spend my opinion" as my old friend Don Henson used to say.

Doug,

Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it.

rubicon - Posted - 03/04/2014:  17:20:11

Great job on the bathroom the floor Is nothing short of a masterpiece I like the idea of the frog again great job!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/04/2014:  17:40:35

Dan, the picture you posted with the ebony banjo, is it a block or laminated ebony rim? I have made two rims using persimmon which is in the ebony family and used block rim construction in both cases and didn't even attempt a laminated rim, do to the hardness of the persimmon.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/04/2014:  18:04:01

Rubicon,

Thanks, the frog likes folks too!

Doug,

My ebony banjos have block rims although with proper technique I see no reason that a laminated ebony rim could not be fabricated. B & D made a model with a laminated ebony rim.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/04/2014:  18:19:54

TUESDAY EVENING

What's all this? I live in the sweet sunny south. This is March and the buttercups should be blooming. Birds should be singing. Dogwoods thinking about blooming. Red buds should be beginning to have a purple haze.  But no... ice and snow.

My rant is complete for in fact I'm really enjoying this. Our world has had to slow down. Slow down listen and live... Ah yes!

This was the view from my front porch this morning as I started off to the shop. The glitter of the ice and snow is magnificent. 

I spent an hour or so shoveling snow and ice away from the front of the shop and got a good 2.367543 ft. wide path, give or take .oo1 from the door to the street. I was the only one on my block at work. Other folks must be smarter.

I didn't catch many photos today but I did observe myself darkening a banjo bridge for Will. I love this mixture of iron & walnut stain. 

more tomorrow!

Will1717 - Posted - 03/04/2014:  22:20:53

Dan:

You need to live up here. It started to snow in mid November and hasn't stopped since! The way I see it it will be mid August before all this white stuff melts! This has to be one of the coldest and snowiest winters that I can remember! Talk about dry in the shop, because of the cold. I measured the humidity level a couple of days ago and it was a whopping 6% humidity. I didn't think it was possible for the humidity level to go that low! I read somewhere that the humidity level in a major desert is approx. 10%. It's actually becoming to dry to successfully steam and roll rims without having the plies crack open from the lack of moisture in the air.

What I'm trying to say is you can keep that white stuff down in Tennessee!

From a cold and dried out friend from the north!!

flatfootjohnny - Posted - 03/05/2014:  04:50:18

Dan I love those ancient banjos. Iv just been given a commission to build a mountain banjo that looks like its been sitting in a barn for 100 years. I hope you dont mind me using these pictures for references. .. wear marks stains etc
This thread of yours has been a great inpiration to me

Dave1climber - Posted - 03/05/2014:  04:55:46

Dan

Thanks for the reminder about how gorgeous fresh snow can be, after several months of hard sledding one tends to forget. 

Bill

I hate to think of your heating bill for your shop this winter.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/05/2014:  06:17:36

Bill,

Oh my, oh my, oh my. It does make me feel better to be down south where it gets sticky in the summer!

Johnny,

Congratulations on your commission. Feel more than welcome to use any of these photos as a reference. I did a post on recreating an 1850's Jacobs banjo (here on the BHO) a few years ago called Birthing 1850's. I reproduced an accurate copy of a Jacobs banjo of the 1850's for David Emery. The post (as I recall) went into all the details of that project. here is a link even though all of the photo links no loner exist you might find it to be helpful. banjohangout.org/archive/184166/6  The photos still exist on my photo page. In general you can coalate them to the posts. Usually each postings photos are listed 1 through 7, 8, 9 whatever.  Also the Original Jacobs banjo was restored on a BHO post (whose name I don't remember) but the photos exist here banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=4602

One more thing: Handle as many old (and I mean old) instruments and antiques as possible. They don't have to be banjos. Check out the condition of the finish, color and wear. It is best to really know how time affects what one is recreating.

Dave,

You are more than welcome.

flatfootjohnny - Posted - 03/05/2014:  08:00:54

Cheers dan. I loved that birthing post. I watched it avidly. We have a great museum here stacked full of antique instruments from around the world. Ill get in touch and see if I can get my grubby mits on them...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/05/2014:  18:01:55

John,

Good luck. You are stepping into a world that for me is a lot of fun.

Hawgfiddle65 - Posted - 03/06/2014:  03:29:31

Hi Johnny.... Is that the Horniman Museum? An old mate of mine used to be curator there in the instrument section. Spent 4 years down in SE London back in the 1980s. Most influential time of my life regarding music. regards Jim

flatfootjohnny - Posted - 03/06/2014:  04:14:15

Hi jim. Yeah the horniman , great place. Used to live just round the corner from it. We often pop there with our littleun. He likes the aquarium.

Dan im looking forward to it.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/06/2014:  16:32:40

THURSDAY 6, MARCH 2014

Recently here on the BHO there has been a discussion of fanned frets on a banjo. Having built fanned fret banjos I figured I'd shoot some photos of just how I do this job. I will be posting this same stuff both here and on the Fanned Frets post.

Here is a photo of a banjo that I built for BHO member Denton Jordan fondly known here as Woodturner. This is a very adventurous instrument with fanned frets and a tunneled 5th. string.

This is basically how that "WEIRD" fingerboard is laid out...

First let me say that I have used a white pencil in the demonstration. Were this an actual emergency you would be instructed where to... Where did that come from?!?!?!? Instead of using a pencil, which even at its sharpest will create an inexact line, I would use a marking knife (shown later in the photos). First I use a rectangular finger board blank. On the bass side I lay out the longer of the two scales. Here it is 26 1/8".

I mark the 12th. fret so that I can square across the blank.

Then lining the shorter scale with its 12th. fret on the 12th. fret mark I lay that scale out on the treble side of the blank.

Next using a straight edge I connect the marks on either side of the board. 

There you have it. Next I'd grab up a fret saw and go to town. If I felt necessary I would use an adjustable square beside my saw to get a good cut.

I hope this helps everybody!

Wrags - Posted - 03/06/2014:  20:12:59

Dan,

Thanks for that great description of how you layout the fanned frets! I really dig the banjo you built for Woodturner. Every time I look at the photo, I keep thinking it looks like a warped relative of my Moonshine banjo!

Thanks for all your great posts. 

Charley

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/06/2014:  21:14:05

Charlie,

I haddn't thought of it that way. You are so correct for  in fact they are siblings or perhaps even half siblings. It all depends if you use our right or left eye!

Kaelri - Posted - 03/08/2014:  14:23:46

I am finding fan frets fantastically  fascinating......how's that for some alliteration? (I couldn't resist ) 

Thanks for the discussion on them, everyone. 

WillT - Posted - 03/09/2014:  09:25:05

Bob Ross' younger, better looking cousin came and painted my nursery wall for me yesterday. I've tried uploading the photos here, and they show uploading but they never show up on my photos page and this forum engine doesn't understand BBcode links so here are the direct links:

i.imgur.com/MaRkGR8.jpg

i.imgur.com/4eXBMuL.jpg

i.imgur.com/fDIgrN5.jpg

i.imgur.com/X9YJRvJ.jpg

Edited by - WillT on 03/09/2014 09:34:22

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/09/2014:  11:49:39

WARREN APOLLO TURNERS ROOM

Here ya go Will, it may not be correct but I figured it out!