Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/01/2014:  13:04:46

Doug,

We are having a great time! The weather is wonderful although a bit nippie the morning.

Dave,

I guess that's the question of the hour.

Ellen,

I certainly hope the Mandora d'Amore will have a feature on the new one. We have already recorded some material with it for the new recording. We will see what makes it.

tylerandal - Posted - 11/01/2014:  19:52:35

Dan!

The new mic looks awesome! Can't wait to try it out :)

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/02/2014:  04:24:13

SATURDAY CHECKIN' IN

I've just laid down with the computer on my lap. Earlier today I worked up these photo of Eddie and my day on Friday in Memphis, Tennessee.

Wespent a good deal of the morning in the Beltz Museum of Judaic and Oriental Art  (on Main St. downtown). What a treat it was. I took so many photo that it was difficult choosing ones for this post. This is a carriage made of Jade. It is nearly 8 feet tall...

Ivory carving from a mastodon tusk....

A detail of a solid tiger eye vase. THIS ONE IS AROUND 7 FEET TALL...

Later we went to Gus's for fried chicken , fried green tomatoes and collard greens, a true lunch from heaven.

After lunch we walked over to the National Civil Rights Museum. It is built on and utilizes the site of the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther was murdered. This museum is one of the most powerful and moving which I have ever visited.

At dinner, Halloween evening, Eddie and I joined our world famous Calgery All Star Jug Band and they fixed us up!

Miss Tootsie Roll fixes me up with a Tootsie Roll!

More Soon!

More

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/02/2014:  04:26:47

Tyler,

Thanks, I hope to have you on a whole set of those mics someday!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/02/2014:  09:47:04

SUNDAY

190,000 READS

IN WEST HELENA, ARKANSAS

One Hundred Ninety Thousand reads, it bogels the mind, Thank You for staying with me all this time. 

I'm thinking about working up another contest (just haven't figured what it would be or any prize yet!) to celebrate the 200,000 mark which is sneaking up oh so quickly. If any body has an idea please feel free to post it!

On to yesterday and the beginnings of today....

My band (CHILL TONIC) joined me on the Queen yesterday in Memphis for the ride down to Vicksburg  and for a couple of shows and a banjo lesson.

BTW here is the Queen, just an hour or so before we left out, in port in Memphis

We are performing for a tour group called NOBEL CALEDONIA from the UK, what a nice bunch of folks! 

Here's the band, workin' it out! (l to r)

Mark Holladay, Danny Conger (America's Fiddlin' Postman), me and my son Sam... he was named in honor of Samuel Clements... Mark Twain.

Sam and I....

This morning in harbor in West Helena, Arkansas...

31 degrees Fahrenheit heading into town...

More Soon!!!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/02/2014:  12:37:37

Nice to be out on the river with your son, playing with a great bunch of folks! Cheers

DEmery - Posted - 11/02/2014:  15:24:15

Dan I saw the 190K creeping up on the thread. I think it will pass the 200K mark ahead of my January 1, 2015 estimate. Something for sure needs to commemorate the event but I have no clue what to suggest. With so many viewers: I bet something worthy will surface. David E. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/02/2014:  15:57:57

David,

Perhaps a chance to ride the pig! (see next post).

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/02/2014:  16:09:50

SUNDAY AFTERNOON 

ON THE QUEEN

The second day of a trip is usually my banjo class day, and today was no exception. The guests are mostly from the UK (with a few folks from Canada tossed in for good measure) they all did do ever so well. I wish I could have classes like this all the time! There were the usual 25 or so students, they counted and played their instruments with an astounding skill and vigor!

Before the class though America's Fiddelin' Postman Danny Conger caught me playin' ride um pigboy on the Queens pig!

And here is my wonderful class!

More Soon!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/02/2014 16:10:45

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/04/2014:  05:21:42

SUNDAY NIGHT

Well actually it is Tuesday morning now. We returned to Paris last night quite a bit later than usual. To Danny and I it felt a bit odd until we started figurin' things up.

First we left Vicksburg a bit later than usual, close to 9 instead of 8.

Then we made 2 stops in Memphis, Windfield's clothing store (for Mark to look at shoes) and at the India Palace for a wonderful lunch of Indian food. I love that Nan bread and all the rest!

So after skipping by Camden to drop off Mark and then going by Sam's to drop him off we got in a bunch later than if we had driven straight through from Vicksburg to home.

Anyway I'm up now, drinking my coffee and tap, tapping away on the old Apple.

We had two and a half great days visiting and performing  for a group of primarily folks from the UK. What a nice group they were. Sunday night we added several new tunes. Sam's new Grits and Gravy, Misty and Desperado. They kept calling us back after we finished our show and we ended up playing long past our usual hour. Nice!

Here are a few photos.

Just before the show I'm showin' off my white suit. I do love the response I get from this thing!

On stage. I forgot to turn our stage lights on. Sam told me that he noticed my omission after the show had started but couldn't figure as smooth way of getting them on. Me I didn't miss the heat coming off of those things, so I didn't think think about it . But the photos certainly didn't come out as clear.

Here we are starting the show. Mark Holladay, me, Danny Conger and Sam Knowles...

Dogwoods in Dixie, in three part harmony. The guys really like the new mic, it was much hotter and clearer than anyone expected. I think that maybe I'll make a whole set of them soon...

Sam tearing up Grits and Gravy on his banjo!

Mark has such a beautiful high tenor voice. Here he's thoroughly moving the audience with Desperado.  

Now it is back to 8 days in the real world. Luthing and apartment finishing....

More Soon!

cbcarlisle - Posted - 11/04/2014:  09:17:53

"Ah, pick it, luthier!"

DEmery - Posted - 11/04/2014:  17:37:39

Well Dan...I have seen a person ride a bunch of things..., but never a luthier riding a pig. Can you do that photo in dots? It would make a good raffle for 200K of views. Clearly it would become a collector's item. David E. 

 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/05/2014:  19:14:32

Curt,

Thanks, I'll try to!

David,

That might be a great idea... I'll thunk on it!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/05/2014:  19:37:44

WEDNESDAY

TURNING

AROUND

&

AROUND 

& 

AROUND

*

Among the many jobs for today I turned this maple banjo rim. It is one of the jobs that I thoroughly enjoy. There is nothing like the sound and feeling of shavings flying off of a rim blank. I'm sure that other folks are more accurate turning with all sorts of devices, but I just really enjoy the freehand way. The feel of a chisel in my hands doing my bidding is something I never get over.

Anyway this banjo rim is being turned to accept a Rickard flange. Bill makes these to replace a conventional Gibson style one piece flange, making an open back from a resonator banjo. 

I'll be using it as an original flange for this instrument.

Here I'm checking the fit following the first opening cut...

Laying out the depth of the flange seat...

Preparing to true and trim the bottom...

Trimming...

Checking the wall thickness...

The newly turned rim is tapped to check its tone...

Just to prove that it all fits and works I green mounted all the parts. I'm quite pleased with this rim. It is very boisterous and sweet! 

MORE SOON!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/06/2014:  06:13:36

Looks good

60spicker - Posted - 11/06/2014:  09:32:19

You, sir, ARE the genuine article.

Notice the arched finger in the tone testing picture, because, you know, it's not enough to simply test the tone, you've got to have a certain style in so doing.

Of course, the Aunt Jemima head scarf adds to the mystery and aura surrounding an enchanting old form of witchcraft known only to ancient luthiers and brought alive today by the likes of one Dan Knowles.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/06/2014:  17:09:57

Dave,

Thanks!

Terry,

Sir, there is only one bone I have to pick with you about your comment.... That scarf belonged to Aunt Martha, not Jemima! 

Crusty - Posted - 11/06/2014:  17:43:18

Hey Dan, just out of curiosity, how heavy are those Rickard bracket bands?  Are they about the same weight as an equivalent Vega style? 

After acquiring a couple of old Tubaphones I've become convinced that those rims are more resonant than rims with a bunch of bolts through them.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/06/2014:  17:48:36

Dan that is a fine looking pot..can't wait to see the finished bajo and maybe a sound clip :)

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/06/2014:  18:16:56

THURSDAY

BACK AT THE LATHE

Today is color change day. I just felt like the post needed a newer fresher look to face the winter with...Hope y'all like it!

Tyler Andel's beautiful cocobolo rim has been calling me to the lathe for some time and today was the day.

I guess that yesterday maple turning was just the warm up for today. Cocobolo takes way longer to turn than does maple. A lot of time is spent at the grinder and with the stone to resharpen tools. Just when I think that I'm really going to make time the tool begins slowing down its cutting and I know the time to visit the wheel again.

I'm really not complaining about cocobolo though. This is one of the smoothest sweetest, prettiest woods anywhere. Add to that it sounds great!

I'm laying out the cutting pattern. I'll be using a Vega style bracket band on this rim so I'm marking all the way around the rim so it will be very clear for my poor blind eyes...

After a small amount of truing, I check to see how much wood I'll need to remove to fit the bracket band...

Turning...

True turning attire. Notice the fluffy wood like additions to the deep blue bib overalls.

Cocobolo shavings are all the rage this year. They should be coupled with a light brown long sleved shirt, glasses, midnight blue apron, raw brass bracket band, (in homage to Michael Jackson)one single yellow  & grey gauntlet gloove and a set of white gunners muffs. This season red, brown or green is passe', only white with black trim will do...

Ahh, it fits!

After turning a rabbit the binding is checked for fit...

The outside channel is cut....

And binding applied...

Then turned to true...

Here is the rim after the purfling is glued and trued. Sanding has begun. Please try not to notice the binding lifting in the background. During sanding it started coming loose. Shucks. It will have to be done again...

Awfully pretty rim though, isn't it?

Removed, re-grooved and now clamped and gluing, the new binding is on...

Back at it tomorrow...

More Soon!

Pine Cone - Posted - 11/06/2014:  19:01:01

What a beautiful rim...

Maybe I need to order another banjo...

Then again, Shine is everything I hoped for in a banjo.  It is the best playing and sounding banjo I have ever had the good good fortune to fool around with.

But Tyler's pot sure looks nice!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/06/2014:  20:49:15

Mike,

Without weighing each I can't accurately comment. But accuracy aside I think that the flange would be a bit heaver than the Vega style bracket band. Soon when I tear the maple pot apart I'll try to remember to weigh the flange and once the engraving and plating is done on Tyler's bracket band remind me and we'll weigh that thing to, then we'll know for sure!

A flange or bracket band allows one to safely and securely use a thinner more responsive rim, all things being equal (which we know they are not) this may produce a more responsive banjo.

Doug,

I'll try to do that. This rim is to be one of a run of banjos I'm building for Carters Vintage Guitars in Nashville.

Scott,

Thanks! I'm glad you are happy with Shine, Still maybe I could work up some of that sales speil mojo for you!

DEmery - Posted - 11/07/2014:  04:40:35

Dan I agree Cocobolo is fine stuff. I think this may have been your first Coco rim - do you recall one before Goshen? David E.

Goshen by Dan Knowles

 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/07/2014:  11:05:53

David,

I think that you are correct. Still I'm not absolutely sure if that was my first cocobolo rim or not, I've done a bunch. I'll try to remember  to check my records and report back.

rubicon - Posted - 11/07/2014:  15:29:31

That cocobolo rim is stunning on a scale from 1 to 10 its an 11 !!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/07/2014:  18:47:06

Rubicon,

Thanks! Perhaps you'll like tonight & tomorrows photos just as well!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/07/2014:  19:18:28

FRIDAY

TO EVERYTHING TURN TURN TURN

THERE IS A SEASON TURN TURN TURN...

Ah yes, you guessed it, more rim turning!

I got into the shop today and removed the clamps from yesterday and took a good long look at Tyler's rim mounted on the lathe.

Something bothered me. 

It was the binding...

Beautiful vintage ivoroid...

It was installed perfectly. It was ready to be trimmed. I could sand the rim and flip it over for the top turning. I tried to ignore my feelings.

But I couldn't.

That amazingly beautiful vintage ivoroid binding had to go.

It just was not the look I am hunting for.

So out came the chisels, on went the lathe and off went the ivoroid.

I went looking for the pasture pastry of plenty, the road apple of the universe (oops wrong story)... I went hunting for a couple perfectly figured pieces of maple binding. I had made a bunch of this months ago when I started Shine.

This is some pretty maple, the same I bound shine with. Similar to the binding used on Saint Augustine.

So on it went (Terry please note the finger positions and the extra fancy thumb dressing! )...

Lots of clamps. After the glue dries I'll remove the inner binding and replace it also...

Not only did I replace the inner peace (sic) but I added another bit of purfiling on the inside too...

Here it is with the bracket band, it sure covers a lot of real estate!

Here the rim has been flipped in the chuck head, the ledge for the tone ring turned and test fitted. Tomorrow I'll finish turning the rim.  I'm looking forward to taping this one. Already it rings like a bell!

MORE TOMORROW!

tylerandal - Posted - 11/08/2014:  06:29:28

This is all very exciting... :) I think cocobolo was definitely the right way to go.

Pine Cone - Posted - 11/08/2014:  16:40:16

I'm taking Shine out to play a contra dance at the Sequim Prairie Grange tonight.  Everyone liked how it sounded at the practice earlier today.  Guess I'd better start looking for a white suit so I can keep up with Dan's dress code...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/08/2014:  18:16:01

Tyler,

I'm glad you like it! Perhaps you'll even be pleased with what you see in today's post!

Scott,

The place to go for a white suit is Mr. Penguin in Paducah, Kentucky... at least that's where I got mine. Come on out, we've got an extra room. Bring Shine. We'll do some pickin'!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/08/2014 18:16:36

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/08/2014:  18:47:56

SATURDAY

RE-INVENTING THE WHEEL

I'm not sure what that intro is all about... I thought it sounded neat, a banjo is round (what other excuses can I find?).

I keep trying to find some exciting new way of celebrating the upcomeing 200,000 reads mark... I better figure something out soon only a few thousand to go.

Any ideas out there?

This morning was the Lutherie teaching time. Zeb and Kevin came in and made good progress. It is wonderful having such talented and enthoustic students.  

Still I found some time to finish turning Tyler's cocobolo rim...

More turning...

Turned and sanded...

OH YEZ OH YEZ! SHE'S GOT THE TAP TONE!!!

Did you notice the swet shirt? It's getting cold out there!

Here are a couple glamor shots... well sort of.

MORE SOON!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/09/2014:  05:54:24

Should Tyler decide that he doesn't want that rim, I am sure that I can find a home for it.     Looking very nice.  

Pine Cone - Posted - 11/10/2014:  19:49:02

Here's a fuzzy cell phone pix of me and Shine and my Rickard Tubaphone at our first contra dance in Sequim, WA!

FUN was had by all!

My Knowles Shine Banjo at its 1st Dance

 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/11/2014:  06:19:21

Dave,

I'm afeared that Tyler won't let that one go.

Scott,

You're looking good son! It's nice to she Shine in your capable hands!

tylerandal - Posted - 11/11/2014:  22:52:57

Oh yes, oh yes. Dan knows me well :) I'll probably hang on to this banjo for the rest of my life. Can't wait!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/12/2014:  13:10:15

Tyler,

Big grin!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/12/2014:  13:26:45

O darn, I thought I had a chance!  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/12/2014:  14:30:32

WEDNESDAY

Today I'm writing the post from room 114 on the queen of the Mississippi. Eddie and I drove down last night (following my teaching) and arrived in Vicksburg (at an Econo Lodge) at 1:30 AM to try and get a few hours sleep before meeting up with the Queen this morning. Sometimes the most challenging part of my job is the logistics. 

Yesterday morning while driving over to 641 Plumbing and Electric, I passed my old shop building. This was the site of my first fulltime shop here in Paris 20 or so years ago. The state of Tennessee now owns the building and it is slated for teardown so they can widen State Highway 641. I've been wanting to make some photos of the old place in its dereliction and now was the time.

Before I get onto the photos of the old place I wanted to pass on some information about a GREAT site for Old-Tme players. It is called OLD TIME JAM. Site owner Jim Turknett has made available a fantastic learning tool for all of us. There is a large collection of old time tunes presented in both recorded and tabed formats.  I could go on and on, instead heres a live link, check it out for yourself! oldtimejam.com/wordpress/

On to the photos...

Here is the front, I swear it didn't look like this 10 years ago when I was here!

The front room where I taught, had an office and visited with visitors. The bench covered with carpet is still here...

This was once the space where I had power tools. And wood storage...

The now empty spray booth...

I used to have two work benches in front of this window. This was where I and several apprentices did most of our work...

You know, its funny this thing we call time and its passing, we can never go back completely, but the photographs in our minds have the wonderful ability to overlay the present. 

More Soon!!!

jbalch - Posted - 11/12/2014:  17:36:22

I remember that old shop.  Lots of great memories in that place I'm sure.

But your new building is SO much nicer...

Edited by - jbalch on 11/12/2014 17:36:32

Pine Cone - Posted - 11/12/2014:  18:52:59

Josh Turknett's Old Time Jam is a great resource.  I have it on my PC and my iPad.  Connect to a louder blue tooth speaker and play along.  Great way to work on tunes.

I understand Tyler's sentiments totally.  I'm never letting Shine go...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/12/2014:  21:33:48

You know John, it is amazing when I look back and remember that old shop.  It was cheep or so we thought.

When we bought the new building I worried about making the payments. Amazingly enough once the utilities were factored in it turned out to be less expensive to be in the new building. We had more square footage and were working in such greater comfort. Win, Win, Win! 

Still I have such great memories of the old place including the times you would come over with your banjos.

Scott,

Yes Old Time Jam has enabled me to spend hours working up a new (low tuned ) version of Whisky Before Breakfast. I stick on the headphones, pull one earpiece back so I can hear my banjo and practice away. What is wild is that  ole' Josh never tires of hearing me try out new things and he never complains!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/13/2014:  11:54:17

I SHOULD NEVER HAVE DISCOVERED THE SEPIA BUTTON

on this computer...

This is todays's Banjo 102 grad-e-eatin' class on the Queen of the Mississippi! These folks did great! I love it when at the end of a class I get to walk off for a few minutes, come back and they are doing the clawhammer lick without me being there. It is absolutely wonderful! 

See ya soon!

Kaelri - Posted - 11/13/2014:  13:25:47

You got e'm hooked!!! Good going! 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/14/2014:  06:54:32

I sure hope so Ellen... at least I aims to!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/14/2014:  07:51:19

RAPPIN' UP

THURSDAY

an' contestin'

While preparing stuff to use for  teachin' a dot painting class (here on the boat) an idea struck me like a bolt out of the blue... Finally I knew what I could do to celebrate  our Luthier's Life 200,000 reads. Furthermore I started workin' on a prize for that contest.

Just so's you can quickly get your engines revvin' , this is what we've come up with.

1.Make a recording of yourself playing the banjo... any tune you want (it will be even better if it is original or related to instrument building or even banjos. Haw's that for opening the door?) This can be an audio or video recording or even both if you'd like it.

2. Post it here on the BanjoHangout.

3. Send a link to me at dan@danknowles.net (this ain't a live link).

4. We need your link in before we reach that 200,000 read mark.

5. We'll take a listen, look or whatever and try to figure which person will receive the prize.

Here will be our stringent rules :

You choose which note (of the myriad notes) you like best. Let us know which note that is. You can count them in, use an abacus, calculator  or whatever... that will be the note we will judge by. 

This is what we will be listening for:

1. Is it a note? 

2. Timing (is there a note before or after it)(this relates to #1)

3. Pitch, is it a pitch over the center of the plate or not. Did it make the strike zone. Wrong game? Oh ya, this relates to #1

4. Tone. Is the note colorful or not (this relates to #1)

5. Correctness. is the note politically correct or not (this relates to #1)

6. Usage. can this note be used with other notes? Is this a note used at some point in Bethovan's Fifth or Jack Daniels Fifth of FMB (this relates to #1)

7. Properness. Can this note pe played in mixed or un-mixed company? (this relates to #1)

8. Promptness. Was the note promptly played (this to relates to #1)

9. Repeatability. can this note be repeated or is it unique amongst all notes (yes this relates to #1 also)

10. Relatedness. Does ths note relate to #1?

Well there you have it.

Have I mentioned a prize?

No?

Well here tiz...

A Knowles original dot painting.

What, you say you see no dots? 

That's cause there ain't none yet. I just started this thing yesterday. These are just the undercoats. 

I'll be finishing this work over the next couple of days so you can watch it grow into its self... this is just the first installment!

On to the

Day on the Queen

Yep here tiz teachin' a class called Dan Does Dots... I'm not sure who came up with that title...

There is nothing like the sunsets on the lower Mississippi River. The vista of the majestic river  and the color of an uncluttered sky, I almost expect a raft with Huck & Jim...

Eddie and I doin' last night's show. I'm fairly sure Eddies takin' a break showin' the folks just exactly why he's one of the best!

Here we are takin' that Night Train To Memphis!

See Ya soon in Memphis!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/14/2014:  16:36:43

Dan..I bet you have fond memories of times in that first shop...great that you have some pictures to look back on.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/15/2014:  09:56:31

Doug,

When I get back home I will look to see if I can find some photos from back in the days when we were in that building. We had a lot of great times and met loads of wonderful folks there!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/15/2014:  11:17:55

Dan, I would love to see them.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/15/2014:  15:03:05

SATURDAY

We've been moved! Yep Eddie and I got an upgrade to the 4th. deck today.

It's something special to be way up here, just down the hall from the 4th. deck sky lounge.

We can wonder down just a few steps for some coffee, tea, orange juice or a cookie.

This is turnover day and we now have a completely new group of passengers. Folks from all over. So far I've met folks from Texas, Maine, California, Ohio, Oregon, New York and even Australia. This bit of a trip should be fun!

We jumped boat today for a frigid jaunt around Tom Lee park on Memphis' riverfront. The park was named for a riverman who back in 1923 saved 35 people from a steamboat wreak with great danger to himself. 

This statue honors his heroism. 

The Beale Street landing with the Queen docked. The carts are bringing the new passengers aboard.

The Memphis Belle and her companion boats....

Me with (what Eddie Coffey calls) my Forrest Gump hat!

Run Dan, run!

Oh yes I've made some progress with the new prize painting. I hope there has been some progress in recordings.  I'm really hoping that everyone will feel comfortable posting something. It will really be like drawing names from a bowler hat. Not a serious contest at all!

Well I'm off to getting ready for tonights show so we'll see you again soon on this

Luthiers Life!