Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/20/2015:  04:53:48

MONDAY

We had such a wonderful time on the AMERICAN EAGLE this week, but now it's time to go back home. Everything is packed (except for the computer) and we're going to eat breakfast and hit the road.

What a wonderful group of folks this last bunch was! I'm gonna miss um!

Yesterday I was able to spend quite a bit of time with everybody because I did a DOTTING WITH DAN painting class, a banjo class and an evening performance...GREAT FUN!

Here is the "DOTTING"  bunch...

And the Banjo 102 class. It never ceases to amaze me how the all get it!

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/20/2015:  06:08:04

Dan

Its good to know that Chris is moving to rehab.  It's also good to see that you are able to enjoy your self.  I am looking forward to the posts coming from the shop.  





 

A note to all those that care about Dan and his family.



It is important that those that are praying, pulling, or wishing for Chris's speedy, full recovery not only continue, but post a reminder that Chris is not forgotten.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 07/20/2015:  07:24:39

Dan..my prayers are on going for Chris, you and your family. God bless you all.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/21/2015:  19:27:43

Dave & Doug,

Thanks so much!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/21/2015:  20:02:50

TUESDAY

UPDATE

Chris has been moved into Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehab Center in Nashville. There he will undergo intensive rehab. It is a small facility dedicated to this type of medicine. He is now eating on his own and talking, although there are evidences of the trauma. We are told that he will undergo a rigorous schedule of therapy, filling up most of his day. 

Again we all appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.

Shop

I spent only a short time at the shop today. Most of the day was spent banking, getting two oil changes (both the Van & the Prius), getting my nails done, washing both vehicles and paying bills. But when I was in the shop I taught a few students and worked on the old fiddle purfiling for a bit...

Most of this will be just kind of cut and paste. This was a bit that I glued in before the trip. Here I'm cutting a miter at the tip of this leaf shape...

Cutting a matching miter ...

Fitting it in place...

Gluing it in with cyano and holding it with a stick until it's stuck...

Cutting an inside miter...

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/21/2015:  21:22:36

Dan Its great to see that your getting back in the shop.  That fiddle has a whole bunch of fiddlely work.  An interesting project.



Chris in rehab!!   Rehab will be some of the hardest things that he will ever have to do, the results will be directly related to the effort that he puts in.  I am still pulling for him.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/22/2015:  03:51:52

Dave,

Yes that seams to be true. Fortunately he is already wanting to work even though it hurts. He wants to be well.

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/22/2015:  05:06:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dan Knowles

 

Dave,

Yes that seams to be true. Fortunately he is already wanting to work even though it hurts. He wants to be well.

---

The most important part!!  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/23/2015:  19:46:33

Update:

Chris' trachea is out!

Second update:

Today the new CD went to press. 6 years have been put into this work and now it is finally being printed! 

It ​should be out mid August.

Contact me if you'd like to get a copy.

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/23/2015:  21:35:05

God news about Chris!!  



Dan

I am contacting you about your new CD, how much should I send you so that I may receive one?

guitarman8491 - Posted - 07/24/2015:  04:58:51

Dan...Excellent News about Chris...my prayers will continue for him, you and your family. Can't wait for the day you post that Chris is home.

kwl - Posted - 07/24/2015:  06:44:22

I'm glad to hear of Chris' progress. I will continue to keep him in prayer.

Nels - Posted - 07/24/2015:  12:32:40

......Great news about Chris. Prayers continue for his full recovery.  I finally got to hook up the '.putor' to a hot spot in WVa.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/24/2015:  19:46:55

Dave, Doug, Kenneth, Nels,

Thank you so much! Today they continued to do long hours in therapy; speech, physical and etc. Debra says that they are "Wearing his butt out!" On another note, once he starts ingesting enough food they will pull the feeding tube out and that will be the last of all of those connecting things (well except for the I.V).

I noticed that I neglected to tell you how you can receive one of these new CD's...

Just email me your name and your physical address along with a promise to pay $12 for the CD (including shipping) once you receive the thing. And I'll send you one as soon just as I have them in my hot little hands.

That's all there is to it.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/24/2015:  20:05:48

FRIDAY

Another busy day in the shop working on several projects. I wrote a song with Hollis, set up a mandolin, visited with the fella whose mandolin I set up, installed banjo spikes and did some of the stuff in tonights pictures....

Here I'm using a piece of brass tubing as a bending iron. I've heated it with that propane torch (in the background) and run this white/ black purfling over it until it turns into a noodle... 

Checking to see if it'll fit....

Sticking it in spot...

A little piece of it glued in...

Well almost...

The new CD, 1934's label design. It came from a old Edison Records 78 rpm label...

Oh yah, I almost forgot...

I aged some brass parts for a banjo that I hope to put together tomorrow. The the pieces are in the aging solution...

The tension hoop getting its bath...

Here are all the pieces-parts....

More Tomorrow!!!​

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/24/2015:  21:21:41

"Wearing his butt out" sounds like boot camp for body rehab.  It should keep him away from boredom.  Steady progress is what I an pulling for.



Looks as if you had an interesting day.



Thanks for the update on Chris, the CD, and your day.   

Bufo Bill - Posted - 07/25/2015:  13:31:05

It's good to hear from you Dan, one of the highlights of my day, and re. Dave's comments Chris is definitely still in my thoughts everyday. None of you are forgotten. Hope this thought will be of use to Chris and the family throughout his recovery.
All the best from Bill.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/26/2015:  06:48:55

SATURDAY

Can't do a day until it's done. Oh no. Gotta wait until the new one starts... 

That's the problem with autobiography. Unless it's written after the fact. Kain't write it until after the fact. Sorta like writin' a novel without an ending. It just ain't fair.

Anyway that's my excuse for not writing this post until Sunday morning....

I got a phone call from Chris yesterday. What a treat! He sounded like he did when he was 19. To be younger after a thing like this. Laughed and said he wanted some Minions. A Chris joke if there eve was one. He's enjoying talking now that the trachea is out.

Saturday as you all well know who follow this post is usually Lutherie Teaching Day and this Saturday was no exception.

Kevin (Steve) and Zeb were in. Thomas is still out in the wilds of Europe riding his bicycle. I bet he's having a great time. The ride bikes through the country side during the day and the get on the boat for the evening... how cool does it get!

Zeb spent his time cutting a mortise on his guitar body for the neck to fit in. Here's the proud feller with his box!

While Kevin whittled away making a pyramid style bridge for his. Here he is at the band saw doing the basic shaping...

I almost forgot... Zeb carved his neck too! Here he's carving the heel...

Another interesting banjo walked in the shop today... or rather came in via the postman. Well to be exact they delivered it to my home and I found it there after I returned from teaching and getting my hair cut. Did I say I got my hair cut? Well I did. This ole crop of stuff had really gotten rough lookin' and so it got sheared. My hair stylist (I love sayin' Stylist) does a real good job considerin' what shes got to work with! 

Anyhow when I came in I saw the box and was a bit surprised. See, I had forgotten that this banjo was coming. Instead I was looking for a box of parts coming from Canada from my friend Bill Rickard. Did I ever tell you that he makes the best banjo parts? Well he does. I swear that they are the finest made since the "Golden Age" of the 1890's (hope I don't offend y'all Gibson fans!) with Fairbanks, Cole, S.S. Stewart and such. I ALWAYS look forward to seeing his banjo stuff when it arrives!

Oh yes, I was telling you about this banjo that arrived...

Well the reason I was surprised was the box was long and tall (like a banjo would come in), but I hadn't asked for any long parts. I thought "How odd!"

Then I looked at the tag. It was from an antique company. I should say here that it was an Antique sales company... well I guess correctly a company that sells antiques. Anyhow this antique company's name was on the return address. That's when I remembered a call from earlier in the week and had an AH YES moment.

Being though, that I had promised to take the grand kids to the "Ice Cream Social & Antique Car Show" that our local Downtown Business Association was having on the courthouse square, I left the most interesting box in the entry way for later.

As Keaton, Braden, Chandan an I were just stepping out of the front door a car pulled up. It was my guitar pickin' pal Mark Holladay! So he joined us for the trek to the square. We were like two old cluckin' hens a'catchin' up on everybodys doin's. "What's Danny & Sam  up too?" "How's about Ryan, and yer other family?" "You pickin' much?" "What about Crooks?" "And the new CD?"...Cluck, cluck, cluck!

At the square we had a bunch of home made ice cream & sherbet. The watermelon sherbet was to die for! I do love watermelon! Well the Strawberry and Peach sherbet were great too! Along with the pistachio ice cream...ah yes!

We talked to lots of good friends and neighbors most of who asked about Chris and sent their continued wishes in his direction. There was also a booth there by the folks who run the helicopter that carried Chris to Vanderbilt. The manager was manning the booth. I stopped, thanked him for saving my sons life.

I am so thankful for the work that his company, the 911 operators, EMT's, Doctors and nurses do. Sometimes I think that we take all of the so vital folks for granted. We shouldn't. Chris and lots of other folks would not be here today were it not for their so vital work.

Once we returned home I grabbed up the box, loaded it in the van and went to the shop. I got the camera out to record this opening. 

Albert, we'll call my unnamed client "Albert", told me that he had bought this little beauty of a mountain banjo and hoped I'd fix it up. I've done a lot of work for him and his primitive banjo collection. I really love these old banjos. Such stories they tell!

This one is no exception!

Love this writing on the head...

This one will be playable but it will need the old head removed, preserved and a new "aged" head installed. There is also a crack in the top, by the 1st. string that needs to be addressed.. 

More Soon!

I Promise!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 07/26/2015 06:50:19

guitarman8491 - Posted - 07/26/2015:  07:11:44

First off and of most importance, that had to be amazing to pick up the phone and have your son on the other end...prayers answered! I am so happy for Chris you and your family that he is doing so well in his recovery. Prayers will continue until for a complete and speedy recovery.

Albert look like a good candidate for Dr Dan's rehab program. Can't wait to see Albert belt out his first tune!! Cheers!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/26/2015:  07:31:26

Great happiness when you picked up the phone!!     Still thinking of and pulling for Chris's continued recovery.

A busy day in the shop means that things are not quite so crazy around your place.  

Look forward to "Albert's" progress.

DEmery - Posted - 07/26/2015:  07:40:56

Great news on Chris and as for the banjo....those old pieces are something - aren't they? I have a nice modern mountain banjo but have never seen an old one made from whatever was on hand. Look forward to seeing it back together and playable. David E. 

Nels - Posted - 07/28/2015:  03:32:23

Great news about Chris....continued prayers for his work and recovery in rehab.  ...

Nice work on the fiddle..it will be interesting to see the work on the the old mtn. banjo.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/28/2015:  04:02:13

Doug, Dave, David & Nels,

Yes it was great to pick up the phone and talk to Chris! He still has a long, long way ahead of him but he is doggedly pursuing recovery.

I do like these old banjos (like Albert's).

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/28/2015:  05:18:11

MONDAY

Good Tuesday mornin' everybody. I'm up early and nearly ready  for another day.

Debbie & Toni have been alternating two days in Nashville with Chris & two days home. Today she is home, but heads Nashville way tonight and I leave out for the American Eagle with Eddie in the morning. So much to do and so little time to do it.

In the evenings over the last weekend I engraved a tension-hoop for my classical banjo. So yesterday I took it apart and put the thing back together.  

This banjo was originally built to test drive the idea of placing a tonering on top of one of Bill Rickard's spunover rims. I must say that it has been my principal nylon sting banjo for the last 3 or 4 years.

The problem with this instrument though is that many of the parts were just left overs, some used, some rigged. Also the poor thing had no serial number or name. The name being the most important.

So Monday she received a makeover!

She was named: "Mississippi".

She also received a new stained Fyberskin head, bracket shoes, a set of Chris Sands Classical Banjo strings, engraved tension hoop, serial number and a Knowles Riverboat Banjo tag!

Feels like a brand new banjo!

Here is the head after staining, washing, drying and sanding. I think it looks more like a goat skin than some goat skins that I've seen!

I wanted the engraving on this to have a quick sketch book quality. Almost like I was quickly drawing things passing before my eyes on the Mississippi river. Here are a couple or three or four photos of it.

A small island #27 to be exact (just joking! it is an island though,...can't you tell!)...

A steam towboat...

Steam packetboat...

And a point. There's a whole bunch more but...

Now all this banjo needs (and it will get in some future point) is a set of longer aged brass J-hooks (which I was out of) and the tone ring aged and engraved...

********************************************

I also put together another banjo rim. If I have time today I'll fit and mount the neck to it. These are the same type shoes I used on the Mississippi banjo.

Daw gone Dan, they look upside down and awfully close to the top!

The rim with a new skin head...

"Albert's " (reminds me of a Paul McCartney song) got taken apart today.

Out come the screws...

Off came the tension hoop part. This piece is split and will require repair. I will probably glue it back together,  then inlay dovetail cleats on the under side where they will never be seen.

This little metal rim is a very interesting answer to the tearing of skin where it passes over the upper edge.

This is the first time I've ever seen one done quite like this. Usually a old coffee can or something was used for the rim.

This one they first the rolled the sheet metal into its circular shape. Then the upper 1/4" or so was rolled & folded inside to form a beading. It effectively locks the rim into shape while at the same time softens the beaded edge. Very, very ingenious!

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/28/2015:  09:05:57

Dan

While to is true that Chris's recovery road will be long and winding, there is an end to it.  Still pulling.

Thanks for the interesting photos, and the story about the Mississippi, sound files when you have the time?



Dave

guitarman8491 - Posted - 07/28/2015:  09:07:32

Very cool engraving on yer new/old tension hoop. Albert looks like he is under Dr Dan's care. Enjoy your trip down the Miss..and prayers will continue for Chris and you all!

dbrooks - Posted - 07/28/2015:  09:58:39

Wonderful updates on all fronts, Dan. Chris is making good progress and appears very engaged in his rehab. The mountain banjo and classical banjo already have the Knowles signature. You appreciate the simplicity and ingenuity of that banjo and no doubt have a singular vision for it 

David

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/28/2015:  19:23:17

Dave, Doug & David,

Thanks so much! That banjo is an interesting one is it not!

On the Chris front:

Today Chris got rid of the last of his tubes.Great day in the morning! 

Eddie is here and we are getting ready to leave in the morning for the American Eagle. We are doing one of Chris' cognitive exercises. It's much more difficult than I thought.

See you tomorrow from the Eagle!

Paul R - Posted - 07/28/2015:  20:55:04

Thanks for your continuing updates on Chris' progress, Dan - and so glad that it is progress! Looking forward to his ongoing rehabilitation and complete recovery. He's a tough character - I think it's in the genes!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/28/2015:  21:18:52

All of the tubes out!!       "cognitive exercises" just sounds hard, I am positive Chris will move on to something really challenging soon.  



Have a great time aboard the Eagle!

Nels - Posted - 07/29/2015:  03:14:50

GREAT NEWS!!  Chris is making fantastic progress, prayers for his complete recovery.  

guitarman8491 - Posted - 07/29/2015:  07:30:57

Chris is clicking away milestones every day..what great news!! Prayers will continue.

cbcarlisle - Posted - 07/31/2015:  11:47:41

I can only read "Tenn" on Albert's head. Is the rest legible? Inquiring minds...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/31/2015:  20:13:23

Paul, Dave, Nels & Doug,

Thanks so much!!!

Curt,

You must be able to read better than I can! I have looked and looked and I can't fully decipher much of anything.

UPDATE

Chris continues to improve and improve. Debbie told me today that the folks at rehab are having a great time pushing Chris along. It seams that he is one that they can really have success with and apparently they are going out whole hog for him. We are so thankful!

kwl - Posted - 07/31/2015:  20:19:42

Dan, I am so glad to read about the progress Chris is making. It warms my heart to see the underlying joy in you posts about him. This is wonderful. All of you continue in my prayers.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/31/2015:  21:31:37

CHECKIN' INN

Good evening from room 331 on the American Eagle docked at the Beale Street Landing in  Memphis, Tennessee! Feels like forever since I was able to say "Howdi!"

As I said before, I'm out on the American Eagle with Eddie doin' our banjo / Bass thang!

​This is a bit smaller group of folks this trip. It's quite enjoyable having a smaller bunch of guests as it is easier to get to know everybody better. 

On this trip we did a coffee roasting class called Red Neck Coffee Roasting, using my $.50 pan and my $13 heat gun...

The results... which were ground and drunk about five hours after this photo was taken...

This has been an interesting trip, river stage wise. In Vicksburg it was as high as I've ever seen. But then Vicksburg was at the crest. But here in Memphis it is 6 feet lower than it was when we were here two weeks ago. 32.5 vs. 26 and falling. Here is the bank somewhere around the White and Arkansas rivers...

We had another GREAT banjo 102 class, which included the youngest student we've ever had onboard... 3 months!

And some photos from last night's show.....

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/31/2015:  21:40:40

Dan

If the rehab people see Chris as a person that will have success, than that road to recovery will not be as long as it could be!   They are professionals, they know things!!  



Still pulling for Chris's full recovery.



ummmm.......................Coffee!

Looks like a good time aboard the Eagle.

Edited by - Dave1climber on 07/31/2015 21:44:34

Nels - Posted - 08/01/2015:  03:25:46

Glad to hear of Chris and his positive get-r-done attitude....he will succeed and overcome his obstacles. Praying for a full recovery.  

Looks like a great trip on the 'Ol River.'

kwl - Posted - 08/02/2015:  17:06:58

I just noticed that you are almost at 276,000 reads. Won't be long before you hit 300,000. Way to go, Dan.

Ken

60spicker - Posted - 08/03/2015:  09:04:41

All gifts for your birthday (old fart) this week will pale in comparison to Chris's remarkable recovery. God bless you, Dan.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/03/2015:  18:24:53

Dave, Nels & Terry,

Things are going well up in Nashville! Chris continues to improve! Thank you for the early b-day wish!

Ken, 

This whole thing just amazes me!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/03/2015:  18:58:09

BACK HOME

(BUT STILL ON THE RIVER)

Friends,

It's not often that one gets to meet someone that has touched (if only indrictly) nearly all of us here on the BanjoHangout. So many of the very best of my generations banjo players were introduced to Earl Scruggs through the work of her late husband "Buddy" Butler Atkinson, one of the co-producers on the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. Stella Berrier (formerly Atkinson) is a guest this week on the American Eagle along with her oh so nice husband Dave. Oh my but we had a right great sit down chat!  And did the stories ever flow! 

All this happened just before they gave me the chance to pass back the gift that they had given me by teaching both of them the Clawhammer lick. Stella had my Pharaoh banjo.

I don't think I'll ever wipe it off again!

What an amazing treat!

And here is another amazing American Eagle Banjo 102 class!!!

Teaching the ole' Red Neck Coffee Roasting class. Ya know, teaching is really not quite the correct term for having this much fun!

Before I left out on this trip (last Tuesday) I made a few photos at the shop, but forgot to bring 'um home.... so now y'all get 'um!

Curt said something about wanting to read the writing on the head Well I did make some photos. Hope you can read it!

I also laid out the bracket spacing for the Aeroplane banjo. Here the tape is going on the rim. This is where X will mark the spot!

I thought I remembered that the bracket shoe bolt needed to be around 1 and 3/16 inch from the lower edge (when I use these nuts) and I was purty close!

And here it is on the rim with the tone ring and tension hoop, just a makin' sure!

More Soon!!!

Nels - Posted - 08/04/2015:  03:34:11

Looks like another great trip on the 'River'..... Glad to hear that Chris keeps making progress!! ... prayers continue for his full recovery.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 08/04/2015:  06:31:06

Don..Very happy for Chris, you and your family that his recovery is making great progress. My prayers for Chris and you all continue.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/04/2015:  11:10:46

THIS IS AN ADD

Limited Edition 1934

To help celebrate the release of my new CD 1934

We are making an edition limited to 100 CDs, these will each be signed and numbered.

As my good friend author Aden James says "Yer stuff will be worth a lot of money when yer gone!"

So here's your chance to own something that will be worth more when I'm gone.

And I'm planning on being gone the end of next week to Canada...

so there ya go.

How you get one:

Email me with

Your mailing address

and promise to send me $12 once you receive your CD.

That's all there is to it!

Nels - Posted - 08/05/2015:  03:18:20

....a prayer for Chris and his continued progress!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/06/2015:  05:34:46

Nels,

Thank you so much!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/06/2015:  05:49:41

JUST FOR Y'ALL,

HERE IS JUST A BIT OF 1934

A link is at the bottom!

youtu.be/9uHsh9kHAHw

guitarman8491 - Posted - 08/06/2015:  07:32:20

Dan.. checked out yer 1934 Grand New Opera and it is great. You sure did one heck of a job giving it that old time radio feeling..wonderful...cheers!!

My prayers continue for Chris, you and your family.