Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/31/2015:  05:32:16

Oh come on David, I am so disappointed, I figured you'd use one of those Cheepo Southwest airplane tickets and come.

Oh I forgot we don't have a terminal here in Paris! 

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/31/2015:  05:58:31

A BIG, BIG day for you today Dan, wishing that all goes well.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/01/2015:  20:56:15

Dave,

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/01/2015:  21:21:43

SATURDAY

Here it is late Sunday evening and I'm just now getting to posting from yesterday. What a nice day it was. First teaching my guitar building students, then helping my buddy Tim May teach a bit of improvising, doing an evening show with Tim and my son Sam and ending the evening with my wife Debbie at the local Stake & Shake with a tall mint shake! What could be better!

Anyway here are some photos from yesterday:

Most of us giving Jeff a hard way to go!

Thomas sanding his braces....

Zeb truing the fingerboard surface of his neck...

(I'm not sure how this photo got so big!)

Timm arrived and wanted to see and hear David Emery's white oak guitar (body). His verdict, "It's gonna be a Hoss!"

Tim and I teaching the Workshop at Lee Academy for the Arts...

And if you'd like to see a short video from the show, we're playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I'm on the Mandora d'Amore...

facebook.com/lisa.g.koven/vide...95666761/

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/01/2015:  21:50:01

Looks as if the Big, Big day went well.   

DEmery - Posted - 11/02/2015:  04:02:25

Glad the weekend was a winner. Tell ole' Tim I am pleased he thinks the oak guitar is going to be a hoss. I see the binding is on during the Tim oak bump. Nice. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/02/2015:  04:44:35

Dave,

 (I do like these little face things!)

David,

Yep all of the ebony & maple binding is on. I hope to have a neck on it to before I head out to the river next week.

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/02/2015:  05:31:54

Dan

Will the oak guitar have am oak neck, or some other kind of material?

DEmery - Posted - 11/02/2015:  09:24:57

Dan that is exciting to hear. I just felt the delivery date speed up. Exciting. David E. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/03/2015:  05:48:43

MONDAY

NECKIN'

Neckin' may be fun to think of, but makin' one is work! (I thought that was a bit witty)

Anyway yesterday I cut out and got a long ways into David Emery's white oak guitar's neck. A long time ago I laminated these two pieces of mahogany in preparation for this day.  

This chunk will make several necks. 

So here I'm laying out the necks, getting ready to saw them out...

Here I'm separating two of the neck blanks. I did the final cutting and trimming after I got them apart...

I routed for the truss rod. This router bit is just perfect for the rod (making a nice tight fit) which makes it a few thousandths small for the blocks at each end. So here I lay out the block spacing...

And then trim out the excess...

And open the front with a drill, for the adjusting nut...

Checking the fit...

To make sure that there are no truss rod rattles I squeeze a bead of silicone down into the channel...

In goes the truss rod...

Here is the jig that I use to cut the heel tenon... 

Cut...

At the end of the day this is what the neck looked like. Truss rod installed. Tenon cut and peghead ears glued on...

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/03/2015:  09:42:30

Dan

Your photos make what you have done look so easy.  A well constructed jig helps.

I can not tell from the photo, is the tenon a dovetail or a straight cut?

DEmery - Posted - 11/03/2015:  13:38:33

I knew she was glued up and waiting. Look forward to carving and fitting soon. Thanks Dan. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/03/2015:  19:53:01

Dave, 

It's a straight cut bolt on neck. I am not a fan of a dovetail, when they fail, as they all eventually will, it's major surgery. With a bolt on it's pop it off correct the angle and off you go. Tonally and strength wise there is no difference in a well cut dovetail and a straight cut.

David,

Yep she's a movin' on!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/03/2015:  20:32:22

TUESDAY

JULIA B. LEAVES THE SHOP

Julia B. named for the Julia Belle Swain of John Hartford fame left the shop today. Before she did, she sat for a few "Glamor Shots"

This is a very clear, full and sweet sounding banjo. It was built purposefully for playing classical banjo music on it.

I'll list the specs. along with the photos of it.

Here she is the JULIA B.

This inlay is made from Tennessee river shell (elephant ear), turquoise, mother of pearl, red & green abalone and green sea snail. It is a 26 14" scale.. 

The peghead face, backstrap, fingerboard, heelcap and center spline are all macassar ebony.

  

The neck is Honduras mahogany and the side veneers are maple. The rim is 12" 2 ply maple (no tone ring)...

All of the metal hardware is raw brass aged and some of it engraved. The head is natural goat skin..

This bridge is made fro 100 + year old piano bridge maple and the cap is macassar ebony...

Inside we find one of my fully adjustable wooden coordinator rods made from maple...

And here is Daddy havin' a great time!

More Soon!!!

Paul R - Posted - 11/03/2015:  22:03:12

Gorgeous banjo, Dan. It's great to see the whole thing come together. I've always liked those "traditional" peghead shapes of yours. Is that an offset design for the bridge? Looking from that angle, the treble string side foot seems to stick out farther than the bass string side. 

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/04/2015:  07:43:38

Dan

That banjo has enough tasteful "bling" to keep any one happy, a very good looking instrument.  I noticed that the tension ring has the side grove, a type that I think is very clean looking.  The person that receives it will be very happy.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/06/2015:  05:25:53

Paul,

Thanks so much. I believe that is an obsiacakal delusion created by the camera....

Dave,

Thanks. That tension hoop was made for me by Bill Rickard. I know folks may get tired of hearing me sing his praises, but in my humble opinion his parts are by far the finest made since the 1890's

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/06/2015 05:26:54

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/06/2015:  06:48:53

FRIDAY MORNING

LOOKIN' BACK OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS...

Wednesday morning I had the privilage of visiting and touring around my little town with Mary & David Baldwin of England. I met them about a year ago on the Queen of the Mississippi. I always tell folks to come on by and visit & they did! We had a great time visiting with Paris folks like Danny Conger, Gene McWherter, Gene Snowden, Leon White and here with Pat Perry of Perry's Bar B Q. BTW Pat, the ribs were GREAT!

Meanwhile back at the shop...

I'm prepping a fingerboard for David Emery's white oak guitar.. Here I'm thickness sanding the ebony fingerboard....

Cutting the fret slots...

Gluing the fingerboard & peghead overlay to the neck blank with epoxy...

The next day scraping glue off of the peghead overlay...

After it is all laid out I rough cut the peghead out on the band saw. Later on I'll rout it to exact shape with the router. Remember all of these operations can be done on slot head banjo necks...

Drilling for the tuner slots....

Routing the peghead slots and outside profile...

Here I'm laying out for the square slot ends. The router won't do this part...

The slots just about correct and the string ramps cut...

More Soon!!!

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 11/06/2015:  07:36:05

That guitar is lookin' great!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/06/2015:  07:37:42

Dan..can't wait to see the finished neck on Dave's guitar..wonderful craftsmanship!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/06/2015:  08:24:57

Dan

It is nice that Mary and David were able to get a taste of small town Tennessee.

Looks as if progress on the oak guitar neck is coming along nicely.

I am wondering how you control the slot for the nut when gluing up the fret board and peg head overlay at the same time?

DEmery - Posted - 11/06/2015:  08:52:28

As always.....the work is beautiful; and I expect will be as pretty sounding as it is going to be visually. I continue to watch and thank you. David E. 

dbrooks - Posted - 11/06/2015:  08:58:15

Those are indeed glamour shots of the Julia B banjo. It is stunning in every respect. 

David

maynardje - Posted - 11/06/2015:  09:23:30

Wow Dan, That is an amazing looking banjo! Can't wait for the Aeroplane

Best,

Jamie

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/07/2015:  19:01:17

Blake, Doug, Dave, David, Dave & Jamie,

Thanks so very much!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/07/2015:  19:37:52

SATURDAY

I just happened to look at the read numbers and noticed that at this moment we are 18 reads away from 300,000. That's an awfully big ole number. Back when we started this post (With much encouragement from David Emery) I could never have imagined that it would still be going on and that so many folks would still be reading it! I find it quite amazing and humbling.

It seams almost anti-climatic to just talk about yesterday and today... but I think that's just what I'll do...

Tomorrow when I get up we'll celebrate!

Here is a bit more on the white oak 000's inlay from yesterday & today:

The logo inlay has been cut, glued together (it is made from 7 pieces of pearl and abalone), then located and glued in place with Titebond. After the glue sets up the ebony is marked with a sharp white pencil...

A heat gun is used to soften the glue and release the pearl...

The cavity is routed...

And the logo is glued in place with blackened epoxy...

At this moment I'd like to speak to the passing of my friend and former student Jerry Beirley. He died earlier this week from a stroke following an operation. Guitar builder & player, airplane builder and pilot. Jerry was a kind, great soul. We'll miss him a lot.

Here is the class when Jerry was with us (L to R) Jerry, Kevin Bailey, Daiski Kiuchi, Chandan Jayne & Eric Sendajas...

Todays building class (L to R) Jeff Fletcher, Chris Groves, Kevin Bailey, Me & Thomas Bailey (not in photo) 

Here is the inlay. Its just rough sanded (almost completely though). It needs finish sanding and engraving...

Celebratin' Tomorrow!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/07/2015:  19:39:16

Ha! only 5 away!

Kaelri - Posted - 11/07/2015:  19:45:57

300,001 when I got here! Wow!

DEmery - Posted - 11/08/2015:  04:26:44

Dan I hate to see the loss of your friend. I recall photos with him in them. Yep....you blew through 300K and are headed toward the next 100K. Glad we discussed the idea some years ago and expect folks will continue to read about the times and travels of Dan Knowles with all the going on in Paris, work done in the shop, and such. As for the 000 oak guitar...wow. I saw the post first on Facebook and commented, but it is coming along beautifully. Graining in the face plate is great. This is the first project we have done with a Knowles badge in the head-stock. Proud to have it on this guitar. I do have 4 banjos in my room with marks on the dowel stick but this one is appropriate for the badge. Glad to have it headed to St. Augustine soon. David E. 

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/08/2015:  06:29:14

Dan

I am sorry for the death of your friend. 

I noticed in the class photo, that the students all appear to be doing paper work, while their teacher is working on a neck.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/08/2015:  10:49:27

300,000 READS!!!

9:45 last night the mile marker was passed.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE READIN' !!!

Ellen, since I don't know who for sure was the scale tipper, I'm gonna use my executive privilege as the author of this post to name you as the one... well unless somebody else comes forward to claim the privilege.  

So my grandson Keaton offered to help out with the celebratin'...  

Sophie doggie joined us too!

More of a LUTHIER'S LIFE soon!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/08/2015:  11:54:09

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

To help celebrate today's milestone I thought I'd peruse through photos from earlier posts. And what a bunch of photos there are!

There were only 2 rules I made for myself here:

1. There has to be a banjo in the photo

2. There has to be a human in the photo.

That's it...

Here they are...

Enjoy!

I think I only slipped up on a couple....

See ya soon!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/08/2015:  16:01:19

Dan

There is a whole lot of great memories and good times in those photos.  Keep them coming!!    

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/10/2015:  20:08:46

Dave,

We'll do!

In fact here's one for you now! Eddie just got here a bit ago, the van is loaded and now he's got his little guitar and is wearin' it out!

More tomorrow from the Queen of the Mississippi!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/13/2015:  05:33:36

THURSDAY 

EVENING

FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Well actually it's Friday morning now and I'm writing this post from the Mississippi river just outside of Memphis, Tennessee. We should be landing in the next hour or so. Today because I forgot to bring my minstrel banjo, I've rented a car and will be heading home for a few hours to see my sweet wife Debbie and pick the thing up. There is some value to forgetfulness! 

This has been a great trip so far, wonderful folks on the boat and getting to see old river friends.

Ok so you wonder what is this head with tape is all about. Well my dulcimer was knocked over and the peghead head was broken off... shucks. But Dr. Dan came to the rescue with a bit of thick cyano glue and some paper tape.

Here just is me before the first evenings show. This wasn't a selfie... but it might as well have been!

Thursdays WONDERFUL banjo class! Oh yes, along with its proud teachers!

I caught Eddie changing strings on his guitar. I licked the light, so I shot the shot.

More from the river soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/13/2015:  07:06:03

Dan

When you are picking up your minstrel banjo don't got forgetful and miss the boat!! 

It's some what disturbing when an instrument has a fracture.  It is amazing what can be done with a bit of tape and glue, Dapper Dan to the rescue!!  

Happy class, Happy teachers

New strings in the licked light, looking good!

 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/13/2015:  19:26:20

Dave,

Thanks, this has been fun. I got back to the boat just a couple of hours ago. Bringing my minstrel with me! I was so glad to get back as the traffic on I-40 was soooooooooooo heavy!

The Dulcimer worked out so well last night. Eddie played the "Big 'Un" and I strummed the recently fixed one. We played our bang up version of Cindy. Best thing of all the folks seamed to like it.

Here is something that I just got from my buddy, Craig "Frailin'" Evans. The Smithsonian Folkways DVD's are out!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/13/2015:  21:16:29

It is good that you're having fun, except for the traffic on I40.



Thanks for the notice from Craig.  

Edited by - Dave1climber on 11/13/2015 21:17:39

Bufo Bill - Posted - 11/15/2015:  13:41:35

Dave1climber is so right, when you're on stage on the Miss' you sure are Dapper Dan. I have longed for a suit like your all white affair with the tails, but frankly I don't think that I own a piece of clothing without mustard or some form of semi-liquid dessert down the front . . . People don't recognise me from behind because there's no egg yolk on my back!
Great to see your legendary repair skills are mobile too.
All the best from Bill. :D

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/18/2015:  12:20:16

Bill,

When you are on the road (or the river) They have to be!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/18/2015:  12:43:41

WEDNESDAY

SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD

(Well maybe Vicksburg!)

Hay everybody, I'm just checkin' in from the AMERICAN Eagle. Eddie and I are just beginning our final trip of the season. We'll be heading north from Vicksburg to Memphis, then back again and off to home. 

We have been out on the QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI with some of the nicest folks we could ever choose to travel with. Folks from all over the world! Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia and of course the good ole' USA.

We have such wonderful banjo 102 classes on these  boats and this last class on the Queen was no exception!

Eddie and I workin it out!

Do you remember the massive boat array that I posted a couple of months back? We saw some of it just south of Vicksburg. It's a US Army Corps of Engineers bank stabilization project

And a Atomic plant too!

Dotting with Dan was a big hit on this trip too!!!

See Y'all Soon!!!

drumgerry - Posted - 11/18/2015:  13:05:55

Dan - I've managed to read my way through all 168 pages of your thread and I must say I was a bit sad to get to the end and have to just read your daily posts. It was a bit like getting to the end of a really good book! I'd just like to say thanks to you for sharing your life with us in this way. I can see your one of life's good guys from the interaction you have with your friends and family - someone to be admired for sure!

Keep up the good work and I'll be keeping on reading!

Cheers, Gerry

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/19/2015:  10:05:40

Gerry,

Thank you so much!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/19/2015:  10:14:16

THURSDAY 1

I just finished up teaching DOTTING WITH DAN or WHAT IS THE POINT OF POINTALISM a few minutes ago.What a great bunch of folks. I forgot to bring my camera to the class so after a bit I'll run up to the Sky Lounge and shoot some photos of the students work. I'll try and shoot some of the banjo class (at 2).

In the meantime though, here is a photo one of the guests made of me spinning the banjo (from last nights show)...

And the AMERICAN EAGLE just before we left Vicksburg, yesterday afternon...

More Soon!!!

drumgerry - Posted - 11/19/2015:  12:19:53

No problem Dan. You're an inspiration to a ham fisted amateur like me. Plus you make me want to move to Tennessee even though I live in whisky country (Speyside) here in Scotland!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/20/2015:  06:36:58

Gerry,

I guess whisky country would be hard to leave. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/20/2015:  06:49:34

FRIDAY

What a great day we had on the water yesterday. Teaching the Point of Pointalism (or more properly DOTTING WITH DAN), banjo 102 and performing both for the guests and crew here on board the AMERICAN EAGLE out on the Mississippi river. This has been such a nice bunch of folks to spend tie with. Makes me wish I could bring them home with me!

Here is our great Banjo 102 class from yesterday. It never ceases to amaze me that folks always get it!

More Soon!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/20/2015 06:50:29

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/20/2015:  08:23:56

Dan

They pay you to have all this fun and meet all of these people?  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/20/2015:  13:10:23

Dave,

It's a tough job... but somebody has to do it!