Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/10/2016:  08:13:44

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Here I am Home, for the first in forever (or so it feels!) and wonderful Saturday it was for sure!

Since we checked in last we ran a Vicksburg to Memphis and back to Vicksburg trip and up on the Ohio river, Henderson, Kentucky down to Memphis with part of a day in between. 

A surprise awaited me when I got home on Friday...

Parking tickets!!! 4 of them!!! Two on Eddie Coffey's car alone!!!

It's not so bad though, here in Paris they are only $4.

I didn't realize that I was against traffic, in fact I often find myself in traffic and if it's not too heavy, well, I don't mind. But I must have spoken my mind against the stuff too loud and somebody heard me, so there ya go. 4 tickets...

Could have been worse though, a friend told me that in Nashville speaking up against traffic will cost you $90... I guess I'll count my blessings!

Sunset in Memphis....

Sunrise in Memphis, looking at Mud Island and the Big M....

Saturday back home in the shop, Guitar Building Class. My only regret is that I didn't go tu Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, TN and watch my friend Tyler Andel win his 3rd. National Old-Time Banjo Championship!

Here Jeff continues working on his wood guitar binding....

And Kevin works on his mandolin neck blank.... hum... I thought this was a guitar building class...

Chris trues the side of his neck...

Meanwhile I search the top cabinet for a top set for a new Mandora d'Amore and for another 000 guitar. This is something I love doing, visiting the wood stacks, it's like visiting with old friends. Most of these tops were milled by the Martin Guitar Co. back in 1959...

Everybody's tapping, listening & learning...

This is the finally chosen Mandora top set...

And the Claro walnut back set...

We had a visit from my friends Jim & Joanne Williams. We go way back. In fact to September 10, 2001. Jim is a River Laureate (fancy title for a river lecturer) and was on the American Queen when I was onboard performing with my (then called) Hot Band (Tim May mandolin, Mark McWherter guitar, Danny Conger fiddle & Billy Lilly bass), we met and have been friends ever since!

Here is a new painting that I compleated on this trip. It's titled 4 EYES. 

See if you can find um!

In the afternoon this old Gibson walked in the door, in the hands of its owner the fine bluegrass player Mike Riordan. Mike traded for this one but it does have a few problems which landed it on my bench...

First up, someone tried to do some work around the fifth string pip and buggered it up pretty good...

They also tried (or did) to change out the tuning machines and cracked the peghead. Also in the changing each tuner pin point was tore up too...

The truss rod cavity (top) is also messed up, in fact the truss rod cover was glued in place to hide the breakage. Here the first crack is being glued...

Here is a little facebook video of Y'all Come someone posted from our last show!

facebook.com/joan.yazinski/vid...75389847/

More Soon!!!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 07/10/2016 08:15:37

Aradobanjo - Posted - 07/10/2016:  09:40:48

Hello,

Looks like impatience worked on that Gibson. No wonder few FON originals are left. Owners are so cruel. LOL.

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/10/2016:  14:23:43

Dan

It looks as if your trip on the river was very productive, of parking tickets that is!! 

Your shop seems to humming on a pleasant note. 

That previous owner of that Gibson must have thought that every problem was a nail, and he has a big hammer.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/12/2016:  19:43:11

Fellas,

That Mastertone has sure been through the ringer. I don't mind seeing one that has been played and worn or even accidentally dinged or broken but  this poor thing sure hasn't deserved this treatment its received. But being a lover of lost causes I'll give it my best & tenderest treatment.

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/12/2016:  21:22:15

Dan

I an sure that when you are finished with that Mastertone, it will be as if all that damage never happened.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/13/2016:  19:24:02

I just came in from working outside. In our spare time (in the evening) we are building a new deck on the back of the old homeplace.

Our old porch/ deck was beginning to get rickety to the point of worry.... and that's not a good place to be! I was talking to my neighbor across the street yesterday. Janice (my neighbor) has been living across the street since 1962 and she said that the old porch was on my house when she moved here. It is truly amazing how well it has stood the test of time.

The only thing it couldn't stand up to was a wrecking bar, sledge hammer and a sawzall!

So tonight moved a unit of lumber up the hill to the building aria, dug and poured the footings for the 6x6 uprights. It's going to be around 8 feet up in the air and I want this thing to be stout!

Luthing...

We are in the middle of rebinding a 1960's Gretch. The bindings seam to be quite prone to failure on these. I've done several over the years.

Anyway the binding has been glued, taped and here is being strapped in place...

There tiz, like a mummy!

Here is the truth of being the chief cook and bottle washer in a business like mine!

Old Gibson Mastertone time. Here the first layer of backstrapping is being prepared....

On with the epoxy...

And clamps...

Here is a little underview...

This snare drum arrived from a friend of mine. It is probably late 19th. century. He thought I might like to make a banjo from it....

Here is the drum hardware. I think it's very cool!!!

I just received this strap from my friends over at Franklin Strap Co. Makers of the "Soft Strap". And it is! It may be the most comfortable banjo strap I've ever owned!

It has a very elegant system to be able to remove the strap from the banjo and it just takes a heartbeat to take it off or put it on.

Check them out at : franklinstrap.com/

More Soon!!!

kvdkieft - Posted - 07/13/2016:  20:27:53

Make sure that deck can hold my 215 pound (minus banjo) body!!!

60spicker - Posted - 07/14/2016:  05:26:44

Dan, what are the specs on that "old" Mastertone? Year? Model? Perhaps you could pass along the serial number. I'd like to know what you're working on, and it's likely others here would too. Thanks.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/16/2016:  05:20:02

Kenny,

Come on down this afternoon, I'll be planting 6x6's for uprights... that ought to hold you up!

Terry,

I'll see what I can do about that.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/16/2016:  05:39:11

OK, so I've finally done it...

I placed the Ebony wonder  SHERRY LYNN for sale last night. It was one of the most difficult things I've done. Here is from my BHO advertisement:

Perhaps the finest banjo of its type the SHERRY LYNN ebony banjo , I built it for David Emery in 2007. When David picked up this banjo it was all I could do to not reach out and say "No you can't have this one!" Even now although I am no longer carrying it with me to perform with on the riverboat, I am having the hardest time clicking on the 'post this add' button. This one is so very special, so elegant with a big, big voice.

For those of you who haven't seen this one here are some "glamor" photos...

Oh ya, this banjo is mostly Gabon ebony...

   

This pinwheel inlay and peghead shape was designed from a 1880's Cubly banjo and is inlayed into a Macassar ebony overlay and here hidden in the frailing scoop...

Backstraps are Macassar ebony & maple. I've always loved the contrast...

Gabon Ebony bridge...

These bracket shoes are individually hand carved from brass then plated...

MORE SOON!!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/16/2016:  06:10:44

Someone will be very happy to have the "Sherry Lynn" by Dan Knowles

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/19/2016:  07:20:18

Yesterday (Monday) was a banjo working all day and a half!

First off I dove to working on the ole Gibson Mastertone banjo that I had glued some backstrapping to. 

First out it was band sawing the excess off of the peghead...

Then trimming it close...

Finally sanding it to shape...

Today was Aeroplane's neck carving day. John shot so many photos of this as we went along, that I'm going to post the process over the next several days...

Here the excess glue from the binding gluing is removed...

The heel shape is laid out...

And the first bandsaw cuts are made . I usually start by trimming the sides of the heel to rough shape...

I'm not necessarily recommending that trimming be completed in this manner, this is just the way I've developed doing it over the years.

The neck is cut freehanded.

Mind you this is just a trim cut.  

Holding a very firm grip on the neck, I am watching both the upper edge (where the saw blade enters the wood and the lower. I want to make sure that I stay back from the binding or fingerboard edge and off of my center line...

Laying out the center by eye balling it. I look down from the center lamination to below the backstrap and draw...

Here you can really see how I get down to watch this cutting action. 

Note the ear protection.I got these from Harbor Freight and they are some of the best muffs at a great price that I've ever owned!

And now the other side....

More soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/19/2016:  10:43:02

Those free hand cuts can be very unforgiving if a error is made.  Steady hands and good eyes are necessary.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/26/2016:  05:38:40

I was called to perform on the AMERICA last week (a last minute thing) which kinda interrupted my building but it was great fun as always!

Another great Banjo 102 bunch of folks! This trip we were graced with a family group from Brazil... 

A shot from the first show... I guess I've got my hands in the air to prove that I'm not sweating! We had a pretty packed house even though we were competing for attention with the GOP convention...

Back to the neck carving...

This has to be one of my favorite jigs, this neck carving brace. It is clamped to a board that swings out from under my vice. It is the perfect height for me.

Just bfore this shot was made, I rough shaped the neck with a horse hoof rasp. The rasp has two levels of coarseness and by the time I've reached this mill file (a gift from my friend Tommy Ogle) most of the big work is done...

Here I'm shaping the cheeks of the heel with a gouge. I need to make a new handle for this one...

And refining it with a half round file....

Scraping...

And starting to carve the fifth string detail...

Here tiz....

Yep, it feels good!

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/26/2016:  06:22:09

Dan

It's good to have you back from your emergency vacation.  

That neck is looking good.

kwl - Posted - 07/26/2016:  07:03:02

Welcome back, Dan. That neck really looks nice.

Steven M - Posted - 07/26/2016:  14:26:05

You can never have too many clamps :)

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/26/2016:  18:37:35

Steven, Kenneth & Dave,

Thanks! It's great to be home!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/27/2016:  05:38:28

Today it will be back at the shop with a small exit at lunch to give a speech for the local OPTIMIST CLUB promoting LEE ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS here in Paris. Wonder what I'll talk about? Hum.... will I bring my banjo? I think so!

Anyway here I am playing catchup on the post with a few photos from Saturday and the Guitar building class.

Somehow on Saturday I only made photos of Chris carving his neck. I'm not sure how that happened as I've usually got the camera out bugging folks with it!

Here Chris is doing the prep work. He is flattening and truing the back of his neck using a Safety Planer on the drill press. There is an 1/8" thick piece of wood glued to the end of his fingerboard to give his neck the correct taper as the planer chaws away...

Using the band saw in this manner is something that I reserve for me.  So here I am sawing off the excess. I suppose that this could be done with a hand saw, draw knife, spoke shave or any number of other tools. This is just my method of getting rid of the big excess before I go to carving with those other tools...

Heading in to carve the heel with a gouge...

Checking the neck out...

All done and quite pleased! It's a real treat seeing my students success!

More Soon!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/30/2016:  04:41:05

Great Saturday morning to y'all. I hope yours is as promising as mine should be!

Today I'll be in the shop teaching and it promises to be a full house...

But yesterday was a fun day out with my wife Debbie and two of our grandsons at the Discovery Park in Union City, Tennessee. This place is AWESOME! 

I came home and Bob Carlin's new book BANJO AN ILLISTRATED HISTORY had arrived in the mail. Did I get anything done last night? Do you need ask!

This book is very cool and I recomend it to all of my fellow banjo-a-holics!

Thursday back at the shop it was rub, rub, rub and finally pay dirt. Th lacquer on this guitar has been the slowest in getting polishing hard of any I've run into in years... but it finally showed out and shined up!

Here I'm sanding with 2000 grit....

Working at the buffing wheel...

Hand rubbing with Mcguiers ...

Yes, Yes!!!

See Y'all again Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/30/2016:  06:31:02

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

rubicon - Posted - 07/30/2016:  07:05:56

That 000 white oak is looking beautiful !

DEmery - Posted - 07/30/2016:  11:43:12

Dan the final finish on the top is perfect.... I don't think the back or sides fought you like that odd spot that appeared on the lower bout below the bridge. Contrast is just right and with the more natural toned top - bindings also pops. Thank you sir....  David E.

Edited by - DEmery on 07/30/2016 11:54:53

 

flatironmike - Posted - 07/30/2016:  12:14:54

Hey Dan is the Gibson still in intensive care? Mike

dbrooks - Posted - 07/30/2016:  12:18:53

Aeroplane, Sherry Lynne, the oak guitar - what fine workmanship and care! Thanks for sharing these workshop visits, Dan. We all look forward to the next episode on each instrument.

David

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/30/2016:  14:20:21

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

 

Aeroplane, Sherry Lynne, the oak guitar - what fine workmanship and care! Thanks for sharing these workshop visits, Dan. We all look forward to the next episode on each instrument.

David

---

When I miss a post my day is not quite as bright.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/30/2016:  19:00:23

Dave, Rubicon & David,

Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

David,

Ya know, I am now thankful for the spot. I feel the top looks/ fits so much better prettier this way than with the dark polish. 

You are so welcome.

Dave,

Thanks!

Dave (again),

Thanks!!! You know how to keep my nose to the grindstone.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/30/2016:  19:19:09

SATURDAY 

TEACHIN' IN THE SHOP

Boy I guess that just about says it all. Still the is much to be said about being able to enjoy spending time with these great fellas! We work and laugh and talk about all sorts of things (including music, dentistry, religion, sports and even politics). Good friends and great times!

I've recently acquired this Smarter- Than- Me phone and I've found that I have a lot of fun making photos and then fooling with them. So tonight I fooled with this bunch and had some fun making them look old. Retro ya know!

So here is my friend Kevin. He's finishing a Les Paul Junior that he and a friend of his built. See, proof that you can smile as you sand!

Chris is now to the point of working on the fit of his guitar's neck to its body. He didn't quail when I told him how long this process takes me!

And we can't leave out Jeff (with his Beatles shirt). Here he is preparing a peghead overlay...

Just in case you wonder what I do with my evenings...

well lately it's been this: building this deck on our home. The old one was getting a bit unsafe. Well more than just a bit...

So off it came and up went this one. It is built with 6x6 posts, 2x10 joists, and 2x6 decking. It's built like my dad would have, strong enough for a tank to drive on! It's about 8 feet from the ground to the deck...

See Y'all Soon!!!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 07/30/2016 19:21:11

Dave1climber - Posted - 07/30/2016:  21:24:20

Dan

Your deck is looking good!  All of your projects seem to turn out very well.

The only thing that I would mention is that the ladder could stand up straighter and the end of the ladder should extend above the deck two or three feet.  The extension makes it safer to step on and off the ladder.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 07/31/2016:  07:04:18

Dave,

Thanks for the advice!

Mike,

Yes it is and almost ready for the spray booth.

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 07/31/2016 07:06:27

flatironmike - Posted - 08/01/2016:  09:25:32

Thanks Dan, enjoying all the pics of your work. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished job on the Gibson. Mike

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/01/2016:  19:26:46

Mile,

You are certainly welcome!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/01/2016:  20:22:35

Great Monday Evening to everybody!

Here we are with another lod of photos from Knowles Strang Instruments. And they was all taken today.

Mostly this morning I worked on installing the White Oak's bridge. Thankfully it was a fairly uneventful install... just the way I like 'um!

First off I pealed back the tape that had been keeping the aria of the top free of finish....

And on with the glue. Note how I slather it on. I'll clean most of it off later. I wont no hollow or dry spots under a guitar bridge...

I've already located the bridge and these screws help make sure it doesn't slip and slide under clamping pressure. Also the are holding the gluing caul in place inside the guitar body...

First cleaning. There will be a bunch more of these before I'm done with this gluing...

On with the bridge clamps... No I don't remember what those numbers are doing on the clamp...

On...

I squerted som transparent white on this Les Paul Junior today..

And I finished this one today with a coat of shellac. It really makes the colors pop!

Here are a few more recent ones that got sprayed with shellac today. They will join the lighthouse painting in the "For Sale" category in the next couple of days...

Oh and here we are prepping for the engraving of the Julia Bell Swain...

I'll See Y'all Real Soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 08/02/2016:  04:17:04

What can I say except wow..., the results are great. Shouldn't be too long until I get one of those Dan Knowles calls with it wired up to make some sound. Been there before many times but not with a guitar. David E. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/02/2016:  05:25:14

David,

At least now I've got one of those smarter- than- me phones which has at least a modicum of sound quality on it. That should make the listening at least a bit more pleasurable than in the past with the old flip phone.

Dave1climber - Posted - 08/02/2016:  06:14:56

Dan

A busy productive morning.  Very good looking work.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 08/02/2016:  06:37:19

Dan..you continue to turn out amazing instruments and art...that lighthouse painting is terrific!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/02/2016:  19:20:15

Dave & Doug,

Thanks!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/02/2016:  19:41:29

TUESDAY, TUESDAY, TUESDAY

Bet ya kan't guess what day today is?!?

No...

Well then... just look up!

This day kicked in high gear almost from the git-go and never let off! Whoah I could handle another one like this tomorrow!!!

First off I spent several hours engraving on the AEROPLANE...

Here the lower portion of the Julia Bell Swain is covered so that I don't smudge my ink drawings....

On with the first scratches...

And then filling in the shadows...

Later today off came the 000's bridge clamps...

The bridge pin holes were first drilled then the holes were reamed to fit the bridge pins...

I wished to do something special (a lagniappe as the say in New Orleans), so I found the remains of the fossil walrus ivory that I had used on David's St. Augustine banjo and turned an end pin from it....

Here it tis on the guitar...

Next I turned some bone bridge pins. They still need a bit of fitting...

This afternoon was Gideon Shepherd's first banjo lesson. What a privilege it is to be helping another of these great kids!

Oh, just in case you don't know, this Saturday Lee Academy (here in Paris) is doing a fund raising auction. Among the many items will be a grand piano, lots of antiques along with one of my Mini-banjos and a painting. Get your bids in early & often!

See Y'all Tomorrow!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 08/02/2016:  20:56:39

Dan

I don't know how you manage to get so much done.  What with engraving, bridge work on the the 000, making an end pin and bridge pins, and teaching a new banjo student all in one day, all of which looks very nice I would think you would be tuckered out.  Then this post!!

Thanks for letting us in your life.

Dave

PS  How may we know what is up for Auction so we can place a bid if we are so inclined?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/03/2016:  04:52:43

Dave,

I just do...There is some information on the auction at auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/auction...ategory=1

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 08/03/2016:  05:41:38

Dan, your picture teaching the young man reminded me of this video. I built a mini banjo for Andreas David a few years ago. He is a multitalented musician who lives in Germany. He posted a video shortly after of one of his young students learning to play Boil Them Cabbage Down during one of his banjo lessons. It humbled me to see that one of my banjos was being used in that way. Here's a link to the video.... youtube.com/watch?v=5rVrqGOdgyg

Edited by - BNJOMAKR on 08/03/2016 05:46:26

VIDEO: Carlos erstes Banjo Video Boil them cabbage down
(click to view)

 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/04/2016:  06:15:11

Marvin,

Thanks for posting that video! It is such a privilege and responsibility being a teacher. It is those lights in the eye, saying they've got it that keeps us all there!

Here is a photo of Gideon's little sister Grace working on the clawhammer  lick (on her own) . Look at that right hand position, She's Got It!!!

How about this? I've never seen anything like this before. A mushroom circle. I found it growing on the west lawn of the Lee Academy for the Arts yesterday...

Most of the day was spent spraying and prepping the old Gibson neck and  the Gretch. I'll spend a bit of time today in the spraybooth but not like yesterday...

And for those of you who are waiting with baited breath...

Here I'm thickness sanding some fossil walrus ivory for the 000's saddle and nut...

See Y'all Again Soon!

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 08/04/2016:  06:29:26

Dan, the circle of mushrooms is called a fairy ring. The exact cause is unknown, but folklore say they have majical powers. It also happens with grass. Thanks for sharing as a teacher in all your talents.

Hawgfiddle65 - Posted - 08/04/2016:  07:14:52

Hi

Some wiki on fairy rings! As a kid we had them on the school field .We never went in them just in case we were transported off to Fairyland!

Cheers

Jim

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring

60spicker - Posted - 08/04/2016:  09:14:38

Still hoping for provenance on that Gibson. Even a serial number would be useful.

flatironmike - Posted - 08/04/2016:  10:52:56

Dan, the Gibson neck is looking amazing. Looking forward to other posts.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/04/2016:  19:12:49

Marvin,

What kind of grass were you talking about? You are so welcome. 

Jim, 

Thanks for the info on the fairy rings... I didn't realize that dancing in the middle of one of those thing (without yer clothes on) would bring bad luck... I guess that's why I'm writing this from a jail cell!

Terry,

I 'll drop you an email on this one.

Mike,

Final coats went on today. I'm leaving out on Saturday for a couple of weeks but I'll rub it out and pock 'er back together when I return. Keep a- watchin'!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 08/06/2016:  20:23:39

TODAY

IN A QUICK TRAVELERS PACKAGE

This has been a marvelous day! 

It started out with an early rise then off to the shop to string the white oak 000 to a more than pleasing result! I got to play it over the phone for David too! What a treat!

Then off to Lee Academy for the Arts for the fundraising auction. I had a Mini-banjo in it and a couple paintings...

Did I buy anything?!?

Well yah...

I bought this 1926 Mahlin & Sons grand piano.

Why?

Well.....

the price was right...

At 2 pm Debbie and I hit the road and made it to within 100 miles of Kansas City before we said "That's it!" and stopped for the night. Tomorrow the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Decota... then on to Everit Washington in a couple of days...

Right here is the bridge over the Mississippi river at Cape Gerardau, Missouri.

See Y'all Soon!!!!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 08/06/2016 20:24:49