Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/14/2013:  14:27:35

I started this thread way back as "woodie made from scratch"

At the risk of being redundant, I will include some images I posted earlier, so thet the whole thing is together.

The "design brief" for this (from a professional musician) was "Design a banjo that has:

a plunky sound

a skin head

a wooden tone ring

a normal length neck with a plunky bridge placement

an easily removable (shallow) resonator

a laid-back not-flashy design with a "mission-style" peghead, as I show on my website

relatively high action

medium gauge steel strings

wider than normal fingerboard.

They said they would always play it sitting down and would probably not go WAY up the fingerboard. They would be playing old-time and clawhammer. They sent me files of sounds they liked.

Obviously, the person commissioning this knows what they want, and communicated that -  we should all be so lucky as to have a customer who knows what they want and can tell you!!  Puts the responsibility on me to actually DO it, though.

SO, I had a 1925 Rogers head from a Fairbanks conversion I did where the customer didn't want the old head, and I have some old walnut from a gristmill I used to own near Bethlehem PA that was built in 1744. I fumigated it.

The head is a 10 7/8" one, so I had to build everything around that. The old  head was driving the design here, which is fine, since I make all the parts, so it's not a big deal.

Here's an exploded view of all the wooden components:

Then we add the metal parts, and we have another exploded view:

We spent a lot of time designing the proper scale that would allow the neck to be a normal length but put the bridge in the middle of the head, and wound up with a scale of 26.2".  Because of the 10  7/8" head, I wound up with 24 frets.

Turns out that John Hartford had essentially the same scale length and number of frets - oh well - I didn't find that out until I had designed the whole thing. c'est la vie.

So here's what the final thing came out like -it is incorporating all the specifications in the design brief - the fact hat it has no flange made me realize I had to use ball brackets so that there was a nice detail and highlight down there in the void - the ball brackets are a positive element that takes the place in the design of the nagative spaces of the cutouts in the Gibson flange

So, here's a shot of the whole thing with-and-without the resonator - it's actually two different banjos:

Here are a few details of it - the "Martin guitar style" dart volute is difficult to do, but it reinfiorces the neck at a critical point, and I will probably continue to do it - I always do cross-banding center stripe laminations, so that's not new:

Here' are some more details of the pot:

It sounds awesome, but I can't play clawhammer very well. I might post a sound file playing it as well as I can. Knowing who it is going to, a CD with it will be forthcoming.

For now, you'll have to be content with my playing.

Ken

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 04/14/2013:  14:54:43

Ken,

Sorry, have I missed the sound byte  link with you test driving this banjo?

Lew

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/14/2013:  15:02:04

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brooklynbanjoboy

 

Ken,

Sorry, have I missed the sound byte  link with you test driving this banjo?

Lew

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Not there yet- I have to do it. I have 2 other banjos I will include. Hang in there.

Ken

swspyder - Posted - 04/14/2013:  15:40:11

I am always amazed by your designs,and your museum level of craftsmenship..Without your numerous contributions here I'd never be able to see anything like this.

Thanks

Edited by - swspyder on 04/14/2013 15:44:16

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/14/2013:  16:03:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by swspyder

 

I am always amazed by your designs,and your museum level of craftsmenship..Without your numerous contributions here I'd never be able to see anything like this.

Thanks

---

You are welcome - thank you!

Ken

Dan Drabek - Posted - 04/14/2013:  16:59:30

Looks like another winner Ken. I love the arts and crafts design movement and I can see several nods to it in your banjo--Including the fingerboard inlays, the patinated brass, the use of quartersawn white oak, the peghead design, and the type font used on the peghead. It all works together nicely. The peghead immediately reminded me of the pegheads by the French classical guitar maker Daniel Friedrich. The proportions are different, but the curves and planes are the same. I'll be anticipating hearing it when you get a chance to post the sound file. 

While I can live without a resonator, if there is one, I do like a flange. I know your customer specifically requested no flange, which is too bad, because I think it would have added to the whole. It would be easy to add small, individual flange plates to the banjo if he ever changes his mind. And it would be a pleasant exercise to design a unique set. Maybe create a running pattern of different shapes, just for fun. Maybe use hammered and patinated copper to carry on the mission theme. 

Your photos and presentation are _really_ well done. They would make perfect pages in your LeVan banjo brochure, should you decide to print one. 

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:02:59

I would say that you've outdid yourself, but if I did I would be wrong because you do that every time you build a banjo! Beautiful work!  

Does your dog sing along when you play? My dog, Missy, walks away into another room when I take my banjo out to play!   

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:10:50

Ken

It would seem that you have out done your self, an elegant banjo.  If it sounds even close to as good as it looks your client will be very happy.

Greg in VA - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:35:30

I want one

Todd Treadway - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:38:43

B...L...O...W...N......A...W...A...Y...

Stunning work, Ken.

And as a former graphic designer, I'm equally impressed with the presentation!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:38:59

quote:

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Originally posted by Greg in VA

 

I want one

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I think that Ken could build one for you.  To your specifications.  

Greg in VA - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:43:46

How much..?

aeroweenie - Posted - 04/14/2013:  17:50:47

Very handsome banjo!  And the workmanship is fantastic, as with all your banjos.  As mentioned above, the white oak peghead overlay is very attractive.  Is it stained?

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/14/2013:  18:04:57

quote:

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Originally posted by Greg in VA

 

How much..?

---

PM Ken.............

lazlototh - Posted - 04/14/2013:  18:42:43

Gorgeous wood and banjo.
PLEASE get us some sound very soon.

TO tease us with such a great design and instrument without sound is painful!!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful work.
Tom in Maine

rudy - Posted - 04/14/2013:  18:50:26

Sweet, Ken!  Love the Arts and Crafts designs.  You don't see too many makers doing A&C, Deco, or Nouveau designs well, it's some of the finest understated design inspiration that I think anyone could appreciate. The look of the peg head very closely resembles the period-popular fumed oak finish, nice job!

Edited by - rudy on 04/14/2013 18:55:34

wuzapicker - Posted - 04/14/2013:  18:55:21

Looks fantastic Ken. Your inventiveness never ceases to impress me.

Thanks for showing it!

Michael

GMB - Posted - 04/14/2013:  19:09:43

Your level of craftsmanship is amazing.  It is truly a gift that you choose to share it with us all through your posts.  Thank you so much.  Cheers, Jerry

Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 04/14/2013:  19:32:06

Very impressive.  I am looking forward to hearing the sound file.

Zach

dickinnorwich - Posted - 04/15/2013:  08:32:14

Last week, my wife, Sharon, and I stopped by to visit Ken and his lovely wife, Hope, on our way back from a trip to VA. It was the second time we have made the journey to Shunk, PA, having made our first visit last year. Visiting with Ken is always a treat. It's not just that he is a wonderful host but there is a connection that seems to run very deep between us. Maybe it's the common design background from our college days, the years spent in developing our own individual techniques for building banjos or even the many hours spent on HO, but whatever it is, it is real and I am grateful for his friendship .

While the highlight of this trip had to be Hugo, Ken's singing dog, captured in Ken's new avatar photo that my wife took with her I-phone, we did get a chance to see the banjo in question, up close and personal.

As you all know, I am an unabashed admirer of Ken's work. Even though his graphics skills are unmatched in this forum, trust me when I tell you that the images, as good as they are, do not fully capture of the beauty of the instruments that Ken builds when actually held in your hands. Even my wife, who has virtually no interest in banjos whatsoever, loves Ken's work....because it is so original and so....Ken.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to point out one detail that may get lost in the shuffle. It concerns the removable resonator and the four, bronze, spring loaded devices that grab the pot.  I think Ken's solution to the age-old, removable, resonator problem is particularly clever and I hope he will describe it better than I did. 

Jonnycake White - Posted - 04/15/2013:  09:38:17

Top notch work, Ken.  I'm surprised that the scale you ended up with is so close to "standard" scale but you can't argue with mathematics.  I'm looking forward to the sound files.

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/15/2013:  09:39:50

Thanks, Dick!!

You are too kind.

Sharon's recording of Hugo must be a hoot (or a howl). I am planning to record a few sound files of this banjo to post, even though I am not a clawhammer player.

I am sure I will be able to get a few bars of Hugo singing to post as well.

Ken

Emiel - Posted - 04/15/2013:  09:55:33

Wonderful work...

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/15/2013:  10:09:37

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jonnycake White

 

Top notch work, Ken.  I'm surprised that the scale you ended up with is so close to "standard" scale but you can't argue with mathematics.  I'm looking forward to the sound files.

---

Jon,

The idea was to keep the neck as long as a normal banjo neck, but shorten the scale and move the bridge to a more central position.  That's why we wound up with with 2 extra frets down by the pot end.  I'll be posting another banjo soon, where there are 2 extra frets at the nut end. Very different.

Ken

GSCarson - Posted - 04/15/2013:  10:22:55

Neat banjo Ken!

erikforgod - Posted - 04/15/2013:  10:26:15

very cool...offering a fretless version of this banjo?

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/15/2013:  14:23:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by erikforgod

 

very cool...offering a fretless version of this banjo?

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I don't make any standard models, but I could easily make a fretless banjo similar to this one - not a bad idea at all. Thinking about it, the wood inlays would mark the positions very well, frets or no frets.

Ken

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/15/2013:  14:32:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by BNJOMAKR

 

I would say that you've outdid yourself, but if I did I would be wrong because you do that every time you build a banjo! Beautiful work!  

Does your dog sing along when you play? My dog, Missy, walks away into another room when I take my banjo out to play!   

---

Thanks, Marvin,I really appreciate that!

Hugo sings whenever I start to tune the banjo, and it makes it tough to get it in tune - when my wife plays the piano - forget it - he will sing for several minutes before he calms down.

I am going to make some sound files of this banjo and another one, and hope I can get him involved. I will have to somehow tune the banjos without him hearing it, so that when I actually do the recording I can start right in despite the singing.

Ken

wtalley - Posted - 04/15/2013:  15:29:42

Nice work Ken!

Richard Brown - Posted - 04/15/2013:  19:33:48

Great looking banjo Ken, I love to see the arts and crafts motif so well executed and as usual  your photos are superb!

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 04/16/2013:  04:23:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ken LeVan

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by BNJOMAKR

 

I would say that you've outdid yourself, but if I did I would be wrong because you do that every time you build a banjo! Beautiful work!  

Does your dog sing along when you play? My dog, Missy, walks away into another room when I take my banjo out to play!   

---

Thanks, Marvin,I really appreciate that!

Hugo sings whenever I start to tune the banjo, and it makes it tough to get it in tune - when my wife plays the piano - forget it - he will sing for several minutes before he calms down.

I am going to make some sound files of this banjo and another one, and hope I can get him involved. I will have to somehow tune the banjos without him hearing it, so that when I actually do the recording I can start right in despite the singing.

Ken

---

Now, ken, that wont be fare to Hugo.... He wont have time to tune his "voice" before you start playing!  

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 04/16/2013:  06:10:29

Regarding Hugo's talent -- and not to hijack the thread or detract from the focus on Ken's great work:

I have a black lab mix, Maggie, who likes to grab a squeak toy and play along with the banjo, and a little brindle boxer mix named Roxie who loves to "flatfoot," or "pawfoot" as we call it.

They are my shop dogs.

littlebearbanjohospital.com/20...shop.html

Roxie is either intent on what's going on in the shop, or disinterested enough to retreat to her bed.

Maggie, on the other hand, likes to steal wood and chew it -- though not capriciously.  I think she is attempting to be artful in her own way.

Lew

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/16/2013:  07:41:51

Ken

I always follow your topic's, and am interested to see/hear you and your dog doing a duet.  It would seem that banjo's and dog's go together.

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/16/2013:  16:06:30

I'm going to post some sound files of the actual banjo, but I know, most people want to hear Hugo sing.

I was playing John Henry in G (one of his favorites), and he is so loud, he made the mike distort and get staticy (whatever you call that - distortion?).

Here's a bigger pic of him:

Here's a link to a Youtube with him on it, when he was just starting out as a singer:

youtube.com/watch?v=V_aXHbO7kA4

Here's the sound file of him singing his version of John Henry with the Woodie:

Hugo singing

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/17/2013:  07:26:45

Ken

When I played the sound clip, my dog came up to full alert, and started to look around for the other dog.  

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/17/2013:  09:41:46

So,

Here are some sound files with and without the resonator.

I am not a clawhammer player, so I am playing it 3 finger.

The closest I can come to "old time" is the arrangement of "Spanish Fandango" in G tuning, key of G, from the "Old Time Banjo Project" from the 60s.

and Soldier's Joy in drop C tuning, capo on the second fret, key of D.

You can get an idea of the sound anyway, both with and without the resonator for comparison.

Ken

Fandango woodie no reso

Woodie Fandango reso

Woodie Soldier's joy no reso

Woodie Soldier's reso