Tibilt - Posted - 07/11/2015:  06:46:03

I would like to benefit from someone's actual experience.  Do I need a store bought plan or free one (you have built please)?

When were mountain banjos first made approximately?    Are they as ancient Civil War tackhead banjos?

I know, save up and buy a used one.  

Tibilt

jduke - Posted - 07/11/2015:  07:12:33

For plans, history and more, including articles on many of the great mountain banjo makers of Appalachia, buy or check out from the library the book Foxfire 3.  It's a great book and will tell you everything you are asking about mountain banjos.

I have built several mountain banjos and the only thing I would do differently on another build is figure a way to put about a 2 to 3 degree angle on the neck.  Most plans have the neck and fingerboard parallel to the surface of the head, but set up and playability seem better with the usual angled neck as opposed to the flat neck of the plans.

Also BHO member rudy will probably post here;  he has free plans and information on his website.Bluestemstrings.com

Edited by - jduke on 07/11/2015 07:18:05

mike gregory - Posted - 07/11/2015:  09:09:18

Mountain banjos were built around the same time the settlers started settling in the eastern mountains, before the American colonies revolted against  George the Third.

I make the perch rod and heel as ONE piece, shape a 3 degree slant to the top of the heel, and attach the neck to that.

Another way is to simply have the hole at the tailpiece end slightly higher, which will cause the perch pole and the neck to slant back.

If you're making one according to the Carver Banjo plan, it has no perch stick, so just shape the tabs where the neck piece joins the body piece, to give you a slant.

More details here:carverbanjos.wordpress.com/201...e-coming/

rudy - Posted - 07/11/2015:  11:37:57

The Proffitt-style banjo is certainly the most copied style of mountain banjo.

bluestemstrings.com/pageFPMB1.html

...but if you're new to the idea of mountain banjo I'd advise getting a tall libation, kicking back in the easy chair, and reading the ultimate Banjo Hangout mountain banjo information source, "The Amazing Mountain Banjo":

banjohangout.org/topic/173153

(Warning, at 36 pages it's going to take a while...)

Edited by - rudy on 07/11/2015 11:39:32

Noah Cline - Posted - 07/11/2015:  14:00:36

As a small maker myself, definitely take a look at everything that's been posted above. 

I'm actually completing one now, and it'll be posted for sale within a week or two.

Tibilt - Posted - 07/11/2015:  16:00:53

I made an offer on the Foxfire 3 book on EBay.

Send me a picture of you new build my friend. I have a buddy that is handier than me and I figure we can work on it together. He and very few others are my banjo audience.

Eww Eww Sound Bytes please.

Tibilt

Tibilt - Posted - 07/12/2015:  00:29:46

bluestemstrings.com/pageFPMB1.html

How do you print this out life size?  Go to kinkos and get them to print it?

Thanks,

Tibilt