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Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/08/2016: 15:58:12
Here's some pics of the Kalamazoo 5 string neck I'm building for the Kalamazoo tenor # E3211-5. This neck will go on a full 3/4" uncut rim. I did remove the 1/4" wood bead on top in order to use a style 11 pre war 1/4" brass hoop.
A big thanks goes out to Randall Wyatt for the maple headstock overlay. Rosewood fingerboard came from First Quality Music. Also, I wanna thank Rock Bartley for the 1/4" brass hoop. I got the straight grain maple wood for the neck at a local exotic wood supplier. I'm using LMI water base dye for the stain. Tried to get close to the original tenor neck.
Tim
Edited by - Tim Purcell on 11/17/2016 14:14:07
TLG - Posted - 11/08/2016: 16:05:03
looks great Tim
bryantde - Posted - 11/08/2016: 16:58:00
quote:
Originally posted by Tim Purcell
Here's some pics of the Kalamazoo 5 string neck I'm building for the Kalamazoo tenor # E3211-5. This neck will go on a full 3/4" uncut rim. I did remove the 1/4" wood bead on top in order to use a style 11 pre war 1/4" brass hoop.
A big thanks goes out to Randall Wyatt for the maple headstock overlay. Rosewood fingerboard came from First Quality Music. Also, I wanna thank Rock Bartley for the 1/4" brass hoop. I got the straight grain maple wood for the neck at a local exotic wood supplier. I'm using LMI water base dye for the stain. Tried to get close to the original tenor neck.
Tim
Nice work Tim!
Don Bryant
rbfour5 - Posted - 11/08/2016: 17:01:47
As good as your bridges are- no doubt the neck will be perfect!
rockb59 - Posted - 11/08/2016: 18:28:20
Looks real good Tim!
Anything with Kalamazoo involved is good by me
Look forward to hearing this banjo!!
Rock from Kalamazoo
revellfa - Posted - 11/08/2016: 18:46:06
Man, that's just fantastic. I'm linking this to the "Gibson Budget Brand Fans" group. I'm so tickled to see the Kalamazoo get some attention! I LOVE the Kalamazoo brand! Your neck looks fantastic--and with a truss rod! Super. It looks really authentic.
Do you think you'd start selling some of these eventually?
I'd say that there are plenty of tenors out there but in actuality Kalamazoo tenors are less common than a Kalamazoo five string!
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/09/2016: 04:17:01
Thanks everyone for the kind words. I'm now ready to cut the heel before moving on to the frets and finishing. I wanted a lighter weight banjo but also wanted a tone hoop banjo. I'm hoping the 16 hooks with original tension hoop is going to produce a good tone. I might end up cutting the rim for a opf....I'll have to wait and see if I like the tone as is. I wanted to try and keep most everything on the pot as original as possible, including original hide head. I will use a Presto tailpiece, however.
Frankie, I don't know if I'll sell this one or not. The RB-00 neck I made for the Kalamazoo 5/8" rim with Sullivan conversion ring has become my main banjo. I'm lovin' the tone and thin profile neck of that banjo! Another thing I'm starting to like is the flat back resonator tone compared to the typical round back style.
Tim
mikehalloran - Posted - 11/09/2016: 09:05:29
I like the MOP logo and truss rod. The Kalamazoo neck that should have been offered back when.
I always installed a second co-rod on the thin rimmed ones I worked on over the years for increased stability — made a big difference on those. All had 1/4" round steel rings, btw, that left rust stains on the inside of the heads. I've never seen a thick rimmed woodie in person.
Do you still have the original Waverly tailpiece with cover?
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/09/2016: 09:32:57
quote:
Originally posted by mikehalloran
I like the MOP logo and truss rod. The Kalamazoo neck that should have been offered back when.
I always installed a second co-rod on the thin rimmed ones I worked on over the years for increased stability — made a big difference on those. All had 1/4" round steel rings, btw, that left rust stains on the inside of the heads. I've never seen a thick rimmed woodie in person.
Do you still have the original Waverly tailpiece with cover?
Mike, I have the original tailpiece, however, the cover was missing when I received the banjo. I've got a Prucha presto that was unplated originally. I tried some homemade nickel plating on it a few years ago but over time some of it has worn off. It has an antique look to it though, so I'll try it out and see how it sounds.
After talking with Randall...we decided to inlay the logo on a thin piece of maple overlay to fit the entire headstock, as opposed to what I originally wanted to do which was inlay the logo in a small rectangular piece of maple and then inlay that into the headstock. This turned out to be the better solution and certainly easier for me. Randall was great to work with. I sent him exact measurements (upon his request) of the tenor headstock as well as a picture of the original tenor headstock.
I also wanted a neck with a dual truss rod as well as a handstop, This time, I made sure the handstop was far enough forward to allow the capo to fit over the nut in a perpendicular position so as not to tilt the bottom toward the fingerboard and hence be in the way of the left hand. I also decided not to make the profile a "V" in the first 5 frets. I like the "D" shape better. It's more comfortable for me. The nut width is 1-1/8" instead of the 1-1/16" like my previous RB-00 neck that I made. Though I have gotten use to playing the narrow 1-1/16" , I know I'll like the 1-1/8" much better. This neck is also very thin (depth wise) which I like.
Tim
Edited by - Tim Purcell on 11/09/2016 09:34:40
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/12/2016: 11:34:16
Made a quick sanding drum and jig for sanding the heel of the Kalamazoo 5 string neck. Evidently the hole I drilled in the center of the sanding drum, which I did on the drill press, was not exactly plumb. I had a slight wobble but I took it slow and it cut a very nice radius that worked out perfect for the rim fit. I'll have to come up with a better sanding drum for future projects. Maybe something that bolts only to the top side and doesn't have to be drilled all the way through. I pretty happy considering I don't have a lathe.
Just lack side dots and bone nut....then I'll spray on a few more light coats of lacquer.
Tim
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/17/2016: 14:17:27
Just got the new neck on and strung up. Had to really crank the original hide head down to get rid of the tubby sound. Original shoe brackets (16) and original tension hoop. Installed a brass tone hoop from a style 11.
Tim
Dave1climber - Posted - 11/17/2016: 14:20:26
Sounds good! Nice playing!
rockb59 - Posted - 11/17/2016: 19:54:30
Tim
Boy oh boy!!
bet you are one happy guy! Congrats on a fine project!
what a great feeling to finally get some strings on and give it a whirl!
Really sounds good Tim...... you ought to be really pleased
The old hide heads do need to be really tight to lose that hollow or tubby ring!
Keep trying it and let it settle in ...you have to let yourself get used to the different sound!
Wish I were there to give it a try
Rock from Kalamazoo
I find them very pleasing on some of my banjos!!
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/18/2016: 05:34:07
quote:
Originally posted by rockb59
Tim
Boy oh boy!!
bet you are one happy guy! Congrats on a fine project!
what a great feeling to finally get some strings on and give it a whirl!
Really sounds good Tim...... you ought to be really pleased
The old hide heads do need to be really tight to lose that hollow or tubby ring!
Keep trying it and let it settle in ...you have to let yourself get used to the different sound!
Wish I were there to give it a try
Rock from Kalamazoo
I find them very pleasing on some of my banjos!!
Yeah...I'm pretty happy with the tone so far. I'm using an old 1/2" Snuffy Smith bridge on it right now. Even though I cut a 3 degree angle on the heel, once I get string tension on it, the 5/8" bridge is too high. I'm thinking i might need to ad a lower co-rod to keep the rim from flexing after string tension is put on it. I should be able to use a 5/8" bridge with that angle....one would think. I'm also thinking at some point I'll cut it for a opf and add a notched tension hoop as well. The 16 hook shoe bracket and thin tension hoop makes it hard to get even tension on this hide head.
Tim
bryantde - Posted - 11/18/2016: 11:39:49
quote:
Originally posted by Tim Purcell
quote:
Originally posted by rockb59
Tim
Boy oh boy!!
bet you are one happy guy! Congrats on a fine project!
what a great feeling to finally get some strings on and give it a whirl!
Really sounds good Tim...... you ought to be really pleased
The old hide heads do need to be really tight to lose that hollow or tubby ring!
Keep trying it and let it settle in ...you have to let yourself get used to the different sound!
Wish I were there to give it a try
Rock from Kalamazoo
I find them very pleasing on some of my banjos!!
Yeah...I'm pretty happy with the tone so far. I'm using an old 1/2" Snuffy Smith bridge on it right now. Even though I cut a 3 degree angle on the heel, once I get string tension on it, the 5/8" bridge is too high. I'm thinking i might need to ad a lower co-rod to keep the rim from flexing after string tension is put on it. I should be able to use a 5/8" bridge with that angle....one would think. I'm also thinking at some point I'll cut it for a opf and add a notched tension hoop as well. The 16 hook shoe bracket and thin tension hoop makes it hard to get even tension on this hide head.
Tim
Tim......It don't get much better than that!!!
Banjo tone and playing.......I don't know if I would do much to that banjer except maybe recut heel for the 5/8 bridge!
It really has that good dry prewar sound that we all love to hear.
Don Bryant
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/18/2016: 14:33:06
Thanks Don.....yeah, I really like the tone. First time I've played a hide head on any of my banjos. Different animal all together.
Tim
Dan Drabek - Posted - 11/18/2016: 15:44:13
Yup, it has a nice, rich, woody sound.
DD
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/19/2016: 09:00:16
Just finished the rr spikes at 7,8, & 9. Here's some pics of the banjo in it's finished state. I gave the neck a bit of a distressed look. I also used antique nickel finished Gotoh tuners....thanks to Bob Smakula.
mikehalloran - Posted - 11/19/2016: 15:43:41
I always put in a second co-rod in the ones I've bought and sold. Makes them feel more stable.
Tim Purcell - Posted - 11/19/2016: 17:16:22
quote:
Originally posted by mikehalloran
I always put in a second co-rod in the ones I've bought and sold. Makes them feel more stable.
I'll probably end up doing that, as well as OPF and notched tension hoop and mylar head. I'll play it in a while and decide about the OPF and tension hoop. I'm like you, I think it needs the second co-rod to help keep the rim from flexing.
I've been playing it off and on all day and it plays and sounds great in A, Bb, and B. I think the hide head would sound better on a full flathead ring. I think the tone hoop might sound better with a mylar head.
Tim
