desertbanjo - Posted - 11/21/2016:  17:48:49

I just got done with my first mountain banjo. Sure, it's not the most beautiful thing in the world. Full of vise marks and what I thought were meticulous measurements ended up with the strings being slightly crooked. The nice peghead I had planned out ended up looking like a drunk trapezoid. I bent the tone ring and blamed it on the piece of metal flashing I found under my shed being bent when it was really just me being impatient. But after finishing up this project, I just wanted to throw something out there into the banjo universe for any aspiring builders who feel like they lack the skill and experience to make a playable instrument. You are wrong. You can do it. I have almost no woodworking experience aside from making a few bookshelves. I am totally confident in saying that I will never forget the three weekends I spent in my garage carving this banjo out of junk wood and parts I found. And I can't wait to take everything I learned this time around and make another one in a few months.

I learned that mistakes are all right. That's how you learn, and unless you do something really huge, there's always some way to salvage it. When I was done, I found that the bridge height I'd decided on caused the strings to rest against the bottom part of the head. That caused it to sound a little like a sitar. I drove some small nails into the top plate for the strings to sit on and fixed the problem. The neck was a bit too long and the strings weren't long enough. Made a little connector to sit below the bridge and tied a couple bowline knots to extend the strings. Problem solved.

The most important thing I learned is slow down and be patient. Start with a well thought out plan, measure once, look at your plan, measure twice, take a break, then measure again before you cut. If you start messing around before the glue dries, you'll have to do it again. I know you want to pick it up and look at it an hour after you put on the last coat of stain, but fingerprints mean you'll have to sand it down and put on another coat.

I can't remember doing something so rewarding in my life. I know some of you guys who have been doing this for years are probably laughing at my lack of experience, but that's all right. I wish I had half the skill that you do, but you've got to start somewhere. I made something I'm very proud of with what I had. I can't wait to work on the next one.

Here are some pictures. As soon as I have a little more time to get used to fretless, I'll post some audio.

Edited by - desertbanjo on 11/21/2016 17:58:53

 

 

 

rudy - Posted - 11/21/2016:  18:00:14

Absolutely nothing wrong with your philosophy and good for you for stretching a bit into an area that you were uncomfortable with.

The most important thing about dipping your foot into the creek is that you'll gain an understanding of the mechanics behind how the instrument functions.  This will serve you well if you choose to move on to designs that are a bit more complex and you'll more intuitively understand exactly why a particular design is done as it is.

All great stuff, and a learning experience is always a good thing.

Dan Drabek - Posted - 11/21/2016:  18:31:03

quote:

---

Originally posted by desertbanjo

The most important thing I learned is slow down and be patient. Start with a well thought out plan, measure once, look at your plan, measure twice, take a break, then measure again before you cut. If you start messing around before the glue dries, you'll have to do it again. I know you want to pick it up and look at it an hour after you put on the last coat of stain, but fingerprints mean you'll have to sand it down and put on another coat.

---

You've just learned one of the most important lessons in building a banjo. Or for that matter, in building anything. It's always best to take your time and do it the right way, than rushing to the finish line and having to repair what you did wrong. 

DD

mike gregory - Posted - 11/21/2016:  19:26:12

Welcome to the wonderful world of Do-it-Yourself banjo building.

Like I tell the kids at my mini-classes:
There were banjos, thousands of years before there were banjo factories.
And, if mistakes make us smarter, I ought to be dang near a GENIUS by now!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/21/2016:  19:36:04

It appears to be a great learning experience, I wish some of my earlier projects were good enough to finish.

Does it make banjo sounds?  If yes consider it to be a success.  If the sound isn't just what you want that just means that that next banjo build is just around the corner.

dilrods - Posted - 11/21/2016:  21:14:57

Well done!

5stringJim - Posted - 11/22/2016:  00:02:00

Well, I like it a lot ! Totally one-of instrument. Your words of wisdom ring true, especially the PATIENCE one....glue needs time to DRY, stain needs time to soak in and DRY, lacquer needs to harden before sanding or handling, and wet-sanding needs properly wiped off and totally DRIED before applying more lacquer !!!

Just reiterating to myself, as I ruined a lot of hard work on a Gibson conversion neck at the weekend, by wet sanding in cold weather in my garage, then spraying a top coat which immediately turned to crackle finish.....obviously didn't wait on it drying long enough, due to cold weather.

Helix - Posted - 11/22/2016:  00:29:24

Way to go, don't apologize so much, we all started somewhere.

Stephen45710 - Posted - 11/22/2016:  03:53:48

There are few things more satisfying than playing an instrument that you built yourself. If you're enjoying yourself and learning something then you're on the right path. Congrats!

My condolences on contracting BBS, hopefully there is a support group nearby. 

Badweld Banjo - Posted - 11/22/2016:  04:23:37

Liked your honesty and experience. It is unique and one of a kind. Waiting on a sound track. I can relate to some of your experience. I'm in the process of putting together a banjo kit. After 15 coats of lacquer, I'm in the waiting a week period, before I rub it down with polishing compound.

wizofos - Posted - 11/22/2016:  05:21:52

It may become a wall hanger but will always be a reminder that you did something few people can or will do,  you started it, finished it and learned a few things.   Good job even if it only becomes an educational experience. 

ken61 - Posted - 11/22/2016:  05:36:42

Joe

You may not yet know it but you have learned more than you have stated in your post.

You have likely inspired others to do a banjo build.

You have likely increased your desire to do another build.

You have likely made many friends on the Banjo Hangout.

You will learn the joy that comes from playing with the hands and mind that built the instrument.

You may build many more instruments in the future, but you will likely always hold this instrument as the most important of them all.

Good job, my friend.

ken61

dpgetman - Posted - 11/22/2016:  06:27:26

My understanding of "mountain banjo" aesthetic is, once you've got it all nailed together, you toss it down the stairs to give it that "cabin banjo" look.  This one looks a little clean to me, to many straight lines, imho.  I do feel, though, that the resonator carving really brings it all together, that banjo has character to spare.  Very nice job!

DPG 

steveh_2o - Posted - 11/22/2016:  06:35:22

Good job!  Much more of a banjo than my first attempt.   My first banjo was a three string can on a stick.  I was actually just trying to make a prop for my kid who was going to be on a parade float, but I kept tweaking it.  When I got a tune out of it I was hooked.   

I was reading on another discussion forum the other day (reddit), where there was a conversation about how people got started building instruments.  One person said their first was a 3 string cigar box guitar and the made a list of everything that was wrong with it.  

They mentioned that they had built many things since and improved on each.  They said they had given away the first one at some point.  

They then made a statement something along the lines of: "That first instrument haunts me."

I can relate I guess.  I have sent a few things out into the world that haunt me a little. I may never be a master builder like many of the people here on the hangout, but as mentioned above, they all started somewhere too.  

Two little pieces of advice that have been given to me that resonate.... I will pass on for what its worth:

1. Never work on it when you don't actually want too.  That's when you make mistakes.

2. Put your name somewhere on or in everything you build.  100 years from now someone might have one and wonder where it came from.   Think about how cool it would be to find a old homemade banjo in a barn somewhere and be able to figure out the history of it.

Sorry for the ramble...  -Steve