steveh_2o - Posted - 06/13/2017:  11:54:49

This thing is a compilation of some things I had been wanting to try. (bent wood, tunneled 5th, mountain banjoish head/wood body)

Head is a Remo hand drum and isn't adjustable.  I'll have to go after it with a saw if it ever fails.  

The only things I bought for the build were the drum ($2 new in the box at goodwill),  a cheap set of steel gear guitar tuners, and a set of strings.   The rest of it is leftovers.   Cherry and walnut from my grandpa's barn stash.  Deer antler nut.  Tailpiece is from a decorative brass plate I found at a thrift store.

Counting the fret wire, glue, and Tru Oil,  I might have $30 in it.  

It isn't  a cannon by any stretch, but I think it has enough volume for a jam and sounds pretty good.  It's not a serious player, but was a fun build and I'm happy how it turned out.

 

mike gregory - Posted - 06/13/2017:  12:00:47

A thing of beauty.

revellfa - Posted - 06/13/2017:  12:50:42

I'll give you $35 for it! Awesome job. I love the creativity and I live mountain banjos more and more. Great job!

mike gregory - Posted - 06/13/2017:  13:54:07

I bid $39!

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 06/13/2017:  15:05:32

Very original.  Nice work

Stephen45710 - Posted - 06/13/2017:  17:08:54

Great and unique banjo. Any chance you'd post a sound clip?

sculliganman - Posted - 06/13/2017:  17:26:48

Beautiful work, looks like the neck just grows out of the body.

Dan Drabek - Posted - 06/13/2017:  17:27:42

Looks like a fun instrument. 

DD

steveh_2o - Posted - 06/13/2017:  19:09:06

quote:

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Originally posted by Stephen45710



Great and unique banjo. Any chance you'd post a sound clip?

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I uploaded a video to YouTube but it has been processing 0% all day...   Here is a little clip.  excuse my playing.

LLJ

 

pzguitar - Posted - 06/13/2017:  20:03:22

Sounds good!!! I wasn't expecting that much sound with the small head. 

Phil

Edited by - pzguitar on 06/13/2017 20:04:25

banjo playing bison - Posted - 06/13/2017:  21:59:39

Really cool looking and sounding Banjo! I love those f-holes! It looks like if a mountain banjo and a mandolin had a child.

mike gregory - Posted - 06/14/2017:  07:47:54

Agreed!
While most interspecies crossbreeding results in no viable offspring, I'm glad this one worked out so well.

Unlike the guy who tried cross a turkey with a centipede, so as to have drumsticks enough for EVERYBODY!!

steveh_2o - Posted - 06/14/2017:  09:07:20

Thanks guys.

This thing was another learning experience.   The tunneled 5th is a bit of a challenge.   I think i have broken 4 strings already.  I just ordered some singles from Elderly.  

I think put too much angle in it at the fret, so it has to be brought into tune slowly.   It runs through a copper tube, but I stopped the tube under the fret board.  I think it is grabbing where it makes the transition.  When it breaks it has always been at the peg while i was tuning up.  I went in after it with a Dremel and a small bit last night.    I put a little graphite down the tube. It seemed pretty smooth after.  Maybe its fixed.

steveh_2o - Posted - 07/26/2017:  12:03:47

Just a 10 second clip but I happened across Josiah Tyree at Uncle Dave Macon Days a few weeks ago and he played it a bit.  Looks like there might be some music in there.

rudy - Posted - 07/26/2017:  14:13:48

quote:

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Originally posted by steveh_2o

Thanks guys.

This thing was another learning experience.   The tunneled 5th is a bit of a challenge.   I think i have broken 4 strings already.  I just ordered some singles from Elderly.  

I think put too much angle in it at the fret, so it has to be brought into tune slowly.   It runs through a copper tube, but I stopped the tube under the fret board.  I think it is grabbing where it makes the transition.  When it breaks it has always been at the peg while i was tuning up.  I went in after it with a Dremel and a small bit last night.    I put a little graphite down the tube. It seemed pretty smooth after.  Maybe its fixed. 

 

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Tunneled fifths are great, but the problem is many are not done correctly.  Scroll down 3 or 4 entries to "Tunneled Fifth Design" for as much information as you'll probably find on the proper implementation of a tunneled fifth.

bluestemstrings.com:80/pageBan...html#NECK">web.archive.org/web/20160329132923/bluestemstrings.com:80/pageBan...html#NECK

Edited by - rudy on 07/26/2017 14:17:06

CEParagon124 - Posted - 07/27/2017:  06:04:26

That's thirty dollars well spent.

And I liked your playing.

Charlie Noyes

gicts - Posted - 07/27/2017:  06:52:55

That looks amazing!



Is that an 8" drum? I noticed your's is slightly recessed. Are there any pros/cons of having it recessed vs flush? I guess a raised head could get in the way, but to play devil's advocate, a recessed one would as well. Not a criticism, just trying to get a little input from someone who has built with a drum to someone who is building 

Edited by - gicts on 07/27/2017 07:00:27

steveh_2o - Posted - 07/27/2017:  07:15:33

quote:

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Originally posted by gicts

 

That looks amazing!



Is that an 8" drum? I noticed your's is slightly recessed. Are there any pros/cons of having it recessed vs flush? I guess slightly protruding could get in the way.

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Thanks!

Yes it is an 8 inch pre-tuned hand drum.  It is attached to the face with 5 little wooden brackets, just pulled up tight against the cherry face.  Having it recessed makes the bridge need to be really tall.  My initial plan was to build a tensioning system that could be adjusted, but I didn't have a chunk of aluminum big enough for what I had in mind.   If it was raised up I would probably want a scoop.

FlyinEagle - Posted - 07/27/2017:  07:57:37

That is a build you should proud of, man.  Wow.