Melchizedek - Posted - 04/05/2021:  23:24:58

Hey folks.
I'm thinking of trying to build a mountain banjo sort of like the kind Frank Proffitt made. Does anyone know where I could get some good measurements or schematics for each part? I've been doing some digging here on the forum and I keep coming across this link to some bluestemstrings website which supposedly had some sort of very useful diagrams but it seems to be gone now. Is there another place to get them?

Additionally, is there any advice you folks would have for me going forward as someone with almost no woodworking experience?

Don Smith1959 - Posted - 04/06/2021:  00:06:30

There is a site that I found once that has plans for a mountain banjo the plans were like $10 PDF but for the life of me i cannot remember what site it was i know it was fox something

GMB - Posted - 04/06/2021:  05:53:06

Search Bluestem Mountain Banjo Nouveau

ragalb - Posted - 04/06/2021:  07:22:40

Hi, I don't know about the Proffit style but the Foxfire book has plans for the Hicks and Harmon (and others) style mountain banjos. They're all pretty similar. The book has lots of good information even if you go with Proffit style. I also recommend looking for the Amazing mountain banjo thread on here. You can learn a lot from other people's mistakes!

I had no woodworking experience before this project and my banjo turned out pretty good. Just take your time and don't rush things. Most mistakes can be corrected and at worst they'll be a cosmetic issue most of the time. If I can do it anyone can. You can always start over if something goes horribly wrong

MountainBanjo - Posted - 04/06/2021:  08:08:50

I think the spirit of mountain banjo building (whatever that is) is best realized by doing it by "feel" using whatever you have available to you. The Foxfire book tells you all you need to know, and not a bit more.

Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/06/2021:  09:20:15

As has been said, the Foxfire Book has a pretty good illustrated rundown on primitive banjo building.



Here's a link to where you can get the appropriate volume.

thriftbooks.com/w/foxfire-3_el...n=2380194

RCraft - Posted - 04/06/2021:  11:02:53

Hopefully the author doesn't mind me posting this, but I was in the same situation as you a while back and was able to access Randy's Bluestem website using the Internet Archive. I saved the plans to my hard drive. I also purchased Foxfire Vol. 3 for additional info/plans/ideas and built a great sounding, fun to play banjo.

Bluestem Proffitt Style