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MargielaBackwood - Posted - 09/01/2024: 13:49:14
Hello,
This is my first post. Thanks for having me!
I've seen a couple of similar entries to mine, but I haven't been able to find an answer to my question.
I'm located in Vancouver, BC, and I'm looking for an experienced banjo luthier to perform some adjustments/minor repairs/upgrades on my 1990s Wildwood Heirloom open-back five-string banjo. As other Canadian posters have lamented, Canada is essentially a banjo desert. I have been searching for a luthier with adequate experience working on banjos for weeks. I went through the luthier list on Banjohangout and called the only luthier listed in BC (Grant Wickland) - he doesn't perform repairs and didn't know of anyone else! I've combed archived Banjohangout forum posts, called local shops, etc., but have yet to find anything.
I would be willing to travel—ideally within BC, Alberta, or down to the US - Washington and Oregon. If there is nothing in these four provinces/states, I'm open to recommendations Canada-wide.
I don't have a competent knowledge-set to perform the adjustments/changes I'm looking for.
Here's a list of adjustments/issues I'm looking to change/resolve:
- Slightly over-rotated neck - the neck/fretboard is 1/2mm higher at the connection point on the pot on the right side, 1/2 lower on the left (Single coordinator rod)
- 4th string buzz
- "General realignment" - tailpiece setting is crooked, brackets are slightly misaligned, more minor asymmetries)
- 1st string is too close to the edge of the fretboard (Replace nut?)
- Hoping to replace crowe-spaced bridge with standard-spaced bridge with slightly lower action
- Replace tailpiece
- Possibly replace current skin with natural skin
- General tune-up/etc.
If anyone has suggestions for me, they would be massively appreciated. If anyone from Vancouver/Victoria, BC reads this and wants to connect, reach out! I don't know any other banjo players here.
picker5 - Posted - 09/01/2024: 15:24:23
Try Brad Lindburg at Guitarworks, McLeod Trail store in Calgary, Alberta. Some call him "Banjo Whisperer"
banjoT1 - Posted - 09/01/2024: 15:43:20
PM sent.
+ check postings as shown on member home page.
JABork - Posted - 09/01/2024: 18:22:44
I've had some guitar work done by Devin Champlin back when he was based in Seattle. He's in Bellingham now, so a bit closer to you. I know he does some banjos too.
champlinguitars.com/repair
