FiveWire5 - Posted - 04/26/2026:  07:36:12

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each. Thanks.

Gallaher - Posted - 04/26/2026:  08:03:26

Wood dowel stick looks cooler.

Every other advantage goes to coordinator rods.

Another option I’ve used a few times is a “Rudy Rod”. You can search it here on BHO. I’ve built a few banjos with R Rods. Actually, building one now. They look cool as a doll stick but give some increased adjustability.

RB-1 - Posted - 04/26/2026:  11:37:38

It all depends on your preferred banjo type.

To me there is nothing that surpasses a Mastertone style banjo.

So that's why I think, co rods look cooler.

But apart from that, my RB-1 came (however already with a flathead ring, another should-have) with only one co-rod (the lower).

Adding  the second (closest to the head) improved the banjo in 2 aspects:

Tuning stability improved (I sometimes play tunes with up to 4 Keith tuners)

And sustain clearly improved.

So, co-rods for me! 

Culloden - Posted - 04/26/2026:  18:31:22

The square dowel is the traditional way to attach the neck. I will use that design if I am building a banjo in the style of the old Vega, Bacon, or other designs from the 1920s. The downside is that it must be fitted properly before the neck is installed. If it is not properly aligned, it will have to be removed and reset. Also, there is no way to adjust string height with a dowel, you must use a different bridge.

The coordinator rods work well for most banjos, especially if they are resonator models. Some builders use them on open backs, some don't like to. They allow for a small range of adjustment (just don't tighten them and warp the rim}, and they add a level of stability over the one metal rod found on a lot of banjos. Gibson used dual rods on the Mastertone banjos in prewar times. Some of the lower end Gibsons used them as well but most had one rod at the bottom and a hex nut at the top. Most post war Gibsons used one rod and one nut until 1969.

Below is a picture of a Bacon style banjo I built with a dowel. I thought I had a picture of one of my builds with rim rods but I don't.