Posted by JohnWaters on Friday, June 20, 2014
Almost there! Everything is going to Don Bryant for final work. Hoping it sounds at least half as good as it looks!
My First Pre-war Conversion
1928 Gibson TB-1 - matching maple rim and resonator
JB Sloan tone ring - unplated
RB-3 style mahogany/rosewood neck by Eric Sullivan at First Quality Music
Waverly tuners
Recording King hoop, hooks and Presto-style tailpiece
Tim Purcell "old organ wood" 0.656 Crowe bridge
"1928" inlaid MOP on ebony truss cover by Bill Nichols
Rim cut for tone ring by Arthur Hatfield
Resonator reskinning and speed neck finishing by Clancy Mullins
Fretting, dressing, nut fitting, spiking by Tim Davis
Total Cost: $3,100
Update: Labor started on Tuesday. We got the call last night. Everything going well -- 11 lbs 4 oz, 32" long, counted five strings, all the parts there.
Update: YES! It's a Hoss! You tell yourself you'll be happy whether it's a hoss or a cannon, but you're always secretly hoping it's a hoss. We should be able to come home this weekend. I just can't wait to hold it; take it in the backyard and teach it Cripple Creek; and later on, how to drive.
9 comments on “Building a Gibson conversion (my first)”
JohnWaters Says:
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 @2:06:41 PM
Pot has been ready. Resonator is being re-skinned. Now the neck is ready to be skinned. BE STILL MY HEART!!!
JohnWaters Says:
Monday, July 7, 2014 @2:05:48 PM
Saturday we pick up the finished necks at Clancy's. Then off to Don Bryant's for heel shaping and setup. Couple more weeks???? Anticipation is my fuel!
kalstras Says:
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 @1:45:15 AM
*waits to hear this holy banjo played :)*
JohnWaters Says:
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 @5:40:17 AM
Every minute my expectations rise. It may have to be holy to meet them. :-)
JohnWaters Says:
Thursday, July 10, 2014 @4:07:15 PM
Oh ... going to pick it up Saturday! :-) :-)
Goldstarman Says:
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 @7:10:20 AM
Boy, Im as excited as you are, to PLAY YOUR BANJO......lol
Seriously, I cant wait to play them both...
JohnWaters Says:
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 @7:13:51 AM
I really like knowing where every single piece comes from and who did what. It makes the banjo more special, and I appreciate it much more. A banjo like this is more than the sum of its parts. It's a history book and each part was done by someone who loves music. :-)
kalstras Says:
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 @6:04:10 PM
do it proud man ;) we know you will!
jswkingsfield Says:
Sunday, July 27, 2014 @9:03:16 PM
Congrats on the new banjer, sounds fantastic! Good picking, too!
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