Saga Banjo kit... the end of the beginning

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Posted by tomthacker on Monday, March 24, 2008

This evening I put the finishing touches on my Saga, for the most part. I still have some minor adjustments to do, there is a buzz on the second string, and the third string is sharp when fretted. I put up a sound file titled Cripple Creek Saga. From the original kit, I replaced the original marker dots with abalone, the fifth fret with an abalone star, and I put an abalone star in the peg head. I replaced the Saga tuners with Five Star tuners from StewMacs. I also replaced the bridge with a compensated bridge, and the tail piece is a "NoKnot". My most ambitious upgrade was shaping a bone nut, which probably accounts for the 2nd string buzz.

I'm going to entertain myself with my new toy for a while and then contemplate starting on my Gold Tone kit, or maybe I'll work on my Gourd banjo, and as for the future, I just got a blueprint for a 1930's Vega Whyte Laydie. I'm hoping by the time I get to the Whyte Laydie I'll know what I'm doing, then again, I'm not holding my breath.

2 comments on “Saga Banjo kit... the end of the beginning”

5strings3picks1banjo Says:
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 @4:57:31 AM

Good to see you building. I hope you get the sound and action your looking for. Is'nt it an awesome feeling playing with banjos. It is a never ending experiment I think. I just want to know what this bridge does in different woods and tops, and that head tension, and tailpiece, etc, etc.

Enjoy and hope to hear the finished product.

errantBanjo Says:
Friday, April 4, 2008 @7:33:22 PM

That's awesome Tom! Congrats on finishing the kit.

Did you get the buzz worked out?

Can't wait to see your gourd banjo come along. Where'd you get the Whyte Laydie blueprint?

I picked up the neck (no fretboard) and rim (no hardware or head) off of Ebay for a tenor banjo for $30 with shipping, so I've got another project on the horizon as well. It's a sickness ;-)

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