I build longneck banjos

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Long Neck Banjo

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... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

274 Members, Created 1/30/2011 -

Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

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From Ken LeVan on 3/23/2014 1:33:58 PM

I made my first one in 1963, a Whyte Laydie conversion, and have been building them ever since. I know what they are supposed to sound like, and love the music. I build Seeger types, Excels, 2+ types and 2+ excels. I make them all by hand one at a time and make all the parts. My goal has been the Dave Guard sound, and one customer for whom I have made two says they sound like the recordings made in Capitol Records' KT era subterranean recording studio.

Check out my website:

http://www.levanbanjos.com

Go to the "conversions" page, and the "possibilities" page.

Here's a Youtube of the "Hermit Thrush" Excel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_aXHbO7kA4

1 Comments
	mainejohn says: 3/29/2014 4:02:24 PM I've seen and played at least two of Ken's longnecks. They are of the highest quality, made from scratch, in Pennsylvania, and by someone who was "there" back in the late 50's/early 60's who understands the significant role that the longneck Tubaphone style played in not only the evolution of the banjo but the contribution that the longneck made on our folk culture. He has taken the old Tubaphone design to the next level.
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