Head mounted

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Brian Welch

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Posted 12/9/2008 11:37:32 AM

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3 comments on “Head mounted”

mojo_monk Says:
Thursday, May 27, 2010 @5:25:44 AM

Hey Brian,

What did you use for the tension hoop? I'm looking to do a similar build and like what you've got going on there.

Thanks,
Sean

Brian Welch Says:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 @6:32:31 AM

Sean,

LOL! I actually responded to your thread when you asked this question about tension hoops on the cheap. A topic near and dear to my heart. Here is what I said:

"When making my minstrel banjo I used 1/8 by 3/8 (or maybe 1/2) cold-rolled mild steel from home depot. Shaped it just by slowly working it around the pot by hand and bending. Overlapped the ends, drilled some holes and hammered some brass rivets in place. Filed the whole thing to smooth it and spray painted it black for protection (looks good with black pegs, nut, tailpiece, if I may say so myself!)."

For the rivets I actually used flat-head brass bolts. I chamfered/countersunk the holes inside and out to make room for the head of the bolt on the inside and to hammer it into a rivet on the outside. Then I filed the excess off. Quite simple, actually.

I love this description of Clyde Davenport's first banjo: "At eleven he built a fretless banjo out of an iron band from a wagon wheel, a hickory hoop and neck, and a groundhog hide."

It can be easy to overthink these things. Sometimes we have to let our internal 11-year old lose and just do it!

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Brian

mojo_monk Says:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 @3:38:02 PM

Ha! Must've missed that the first time around. Thanks for the great info - the local Home Depot has just what you're talking about for $3.49 (or $6.93 for a 72' piece)! Better believe I'm on it.

I'll be sure to keep you updated. Thanks again.

Sean

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