This is my second post, so I'm sorry for double posting but two very different problems. Thanks in advance for any help.
I just got around to having a look at this banjo. It was and looks in good shape until you look at the back of it and notice the run of the mill hardward store wooden dowel that attaches to the neck. Not sure what went on here but there's definite signs that at some point someone did some hasty low budget repairs on this.
Uncertain if something broke off and the person jury rigged something with a wood dowel to keep the thing together. Advice on how to proceed? I could build a new square 'rod' as that's what sorta looked like was in there before.
The proper repair would be a tapered square dowel stick
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
If it plays as is I might leave it alone unless of course you can build/replace the dowel stick yourself. If you can - then go for it.
It would get by with playing as is but I've got a much nicer one I'm keeping, this is likely going up for sale. The joint wasn't perfect as the neck wasn't resting completely flat on the body. Not to mention it doesn't look all that great!
What size pot? If you are not inclined to repairing it yourself, I'd sell it someone who wants to repair it or maybe someone who wants to convert it to a 5-string.
Beegee - I think it's 11 inches....from memory. I think all the banjos I got were 11 inches. I already started the repair on it. Simple enough and worthwhile in the end.
Dowel is certainly not what was originally there, but in the 1950s and 1960s Harmony and a few other makers did use round dowel rods instead of square rods in the banjos. What was done could work just fine--the neck might be more prone to rocking sideways. Also looks like the fingerboard was broken off at the end. Most mandolin banjos had the fingerboard extending over the head of the banjo.
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