Hey gang,
I love my little Fairbanks electric piccolo open back banjo, but I prefer resonators for their consistency of tone.
Mine has an 8” head, so I found a shallow 10” bowl on eBay and cut out a grove and attached it (sort of) with some hardware I found on a picture frame.
I love the weight, feel, sound and response, but want to make it more stable and permanent than the hardware I have allows, but without destructively modifying the banjo itself.
Any ideas guidance or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!
More photos for reference. The bowl is perfect. I especially like the scalloped edges that are reminiscent of the “electric” tone ring inside.
… but what hardware to use?
:
You could try magnets. A center mount system as used on resonator Vega banjos could also work. Cabinet door hardware might be an option. Weymann attached resonators with nothing more than a friction fit.
A few extra blocks of wood might be needed, but I perceive no reason to make major modifications to the banjo. Just be sure anything done can be reversed, if needed.
I think vega resonator attachments can work well here. Try the Classifieds or Smakula Fretted Instruments online.
Cheers from Bill.
It was actually the guys at Smakula’s shop that restored and fixed this joker. They did a killer job. I sent Bob a message about retrofitting a resonator and never heard back. I think they’re really busy over there. I decided to DIY it. Cabinet hardware is smart. I’ll run my the hardware store tomorrow and see if inspiration hits. I hadn’t considered attaching it through the middle - maybe some sort of U bracket drilled into the resonator makes a lot of sense. Thank you!
quote:
Originally posted by zootsaxesIt was actually the guys at Smakula’s shop that restored and fixed this joker. They did a killer job. I sent Bob a message about retrofitting a resonator and never heard back. I think they’re really busy over there. I decided to DIY it. Cabinet hardware is smart. I’ll run my the hardware store tomorrow and see if inspiration hits. I hadn’t considered attaching it through the middle - maybe some sort of U bracket drilled into the resonator makes a lot of sense. Thank you!
Before making a decision, I suggest you check images of Vega banjos, and other makers that used a center mount. Also, try to find some images of after market resos, such as those Elton "hubcap" jobs, also center mounted. Most of these units were attached with very simple hardware bits.
Found this, it seems the ideal way. Now I just to pony up, figure it out, and do it. Thanks for your help, gang.
banjohangout.org/archive/274262
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