I have really nice looking cross cut oak . Can it be used to build a banjo?
Thanks
I should think so. Possibly fantastic. My favorite conga drums are some vintage USA-made Gon Bops in oak. Terrific tone and resonance. Go for it!
Doesn't even have a tone ring.
Is your wood red oak or white oak?
The demos for their new oak banjo on Deering's site are pretty interesting .
Ive made a European oak (quercus robur) guitar neck and a ukulele neck. Three things:
1. Oak moves more than mahogany with humidity changes, so I laminated two pieces together with grain in opposite directions. From the end, the blank looks like ////\\\\. That gives a good symmetrical pattern along the neck and seems to help with stability. Note that \\\\//// can look ugly when carved because of the greater width between grain lines.
2. Carving the heel with a blade (chisel or knife) is hard to do cleanly - I'd recommend rasps.
3. Oak is denser than mahogany so bear that in mind as it could affect balance of the instrument.
quote:
Originally posted by lapsteelIs your wood red oak or white oak?
That is a valid question. White oak is very dense and heavy. Red oak would be more likely to crack and split with age.
The Deering White Lotus is white oak and the rim is three-ply, steam bent.
My wife bought me the 12" open-back: https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/vega-white-oak-banjos. I think it's wonderful. Listen to the demo and testamonial there.
I'm pretty sure a lot of Billybuilt Banjos are oak.
The Celebrated Benary is a fine sounding oak banjo.
quote:
Originally posted by lapsteelIs your wood red oak or white oak?
Not sure, I think white based on the lighter color.
You’re in business then! Would you post a photo please? I'd like to see what you mean by crosscut.
Edited by - lapsteel on 09/16/2024 16:46:28
I think Johnny St. Cyr fashioned a guitar neck of oak which he attached to a Vega(?) pot, and went on to make jazz history with Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Sevens.
Yeah, Oak works
Weight
Jeff Kramer built some of his "Cloverlick" banjos out of white oak, and even one or two out of Hickory. These were great banjos.
I would not use red oak for a banjo. It splits too easy.
I built a neck out of Tasmanian Oak, and entire mountain banjo out of Tasmanian Oak also.
I love the timber.
I am not sure how much tonal characteristics the timber gave, but I love the tone.
Tasmanian Oak is not a true Oak at all, but a eucalypt. But named so because the timber has similar characteristics.
The grain of Oak has deep stringy fibres, which can be left as is, but also filled with black ebony powder and glue for an aged look and to add some character.
Edited by - banjo roo on 09/18/2024 01:39:12
