I’m offering Mastertone style bluegrass banjo assembly camps this coming year. Also mandolin assembly and inlay. Visit thingswithstrings.com for dates and more info.
I have had several questions about the assembly process in the camps both mandolin and banjo. I'll address the banjo here in the order they came in my email
1. price does not include lodging there are 5-6 common named hotels and motels within 3-6 miles at the I-65 interstate exchange near the house. Also 2 campgrounds close by. All this info in more detail provided at sign up.
2. we will link the current What's going on in Nashville website soon so you can plan evening activities around the camp.
3. you need no woodworking experience at all. The harder steps are already done for you making "kit like". I want it to be fun not frustrating for the newbie and the experienced woodworker alike. Jigs and fixtures that aid in the process are on site and some available for purchase. Wood choices are maple, mahogany, and walnut. You have the opportunity to do some slight customization especially if you choose to do the inlay course(s) beforehand. However these are mastertone style bluegrass banjos not Gibson copies. Stock inlay for overlay and fingerboard will be determined prior to camp arrival.
4. If a spouse or significant other travels with you, there is plenty of shopping, hiking, and other activities in the area to keep them happy for the week.
These camps have been a goal of mine for a long time. I've helped several people through "kit" purchases, both mandolin and banjo over the years where they were terribly frustrated and it should not be that way. It should be fun and instill a desire to repeat the process if they desire not pitch the kit in the attic. So that's the reason, but also at my age, there are way too many great boutique builders with whom I have no desire to compete with and am very good friends with. I still do the inlay for Huber banjos and several other builders of different instruments and that won't change. At some times it is my plan to have some of these special guys and gals come to the camps as guest instructors. So in a nutshell, that's about it as far as the questions so far
Oh yeah a camp would make a great Christmas present for you or someone you know wouldn't it!!!!
