Got this banjo recently. It's an oldie, tapered peg tuners, spunover pot, gotta be 30+ hooks on it. Looks like it's got a little tone hoop under the head.
Anyway, see pictures for the frets. Up towards the nut they're basically flush with the fretboard. I'm considering just ripping them out, filling the slots, and converting it to a fretless/flushfret. Never done that before though so figured I'd ask the BHO Braintrust. Thoughts?
It’s quite feasible. Have you ever refretted a banjo? If you want a flush-fret banjo, it’s a good project.
With a banjo of this level, do whatever you want. (well, you can do whatever you want with any banjo you own, but that would not stop me from commenting-- this one though, hack it up!)
The banjo was made for Tonk Brothers. They were a distributor and Sterling was one of their brands. Some of their banjos were made by Slingerland but this doesn't appear to be one of them. Whoever the maker was, it's not a collector's item so it wouldn't hurt to experiment with it.
Edited by - Culloden on 10/31/2025 12:30:00
I’ve pulled frets out a couple of times trying not to chip the fingerboard. And then I filled the grooves with slow curing epoxy resin. Sanding before & afterwards.
Instead of pulling the frets and modifying it for fretless/flush frets, why not sand the frets flush. Care must be given as it looks like it doesn't have s separate fretboard. merely a stained top of the neck. Just my 2c worth.
I would channel my inner Kiwi and sand the frets flush. Perfect solution.
Think I'd put a Formica fretless fingerboard on that.
Years ago, I bought a high-end 1920's banjo for a song because it needed a complete re-fret. I read all the advice I could find. Undaunted, I proceeded carefully. Removal is the most treacherous part because of potential chipping. But I lucked out. They were bar frets and came out relatively easily with a little heat. I'd be surprised if that weren't the case here. Removal of the either the highest fret (least used) or 1st (in dire need of replacement if that's the goal) would be a way to check. Installation is yet another skill you could acquire. I'd restore it to its previous glory. So, I think the question is: what kind of banjo do you want?
quote:
Originally posted by Dan GellertThink I'd put a Formica fretless fingerboard on that.
I think this sounds like a great idea. If you don't know how to do it, a countertop guy could do it really quick once the old frets were out. You'd end up with a banjo kinda like Fred Cockerham's. I think you would need to raise the nut by about the thickness of the formica. It might be simpler just to make a new nut. Not sure about the best glue to use. Countertops are usually glued with some super volatile rubber cement. Nate Calkins makes banjos with formica fingerboards. He could probably tell what kind of glue to use.
I've never actually made a formica fingerboard, but it's rough enough on the back that I think the usual glues (Titebond or hot hide glue) ought to work fine, but I'd do a test first to make sure. If it doesn't stick well enough, I'd put a thin hardwood veneer on the back of the fingerboard (with epoxy or contact cement) before fitting and gluing it to the neck (with wood glue!).
I'd be real leery of consulting a countertop expert, unless they also happen to have some knowledge of luthiery. I have done a few of my own countertops, and you do NOT want that contact cement coming in contact with a banjo neck!
quote:
Originally posted by Dan Gellert...you do NOT want that contact cement coming in contact with a banjo neck!
Not to mention what that stuff does to your brain cells!
I suggested the countertop guy because he'll have a router and the right edging bit. If a person is handy they can find all that stuff at the hardware store too.
I'd be in favor of running a soldering iron across the last fret, running a razor blade down the sides, sticking a needle-sharp awl under the end, and lifting it out, to see what the felluck I'm dealing with, and base the rest of the project on those FACTS.
How hard can this BE?
How much work do I want to DO?
Like^^ said: It is YOUR banjo, and not a valuable collectible.
And, this close to Hallowe'en:
Best witches for a successful outcome.
Edited by - mike gregory on 11/01/2025 14:23:52
Thanks everyone! I think I'll probably try to pull the first one and if that doesn't go well just sand them flat and go from there. Formica sounds awesome but too much, my time for banjo activities is severely limited these days so going to try to go the lower impact route. I'll let you know how it goes.
