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Jul 23, 2026 - 5:29:48 AM
45263 posts since 3/5/2008

What would the possibilities of making a 5 string banjo neck from a guitar neck...?

I was givin a electric guitar neck..
Hence the thought..

Jul 23, 2026 - 5:39:57 AM

45263 posts since 3/5/2008

The neck...




Jul 23, 2026 - 5:41:10 AM

45263 posts since 3/5/2008

The frets seem to be the same position as compaired the the banjos i have here..

Edited by - STUD figmo Al on 07/23/2026 05:45:58

Jul 23, 2026 - 7:01:57 AM

GMB

USA

482 posts since 5/29/2009

Keith Richards Rolling Stones guitarist plays his guitar with 5 strings tuned GDGBD

Jul 23, 2026 - 8:08:14 AM

BobbyE

USA

3897 posts since 11/29/2007

I would think fitting it to the round rim of the banjo would be most of the difficulty. The rectangular part where the four bolts go to hold to the guitar body is going to need to be removed, or something, and then finding way to attach the neck to a banjo's rim.

Bobby

Jul 23, 2026 - 8:15:26 AM

16615 posts since 10/30/2008

You would have to cut off the part of the fingerboard that extends over the guitar body, and then build up a neck heel (like the modern Asian banjos do) that could be bolted horizontally to the banjo rim. I guess it could be done, but why?

Jul 23, 2026 - 8:17:12 AM
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311 posts since 12/26/2019

Most people who do this seem to use them for banjo-caster electric instruments

Jul 23, 2026 - 8:17:14 AM
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82181 posts since 5/9/2007

Glue on a heel and then cut it to fit a rim.
If you get it wrong cut off the heel piece and try again.

Jul 23, 2026 - 8:23:41 AM
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6920 posts since 5/29/2011
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I used to restring a guitar with light strings and use a fine gauge string (.008) on the sixth. I tuned it like Sonny Osborne tuned his six-string banjo. gGGDGbd

Jul 23, 2026 - 9:06:06 AM
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Dean T

USA

3780 posts since 4/18/2024

I’ve been wanting to do this forever… but haven’t found a round-tuit yet. If I was a good woodworker, I would make a heel block that mounts to the banjo, and then screw the unmodified neck to the heel block.

Also check out my unmodified telecaster, strung with 5 strings, a method I’ve been using for over 20 years, for hundreds of hours of silent banjo practice. I just eliminate the 6th string, and then use a .010 string for the 5th string. I run it through the 6th string nut slot, to get it out of the way, and make the open position finger more banjo like…. But at the bridge, the strings are normally spaced for proper picking.

If I were ever to put an electric guitar neck permanently on a banjo, I would not modify it, but would make a new nut for some nice wide 5 string spacing, I would run the 5th string full length, and then just spike it at the 5th.


Jul 23, 2026 - 11:55:36 AM

2918 posts since 2/9/2007

If you want to mount that neck on a standard banjo rim, I reckon it could be done fairly easily-- you'd have to make a big old block of a "heel", fitted to the pot with co-rods or a dowel stick. It would have to be big enough to have a standard neck mortise routed into the top of it (in the right place to put the bridge where you want it on the head!). What wouldn't be easy is making it something other than real clunky looking and strangely balanced.

Jul 23, 2026 - 3:30:19 PM

banjonz

New Zealand

12872 posts since 6/29/2003

They could be turned into a lefty neck. Lefty entry level banjos are as scarce as hens teeth.

Jul 23, 2026 - 3:41:08 PM

Nopix

USA

442 posts since 6/11/2025

All my guitars have a high D string, rather than a high E string.

Jul 23, 2026 - 3:53:33 PM
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79 posts since 12/12/2011

This used to be a six string. It plays quite well.




 

Jul 23, 2026 - 5:49:06 PM

1370 posts since 10/31/2007

I would suggest keeping it simple. You already have bolt holes, so just bolt the heel to the neck and attach the heel to the rim. You can bevel the heel for the right action. And (I like this part) if you mess up, just toss the heel and start over.

Jul 23, 2026 - 6:37:15 PM
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jduke

USA

1239 posts since 1/15/2009

Important: Pay attention to the scale length. Cutting the neck shorter over the heel will not change the scale length. Calculate the scale length ( two times the nut to 12th fret length) and see where it falls on what ever pot or solid body you choose to use.

Sounds like a fun project - have fun with it!

Jul 23, 2026 - 9:36:08 PM

344 posts since 7/31/2012

I can imagine putting a very wide dowel stick (or plank, really) through a rim and then bolting on the neck as you would normally. The dowel would need to be super stiff though because the neck wouldn't be braced against the rim at all.

Jul 24, 2026 - 3:33:14 PM
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Brett

USA

2805 posts since 11/29/2005

Well, the scale length is gonna be 25.5” because Thats fender copy bolt on. And, his bridge slides, so that allows compensation.

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