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New (and sort of first) Build

Posted by Caleb on September 5, 2011 at 5:13pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Hello Cigar Box Nationites,

 

I finished what I'm considering my first three-string banjo today. I'm a high schooler and have built lots of small canjo-type instruments before and a box ukulele, but nothing quite like this little crude craft.

It's built pretty much entirely out of recycled items I found around, with the exception of the tuners that I stripped off a broken guitar. The body is made of a toy drum I found in the closet, and the rest is spare wood, nuts and bolts. There's obviously a lot of room for improvement, but I'm proud of my first 'true' build nonetheless.

 

I have no experience with a three-string instrument, but here's a simple sound demo:

 

 

 

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Replies

  • Thomas Smith September 6, 2011 at 2:25pm

    I like this and it has given me some ideas for my banjo build.  I am using a tambourine but I am going to leave the zils on.

     

  • Caleb September 6, 2011 at 10:47am

    Thanks guys. I don't know my way around the site too well, and wasn't sure where to post this sort of thing. I didn't realize there was a banjo section.

     

    Improvements? The most obvious is the tailpiece. I clearly didn't think this one out too well. I ended up having to brace it from both sides.

     

    The tuners are just normal tuners. The holes I drilled ended up about 1/4" too large, so they angled slightly when I strung it. This caused them to look rather ugly (matching the rest of the instrument).

     

    I've also found that if you put the thing in the sun, the drum head tightens up and gives it a much clearer, twangier sound.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lonman September 6, 2011 at 10:10am
    that is awesome. in the true spirit of doing what you can with whatya got to make a playable instrument- well done!
  • Dr. Dave September 6, 2011 at 9:36am
    Very nice work.  I would be very proud of this.  I'd like a better look at the tuners.  Seems like a cool device.
  • Ron "Oily" Sprague September 6, 2011 at 9:27am

    KB,

     

    Nice work! Nice tone and playing, too.

     

    You might wanna show this over in the Banjo and Resonator sections, as well, as there are ongoing / chronic discussions about how to do exactly what you've done. 

     

    I don't think anything needs improving on this one.

  • the anonymous pick September 6, 2011 at 6:44am
    pretty dam  good  for a first (sort of )  build  ;-)
  • Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw September 6, 2011 at 4:15am
    Sounds really good and nicely played. I love the look of it too. Nice work.
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