I've just finished this..what a challenge it's been..and long overdue in the completion. It's an Appalachian mountain-style banjo for Hollowbelly. This is designed to be a stage instrument so I opted to use a Fiberskyn head instead of a natural vellum as it would be less prone to variations in humidity and temperature, and it's also got a pickup in it. The tailpiece is designed to accept loop-ended banjo strings or ball-end guitar strings.
There's no exotic timbers in this, all European and North American woods...mainly cherry, with a beech lamination in the neck, black walnut fretboard and headstock veneer. Figuring out how these things fit together was a right old game, but I've managed to do it. It's got a few neat bits...double action trussrod, and a method of adjusting the tension on the head...but the internal pot is a simple 6" cake tin, and the skin is a drum head, as they don't make banjo heads that small. The pickup is mounted internally under the head, so the output is on the weak side, but maintains the old-timey appearance and importantly manages to put out a real banjo-ey tone when amplified.
Here's the back ring with the tee nuts for the tension adjusters. A 6mm birch ply ring fits into the circular recess and transfers the pressure onto the bottom edge of the internal pot.
Here's the headstock..the name "The Preacher" is a reflection of the theme of some of Hollowbelly's songs. The 5th string has a"railroad spike" rather than a bone "pip" to locate it..it's easier to install and I think it looks neater.
Cutting the main part of the pot from solid cherrywood. I used a circle cutting jig on the bandsaw and just inserted some veneer in the saw cut and glued it, loosing the joint behind the neck heel.
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That is brilliant John.
I was looking back at the photos...and thought, how the hell did I manage to make that?!
so much work has gone into that build well done john.
This is an engineering marvel. Well done.
Looks bostin our kid!
Banjo with grit and sounds as great as it looks.
Here's what it sounds like:
Very nicely done! I'm in the Appalachian Mountains and have made a few of these but without a pickup. I've admired many of your builds but I believe you've outdone yourself with this one! I'm with Richey K - we need to hear it!
Very sharp!
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