12″ Gibson Kraske Rim TB-4 Conversion
The Victor Kraske design and patent led Gibson to create the very unique hollow rim design for the first banjos they ever produced starting in 1918. The hollow 12″ rim design gives these banjos a very unique tone and timbre that you won’t find in a traditional solid rim construction. More information about these early Gibson banjos as well as some history of Victor Kraske can be found here. As no original five string versions of these banjos were ever known to be produced by Gibson they are only heard as such with conversions to five string necks. This rim is a beautiful all original example of Gibson’s craftsmanship at the time.
- 12″ Kraske Style Hollow Gibson TB Rim
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- Waverly Tuners
- Maple Neck
- Hand Rubbed Sunburst Nitrocellulose Finish
- Richlite Fingerboard and Appointments
- Ivoroid Binding
- Mother of Pearl Gibson Reproduction Inlays
- Custom Dog Inlay in Heelcap
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Published in Banjos
14″ Gibson GB-4 Kraske Rim Banjo
This banjo started out as a monster 14″ guitar banjo. The banjo features the Kraske hollow rim that Gibson used for it’s first banjos. I’ve converted a number of these banjos over the years, this was was definitely the most interesting and largest of them. The rim has somewhat of an archtop design so the vibrating surface of the head is closer to 13″ but the hollow rim makes for a very unique tone with haunting overtones. It turned out to have a surprisingly focused tone for such a large rim and made for a very cool and unique banjo.
- 26.4″ Scale Length
- 14″ Hollow Kraske Style Gibson Rim
- Original Gibson TB neck design
- Rickard Cyclone Tuners
- Gibson Style Hand Rubbed Sunburst Finish
- Nitrocellulose Finish
- Ivoroid Binding
- Richlite Fingerboard and Accents
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Published in Banjos
095 – 12″ Rolled Brass Walnut Banjo
This banjo has the standard Seeders 12″ Walnut Style 1 specs. It features a simple look with a focus on play ability and tone. The rolled brass tone ring is an excellent choice for old-time playing and the 12″ rim gives it a rich deep sound. The neck is a modern C shape neck for a comfortable feel.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Walnut Rim
- Rolled Brass Tone Ring
- Ebony Details
- Antiqued Raw Brass Hardware
- EVO Fretwire
- Ebony Fingerboard and Details
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Brass Gotoh Tuners
- Vintage Thin “Ultra-Low VOC” Waterbourne Lacquer Finish
- Published in Banjos
094 – 11-5/8″ Curly Maple and Zircote Banjo
This Curly Maple and Zircote banjo features an 11-5/8″ rim, a relatively new size for Seeders Instruments. I believe this one is the third or fourth one I’ve made with great results. You get a little more low end without it getting too muddy while retaining some of the clarity of an 11″. A great balance between 11″ and 12″ rim choices. This model features Zircote appointments and hand engraved mother of pearl inlays.
- 11-5/8″ Curly Maple Deep Rim
- 25.5″ Scale
- 1-5/16″ Tusq Nut
- 1/8″ at the 12th fret action with 11/16″ Seeders Violin Bridge
- EVO Fretwire
- 3/8″ Rolled Brass Tube Tone Ring
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Black Mother of Pearl Engraved Scalloped Square Inlays
- Flushmount Truss Rod Cover
- Gotoh Tuners
- Boat Heel
- Vintage Thin and Eco Friendly Satin Waterborne Laquer Finish
- Published in Banjos, Uncategorized
093 – 12″ Style 5 Dobson Special Banjo
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Ebonized Walnut Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Rickard Cyclone Brass Tuners
- Black Tusq Nuts
- EVO Fretwire
- Ivoroid Rim Binding With Internal Rim Bevel
- 1-3/8″ Bone Nut
- Cole Boat Heel
- Reddish Brown Stain
- Published in Banjos
092 – 12″ Curly Maple Dobson Special Banjo
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- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Curly Maple Rim
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Ebony Fingerboard
- EVO Fretwire
- Cole Boat Heel
- Published in Banjos
091 – GMBR 11″ VT Native Wood Banjo
This banjo was made for a raffle at the Green Mountain Bluegrass Festival in 2019. It features all native Vermont hardwoods and custom inlays depicting the logo of the festival and the state of Vermont. It’s built from Cherry which naturally darkens over time so the contrasts of the wood become more enhance and the colors become much more rich over an extended time making for an instrument that visually changes slightly with age.
- 11″ Cherry Rim with Ironwood Rim Cap
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Truss Rod
- Cherry Neck with Ironwood Details
- Black Veneer Details
- Reconstone Inlays
- Cole Boat Heel
- Flush Mount Truss Cover
- Nickel Hardware
- Rolled Brass Tone Ring
- EVO Frets
- Gotoh Tuners
- Published in Banjos
090 – 11″ Mahogany and Zircote Banjo
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 11″ Mahogany Rim with Zircote Rim Cap
- Mahogany Neck with Zircote Details
- Green and Black Veneer Details
- White and Black Ebony Inlays
- Honduran Rosewood Tone Ring
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- EVO Frets
- Van Eps Style Tension Hoop
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Gotoh Tuners
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Published in Banjos
089 – 11″ Rolled Brass Curly Maple Banjo
This is a somewhat simplified version of the Dobson Special model that I make that features a rolled brass tone ring instead of a Dobson and simplified brass and abalone dots on the fingerboard.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- 11″ Curly Maple Rim with Ebony Rim Cap
- Curly Maple Neck with Striped Ebony Details
- Rolled Brass Tone Ring
- Engraved Mother of Pearl Peghead Inlay
- Brass and Abalone Fingerboard Dots
- Honey Maple Stained Finish
- EVO Frets
- Gotoh Tuners
- Renaissance Bridge
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Published in Banjos
088 – 12″ Curly Maple Engraved Dobson Special Banjo
A fancier version of the popular Dobson Special model that I’ve made for a number of years. This one features some upgraded inlays as well as vertical grain Ivoroid binding on the fingerboard.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Curly Maple rim with Ebony Rimcap
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Curly Maple Neck with Ebony Details
- Cole Boat Heel
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Vertical Grain Ivoroid Binding
- Antiqued Brass Finish
- Rickard Cyclone 10:1 Tuners
- Reddish Brown Stain
- EVO Frets
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Vintage Thin Waterbourne Lacquer Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
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