101 – 12″ Curly Maple Dobson Special Fretless Banjo
This is a fretless variation of the Seeders Style 3 Dobson Special made with Curly Maple. This banjo has a powerful well rounded tone unique to the Dobson Special with a comfortable neck profile ideal for all hand sizes and comfort while playing all over the neck. The Dobson Special utilizes a Dobson tone ring mounted on a rolled brass ring to isolate the tone ring from the wooden rim giving it a unique and powerful Dobson sound with more balanced and a crisp overall tone. It’s simple but elegant inlays and overall design has a vintage inspired look while adding modern play ability and durability.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Curly Maple Rim
- Fretless Fingerboard
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard
- Ivoroid Rim Binding
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Bone Nut
- Gotoh Tuners
- Cole Boat Heel
- Vintage Thin Waterbourne Finish
- Published in Banjos
100 – 12″ Curly Maple Dobson Special 6 String Banjo
This banjo was built along side #104 as a pair. Being #100 and always wanting a 6 string banjo I couldn’t resist to keep this one for myself. It’s essentially the standard Dobson Special model I make with an extra low string. A really fun banjo to play that has a really big deep and rich sound with the added low string bass and overtones. This banjo also features a new tension hoop design that allows for more room around the scoop rim joint to avoid your thumb hitting the tension hoop while playing in that area.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Curly Maple Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Curly Maple 6 String Neck
- Ebony Details
- Engraved Sea Snail Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- EVO Frets
- Gotoh Tuners
- Cole Boat Heel
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Vintage Thin Waterbourne Low VOC Finish
- Published in Banjos
099 – 11″ Cherry Dobson Special Banjo
This is a variation of the Seeders Style 3 Dobson Special made with Cherry instead of the usual Curly Maple. This banjo has a powerful well rounded tone unique to the Dobson Special with a comfortable neck profile ideal for all hand sizes and comfort while playing all over the neck. The Dobson Special utilizes a Dobson tone ring mounted on a rolled brass ring to isolate the tone ring from the wooden rim giving it a unique and powerful Dobson sound with more balanced and a crisp overall tone. It’s simple but elegant inlays and overall design has a vintage inspired look while adding modern play ability and durability.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 11″ Cherry Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Bone Nut
- Black Rim Binding
- Gotoh Tuners
- Cole Boat Heel
- Vintage Thin Waterbourne Low VOC Finish
- Published in Banjos
098 – Buckbee Style 10″ Cherry Banjo
This project started as a replacement neck for an old rim. When the rim turned out to be not sturdy enough and not in good enough condition for a new neck the decision was made to just build a whole new banjo in the style of the classic banjo maker Buckbee with a few modern details instead. It’s a very fun little banjo and a great size for someone who’s looking for a smaller banjo.
- 24.5″ Scale Length
- 10″ Cherry Rim
- 1-5/16″ Nut
- Cherry and Ebony Neck
- Brass scoop plate with cutout
- Abalone Inlays
- Peghed Geared tuners
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Vintage Thin Nitrocellulose Finish
- Calf Skin Head
- Published in Banjos
097 – 12″ Brass and 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
- Antiqued Raw Brass Hardware
- EVO Fretwire
- Ebony Fingerboard and Details
- 1-5/16″ Nut
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Vintage Thin “Ultra-Low VOC” Waterbourne Lacquer Finish
- Published in Banjos
096 – 11″ Brass and Walnut Banjo
This banjo has the standard Seeders 11″ 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. The neck is a modern C shape neck for a comfortable feel without being bulky in your hands.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 11″ Walnut Rim
- Rolled Brass Tone Ring
- Antiqued Raw Brass Hardware
- EVO Fretwire
- Ebony Fingerboard and Details
- 1-5/16″ Nut
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Vintage Thin “Ultra-Low VOC” Waterbourne Lacquer Finish
- Published in Banjos
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