085 – 6 String Walnut and Brass Banjo
This is the first six string (low bass) banjo that I made. It was built for the skilled hands of Jake Blount (https://jakeblount.com/) using African Adinkra Symbols as inlay and the brass cutouts. The second banjo I’ve made featuring hand hammered brass details. This banjo is a beautiful example of expression of an artist continuing to the instrument they play.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Walnut Rim with Richlite Rim Cap
- Tubaphone Tone Ring
- Walnut 6 String Neck (Low Bass String)
- Richlite Fretboard, Peghead Underlay, and Heelcap
- Hand Hammered Brass Peghead and Scoop Overlay
- Brass Inlays
- EVO Frets
- Balsam Banjo Works Hawktail Tailpiece
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Fiberskyn Head
- Published in Banjos
084 – 11″ Tubaphone Chubby Dragon Banjo
This custom Fairbanks Vega style banjo is one of the fancier most involved banjos I’ve yet to build. It features a lot of classic Fairbanks/Vega details with a few really interesting and fun twists. The classic Consalvi style ‘Chubby Dragon’ peghead inlay and other fretboard inlays were made using Black Mother of Pearl instead of white and the engravings were filled with a green fill instead of the traditional black. Instead of the more common traditional heel shape a WA Cole/Faribanks and Cole style boat heel was used. I combined influences of all of these makers to design the heel carving as well. The rim is classic a Vega Tubaphone design with a little added depth. The majority of the hardware was hand fabricated and nickel plated in house as well. Quite the involved process but the results were well worth the effort! If anyone is curious why this banjo has a low number for when it was built, the client reserved a number ahead of time that held special relevance to him and his family.
- 11″ Curly Maple Vega Bracket Band Rim
- Tubaphone Tone Ring
- Curly Maple Neck
- Ebony Fingerboard, Backstrap, and Peghead Overlay
- Hand Engraved Black Mother of Pearl Inlays
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- Nickel Plated Hardware
- Seeders Wide Notch Comfort Tension Hoop
- Seeders Tailpiece
- Sustainer Neck Attachment
- Seeders Bone Topped Violin Bridge
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Bone Nut
- Ivoroid Binding on Rim and Neck
- Honey Maple Stain
- Rickard Cyclone Tuners
- Calf Skin Head
- WA Cole Boat Heel
- Heel Mounted 2-Way Truss Rod
- Vintage Thin Nitrocellulose Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
083 – Walnut and Zircote Rolled Brass Banjo
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Walnut Rim with Black Binding
- Walnut Neck
- Rolled Brass Tone Ring
- Abalone and Brass Dot Inlays
- Renaissance Head
- Paddle Peghead
- Curved Volute
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Gotoh Tuners
- EVO Frets
- Published in Banjos
082 – 10″ Forrest and Night Sky Curly Maple Custom Banjo
This banjo was quite an undertaking. The inlay started out as a photograph of the Redwoods in California that the owner then turned into a painting. I took the painting and turned it into the inlay you see here. It depicts majestic Redwood trees under a night sky with a full moon shining brightly above. It was built for a woman of small stature which is why some of the details are smaller than typical.
- 10″ Curly Maple Rim with Ebony Rim Cap
- 25″ Scale Length
- 1-3/16″ Nut Width
- Custom Recon Stone, Mother of Pearl, and Wooden Inlay
- Curly Maple Neck
- Asymmetrical Peghead Shape
- Rolled Brass Hoop Tone Ring
- Ebony Fingerboard, Peghead, and Heelcap
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Stained Calf Skin Head
- Black Tusq Nuts
- Gotoh Tuners
- EVO Frets
- Published in Banjos
081 – 11″ Walnut and Zircote Banjo
- 11″ Walnut Rim with Zircote Rim Cap
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 1-5/16″ Tusq Nut
- Zircote Peghead, Fingerboard, and Heel Cap
- Romero Tone Ring
- Paddle Peghead
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Stained Calf Skin Head
- EVO Frets
- Gotoh Tuners
- Published in Banjos
080 – 11-5/8″ Engraved Curly Maple Banjo
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 11-5/8″ Curly Maple Rim with 3/8″ Brass Tube Tone Ring
- 1-5/16″ Tusq Nut
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Zircote Peghead and Fingerboard
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- EVO Fretwire
- Gotoh Tuners
- Stained Curly Maple Finish
- Water Bourne Lacquer Finish
- Published in Banjos
079 – 11″ Brass Clad Slothead Engraved Banjo
This slot head banjo features a brass and Walnut half spun over rim with a Walnut neck and Maple accent veneers. The rim features a deep brass clad exterior topped and Walnut internal rim with a Bubinga tone ring. The unique design of this banjo gives it an eye catching look and has an incredibly well rounded sound to match.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 11″ Walnut and Brass clad rim
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Bubinga Tone Ring
- Ebony Fingerboard
- Ebony Peghead Overlays
- Maple Veneer Details
- Pointed Volute
- Slot Head Peghead and Fifth String
- Antiqued Brass Hardware and Clad Rim
- EVO Frets
- Waverly Tuners
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Vintage Thin Eco Friendly Water Bourne Lacquer
- Published in Banjos
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