069 – Tunneled Fifth String Birdseye Maple Banjo
This banjo was built in companion to #068 and both feature a tunneled fifth string and similar details to each other. They feature calligraphy inlays in the scoop designed by the owners talented friend Kathryn Darnell. Simple and elegant was our approach to this pair of instruments. The tunneled fifth string make them incredibly comfortable banjos to play while giving them a unique look. The rare Quilted Cuban Mahogany came from a good friends wood stash that he’s been sitting on for 50+ years that made for a beautiful accent.
This banjo features a 10″ rim and short scale length for a very comfortable banjo that is easy to travel with. The 10″ rim has a remarkably rich well rounded tone that has plenty of volume and attack. It can hold it’s own against many banjos with larger rims without being too bright and tight sounding like some smaller rims can be. The engraving on the rim cap are words chosen by the owner that make for a very beautiful and personal touch.
- 10″ Mahogany Rim
- 24.5″ Scale Length
- 1-5/16″ Bone Nut
- Brass Tube Tone Ring
- Raw Brass Hardware
- Tunneled Fifth String
- Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Honduran Rosewood Fretboard, Heel, and Rim Cap
- Quilted Cuban Mahogany Peghead Overlay
- Birdseye Maple Neck
- Ivoroid Binding
- Antique Maple Stain
- Custom Rim Engraving
- Gotoh Tuners
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
068 – Tunneled Fifth String Whyte Laydie Banjo
This banjo was built in companion to #069 and both feature a tunneled fifth string and similar details to each other. They feature calligraphy inlays in the scoop designed by the owners talented friend Kathryn Darnell. Simple and elegant was our approach to this pair of instruments. The tunneled fifth string make them incredibly comfortable banjos to play while giving them a unique look. The rare Quilted Cuban Mahogany came from a good friends wood stash that he’s been sitting on for 50+ years that made for a beautiful accent. The wood choices and contrasts of this particular banjo made a very stunning and unique instrument.
- 11″ Curly Maple Rim
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 1-5/16″ Bone Nut
- Whyte Laydie Tone Ring
- Raw Brass Hardware
- Tunneled Fifth String
- Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Honduran Rosewood Fretboard, Heel, and Rim Cap
- Quilted Cuban Mahogany Peghead Overlay
- Birdseye Maple Neck
- Ivoroid Binding
- Gotoh Tuners
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
067 – Curly Maple Whyte Laydie Compass Banjo
This banjo was custom built for a student at Berklee College of Music looking for a banjo with a strong voice and tone to fit playing clawhammer as well as to accompany songwriting and singing. The design was based on The Lion Head Model but simplified aesthetically. The Whyte Laydie tone ring is one of the staples of the old time banjo world and is an amazing versatile tone ring for many styles of playing. The compass inlay was inspired by a drawing that adorned the owners first banjo and they wanted to continue on the theme.
- 11″ Curly Maple Rim
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- Whyte Laydie Tone Ring
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Engraved Abalone Compass Inlay
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard and Appointments
- Cole Boat Heel
- Gotoh Tuners
- Black Tusq Nuts
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
Vega Little Wonder Conversion Banjo
The Vega Instrument Company produced some of the best banjos of the early 20th century. This banjo started it’s life as a 4 string tenor. The Little Wonder was one of their lower end models but it was produced with the same attention to detail and high quality craftsmanship of their entire catalogue. This particular rim is one of the finest examples of an original Little Wonder I have ever seen. It features Vega’s signature two point shoes which were usually reserved for their higher end models like the Tubaphone, Electric, and Whyte Laydie. The hardware and rim are in almost mint condition and it’s surprising that this banjo is just shy of 100 years old being built in 1930, which is a little later in the production of these instruments. These banjos make excellent 5 strings and have a classic old time sound. The Little Wonder is not as sought after as the coveted Tubaphones, Whyte Laydies, and Electric models but they stand their ground against some of the best banjos out there.
- 11″ Vega Little Wonder Rim
- 26.1875″ Scale Length
- Calf Skin Head
- Paddle Peghead
- Mahogany Neck With Original Vega Dowel Stick
- Ebony Fretboard, Peghead, and Heel Cap
- Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Gotoh Tuners
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
Gibson Kraske Rim TB-4 Conversion
This Gibson conversion banjo was built along side an identical rim that received the same style of neck to match the original details with a few minor changes. 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
- Original Gibson Plate Tuners
- Curly Maple Neck With Sunburst Nitrocellulose Finish
- Ebony Fingerboard and Appointments
- Ivoroid Binding
- Mother of Pearl Gibson Reproduction Inlays
- Geared Friction Style PegHed 5th String Tuner
- Published in Banjos
Gibson Kraske Rim TB-4 Conversion
This Gibson conversion banjo was built along side an identical rim that received the same style of neck to match the original details with a few minor changes. 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 at some point was refinished and lost it’s original Gibson label inside the rim but it is undoubtedly an original Gibson rim.
This particular banjo is currently owned and played by the talented Nora Brown of Brooklyn, NY.
- 12″ Kraske Style Hollow Gibson TB Rim
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- Vintage Waverly Plate Style Tuners
- Curly Maple Neck With Sunburst Nitrocellulose Finish
- Ebony Fingerboard and Appointments
- Ivoroid Binding
- Mother of Pearl Gibson Reproduction Inlays
- Geared Friction Style PegHed 5th String Tuner
- Published in Banjos
066 – Brass Clad Slot Head Banjo
This slot head banjo features a brass and Walnut half spun over rim with a Walnut neck and black accent veneers instead of the usual maple ones. 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
- Bubinga Tone Ring
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard
- Striped Ebony Peghead Overlays
- Pointed Volute
- Slot Head Peghead and Fifth String
- Antiqued Brass Hardware and Clad Rim
- EVO Frets
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
065 – 12″ Mahogany Custom Honduran Rosewood Tone Ring Banjo
This 12″ Mahogany banjo is the first of a new model for Seeders Instruments. Designed using only wooden inlays and unique green purflings paired with Zircote. The combination creates an elegant look while being quite unique to anything seen before. The 12″ rim paired with a Honduran Rosewood tone ring and calf skin head gives it a strong punchy tone with plenty of depth and a well rounded attack.
- 12″ Mahogany Deep Rim
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 1-5/16″ Nut
- Zircote Fretboard, Peghead, Heel and Rim Cap
- Dyed Calf Skin Head
- White and Black Ebony Inlays
- Green and Black Purfling Details
- Honduran Rosewood Tone Ring
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Gotoh Tuners
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
064 – Style 1 Rolled Brass Tone Ring 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
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
063 – Curly Maple Style 3 Dobson Special Banjo
This is a 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
- 11″ Curly Maple Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Bone Nut
- Gotoh Tuners
- Warm Amber Stain
- Cole Boat Heel
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos