166 – 12″ Ashborn Rim Nautilus Banjo
This was a very fun and unique project with my friend Marc Horowitz. Marc had me make a rim design that I’ve always been intrigued by, the James Ashborn style rim with an integral wooden flange instead of shoes or a bracket band. I pondered on how I’d like to make it and how it would handle tension over time and I landed on a combination of my typical steam bent rim and a block laid flange. I laminated a regular rim, split it in half and then glued the block flange in between the two halves and then machined it from there. This gave it a very unique look and structure. One that I feel like will be incredibly durable and stable over time. Along with this rim design Marc really wanted to try out a couple of different tone rings for this project and the best way we figured to do so would be to create two rims. With my Sustainer neck brace (patent pending) this was quite easy as my necks bolt on with two acorn bolts. Very easy to swap the rims with this hardware I’ve created! Marc wanted a Bacon Silver Belle tone ring and the other with just the walnut top of the rim shaped to a bearing edge. We both had a feeling if we liked both rims that a second neck would be needed but we wanted to make sure our design and construction choices were going to work out the way we hoped. Sure enough it did and another neck is on the way…
- 12″ Ashborn Style Walnut Rims – Silver Belle Tone Ring (166B) – Walnut Rim Bearing Edge (166W)
- 26.4 Scale Length
- Figured Walnut Neck
- Richlite Details
- Nickle Plated Hardware
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- EVO Fretwire
- Ivoroid Binding
- Green/Black/Green Purfling
- Magnetic Truss Rod Cover
- Seeders Adjustable Walnut Armrest
- Seeders Hand Engraved Tailpiece
- Seeders Wide Relief Tension Hoop
- Seeders Sustainer Neck Attachment
- Rickard Cyclone Tuners
- Black Tusq Nuts
- Vintage Thin Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Published in Banjos
150 – 10-1/2″ Walnut Starry Night Fretless Banjo
This banjo was built as a companion to Seeders #082. It features a variation of the inlay design, slightly simplified, but using the stars on the fretboard as fret locations.
- 10-1/2″ Walnut Rim
- 25″ Scale Walnut Fretless Neck
- Rolled Brass Tone Ring
- Striped Ebony Fretboard and Peghead
- Seeders Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Sustainer Neck Brace
- Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Seeders Walnut Armrest
- Calfskin Head
- Aquila Nylgut Strings
- Gotoh Tuners
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Vintage Thin Satin Nitrocellulose Finish
- Published in Banjos
149 – 12″ Curly Maple 6 String Dobson Special Banjo
This banjo is 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.
- 26.25″ Scale Length
- 12″ Curly Maple Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Curly Maple 6 String Neck
- Richlite Details
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Seeders Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Curly Maple Armrest
- Seeders Wide Notch Comfort Tension Hoop
- Seeders 6 String Tailpiece
- EVO Frets
- Rickard Cyclone Tuners
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Honey Maple Stain
- Vintage Thin Nitrocellulose Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
147 – 11″ Walnut Dobson Special Style 0 Banjo
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 having modern playability and durability.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 11″ Walnut Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Black Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Wide Notch Comfort Tension Hoop
- Seeders Curly Maple Armrest
- Seeders Tailpiece
- Violin Bridge
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard and Peghead
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- Black Rim Binding
- Golden Brown Stain
- Gotoh Tuners
- White Suede Head
- Cole Boat Heel
- Vintage Thin Nitrocellulous Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
146 – 12″ Cherry Dobson Special Style 0 Banjo
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 having modern playability and durability.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Cherry Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Black Mother of Pearl Dot Inlays
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Wide Notch Comfort Tension Hoop
- Seeders Curly Maple Armrest
- Striped Ebony Fretboard and Peghead
- Seeders Tailpiece
- Violin Bridge
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- Black Rim Binding
- Gotoh Tuners
- Renaissance Head
- Cole Boat Heel
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Vintage Thin Nitrocellulous Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
145 – 12″ Curly Maple Dobson Special Style 4 Banjo
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 having modern playability and durability.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 12″ Curly Maple Rim
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Hand Engraved Mother of Pearl Inlays
- Mother of Pearl Side Dots
- Ebony and Maple Backstrap
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Wide Notch Comfort Tension Hoop
- Seeders Curly Maple Armrest
- Seeders Tailpiece
- Violin Bridge
- Ebony Fingerboard and Peghead
- EVO Fretwire
- 1-5/16″ Black Tusq Nut
- Black Rim Binding
- Honey Maple Stain
- Rickard Cyclone Tuners
- Renaissance Head
- Cole Boat Heel
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Vintage Thin Nitrocellulose Satin 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
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
072 – 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
- Red Brown Stain
- Cole Boat Heel
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos
071 – 12″ Mahogany Custom Grenadillo Tone Ring Banjo
The Mahogany Custom model is 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 Grenadillo 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
- Grenadillo Tone Ring
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Seeders Violin Bridge
- Gotoh Tuners
- Hard Oil Satin Finish
- Published in Banjos