021 – Half Fretless Dog Banjo
This banjo project started out as an existing S.S. Stewart banjo with a spunover rim that needed a new neck. The owner wanted to have a tribute to his dog inlayed into the peghead so I took a picture he sent me and drew it as an inlay using different wood species for color and contrast. A great way to get a modern playing vintage sounding instrument.
- 11″ S.S. Stewart Spun Over Pot
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 1-1/4″ Nut Width
- Brass Half Fretless Overlay
- Rosewood Fingerboard with Ironwood Dot Inlays
- Brass Side Dots
- Custom Dog Inlay
- Three Piece Cherry and Walnut Neck
- Frailing Scoop
- Paddle Peghead
- Published in Banjos
020 – Half Fretless Whyte Laydie Banjo
This Vega pot most likely started out as a Vega Whyte Laydie tenor or banjolin. The owner of the pot and I put our heads together and from his vision and love of contrasting woods we came up with this unique neck. The woods we used were a lightly figured soft maple for the neck, Ironwood for the fretless overlay and dot inlays, an ebony fingerboard, curly claro walnut for binding, peruvian walnut, ebony and maple for the center lamination of the neck, ebony and maple for the nautical star peghead inlay and fumed english oak for the peghead and heel overlay. The combinations create a very unique looking neck with woods that compliment each other nicely while creating an eye catching contrast. The completely bound coffin peghead shape was inspired by a mid to late 19th century minstrel banjo peghead with marquetry inlays that had binding continuing across the peghead above the nut, a small but challenging detail that created a unique look.
- 10 1/16″ Vega Whyte Laydie Pot
- 24 1/2″ Scale Length
- 1-3/8″ Nut Width
- Vermont Ironwood Half Fretless Fingerboard Overlay
- Ironwood Dot Inlays
- Medium Width EVO Fretwire
- 9 Piece Neck Lamination
- Coffin Peghead Shape with Nautical Star Inlay
- Raw Brass ABM Tuners
- Frailing Scoop
- Volute
- Published in Banjos