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jeffsbanjer - Posted - 06/06/2013: 15:55:22
Thanks to all for your help! You know who you are. This banjo is made of local Mahogany and hard red cedar. Cedar is a hard wood here in Jamaica.
rudy - Posted - 06/07/2013: 04:11:08
quote:
Originally posted by jeffsbanjer
Thanks to all for your help! You know who you are. This banjo is made of local Mahogany and hard red cedar. Cedar is a hard wood here in Jamaica.
Jeff, What banjo?
jeffsbanjer - Posted - 06/07/2013: 04:23:22
It got bumped to page 22.
rudy - Posted - 06/07/2013: 06:50:16
Aha! Very nice job and great implementation. I'm sure all that gourd work made this a pretty simple project for you. The only thing I think I might have done differently is to use a scrap of ebony for the fifth string nut so it would match everything else. Carved tuners are a nice touch.
P.S. There IS more room for someone wanting to produce these!
jeffsbanjer - Posted - 06/07/2013: 07:40:37
Funny I made an ebony fifth string nut and then started making some bone nuts for inventory and switched it out to be spontaneous. Ahh getting wild and crazy now. Yes this was a joy to make and I am making another already.
GrizClaw - Posted - 06/07/2013: 14:23:29
quote:Beautiful banjo Chip! Rick
Originally posted by chip arnold
I've just finished a cherry banjo ...
Here's a link to BHO classified ad with info and pictures :-)
banjohangout.org/classified/36797
5steve - Posted - 06/08/2013: 05:10:08
So when did the first mountain banjos appear? I can't seem to find to much information about the origins. I first encountered them reading the Foxfire books in the 70's. I never saw one til I made one for myself just curious if anyone knows more of the history. Steve
rudy - Posted - 06/08/2013: 05:49:29
quote:
Originally posted by 5steve
So when did the first mountain banjos appear? I can't seem to find to much information about the origins. I first encountered them reading the Foxfire books in the 70's. I never saw one til I made one for myself just curious if anyone knows more of the history. Steve
A bit of history HERE.
chip arnold - Posted - 06/08/2013: 06:27:57
As for the style known as the Mountain Banjo, I don't know how early they were being made. They can be built entirely without metal parts ... nothing but wood, gut and skin so anyone with the inclination and some (sometimes very crude) woodworking skills could put one together from materials readily at hand. They are loud enough to provide music for a dance. I've seen examples the were carved, inlaid and otherwise decked out and I've seen them crudely made with nothing more than a saw and a draw knife.
treesner - Posted - 06/10/2013: 00:06:40
I've seen a few but wondering if anyone has experimented with larger pot mountain banjos and how the building/playing experience is
rudy - Posted - 06/10/2013: 04:46:39
quote:
Originally posted by foxesandfeathers
I've seen a few but wondering if anyone has experimented with larger pot mountain banjos and how the building/playing experience is
Several mountain banjo examples shown in the last 23 pages have heads of various sizes, the pots themselves are about as large as they can be without becoming uncomfortable.
chip arnold - Posted - 06/10/2013: 10:19:31
Also, unless you want to glue up two or more pieces to make the top and bottom of the banjo pot, you're about at the limit for one board with the smaller heads. Twelve inches is about as wide a board as i can regularly find around here and that's pushing it.
GrizClaw - Posted - 06/10/2013: 10:48:54
quote:Chip......That's probably why the old timers had the small pots....they had to you old barn planks or whatever was laying around....Rick
Originally posted by chip arnold
Also, unless you want to glue up two or more pieces to make the top and bottom of the banjo pot, you're about at the limit for one board with the smaller heads. Twelve inches is about as wide a board as i can regularly find around here and that's pushing it.
chip arnold - Posted - 06/10/2013: 11:13:04
A very large and stable pot could be made with plywood. A solid wood band wrapped around the outside edges would make it look okay.
GrizClaw - Posted - 06/10/2013: 11:32:30
I wonder if the size and availability of the internal ring had anything to do with the original size of the pots also....Rick
plunknplinkntwang - Posted - 06/10/2013: 13:40:19
As well as available can sizes, a large skin head may be problematic as it will have an increased amount of "give" caused by humidity & other weather variables.
treesner - Posted - 06/25/2013: 13:53:20
Hey fellow mountain banjo builders,
I'm headed on a cross country trip in July and i'm thinking about building a travel banjo while traveling (i've got a truck/sleeping setup that i built along with the basic tools and a portable vice)
I was thinking it could be cool to try and pick up some wood or random parts (hide/tunners) along the way.
My journey will be loosely along the northern states from west to east coast then back. see map here.
If you have any suggestions for where to get a few pieces of wood (it would be nice if it was grown locally or reclaimed) or have some you'd sell me let me know!
i've also made a thread for this trip on BHO here
cheers!
-chris
LNP - Posted - 07/07/2013: 05:39:43
I got caught up in the mtn banjo thing too. Here's some photo's of the one I just finished a couple of weeks ago,it has a three piece neck,the finger board being the third piece. The neck is mounted the thickness of the finger board higher to keep the strings lower and form a scoop.I used the old skin from my 1923 silverbell for the head and some copper rivets for string attachment
GrizClaw - Posted - 07/07/2013: 09:27:54
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quote
:LNP....great work....I never get tired of seeing these come together......Rick
Originally posted by LNP
I got caught up in the mtn banjo thing too. Here's some photo's of the one I just finished a couple of weeks ago,it has a three piece neck,the finger board being the third piece. The neck is mounted the thickness of the finger board higher to keep the strings lower and form a scoop.I used the old skin from my 1923 silverbell for the head and some copper rivets for string attachment
Chadbanjo - Posted - 07/28/2013: 19:02:02
Any Canadian luthiers out there making mountain banjos around the $200 range...like John Peterson in the States.
Noah Cline - Posted - 08/15/2013: 16:33:54
I've read these posts several times. I've been wanting to make my own mountain banjo when I had gotten the Foxfire #3 a couple of years ago, thinking how neat, but different they were in their own way, so I was finally able to get some wood for it. I wanted maple, but after seeing some poplar boards, I decided to use that, having read that it's been used a lot. The neck's going to be a three piece, with a red oak center strip to add some width, and thought that it looked good. I wanted a darker stain, so I got some dark walnut. I hope it turns out well. I may post pictures of it along the way...
C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 08/15/2013: 16:37:23
"I may post pictures of it along the way... "
Please do Noah as many would like to see them.
Noah Cline - Posted - 08/15/2013: 16:44:16
Yeah, I still haven't posted any pictures of the two cigar box banjos I made, the last one just being recent.
C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 08/15/2013: 16:52:22
There's no time like the present mate. The whole world is waiting to see them. 
BungleBanjo - Posted - 08/25/2013: 13:00:02
I've been creeping on this forum for a while now. I just finished my first mountain banjo. As this was my first attempt, I used cheap materials. The neck is made of two glued-up 2x4s and the pot is made of half-inch plywood. I did use some purple heart for accents. I made plenty of mistakes and learned a lot in the process. All-in-all I think it sounds pretty good. I can't wait to get started on #2 with some higher quality materials...
C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 08/25/2013: 14:41:31
Welcome to the Forum Bungle Banjo and thanks for the pics of your banjo. It looks pretty good to me. I like that purple heart wood bridge and dots. That is a very expensive wood in Australia so I can't see me making anything out of it, but I do love it.
I see that you are a member of the Mountain Banjo Group: have you linked this post to the group?
arielslim - Posted - 08/25/2013: 17:41:17
Howdy, welcome to the BHO. Your first build looks really nice,I like the look of the knots,gives it a rustic look. I may try my first build with the same type of wood minus the purple heart. That way if I mess up I'm not out too many pesos.
Zischkale - Posted - 08/26/2013: 13:17:38
Awesome looking banjo, Brendan!
I'm very jealous of you wood-working types. I'm trying my hand at the simple wine-box banjo plans from the Bluestem website. So far it ain't purty, but I think it'll end up doing its job fine!
Noah Cline - Posted - 08/26/2013: 15:58:59
Update: My first MB build is stained and finished...now waiting for the head to arrive (probably tomorrow). A couple of tuners to make as well...
Noah Cline - Posted - 08/29/2013: 16:09:30
Finished 
I strung it with the Nylgut Classicals. It sounds really good.
Edited by - Noah Cline on 08/29/2013 16:16:19
rudy - Posted - 08/29/2013: 18:52:30
quote:
Originally posted by Zischkale
Awesome looking banjo, Brendan!
I'm very jealous of you wood-working types. I'm trying my hand at the simple wine-box banjo plans from the Bluestem website. So far it ain't purty, but I think it'll end up doing its job fine!
Don't have to be purty to be sweet! Drinking the box contents makes 'em sound even better!
BungleBanjo - Posted - 09/05/2013: 12:08:40
Noah, that banjo looks great!
BungleBanjo - Posted - 09/05/2013: 12:13:22
I'm hooked! Just getting started on mountain banjo #2. This one is all poplar. I also am making it out of 3/4 boards instead of half-inch
Noah Cline - Posted - 09/05/2013: 13:32:42
quote:
Originally posted by BungleBanjo
I'm hooked! Just getting started on mountain banjo #2. This one is all poplar. I also am making it out of 3/4 boards instead of half-inch
The board I used was 3/4 inch. The only thing I don't like is at the neck/pot juncture is only 1 3/4 inch width. So my first string is almost off the edge of the finger board. Oh well, just make another one
richla - Posted - 09/05/2013: 17:52:05
Hi Bungle,
Nice job. Did you follow any plans, or just go for it?
BungleBanjo - Posted - 09/05/2013: 21:25:43
Hi Richla,
For my first banjo I followed the plans from Rudy's website pretty much exactly. This time I am making a few modifications but it is basically the same.
Noah Cline - Posted - 09/06/2013: 16:38:50
quote:
Originally posted by Noah Cline
Finished I strung it with the Nylgut Classicals. It sounds really good.
The long-awaited video of my mountain banjo. "Little Rose is Gone" fDGCD tuning
Edited by - Noah Cline on 09/06/2013 16:39:17
BungleBanjo - Posted - 09/06/2013: 18:19:15
Noah,
The banjo sounds great!
richla - Posted - 09/07/2013: 14:35:52
Nice sound, and nice playing!
Paul Meredith - Posted - 09/08/2013: 11:23:10
Ditto, the banjo sounds great! The banjo, tune, and your playing are perfectly matched. Well done!
sunrise - Posted - 09/09/2013: 15:16:47
started building one of these myself a week or so back . i m surprised and impressed by the volume and sound of Noah s banjo. hope mine sounds as good ! enjoying the journey but it kinda cuts into playing time , and now that i m thinking about the next ones . . .m m balance
Noah Cline - Posted - 09/16/2013: 14:43:48
quote:
Originally posted by neighbour
started building one of these myself a week or so back . i m surprised and impressed by the volume and sound of Noah s banjo. hope mine sounds as good ! enjoying the journey but it kinda cuts into playing time , and now that i m thinking about the next ones . . .m m balance
Interested in seeing what you come up with. After showing mine to a couple of people, I've had two people ask me to make them one, so I've got to get busy. As far as tone, I was very surprised how loud it was.
chip arnold - Posted - 09/17/2013: 06:26:26
I have another for sale. You casn see pics of a comparable one in my photo section. It's the "Another Mtn. Banjo" album. It is solid cherry, plain and unadorned. Planetary tuners, adjustable head tension. neck to pot angle properly done. First $300.00 gets it.
Noah Cline - Posted - 09/23/2013: 15:51:55
Update: build #2 is starting. I found some nice black cherry boards with nice grain the other day. This banjo might be a keeper once it's finished.
I've had a couple people ask me to make a mountain banjo for them after seeing mine (they just want it to hang on their wall).
I then hope to make one or two to sell.
BungleBanjo - Posted - 09/24/2013: 15:23:01
Hey Noah,
I am working on #2 as well. This one is made out of poplar.
It seems a shame to have people hang perfectly good banjos on the wall as decorations! These things should be played!
C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 09/24/2013: 15:44:18
Noah says, "I've had a couple people ask me to make a mountain banjo for them after seeing mine (they just want it to hang on their wall)."
Just a few weeks ago I ended up inside a house of people who were total strangers to me and they had a brand new Deering Good Time Banjo just hanging on the wall. It is a rather expensive piece of art and what a waste.
Noah Cline - Posted - 09/24/2013: 15:50:07
Bungle,
Hey looks good. I like the peg head and the way you rounded the edges of the rings. The one guy that wants one wants it to be stained the same color (dark walnut) as my first one. The cherry one that I'll be starting on as soon as the lumber comes will probably be stained lighter (the wood that I got has such nice grain that I don't want to cover it up to where it wouldn't show as well).
I've also considered making the head/tone ring for #2 from the cherry. I noticed that as the head dried on the first one ( maybe I tacked it in a little too snug), it pulled the top of the ring inward not terribly noticeable (except by me), and had read early on this topic that someone else's had done the same. They were using flashing, and layered it thicker. I used the top of a coffee can sized-down some. I guess I'll just have to play with it (like with everything else building Mountain banjos ).
Edited by - Noah Cline on 09/24/2013 15:58:14
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