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Jonnycake White - Posted - 04/30/2011: 19:33:17
I didn't use to care what my banjos weighed. But I got a hankering for one that was light enough to take on a backpacking trip if I ever want to do that, and this is what I came up with. It has an aluminum pot (literal from a cooking pan), walnut neck, no frets but fully marked fingerboard, and a calfskin head held on the pot with sheet metal screws. It weighs in at about 2 lb. 6 oz. I probably could have shaved a few ounces by using shorter sheet metal screws, a lighter tailpiece (this was a reject from a previous project) and lighter neck wood. I used nylon strings made from fishing line, just to be like Mike.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 04/30/2011: 19:34:52
Here are a few construction pictures:
Edited by - Jonnycake White on 04/30/2011 19:36:25
xomcat - Posted - 04/30/2011: 19:42:00
I'm impressed. Good job! I love the neck.
mike gregory - Posted - 04/30/2011: 20:00:36
How did you get such a neat hole in the bottom of the pan?
Sheet metal screws into an aluminum pot is the OBVIOUS analogy to tacks into a wooden pot.
But, until I saw your pics, it absolutely never occurred to me.
I want to be the first to congratulate you for being at least one point up on me, in the Creative Thinking category.
michael6 - Posted - 04/30/2011: 20:46:11
Very nice work!
fesso - Posted - 04/30/2011: 21:00:59
Sweet. do you plan on posting a tune or two? i'd love to hear it!
Jonnycake White - Posted - 04/30/2011: 21:42:41
quote:
Originally posted by mike gregory
How did you get such a neat hole in the bottom of the pan?
The pan I used had some kind of a chimney affair sticking up from the bottom in the middle, like a combination bundt pan/frying pan. The bottom of the pan has this nice embossed ring around where the chimney stuck out, and I just used that as a guide and cut out the chimney part with a saber saw and metal cutting blade, and cleaned it up with a sanding drum and files. I guess the pan was some kind of gimmick sold on late night TV. I was lucky to find it at a thrift store for $1.50.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 04/30/2011: 21:45:33
quote:
Originally posted by fesso
Sweet. do you plan on posting a tune or two? i'd love to hear it!
I forgot to mention that the sound is pretty much like any fretless nylon-strung banjo, but not very loud, probably because of the small pot. Better strings might help also. I'll post a tune or two once it stabilizes.
f#dead - Posted - 04/30/2011: 22:12:15
That looks great. Well done! How long is it from stem to stern?
derwood400 - Posted - 05/01/2011: 04:46:20
Really nice job on that. Can't wait to hear it.
BanjoBach - Posted - 05/01/2011: 06:22:06
Wow, what a great job you have done. This should put a slant on Boil em cabbage down!
Jonnycake White - Posted - 05/02/2011: 16:57:42
Found these pictures of the pan in it's original condition. If anyone knows what this pan is called, please tell me.
bindle stiff jim - Posted - 05/02/2011: 17:33:23
very impressive. i used to carry an old bakelite harmony resotone backpacking with me. it's been to the high point of virginia, idaho and nevada as well as the low point of the US, down the narrows in zion and many untrailed side canyons in the grand canyon. i ended up sending it to a serviceman in iraq that was looking for a banjo to pass the hours. very durable and impervious to weather. yours comes in about 1.5 lbs lighter. if you ever decide to make another for sale, please keep me in mind.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 05/02/2011: 19:21:49
I just put a lighter bridge on it and it opened up and brightened up the sound quite a bit.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 05/02/2011: 19:27:59
quote:
Originally posted by f#dead
That looks great. Well done! How long is it from stem to stern?
35 inches overall. 10 1/2" wide pot.
sport - Posted - 05/03/2011: 00:26:17
Thanks for the post
Quite helpful as weight does become an issue.
I have a small C scale fretless 33 inches with 10 inch pot.
I can fit it into a "carry on bag" although I have not yet tried getting it through airport security.
Yet, in your case, you did not compromise on beauty! I love the wood grain on the neck and old time design ( although a rectangular block would reduce 2-3 )
abbey - Posted - 05/03/2011: 11:17:28
Beautiful banjo!
DantheBanjoMan - Posted - 05/03/2011: 11:20:29
Nicely done! Beautiful banjo.
HolyGrass - Posted - 05/03/2011: 19:40:00
very nice. when i was hiking the AT for a short while, i found myself wishin I had a banjo that was light. although even a pound is a little heavy, i'd tough it out just so that i could play banjo after a long day of hiking.
