| Project by dan mosheim | posted 112 days ago | 412 views | 0 times favorited | 5 comments |  |
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My son Will and I are building a banjo. He’s an excellent player and knows what makes a good banjo. I, on the other hand, know how to make things quickly and tend to forge ahead to ‘get things done’ and it has fallen to Will to slow me down and educate me on the fine points of instrument making. It’s been a spare time project that happens mostly after work as our schedules allow. I’d say we’re about halfway through the first edition, thinking up jigs, trying stuff, and learning a lot as we go. We have gotten our parts and supplies as well as accurate fretboard layout measurements from Stewart MacDonald Guitar Supply. There is a lot of banjo building info online though the variety of styles and approaches to the problem are all different. I’m attempting to add to the online info by documenting our processes on two posts (so far) on our dorset custom furniture blog
More to come ….
-- dan,vermont,http://dorsetcustomfurniture.blogspot.com/
5 comments so far
lew
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4480 posts in 648 days
posted 112 days ago
I’d love to build one of these but can’t even play the one I have. Maybe someday….
The jigs look really interesting.
Hyperhutch
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36 posts in 142 days
posted 112 days ago
What a fun undertaking! And what great equipment with which to make it!
Here’s a link to the site of an acquaintance of mine. He is both a player and maker, and has done a lot with basic tools and equipment. He’s made quite a number of banjos to date, and I am guessing he would be more than willing to discuss certain aspects of the process if you would like.
http://www.songofthegreatlakes.com/index.htm
Hutch
-- I hope the volume of shavings one creates is directly related to the probablility of one's success, cuz if so I've got it made!!
dan mosheim
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68 posts in 581 days
posted 112 days ago
thanks hutch … we’ve been to his site a bunch of times. he’s got a lot of info there that has surely been helpful … i am lucky to have some good equipment but I’ve also seen some pretty cool instruments made with the most basic of stuff. use what you’ve got …. dan
-- dan,vermont,http://dorsetcustomfurniture.blogspot.com/
Darrell Peart
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59 posts in 481 days
posted 112 days ago
Hi Dan,
Looks like a very fun project to do with your son.
I know what you mean about slowing down. My son-in-law, Matt,recently spent some time working with me in the shop building a blanket chest. I have been in the “lets’ get things done mode” for nearly 40 years. It took a little effort on my part to slow down and enjoy the company as well as the process.
We just finished the blanket chest last weekend – my daughter (Julia) was very pleased with her new chest and has already started thinking of more projects for Matt and me.
Darrell
-- Darrell Peart - Seattle - www.furnituremaker.com - author G&G Design Elements for the Workshop
a1Jim
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16665 posts in 470 days
posted 112 days ago
sounds like great fun
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon