A different kind of build thread...

[BendLarry]

I made a banjo back in the 80’s. I bought the tone ring and other metal parts but made everything else. It took me about a year because I was traveling for work a lot, but when I was home it was a nice change of pace. I found a supplier of abalone inlay pieces and inlaid a VERY involved full length inlay, I think it was called something like the vine of life.
It turned out better than I ever expected.
I was giving banjo lessons back then, for about 6 years and I had a student that loved to play it.
I had also recently had the Stelling made for me so I decided I didn’t need 2 banjos . I ended up selling it to the student for $4500. I quickly regretted selling it.
It was a very satisfying project.
I wish I had it today.


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[Chris]

That inlay you're referring to is called the "tree of life". It's a very, very detailed inlay and it's found on a lot of high end stringed instruments. It looks really good!

Banjos are definitely a lot easier to make than the hollow or semi-hollow body guitars I'm used to playing. But still, I never get tired of seeing a beautiful banjo anymore. Truth be told, ever since I came to find the banjo, I really don't even care for guitar much anymore. The banjo just sings to me like no other.

 

[BendLarry]

That inlay you're referring to is called the "tree of life". It's a very, very detailed inlay and it's found on a lot of high end stringed instruments. It looks really good!

Banjos are definitely a lot easier to make than the hollow or semi-hollow body guitars I'm used to playing. But still, I never get tired of seeing a beautiful banjo anymore. Truth be told, ever since I came to find the banjo, I really don't even care for guitar much anymore. The banjo just sings to me like no other.

I grew up in a musical family. My mom and dad played the guitar and sang. My Dad taught me to play the guitar when I was a little kid. I played it pretty well but by the time I was in my 20’s I lost interest. I went to a bluegrass festival outside of Forest Grove Oregon in the country and I heard my first bluegrass banjo live. I still remember how it gave me chills!
I bought a cheap Japanese Gibson knock off Ibanez, and found a great teacher who was the banjo player in a Portland band named Doctor Corns Bluegrass Remedy. The rest is history!


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[BendLarry]

That inlay you're referring to is called the "tree of life". It's a very, very detailed inlay and it's found on a lot of high end stringed instruments. It looks really good!

Banjos are definitely a lot easier to make than the hollow or semi-hollow body guitars I'm used to playing. But still, I never get tired of seeing a beautiful banjo anymore. Truth be told, ever since I came to find the banjo, I really don't even care for guitar much anymore. The banjo just sings to me like no other.

The hardest part for me was getting a glass like lacquer finish.


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[BendLarry]

Solid body guitars are pretty easy to make.


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[Chris]

The hardest part for me was getting a glass like lacquer finish.


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Yes, the finishes can be difficult for sure.

Solid body guitars are pretty easy to make.


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Solid body guitars are so easy to make that you could build one in your garage. The hollow ones are the difficult ones, which is also why they're typically priced so much higher.

I never understood the guy who is willing to pay $6000 for a 2018 Gibson Les Paul... It's a friggin' solid body guitar for goodness sakes! It's not even worth half that.

 

[BendLarry]

The most technical challenge of making a banjo was steaming and forming the 3 ply maple pot. I had to make a steamer and I broke quite a few nice pieces of maple before I got it figured out.


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[Chris]

The most technical challenge of making a banjo was steaming and forming the 3 ply maple pot. I had to make a steamer and I broke quite a few nice pieces of maple before I got it figured out.


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That's not surprising! I can imagine trying to curve wood like that would be a PITA. It's the same with the curved sides on the hollow body guitars. I've seen how they do it in YouTube videos, and it's quite a task!

 

[BendLarry]

Back when I learned there wasn’t YouTube or the internet, just books.
It took a lot of research from luthier books.


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[Chris]

I'll bet it did! Now there's a YouTube video for just about everything it seems.

 

[astjp2]

I got a banjo for Christmas when was 14, never learned how to play, now I wish I could just get it fixed up so I can put it on the wall. I definitely do not have an ear for music, and absolutely no rhythm...