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Some hardware

Some hardware

by | Jan 19, 2014 | Banjo

I ordered some of the parts I need from Stewart-MacDonald and they arrived yesterday.  The first photo is of the tone ring I chose.  The tone ring lies on the front edge of the rim under the head.  It is used to improve the sound over using the wooden rim alone....

Music while I think about the next steps

by | Jan 13, 2014 | Banjo

Here are some videos highlighting clawhammer style banjo playing. Steve Martin plays in two of these.  I guess it helps to have a sense of humor if you are going to play the banjo.  Mark Johnson in the second one is awesome.  Michael Neverisky in the third has a few...
Got my ears on

Got my ears on

by | Jan 13, 2014 | Banjo

Using some maple trimmed off the original lumber when squaring it up,  I cut two pieces for ears.  These will widen the peghead enough for the pattern I chose.   The ears are approximately the same thickness as the peghead.  The front surface of the peghead has...

Truss rod part 2

by | Jan 12, 2014 | Banjo

Here I have laid out the maple filler pieces and the truss rod beside the neck to illustrate how they are installed inside the neck.  The shaped pieces will keep the rod in a curved shape relative to the neck.  I took this picture before I made one more filler piece...

Truss rod part one

by | Jan 11, 2014 | Banjo

A 3/16in steel rod will be installed in the neck to provide for some ability to counteract the tension from the strings.  Below I am cutting a 1/4in wide slot on the table saw.   Below is the finished slot for the truss rod seen from the peghead end of the neck.  ...