banjo playing knife knuts

I just re-built my banjo. I make cigar-box instruments, and a couple of years ago had a go at a banjo. Not exactly typical.... It has a hardwood-plywood "head" and the "pot" is made of PVC sewer-drain tubing.
Still, sounds quite banjo-y. There was actually an outfit making a very similar instrument commercially, but they seem to have gone defunct.
Anyway, my original fret job was not only entirely home-made (copper-wire epoxied to the fretboard) but ithey were not positioned perfectly and as a result it was never quite in tune.

I decided last week to correct this, so I sanded the fretboard flat and did my first "real" fret job. Turned out well, it now plays in tune and I'm back to learning "clawhammer".
Here's pics... I don't think you need to register to see 'em...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/albums/improved-banjo
 
That looks real nice. What is your fretboard made of? Is it an overlay over maple or solid? I built a couple of kit dulcimers over the years and scare the kids with my playing on a regular basis. I am working up a version of Foggy Mountain Breakdown currently but it is a long way to anything close to the Scruggs sound. I am working up to building a banjimer using some mahogahany shelving I rescued from a dumpster. The bookshelves were from an old building so they could have been at least 50 years old. I have about 40 linear feet of it so if I get one banjimer made right I might make up some more and see if there is a market. To many mights and maybes in this but that is how it is right now with our life.
 
The neck on this one is all oak; a 1x2 for the main piece with a piece of 1/4" stock glued on. Plenty stiff enough to resist the tension of banjo strings. I've used maple for several builds.
 
I taught myself to flat-pick the guitar. So, when I picked up a banjo, I just applied my style to the banjo.
 
I don't play a banjo, but I know a couple of banjo players. They spend half their time tuning the thing and the other half playing out of tune. Seriously. :D
 
Like any other stringed instrument, not staying in tune is usually a mechanical problem. Insufficient head tension, strings not properly applied to the tuning machines, poorly cut or angled nut slots, or simply old and worn strings.
 
A friend has an old Constessa that he's letting me borrow for awhile as I start lessons here shortly. Have always been interested in playing it--just recently said what the hey and am taking the leap. I have an instructor lined up. I'm hoping he can get me started on the basics, learn a few rolls, chords, etc--hopefully help me to not make many bad habits. Noone in my area instructs the clawhammer style so I am going to be learning the Scruggs-style. We'll see how it goes.

How long have you been playing? What style do you play? What do you play?
 
mwerner said:
I just re-built my banjo. I make cigar-box instruments, and a couple of years ago had a go at a banjo. Not exactly typical.... It has a hardwood-plywood "head" and the "pot" is made of PVC sewer-drain tubing.
Still, sounds quite banjo-y. There was actually an outfit making a very similar instrument commercially, but they seem to have gone defunct.
Anyway, my original fret job was not only entirely home-made (copper-wire epoxied to the fretboard) but ithey were not positioned perfectly and as a result it was never quite in tune.

I decided last week to correct this, so I sanded the fretboard flat and did my first "real" fret job. Turned out well, it now plays in tune and I'm back to learning "clawhammer".
Here's pics... I don't think you need to register to see 'em...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/albums/improved-banjo
Click to expand...

IMGP4194.jpg
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I don't play but I do build them.

maple neck, mahogany fret board, oak body, walnut head stock, Osage fret markers.
that thing took forever to build, its electric too. It sounds pretty good.
 
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