I think this is my favorite instrument of all the instruments I've made. It's a short scale (15") 5 string banjo. The neck was from a resonator ukulele I was planning to build.... but I changed my mind. So I just grabbed another box to use with the neck and kind of just threw this thing together.

I did some experimenting with the neck. I used a torch to try to bring out some of the grain in the neck... but the torch was too hot and I ended up just burning the neck. I liked the way it looked, so I gave it a good sanding and then coated it.

The neck isn't a full neck through, it comes about an inch shy of the bridge. Other than that, there's nothing particularily innovative about this thing... but when I strung it up, and started to play it I was shocked! It had tons of volume for such a small instrument. It sounded crisp and beautiful. Perhaps the best sounding instrument I've ever made. I built it to sell... but this one isn't going anywhere. I'll probably end up trying to duplicate my efforts and see it I can make lightning strike twice.