Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on October 31, 2023 at 11:33am

Hi, I can't direct you to fretting details but I'm sure they're on this sight somewhere.
As for the 5th string, yes it would have a small nut, often a small dowel pushed into a hole in the fingerboard. This is to hold the string in place as the string comes off the 5th fret, zero fret fashion.

Enjoy the journey. My granddaughter built her own tin banjo when she was about7 years old, and had a lot of fun doing it.
Taff....dont forget, use HTML to post.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 31, 2023 at 12:18pm

It seems to me that those plans might be missing a page, there’s lots of details left out? But I doubt a modern tin pan can handle the tension of 5 strings, so maybe look for an old one. Here’s a video of a 3 string cookie tin banjo, pretty much the same thing,but easier? Good luck on this

https://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/how-to-make-a-cookie-tin-banjo...

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bowlin on October 31, 2023 at 12:33pm

Taff, Thanks for the reply. I spent a bit of time on the interweb looking at photo's of banjos. I did see the small "nut" under that 5th string.

BrianQ , thank you as well. I intend to scour the local thrift store hoping to find an old pan. I think old would be more astatically pleasing anyway. If whatever pan I find has trouble with the tension. I'm sure I could put a small block that matched the dimensions of the bridge to support it without dampening the vibrations much.

Now if anyone out there has information on fretting a banjo. Would it be the sane as a guitar? I have fret guides for 20 inch and up, what would be typical for a Banjo?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on October 31, 2023 at 1:28pm

Hi again, if you have scales for guitars pick a scale that will put the bridge at the sweet spot on the pan, and use it.
The scale of a standard 5string would be around 26''. That might be a bit of a reach depending on the size of the player.

The banjo pictured here I built a while back is called a piccolo banjo, a very short-scale, I can't remember the size now.

This gives a better idea of the size.
Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Carl Floyd on November 1, 2023 at 3:54am

Disclaimer:  I do not play nor have I ever built a banjo.

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that the 5th string is mostly a drone string. So, it would not really need frets.

For the 5th string nut. I had this idea.  Have the regular fret for the other 4 strings stop between the 4th & 5th string.   Use a taller, short piece of fret the rest of the way across the fretboard.  Like a zero fret for just the 5th string.  ;)

I agree with using a bit shorter scale (depending on your daughter's age).

For a fret calculator, I have used this one.  Set printer setting to print 100% or actual size.  Measure that your printouts are to scale.

https://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/

https://riverboatmusic.com/banjos/five_string/5-string_banjos_parlo...

https://jofflowson.com/banjo-for-complete-beginners/

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bowlin on November 1, 2023 at 11:17am

Just so everyone is on the same page. My daughter is 34. From what I am seeing 26 inch is pretty much the norm, so that is what I am going for. I have moved away from the Pie Tin idea and leaning more to the Cookie Tin idea. I like this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ZHEDHfcoQ

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 1, 2023 at 6:13am

By the length of it, I’m guessing that it’s an Irish tenor,  which would put you at 19 3/4” scale length? Yes that string is a drone, but the nut of the 5th string has always been a slotted dowel like Taff said? I have always used bone nuts on my banjos, most of the banjos I’ve seen have them& they add a nice touch too, but I have also seen flat head screws used as a 5th string nut on old banjos?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 1, 2023 at 10:25am

Hi, two reasons to put frets under the 5th string. aids in the use of a 5th-string capo.
And two, easier to do the fretting. If you don't mind finishing the fret ends in the middle of the board or finishing them all off at one end prior to fitting go for it.
Also having an empty slot at the edge of the fingerboard isn't a good look.
Taff

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 1, 2023 at 10:42am

Oh, and the nut is not really the setting-off point of the string but is more of a guide that takes the string from the tuner's post to a position on the fret. 

The 5th string tuner is not always in line with that position on the fret this is why the nut is used. In the same way with a zero fret on a guitar, there is a string spacer/guide behind that fret.
Taff. ..Dont forget HTML.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bowlin on November 1, 2023 at 11:22am

Hi Taffy and Brian Q. your inputs have been great and I am planning on getting a start for this build this weekend. I still have just a bit of confusion over this 5th string. I understand it is a drone. From the look of the picture Brian Q posted, the 5th string has a lower action then all the rest? I was going to add a small section of jumbo fret under that string to match the jumbo fret wire I use as the nut for the rest of the strings. 

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 1, 2023 at 1:13pm

Hi, that string looks lower possibly due to the fact that it is touching the 5th fret and the others are coming off the fingerboard nut. If you fingered the other strings to the 5th fret, they would look the same height as the 5th string off the fingerboard.
Taff

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