Hi Guys,
I'm making a Banjo - I am stealing a bit of an idea from youtube - basically I am making a sort of bolt on neck to a wooden salad/fruit bowl.
I actually have the materials to do 2 banjos the other one being an old tambourine (tambourine in transit from Ebay - hence i am keen to move on this one)
I have pretty much everything figured out, mostly the usual components as my CBG's - apart from what to use as a drum skin. I figure i need something leathery/hyde type material and tack it on tightly over the salad bowl rim. I do own a Banjo and I know the heads are made from a polyester type material - but i am unsure where i could get something like this (any ideas)
I want to keep it fairly low cost as this is a first attempt - and also something that is easily available, so i can build it this weekend. I was thinking of a leather Chamoix - but after having a look at them i dunno if they look ideal, a lot of them seem to be little pieces stitches together so i reckon they won't last.
Does anyone have any ideas? What i could use that is either household - or available in the hardware stores/supermarkets etc.
I live in Scotland - so we don't have quite the same stores as our pan-atlantic cousins - please bear in mind if it's all Home Depot stuff.
Andy
Replies
I used Banjo strings cos i had them available, I think you could use electric guitar strings. I made a 4 string CBG that is Open G, which kinda led me onto wanting to build the banjer.
If you're gona have to buy strings get banjo, but if you already have a set i don't see why you couldn't use the leccy ones.
Thaks buddy - i left the rawhide/saladbowl build for another day - this one is just an 8inch tambourine.
It's open G (ish), I'm not much of a Banjer, so someone better could probably show it off a bit more. Regarding scale length, I was slightly inaccurate if I tell the truth. I have a CBG fret ruler that i made and have used to mark out previous builds. I foolishly made the msitake of not checking the scale length precisely on the store bought banjo I have, as when it's sat next to a guitar the fret lengths kinda look the same, so i assumed the scale length was more or less the same - however after fretting I did check, and realised my mistake.
I don't really mind cos the stuff i can play is all in the first 5 frets which (unless you have a great ear) I don't think anyone would really notice the difference. but when you get up to 11th/12th fret you can tell it's not quite right........however.......it's a 1st build, a prototype, and a one of a kind - I like the wee guy so I like him.
I'm definitely gonna build another Banjo (and will definitely have to learn up and develop my claw-hammer to show the next one off better)
What tuning, strings and scale did you use?
I've been wanting to build an open-g tuned banjo with a short scale (22-24"), but am uncertain about the strings.
I was thinking of going the cookie tin route, but I doubt it would sound as good as what you've got there. Did you attach the raw hide while wet, stretch it, then pin it, then let it dry?
Thanks
The salad bowl Banjo is still a work in progress - however I started concentrating more on the Hand drum/tambourine one - which is now finished.
Keni Lee - here's the link, glad i can do somethin in return, I have found lots of your YouTube vids very helpful with my CBG playing, aswell as entertaining.
(I'm not much of a Banjer so apologies in advance for the sloppy clawhammer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyRLpPcXCFI
Thanks for the kind words I have been scratching away at it for a few months now but it is getting close.
The guy with the brass plate sounded good as well, the thing with a real skin is it is a lot of work to tighten it and hold it tight. Keep at it you will find what works best for you. Cheers Ron.
Tracy Kennedy said:
Mungo -- That's a fine looking banjo you've got going there!
Ben said:
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