Started by Sebastian Mueller. Last reply by Sebastian Mueller Sep 15, 2018. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Hello fellow banjo playersI just finished my first musical instrument. A banjo with a skateboard fretboard and a tambourine as a resonator. I have never build an instrument before. Nor can I play…Continue
Started by Brian Revels. Last reply by Brian Revels Mar 3, 2017. 2 Replies 0 Likes
So... I have been building handmade musical instruments for about 2½ years, or so, now. I primarily build Cigar Box Guitars ( 2, 3, and 4 stringers), as well as some Diddley Bows (up to around 50+…Continue
Started by Iain T.S.. Last reply by turtlehead Aug 23, 2016. 1 Reply 1 Like
hey,I have been making strinnged instruments with a round body, 1-3 strings and a fretless neck, one played with slide, one with slide or fingers and an (upright) bass thats "fretted" with fingers…Continue
Started by egyptpunk Aug 4, 2016. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Hi everyone! I'm thinking about purchasing some of these laser cut bridges from C.B. Gitty, and was wondering if anyone has any feedback on them, particularly the maple ones if anyone has experience…Continue
Comment
Yeah Rand, there's no noticeable smell from the correct plastic. Still you could melt a hole through the plastic if the heat's too high. Mike Gregory on Banjo Hangout uses epoxy to hold the plastic in place. Haven't tried that yet but it should work as long as the heat doesn't cause the epoxy to release. I've got a couple of gigs this weekend so might not get back in the shop for a few days. I'm looking forward to more experiments since free materals and re-using things is where it's at for me.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the update. Sounds like a cool technique. So, I should try it on low heat first, and outside rather than inside especially when experimenting with unknown plastics until we know how they react. Anything smelly probably is putting out unhealthy chemical vapors and should not be done in an enclosed space. Good safety tip. Hopefully all the type 1 recyclable plastics shrink without releasing sizable amounts of unhealthy vapors. I'll take a trip over to Banjo Hangout and see if I can read more about the technique.
-Rand.
Hey Rand and anyone else reading about shrinking plastic for a banjo head, I'm afraid I mis-spoke about the type of plastic. It should have read "pete or peta 1" in the recycle triangle. Hope nobody got overcome by fumes but if you use soda bottles they clearly have a 1 in the triangle. I'll post more on this experiment as it progresses.
I should mention that I got this idea from Mike Gregory at Banjo Hangout who makes some cool little banjos he call Squared Eels and also has a method of wrapping packing tape around a box for a banjo head. Check him out for some interesting ideas.
yeah, I was in a rush to pick up my grandson and didn't go into as much detail as I should have. The peta 3 symbol is what to look for. It's on soda bottles as well as many other plastic containers. This type plastic shrinks when heated- I used a heat gun set on low. I think I'll do a video of the next experiment so folks can get a better idea of this cool use for stuff that often goes into landfills. For the salad bowl I used some plastic packaging from my grandson's toy truck that didn't have any symbols but worked just fine. If you're not sure about the plastic try it on a small piece with good ventilation as some plastics don't shrink but do give off harmful vapors.
Hi Jim,
Tell us more... You took an old soda bottle an made a banjo head out of it? If so, how did you do it? A detailed build write-up with photos would be great if you have the time.
-Rand.
Hi All,
I just wanted to bring your attention to a mountain banjo that ChickenboneJohn made for Hollowbelly. You can see it and some build photos at this link. Enjoy.
-Rand.
Here's the photo of my 4-string Reso-Box Banjo.
I've been playing it tuned a-D-A-d and it sounds good and loud. The short 4th string is tuned re-entrantly so I can practice claw-hammer style banjo playing on it. I also color coded the frets so I could more easily find my diatonic frets and thereby be able to play all my old dulcimer tunes. So, this 4-stringer is kind of a cross between a 3-string stick dulcimer and a 5-string banjo. I like these metal-resonator instruments, so I'm planning to build some more.
Started by Sebastian Mueller. Last reply by Sebastian Mueller Sep 15, 2018. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by Brian Revels. Last reply by Brian Revels Mar 3, 2017. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Iain T.S.. Last reply by turtlehead Aug 23, 2016. 1 Reply 1 Like
Started by Wade. Last reply by Jim Morris Mar 12, 2016. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Noam Berg. Last reply by Rand Moore Apr 4, 2014. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by turtlehead Feb 13, 2014. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Rand Moore Nov 6, 2013. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Matt Quinney. Last reply by Rand Moore Oct 11, 2013. 33 Replies 1 Like
Started by JIm Trussler. Last reply by Gerald Readore Aug 22, 2012. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Rand Moore Jul 28, 2012. 27 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Ryan Rose Feb 4, 2012. 10 Replies 1 Like
Started by Matthew Borczon. Last reply by Matthew Borczon Jan 15, 2012. 2 Replies 1 Like
Started by Gary Davis. Last reply by Matthew Borczon Jan 12, 2012. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by John Hopper. Last reply by Rand Moore Nov 30, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by John Hopper. Last reply by Rand Moore Nov 27, 2011. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by DonnieC. Last reply by Mark Bliss Sep 28, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by Mark Bliss. Last reply by Mark Bliss Sep 10, 2011. 4 Replies 1 Like
Started by Kyle. Last reply by Mark Bliss Sep 4, 2011. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
June 1, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Orion Amphitheater
0 Comments 0 LikesJune 2, 2024 from 11am to 1pm – BeeZr Gastropub
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!
You need to be a member of Banjo Players Unite! to add comments!