Comment

Comment by Jim Morris on February 19, 2014 at 2:27am

Glad this worked for you guys. I can't take full credit for this idea though. I saw a picture of an old banjo from the early 1900's that used an approach something like this. Can't seem to find that photo now. Hmmm... maybe I dreamed it!

Comment by Diane in Chicago on February 18, 2014 at 4:53pm

Yes, we owe it all to Mr. Morris!  I saw his pic, and that solved the 5th string problem, like you said.

Hope this instrument is out there making someone really happy!

Comment by Rand Moore on February 9, 2014 at 3:04pm

Hi Diane,

I've been "talking" with John Morris about this and following his advice, I have modified a cheap guitar tuner to function as my 5th string banjo tuner. It was easier than I thought. Thanks for your photo that put me on the right track. You needn't bother with responding. I have more info on Johns thread which you can get to via the link below.

-Rand.

Comment by Rand Moore on February 8, 2014 at 5:06pm

Hi Diane,

I came across the photo by Jim Morris (click here to see) and the discussion you had with him about how best to do. Seems he cuts down the shaft and drills in a new hole on the tuning machine. Since I don't have precision machines to do this, maybe I'll add a chunk of wood to the side of the neck so the tuner will fit. Probably will look ugly, so I'm thinking maybe to just do a standard neck and rout the 5th string along the side of the neck instead of under the fretboard as shown in this photo...(click here to see). I still need to shape the neck, so I'll be thinking about the problem a while longer before I decide.

-Rand.

Comment by Rand Moore on February 7, 2014 at 3:58pm

Hi Diane,

Just what I was looking for -- a photo detailing how to mount the 5th string using a regular (and cheap) open geared guitar tuner with a mid-shaft string hole. The plan for my "Reso Box Banjo" is to have a 22" VSL but that may change if I decide to thin down the depth of my headstock. The wood I'm using is a dark heavy hardwood, maybe hickory, I don't know. It's fairly difficult to work with with hand tools, but the dimensions of the wood are ideal for a 5 string instrument. Will try my hand at shaping it with a spoke shave over the next few days.

As usual, your work is quite beautiful. I think I'll download a copy of this photo.

-Rand.

Comment by Diane in Chicago on June 12, 2013 at 8:54am

As the days have gone by, the 5th string is cutting into the wood at the hole there.  You could put another tiny piece of fretwire there to prevent that, or drill the hole so it is right behind the fret, and position the tuner accordingly.

Live and learn.

Comment by Jim Morris on June 9, 2013 at 1:11pm

Yup Diane. After getting bloody fingers from the bit catching in the metal one time I made a jig to hold the tuner for me while drilling. It helps to punch a little indentation in the shaft so the bit won't wander.

Comment by Diane in Chicago on June 9, 2013 at 1:01pm

Jim, it was hell to drill the new hole in the tuner shaft!  I had to fall back on a metalworking genius friend, who did it in about 30 seconds and made me feel very inept!

Comment by Jim Morris on June 9, 2013 at 12:59pm

Yeah Diane! That looks great!