A Fretless Banjo Project - Make It Playable

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Indeterminacy
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A Fretless Banjo Project - Make It Playable

Post by Indeterminacy »

This one has finally made it off the wall and onto my bench. 26 years later.
I found it at a flea market in the Piedmont region of North Carolina in '94.
The guy I bought it from was heavy set and had a tattoo of a happy Buddha playing a banjo.

"Bottom end jobber banjo, possibly by Buckbee or another New York factory. 1890s-1920s. Banjos like this were often advertised as toys." - Is the response I received on a Banjo Forum about the possible origin of this banjo.

The rim is 10" by 2.25" deep, the neck is 19.25", and the head stock is 4.875" long.
There are no decernable marks, stamps or identifition any where I can see.

Aim is to gently remove the rust and preserve the patina.
Repair where necessary.
Fabricate tailpiece, bridge and tuning pegs.
Mount a new head.
Install new strings.

( Image dump to come. )
image.jpg
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Re: A Fretless Banjo Project - Make It Playable

Post by crochambeau »

Indeterminacy wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 3:42 am Image
I cannot look at that image and divorce myself from the notion of using a speaker to fill that hole.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
When in doubt, add resistance.

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Re: A Fretless Banjo Project - Make It Playable

Post by NoiseWiki »

crochambeau wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 7:34 am
Indeterminacy wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 3:42 am Image
I cannot look at that image and divorce myself from the notion of using a speaker to fill that hole.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
am-banjo-speaker-body-1566x918.jpg
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Re: A Fretless Banjo Project - Make It Playable

Post by Pigswill »

We can go further
death-banjo.png
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