A Fretless Banjo Project - Make It Playable
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2020 3:42 am
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. )
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. )