This openback banjo is made from local Mississippi hardwoods Cherry and Poplar. The rim is a block style rim but instead of combined small blocks each layer is made from two solid pieces of cherry. This is a deeper rim for a deeper more rounded out tone. Topped with a flat brass tonering instead of a rolled one this banjo has plenty of punch. Accenting the notes instead of the strums. It has a 14 brackets on a grooved tension hoop with a renaissance head and no-knot tailpeice. All nickel parts and hardware have been treated for an antique finish. Rim is capped with poplar.
The neck is also cherry with a laminated poplar stripe and a slotted headstock. The neck features a fretted rosewood fretboard, frailing scoop, non-adjustable truss rod, star inlays, gearedblack tuners and side position markers. I wanted to try something different after seeing several banjos lately with 5th string pip and tuner moved up to different locations on the neck, so i decided to give it a try. Im pleased with the results and im in the process of building myself a tubaphone that i think i will do the exact same way. Anyways, what i did was to move it up one fret to the sixth fret. Basically making it more comfortable to play in the first five frets. Thats where most openback players play anyway. Also it makes the 5th ring less shap in general. Which is also a good thing in my opinion. I also moved the inlay up to the sixth also to make it less confusing and pleasing to the eye , but the side position markers remain the same. As i said im pleased with the results and its a great feeling neck.
The neck and rim are combined with dowel stick construction and a wedge brace for a sturdier better sounding banjo. The bridge is cherry topped with rosewood and the rim, neck and bridge are made from the same boards. While ive made several banjos and done many instrument repairs i still consider myself new at this. But this is a good solid playing banjo that will last many lifetimes. I will post a sound file in the next day or so.
Thanks JR
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