Neck "kits" cheap

[Bell Banjos]

My Ebay Neck "kits," with fitted pegs, bridge, tailpiece, and nut are 10 dollars cheaper until April. I thought I'd throw that in for some folks who are curious builders. Search 'fretless banjo neck' on Ebay.

-Terry

[Bart McNeil]

How about this!! An unsolicited testimonial. I received one of your kits as a gift and put it together as my first minstral banjo. I play it daily. Had fun and it jogged my interest in building more minstral banjos so I am working on three more non-kit minstral banjos at the moment. The kit was a nice, close to fool-proof, way to get started.

[Bell Banjos]

Thanks Bart.

People from all over the world like these necks. And many of these folks in other countries are into American Civil War reenacting - something I didn't know.

[Bart McNeil]

Terry:

Just another note... I was trained as an artist with some sculpture (though not a whole lot of wood carving). Though I am trying to maintain a rather disceplined approach to building replicas I find my own aesthetic barging in all the time. I won't apologise for that though because so many folks in the 19th C. made their own instruments and were prone to putting in their own features according to their sense of aesthetics. resulting, as you know, in some pretty wild looking instruments... I luv 'em.

[Bell Banjos]

Well, we're a lot alike then, Bart. I was a professional artist for over 20 years, building instruments through the years too. But back when I was young I was kookie for banjos. The minstrel sound, the instrument, the history, and the MUSIC is all fascinating and the public loves it.

I like making Bouchers and Stichters. As for replicas, that's it. Most of the time players have their own ideas about the color and kind of wood and that's great. But I've made a ton of others of my own design, always with minstrels in mind. Gourds, buckets, bowls, whatever works for a rim, then I just let the knife and file do the rest. But I do love those Bouchers and "Henrys."

[Bart McNeil]

I discovered banjos a few years ago after a major health issue. So initially I got into instrument repair (mandolin, banjo-mandolin, and then banjo) as a kind of physical (and mental) therapy and have found that I really love working on them. I buy them cheap and repair or restore them so I have a nice collection of lower end stringed instruments, some with minor historical significance. If I become interested in a particular mandolin blues artist, for instance, I will watch ebay and buy the same brand and model instrument he used and restore or repair it. I regard myself as pretty competent at repairing  wooden instruments. I am currently finishing a Harmony Batwing like Yank Rachel owned and made famous. Someone sat on it and literally crushed it. A wonderfuil looking instrument.  Those are the ones I can afford... I have repaired (restored) a bunch of banjos and mandolins but this is my first experience with building from scratch and I am enjoying it.

[Bell Banjos]

Minstrel Banjos are great.

Speaking of health issues, find a way to bend the metal hoops without using your thumbs. My thumbs are in awful shape from doing that.

Also, stay away from Black Walnut. I knew it caused 'minor irritation' but it caused horrible lung problems which led to inhalers, er visits, oxygen, etc... and LOTS of wheezing. It's all gone now. And so is my stack of Black Walnut.

Bart McNeil said:

I discovered banjos a few years ago after a major health issue. So initially I got into instrument repair (mandolin, banjo-mandolin, and then banjo) as a kind of physical (and mental) therapy and have found that I really love working on them. I buy them cheap and repair or restore them so I have a nice collection of lower end stringed instruments, some with minor historical significance. If I become interested in a particular mandolin blues artist, for instance, I will watch ebay and buy the same brand and model instrument he used and restore or repair it. I regard myself as pretty competent at repairing  wooden instruments. I am currently finishing a Harmony Batwing like Yank Rachel owned and made famous. Someone sat on it and literally crushed it. A wonderfuil looking instrument.  Those are the ones I can afford... I have repaired (restored) a bunch of banjos and mandolins but this is my first experience with building from scratch and I am enjoying it.