Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

 On the only 2 banjos Ive had,, and actually seen {in person} the Carvers had a tapered spike,  but were not "locked in" with a wedge or screws.   Seem like the pics I see of others are.

Ive got it in my mind to build one ,and wondering whats the best way. Not asking for trade secrets , just ideas

 Thanks

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It doesn't need the lock, the strings pulling from the tailpiece is plenty enough force to lock it. BUT the dowel at the end must come out round, it is a square dowel but reshaped to hold the end of the gourd from caving in - the first sign of this is wrinkles in the skin. So have your dowel go in square then 'butt' up against the inside of the back gourd wall and come out through a round hole as a round dowel.

Aha - Thanks for that useful bit of information, Terry . Wish I'd thought of that before I made the gourd last year. Basic physics I guess. I only ended up with a couple of small wrinkles and it still seems to play OK, but next time...

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