For enthusiasts of early banjo

October 2009 Blog Posts (2)

beginnings ...

Work progresses on my minstrel banjo. My friend James Moffet made me a body out of Ash (I think). It's kind of out-of-round, so I decided instead of a hoop, I would make it a tackhead. I found a beautiful piece of poplar for the neck, got it all planed, marked, and my friend Shane is rough cutting it for me. Talked with a VIOLIN maker here in Fort Wayne. he said for $25 he would carve my tuning pegs and ream the holes for them so they would be good fits, imperative to friction tuners working… Continue

Added by Paul Neher on October 28, 2009 at 8:58am — No Comments

New Bean, Ordered a Tackhead, Now what?

I would like to learn to play it Minstrel style like you guyz be a doin.

What lesson books with C.D. or better yet D.V.Ds should I be a learnin' from. I have a good ear and been playing banjo more or less guitar style, but I jest hear songs and I can play them. I have played steel guitar and other git fiddles so i ain't afeared of finger pickin' or unlearning bad habits.

Am playin' my version of "Jim along Josie" as I say adieu, thanking you in advance for any hep you can… Continue

Added by Thomas Craven on October 13, 2009 at 11:06pm — No Comments