Search:

I don't think any kind of patent or trademark would be necessary. I intend to build some of these from time to time, but my instruments will never be available commercially unless I were to license a...

To give you a little more background on 74982, I bought it from a 74 (then) year old gentleman who had inherited it from his father. Gene has since passed on, but the story he related to me was that...

Here's a slide show on you tube with Keith playing the instrument.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Xf8lVp0RQ

Banjophobic

I made a You Tube slideshow that you can watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Xf8lVp0RQ

Banjophobic

Thanks ...... Here are the files.

The instrument sounds better than this. The recording adds a degree of murkiness.

I don't know the names of the tunes. Keith told me, but I forget what they...

Thanks all ..... I don't know that Doc will pick it, but he may get inspired. He has Dan Tyminski's "Wood and Steel" CD and loves it, so there's hope.

I have some sound files, recorded in wma...

Glad you all approve... Yes, I am a luthier by trade, primarily banjos, but if you check out the thread in the buiders and repair section, you'll see my first violin hanging on the wall as well. The...

I appreciate the compliment very much. Thank you. This instrument sounds so good I can't put it down.

My dentist wants to buy a piece of my artwork and I suggested this instrument. I need to...

I can't tell you how thrilled I am with the sound of this instrument. It's performing beautifully, even though It's only been strung up for 3 hours, and the strings are comprised of 2 tenor banjo...

My "day job" is full time banjo builder. I created those inlays myself. They're inspired by the old Vega banjo inlays, but in a slightly different setting ;)

The only parts of this instrument that...

I think it sounds pretty darned good for a brand new mandolin. We'll see what Keith thinks tomorrow. He was at a jam in WV when I got it done at 10:30. It needs set up better, but I've had it for...

Yep ... Same Keith. I'm in Greensboro, Pa and he lives about a half a mile from me.

Setting it up .... 1st and 4th strings are installed ... and I plod on.

Banjophobic

All of the Heavy lifting" on this project is done. Today, I fitted and finished the riser block, finally cleaned that engraving up to the point of "passable". There are a couple places I still don't...

I have glued the neck in place, and spent the better part of the night making a tailpiece out of a german silver serving dish :)) It's not done yet, and is perhaps a bit self indulgent, but I like...

HI ...

Joe Vest...Thanks for your compliment. I hope things are going well for you down there.

Let's see .... The conversion varnish I use is made by M L Campbell, in Canada, and is a high...

Just one picture for tonight. The caption should read "why I haven't bought and used lacquer for 7 years". This had the last of 5 coats of finish sprayed on it 5 hours ago. I just finished...

Glad you like it. It's a bit of an "American Sampler", having turn of the century rope trim on a ca 1940 design, but I chose that because it's primarily composition and bends very easily. I could...

I decided to go ahead and sand the finish and apply 2 more coats. I also added my name to the headstock. While it's a terrible picture, the fretboard inlays are starting to look better.

This...

Last entry for tonight...

I have scraped the binding and marquetry and sprayed 2 coats of conversion varnish on the body. A good bit of this will be sanded off next, and maybe 2 more coats will do...

First coat of finish on the body. I'll scrape the bindings and marquetry and shoot another coat tonight. I've still not achieved the level of perfection that I expect where the inlay is concerned,...

When carving an instrument top and back ... lighting is everything. I love my little "Ott" light. I can position it to best utilize shadows when finalizing the recurve and sanding the body. It will...

I did manage to trim out the top last night, but it was so late that I didn't take any more pictures. I left the top a bit heavy at the shoulders and at the lower edge, and the recurve will be...

I think it would be easier for a builder who doesn't do inlay to figure out how to charge for the torch and wire ... because you can easily find out how much custom inlay would charge you for the...

The dovetail joint needs tweaked ever so slightly. The neck is listing to the treble side a wee bit. Not a problem. I'll make the revision and glue the neck into the dovetail after the top is trimmed...

My recent foray into mandolin building has leanings toward commercial viability ... eventually, and maybe...but certainly not in the immediate future. I don't care if I sell any of them right now....