During the Thanksgiving holiday, between travels and meals, I will start construction of my handmade minstrel banjo. Hopefully, this will turn out how I have it envisioned. Time will tell. The great challenges are many. First, this will be the first attempt at construction of any instrument, by myself. Secondly, carving the neck in some type of proper dimension will be task full. Third, will this thing play like a true banjo of the period.
I am excited about the whole process.
I will update my progress and outcomes.
11/27/07
So far, I have gathered my materials and have drawn out the neck. I did not get to work on the project, as I had hoped.
I am not quite sure of my design and dimensions, but I think they will work. I have been reading all that I can in this regard. I have chosen the Boucher design. The design, at the right,was created by William E. Boucher Jr. in the 1850's. I am adding my own elements because I really don't know what I am doing.
Nov 28, 2007
I had to buy more supplies. I can't figure out how to trim my hoop to fit the rim on it. I need to rout off about 1/4 inch. I will have to get a router bit. I am going to try cutting the neck this evening. I will post pictures.
Dec 3, 2007
I have made progress on the banjo. I have the neck carved and I am doing the finish sanding. The next step is finish sanding the rim. The neck is of curly maple and the rim is of three layers of maple. I will have to figure out how to drill the neck and rim to connect the two by and oak dowel. I will te have to rout the rim for the brass ring for the head.
Here are some photos of the materials and progress.
Some of the neck progress. Showing the head detail.
The rim before any sanding
Piece of Rosewood for the tail piece, before shaping.
The 12" solid brass rim.
The end of the neck.
More photos of the more finished neck to come...
I am excited about the whole process.
I will update my progress and outcomes.
11/27/07
So far, I have gathered my materials and have drawn out the neck. I did not get to work on the project, as I had hoped.
I am not quite sure of my design and dimensions, but I think they will work. I have been reading all that I can in this regard. I have chosen the Boucher design. The design, at the right,was created by William E. Boucher Jr. in the 1850's. I am adding my own elements because I really don't know what I am doing.
Nov 28, 2007
I had to buy more supplies. I can't figure out how to trim my hoop to fit the rim on it. I need to rout off about 1/4 inch. I will have to get a router bit. I am going to try cutting the neck this evening. I will post pictures.
Dec 3, 2007
I have made progress on the banjo. I have the neck carved and I am doing the finish sanding. The next step is finish sanding the rim. The neck is of curly maple and the rim is of three layers of maple. I will have to figure out how to drill the neck and rim to connect the two by and oak dowel. I will te have to rout the rim for the brass ring for the head.
Here are some photos of the materials and progress.
Some of the neck progress. Showing the head detail.
The rim before any sanding
Piece of Rosewood for the tail piece, before shaping.
The 12" solid brass rim.
The end of the neck.More photos of the more finished neck to come...
December 13
Myprojects always take too long. I have very little time to work on anything by myself. Demands abound!!
These are more finished pictures. I most recently drilled the neck to accomadate the dowel that will extend through the hoop. Tough to get that right. The other challenge is to carve the base of the neck to follow the contour of the hoop. I have done this, but not to my satisfaction. 
This is the only picture I have at this time. I will have to take others...
This is the only picture I have at this time. I will have to take others...
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