NEW GOURD BANJOS FOR 2011

Below are my newest gourd banjos I made this winter. They both are made of local maple for the necks, rosewood fingerboards, purple heart for the nuts, geared planetary tuners and strung with Nylgut nylon strings. The first banjo has soundholes in the front, bringing out the deeper tones and the second one has no sound holes. The first gourd banjo is for sale; all reasonable offers will be considered. I can custom design the back of the gourd for you.

FRONT OF BANJO #1

This shows the ring of small soundholes in the front of the gourd banjo -
a new design idea.

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BACK OF BANJO #1

A closeup of the pyrography on the gourd.

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TAILPIECE

An "L" shaped tailepiece with an extra hardwood wedge.

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SOUNDHOLES

I drilled small holes in the spruce tonewood, and after the goat skin was mounted and dried, I cut through the skin.

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Pyrography On the Gourd

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Another Closeup

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BELOW ARE PHOTOS OF MY LATEST GOURD BANJO

I'm keeping this banjo for myself. I just finished the pyrography art on it.

FRONT OF BANJO #2

Goat skin head glued onto gourd and spruce tonewood rim. No soundholes gives this banjo a brighter tone.

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TAILPIECE

This tailpiece design puts no pressure on the gourd. The teailpiece is mounted on a steel rod that goes through the gourd.

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BACK OF GOURD

I used pyrography on this detailed design of salamanders and leaves and insects.

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PEGHEAD

I mounted planetary geared tuners on this banjo.

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