by "zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
Published 05/15/2017 at 08:00
by "zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
Published 05/15/2017 at 08:00
Tags: Musiclopnik
STARS: 5
My father-in-law and I are making/assembling a custom mastertone Banjo for me. We bought the pieces and are putting them together, despite numerous mishaps and errors. One more trip over to their house and it “should” be done.
This is where we left off yesterday. As of now, we need to attach the resonator on the back, hopefully receive the correct tailpiece to replace what is currently there, insert the hobby railroad spikes for the drone string capo, and cut the grooves into the nut and bridge for the strings.
The bridge (the black thing on the drum head) is graphite, which should be interesting. The clear drum head has been on back order so I’m not holding my breath on that part any time soon.
Naturally I wanted a 5 string Banjo. The drone string is really useful. Plus I’m having hobby railroad spikes put in to act as a natural capo for the drone string (you don’t ever directly fret the drone string really). I do want to mess around with a 4 string later in the future, because it’s the same as a tenor guitar.
The wood was stained with tung oil, something I did myself.
Dad had some extra hand rests lying around, so I picked one that seemed to set the mood for the banjo.
I’m really eager to play this Banjo! Can’t wait to head out there again to finish it. I think this was the third trip, but it’s turning out quite nice.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
05/15/2017 at 08:12, STARS: 1
can you play duelling banjos for us when it’s done?
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
05/15/2017 at 08:26, STARS: 0
Ha, I can try to learn it if I got the tabs for it.
"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
05/15/2017 at 08:56, STARS: 1
It is nice to see progress on this. Do you listen to or play any Folk Punk?
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
05/15/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 0
I do enjoy folk punk, and punk is one of my major influences when I play bass guitar.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/15/2017 at 09:11, STARS: 1
That’s awesome. I just bought a new trumpet on Saturday. Can’t say I built it, though. Can you tell me more about the drone string? I’ve seen that peg on banjos before but never knew what it was.
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
05/15/2017 at 09:33, STARS: 0
I have a [free] cornet coming my way, I just have to pick it up, :). The drone string is a note that pretty much never changes while playing. For the banjo, it’s a high G. If you listen closely to a Banjo playing, there tends to be the same note played amongst the different chords. Another good example is the bagpipes, which has a drone note as well. When you play it, there’s always a second note playing.
For the banjo, when I play G, C or D chord, I’ll always play that high G, so it’s the same note between all three chords. I play the finger picking style, I don’t strum, i play each string individually.