Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Parts

I have just completed another stage in my journey to building a banjo. Well, technically rebuilding.

Phase 1: Order banjo *check*

Phase 2: Order parts *check*

Phase 3: Document the repair (no check)

SP 1: Dismantle Banjo
SP 2: Clean all existing Parts
SP 3: Replace old parts with new parts
SSP 1: Change tuners
SSP 2: Change Head
SSP 3: Change Tailpiece
SSP 4: Replace bad nut
SSP 4.5: Change Bridge
SSP 5: Change Strings
SP 4: Documentation

Phase 4: presentation

Ok, So phase 3 has yet to come. But I did buy all my parts last night. Elderly hasnt shipped out my stuff yet, but I think Janet Davis music has started sending my mute.

things bought:

1 Waverly Tailpiece
1 11" remo weather king with frosted white top, 5/8ths" crown
3 sets of Vega tenor Strings
1 set of 4 grover perma tension pegs
1 replacement hex nut
1 grover banjo bridge with inserts
1 Copy of Harry Reser's 1927 Banjo learning guide
1 endstring mute

Monday, February 19, 2007

Course of Action

Hm, Lets see. I know I ought to order parts now, but for now, I'm going to tell you my plans.

1. Order Parts
2. When Parts arrive, disassemble the banjo
3. Clean all parts, and make necessary changes
4. Photodocument everything
5. Create a presentation

Sunday, February 4, 2007

it's Here!

So it is finally here! I'm just late in posting this. So It arrived in the mail last monday. Jan 29, 2007 fresh from Oklahoma. I had no idea when it would get here and by 4:30 I was kinda worried that it would never come. But when that UPS truck rolled by, I was excited. This was one of the first things I have ever bought on ebay for my sole pleasure and By dinner time, I had it cleaned and ready. Of course, It's not ever ready. So lets begin.

Image one: That's my mandolin Ethel next to the Tenor Banjo. They both have those gibsonesque head stocks which I like alot, but the tenor's veneer was starting to come off. So I might get someone to fix that up a bit. But looking it over, it's quite nice.

Image two: Yes that is my leg before you ask. It came with a stock POS tailpiece with a useless top design thingy. Obviously, I am going to change this. And furthermore, I decided on Waverly for my tailpiece. The one thing I dislike is the resonator. The only way to mount it, is to screw it onto the lugs. Which is a pain. And another thing. The screws suck. The one closest to the tailpiece requires an even bigger screw of which, I have none. So there's a multitude of problems. And this one certainly is a fixer upper.

Image three:
Headstock, As I said. Gibsonesque. Since it's blank, I probably ought to take the opportunity to find a gibson logo and screen it on. That would be awesome. But I gotta find it fast before I change the tuners.


And a curly maple resonator. Which Is a nice thing about it.

Specifications:

Head size(Diameter): 11"
Crown: 3/4"
Bridge: Stock shit: 1/2 inch
Frets: 19 block
tailpiece: stock shit: Resembles Model A type
Armrest: Cheap with veneer
head: n/a
tuners: Open back gear
Pot: Curly Pressed maple
Neck rod: Single tension
Overall height: 36"
Lugs: 30
hooks: Flat
Tone ring: unknown currently

Wait for more pictures of it disassembled!