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BanjoCraft

5 String Open Back Banjo Making

  • About
  • Banjo Plans
    • Early Considerations
    • Banjo Scale Length
    • Banjo Rim Planning
    • Banjo Neck Planning
    • Banjo Dowel Stick
    • Best Woods for Banjo Building
  • Banjo Parts
    • Banjo Hardware & Parts Introduction
    • Banjo Head Basics
    • Banjo Tone Ring Basics Explained
    • Banjo Tailpiece & Tension Hoop
  • Banjo Neck Building
    • How to Make a Banjo Neck Step-By-Step
    • Neck Blank Preparation
    • Side Profile Pattern
    • Reinforcement
    • Dowel Stick Hole
    • Making a Fingerboard
    • Adding Ears and Peghead
    • Heel Radius Cutting Jig
    • Tension Hoop Rabbet
    • Peghead Layout
    • Front Profile Layout
    • Completing the Peghead
    • Carving
    • Fifth Peg Hole, Pip Hole, & Scoop
    • Inlay: Brief Intro
    • Banjo Fretwork
  • Banjo Rim Making
    • Banjo Rim Making
    • Banjo Rim Bending
    • Banjo Rim Forming
    • Banjo Rim Cap
    • Banjo Rim Lathe Work
    • Cutting the Banjo Rim’s Dowel Stick Hole
    • Drilling the Shoe Bolt and End Pin Holes
  • Dowel Stick
    • Banjo Dowel Stick Making
    • Joining the Dowel Stick to the Neck
    • Set Up
      • Nut, Pip, & Bridge
      • Banjo Intonation
      • Scale Length & Responsiveness
      • Behavior of a String
      • Finishing

Author: Robert Browder

Patterns, Jigs, and FormsLeave a comment
Banjo Neck Side Profile Pattern

How to Make a Banjo Neck Pattern – Side Profile

April 20, 2018October 28, 2018 Robert Browder

This pattern can be made from thin material, like plexi-glass, thin plywood, or even cardboard. More durable materials will provide a longer useful life. This pattern is intended to be used with a traditional dowel stick design. Step By Step … Continue reading How to Make a Banjo Neck Pattern – Side Profile

Banjo Neck, gourd banjos2 Comments
The back side of a banjo peghead with the friction pegs removed.

Banjo Friction Pegs – What are they and how do they work?

April 1, 2018October 28, 2018 Robert Browder

Banjo friction pegs were used to tune the instrument in its earlier days. As steel strings became more popular and machining techniques improved, friction pegs gave way to machine tuners. Today we still see friction pegs used on violins and … Continue reading Banjo Friction Pegs – What are they and how do they work?

gourd banjosLeave a comment
Superficially attaching the head to the gourd.

Gourd Banjo: Mounting the Head

July 24, 2016October 28, 2018 Robert Browder

Gourd banjo heads are typically made from natural animal hides. Goat and calf hides are the most favored and easiest to come by. Mounting a natural hide head is fairly simple, but does require some time and hand strength. The … Continue reading Gourd Banjo: Mounting the Head

Early Considerations, gourd banjosLeave a comment
Labeled image of gourd banjo.

Parts of the Gourd Banjo

December 9, 2015October 28, 2018 Robert Browder

The Peghead of a gourd banjo gives the strings something to anchor to. It needs to be big enough and sturdy enough to accommodate the working of the tuning pegs. The Tuning Pegs I use with gourd banjos are friction … Continue reading Parts of the Gourd Banjo

Early ConsiderationsLeave a comment
Cover of the BanjoCraft printed book

Buy the Book!

August 10, 2015October 28, 2018 Robert Browder

The majority of the information found on this website is also available in paperback book format. The BanjoCraft book is a brief look at banjo making in the small shop. This book is intended to be accessible to banjo people … Continue reading Buy the Book!

© 2015 Robert Browder
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