The banjo neck heel radius is a subtle detail that makes all the difference. Nearly all stringed instruments have the neck attached at an angle. Fiddles, cellos, guitars, and yes, even banjos have a small angle built into the neck/body joint. This small angle allows for adjustment to take place.Continue Reading
Be very sure of your measurements before you drill this hole. It may be helpful to look back at the Dowel Stick post. The dowel stick hole can be drilled either before or after the neck has had its radius cut. It is typically drilled using a jig with theContinue Reading
When making a banjo fingerboard I ask myself two questions. What kind of material will the fingerboard be made from? Will it have frets? There are lots of options for fingerboard materials. Ebony is the traditional material of choice for fingerboards. Rosewood is a popular choice as well. There areContinue Reading
In the case that the peghead surface of the neck blank is less than 3″ wide, put some ears on the peghead to make it a little wider. The ears are small pieces of wood that are the length of the peghead, the thickness of the peghead, and as wideContinue Reading
Banjo neck reinforcement makes long-term stability and playability much more likely. There are different ways to reinforce a banjo neck. I use 1/8″ thick by 1/2″ wide hot rolled steel bar stock to reinforce my necks. It can be found at most hardware stores. Some builders prefer to use trussContinue Reading
In its most basic representation the banjo neck side profile pattern consists of three rectangles; one for the peghead, one for the neck, and one for the heel. The scale length of the instrument determines how long the neck should be. If you haven’t thought about the scale length ofContinue Reading
Banjo neck blank preparation begins with the choice of suitable wood. Take a good long look at your lumber before you begin. Hold it. Tap it. Think it over a little. Look down the length of the board and try to identify any warps or irregularities. Look across the boardContinue Reading
Scale length is the length of the string from the nut to the bridge. This is the active part of the string that vibrates when struck. Scale length measurements do not include string ends above the nut and below the bridge. Generally, a longer scale length means a greater distanceContinue Reading