New member

[Brian Welch]

I am a longtime fan of bluegrass and oldtime music, although I can't
play a lick. I tried to learn to play the mandolin about fifteen
years ago, but that didn’t quite work out. My fingers aren’t fast
enough to play bluegrass.

My main hobby is collecting, restoring, researching, and using 19th
century woodworking tools. No power tools in my shop. I have a
website containing some of my research on tool manufacturers of
central Massachusetts:
http://www.geocities.com/sawnutz/

I have two young daughters and one has expressed an interest in
getting a banjo. My first reaction to a request like that is, “I can
make one!!” (insert my wife rolling her eyes here).

I remembered that I had a copy of George Wunderlich’s appearance on
the Woodwright Shop with Roy Underhill in which he shows how to build
a Boucher banjo. I ended up watching it over and over. It was like
being struck by lightning. I liked the look of the banjo and the
simplicity of the construction. I liked the tunes he played on it and
the fact that it was low tension. My fingers always hurt after
playing the mandolin. The low tension gut strings seemed like
something that my kid (and me) might be able to pick up more quickly
and less painfully. And there are so many great songs from this era
that kids love (albeit with edited lyrics). So I knew almost
immediately that I had to build an old style banjo with my old tools.

Then I found the Banjo Clubhouse and this list, so here I am.

For practice, I built my daughter a kid's sized cookie-tin banjo:
http://tinyurl.com/3ph8uu

It plays, but it is hard to get it and keep it in tune. The pegs are
too close together, for one thing. I definitely learned a lot from my
mistakes. The kid is only 4, so she doesn't know the difference!

Now, I am in the process of building MY banjo--a reproduction of a
Boucher:
http://tinyurl.com/3esa6k

I just happen to work near banjo maker Jay Moschella, so we have had
lunch a few times to talk about banjo making. That has been very
helpful.

For now I just listen to lots of minstrel banjo tunes in an attempt to
reprogram my brain. Hopefully my fingers will follow. If I can get
the steam bending of the hoop done, it shouldn't take me too long to
finish it.

--Brian Welch

[RaiseTheHatchet]

sounds awesome, best of luck

[Carl Anderton]

Brian,

Welcome, it's great to have you here. I think you'll find your niche
in the minstrel style; it takes practice but it's "doable." It
doesn't require endless repetitive speed like the modern styles
(although it can be done that way if you so choose). Like ragtime,
minstrel banjo is quite satisfying at less than blinding speeds.

Thanks for the interesting introduction, it's better when we know
we're responding to a genuine person ;^}


Post often!

[David Miller]

Brian -

Likewise, welcome to our little group. I've got some specific info
that may help you with your project... contact me if you're
interested.

Dave Miller