Its a bit smaller than the ones ive previously used. but should be O.K. Lets hope it survives the summer then i'll start building in the autumn.
In my old wooden cabin up in the hills of south east London I make banjos, canjos, cigarbox guitars and other things that go twang. Every instrument is fully hand made in the traditional way with a minimal use of power tools and usually using reclaimed timber (that way i can use exotic hard woods and sleep well at night). So if you are interested in buying a high quality unique instrument keep checking here or contact me if you would like to commission something. flatfootjohnny@hotmail.com
Sunday, 20 March 2011
home grown gourd
Here is my 1st home grown gourd, Currently drying out and looking pretty scary. Apparently its manky appearance is quite normal at this stage.
Its a bit smaller than the ones ive previously used. but should be O.K. Lets hope it survives the summer then i'll start building in the autumn.
Its a bit smaller than the ones ive previously used. but should be O.K. Lets hope it survives the summer then i'll start building in the autumn.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Grain measure banjo build
From the two vintage sieves i have made three banjo hoops and reinforced them so that the tight heads dont cause the pots to crack.
This is an image of a rolled steel reinforcing band which fits around the bottom of one of the pots. Its fastened together with copper rivets. This will be the same method i will use for making the tensioning hoop and they will both be soaked in salty water for a few weeks to corrode and age. Im thinking of making this banjo look antique and well used... inspired by a project by the banjo maker Dan Knowles (see the Banjo Hangout). Next is to find some timber for the necks - Two banjos will be G scale and one will be the shorter A scale, all fretless (one might have fret markers)
Two of the banjos will be tackheads and one will have hand made tensioners.
This is an image of a rolled steel reinforcing band which fits around the bottom of one of the pots. Its fastened together with copper rivets. This will be the same method i will use for making the tensioning hoop and they will both be soaked in salty water for a few weeks to corrode and age. Im thinking of making this banjo look antique and well used... inspired by a project by the banjo maker Dan Knowles (see the Banjo Hangout). Next is to find some timber for the necks - Two banjos will be G scale and one will be the shorter A scale, all fretless (one might have fret markers)
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
gourd banjo complete and new things begining
"Gourd on the Vine" is now complete and i will hopefully be getting some vids of it on Youtube soon.
I'm half way through building a steel guitar made form a Quality street tin. Its going to be four string with spun steel internal resonator inside. I've beaten out the lid to give it a domed back and to remove the heavily embossed Quality Street logo and Ive sanded off the paint and gone at it with a wire wheel to give it that antique steel guitar look (check out Kent Duchaines' "Lead Bessie"). The neck is Oak, with an Iroku fret plate.
I found this really great "Train Master" cigarbox and will be starting this once I get some more neck timber. I already have an idea in my head for some cool railway inspired carving.
I recently got very excited in an antique shop when i found these great antique wooden sieves. One is 9" diameter x 3.5" the other is 10" diameter x 5" and will make 3 fantastic grain measure banjos. Im especially excited about this because my 1 successfully grown gourd will probably take another 6 months or so to season (so long as it doesn't rot) and my recent attempts at bending some walnut for my next banjo ended in disaster and three lengths of wasted timber.
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