I know I'm late to this party, but were any other materials used for the body of the banjo in the 18th century? Would any have been made with an octagonal wood body or similar? I am into 18th century history and to be able to make something similar to that time period would have me tickled pink.
I'm sure they did build them using other materials; however, we don't currently have any evidence for that until the 1830s. Sometime in the 1830s, Joel Sweeney got famous playing a banjo made with a wooden drum shell. And immediately after that, the gourd banjo all but disappears.
The sound of that banjo is really interesting, very cool. It sounds almost like you’ve put a compressor on it and recorded with a completely different mic than the one I hear you talking on.
I'm never gonna get a thing done if can't stop sitting around and listening to you. 😁 ❤❤ You could cut a banjo out of a roll of roilet paper and a water hose. So cool
Nice work! That is sweet! I have some gourds set aside to make some banjos with, haven't gotten around to building yet... We moved to a new farm in November, no shop space at the moment. Plan on growing a patch of gourds this year in the garden. Thanks for posting what you do!!
I am amazed by your banjos and your skill at playing them, but honestly I am an even bigger fan of your singing. I rewind your videos at least twice to hear you singing in the beginning of them. You sound simply amazing. I would definitely not change the radio station if I heard you on it.
@@CliftonHicksbanjo Your singing is most definitely not sub-par. Remember, we are often our own worst critics. If you want to hear some sub-par singing check out my channel lol.
I am loving these interments I am building a contrabass canjo as my first experimental musical instrument. I hope to learn cigar box build guitars and gourd banjos.
Really nice. I would love to own one like that, although the high action does seem pretty daunting, My next instrument will definitely be a gourd fretless. Can't wait. Great work on your part. Keen to see how the wooden pegs work out instead of tacks on the next one.
Much better tone on this gourd banjo than#1. In fact the older type with the thinner pots of gourd or wood have much better tone than the modern types with a massive thick pot and am those metal brackets.To me, they usually sound twangy, instead of mellow. My opinion.
You’ve got pretty high string height, even as far up as the 5th fret. I know you’ve built offset neck heels to raise up the heel end of fretboard and get a more moderate neck angle, so I’m assuming this choice was also a matter of authenticity? Perhaps an 18th century, rural, perhaps enslaved banjo builder may not have had the tools to engineer a particular neck height, and may have just gone with the geometry the gourd shape offered him?
Even my wife, who is not a banjo fan thinks this has great tone. She was once the road manager for a professional jazz band and she was noted for having an uncanny ear for pitch perfect tuning.You have a winner there ,Clif.
O yeah, that was a crazy-sounding banjo for some reason. All the gourds, really, when made right sound amazing. My first gourd banjo didn't sound like much, but as I make more the sounds are turning out beautifully.
I love what you came up with from your project. I especially like that th peghead is flat and level with the fingerboard. This makes the neck part of the job so much simpler. This is the reason however why the action up the neck is so high. But guessing the early people did not play higher than the 5th position. The sound of the instrument is lovely. It has an antique look. What kind of gourd is it? Looks pretty small.
Man - getting some major Guthrie vibes from that song and your voice. Good stuff! Just ordered some "bushel" gourd seeds for some gourd instrument projects, but I'm curious what variety you used for that banjo? Thanks again!
That was gourd seed from a neighbor. They were some kind of hardshell crookneck. Now I like to use "Martin" gourds, which are a very old type. This year we're growing "African Drum " gourds.
Absolutely beautiful! Love the antique finish (that in itself is as much an art as actually playing the instrument). I've watched your video on attaching the hide, but am curious on these gourd banjos if you glue blocks/strips around the cut out to nail into when affixing the hide or is the hide simply tacked into the gourd only? And do you do anything to "harden" the gourd? Thanks and do keep bringing us these awesome instruments!
J, I have seen other builders glue hardwood binding strips inside the gourd to strengthen the opening where the hide sits, but I have not done that. To "strengthen" the gourd one might try coating it inside-and-out with shellac (as was often done historically on gourd canteens &c.) but I didn't do this either. The convex walls of a good mature hardshell gourd are surprisingly strong on their own. All I did here (after staining with black walnut dye) was thoroughly coat all surfaces of gourd and neck with the same mixture of hemp oil and beeswax that I use on all my projects.
I tried emailing you on Bandcamp, but it never worked. So I'll ask my question here. I've built 4 tack head banjos and am about to start on my first gourd banjo. My first banjo I used twig tuning pegs from my live oak tree and couldn't get the g string to stay put so I in desperation put a tiny bolt through it. I see that your peg G string tuner is just like the rest. What are the dimensions of your neck at that peg? I use red oak for my necks to and often stain with raw black walnut hulls just rubbed on the wood. Thanks, Bart
I don't. The most I've ever done is shellac the outside a few times and also shelac inside around the sound hole neck hole where moisture might come in &c.
@@CliftonHicksbanjo the one cedric watson plays on his version of darlin corey has this primitive frailing scoop that solves the action issue, but that's not historically accurate is it?
I know I'm late to this party, but were any other materials used for the body of the banjo in the 18th century? Would any have been made with an octagonal wood body or similar? I am into 18th century history and to be able to make something similar to that time period would have me tickled pink.
I'm sure they did build them using other materials; however, we don't currently have any evidence for that until the 1830s. Sometime in the 1830s, Joel Sweeney got famous playing a banjo made with a wooden drum shell. And immediately after that, the gourd banjo all but disappears.
I have been watching your videos in hopes of building a gourd banjo and I have an Apple gourd the wood and most of the tools
What a lovely sounding instrument. You know it's a proper gourd banjo when you can feel the essence of the gourd. It's just got that feeling.
The sound of that banjo is really interesting, very cool. It sounds almost like you’ve put a compressor on it and recorded with a completely different mic than the one I hear you talking on.
Dude !! You rock, you cease to amaze me..
That does sound nice. I do love the sound of those gourd banjos.
Awesome. So is that gourd banjo.
I just love all of your videos man
That's a beautiful looking banjo, and it sounds great also !...
It's got such a gentle sound. I love it.
Man, that sounds great! Wish you lived next door-would love to sit and jam!
Awesome sound like the whole message too.🇦🇺
If you're interested in the banjo and its history consider supporting this project at Patreon.com/CliftonHicks
Thanks for keeping it alive great job an nice Sounds 👍
Love the history that comes with your videos , great looking hand made piece of history . Many thanks Clifton ...
If you didn't sell this banjo, look up "The Townsends" on RUclips. He focuses on 17th Century living. He might be interested in it.
I'm never gonna get a thing done if can't stop sitting around and listening to you. 😁 ❤❤ You could cut a banjo out of a roll of roilet paper and a water hose. So cool
God Bless you and the work that you are putting into this project, Clif... Be well.
Your work has progressed quite nicely
Sounds and looks great!!!👍👍
Nice work! That is sweet! I have some gourds set aside to make some banjos with, haven't gotten around to building yet... We moved to a new farm in November, no shop space at the moment. Plan on growing a patch of gourds this year in the garden. Thanks for posting what you do!!
Sounds great and looks super cool!!
now that is amazing 10/10. much respect Maestro
I am amazed by your banjos and your skill at playing them, but honestly I am an even bigger fan of your singing. I rewind your videos at least twice to hear you singing in the beginning of them. You sound simply amazing. I would definitely not change the radio station if I heard you on it.
Thanks a lot. I sometimes worry that my singing is sub-par but I have to sing out all the same.
@@CliftonHicksbanjo Your singing is most definitely not sub-par. Remember, we are often our own worst critics. If you want to hear some sub-par singing check out my channel lol.
I am loving these interments
I am building a contrabass canjo as my first experimental musical instrument. I hope to learn cigar box build guitars and gourd banjos.
Really nice. I would love to own one like that, although the high action does seem pretty daunting, My next instrument will definitely be a gourd fretless. Can't wait. Great work on your part. Keen to see how the wooden pegs work out instead of tacks on the next one.
Here's one of Ross' using the wooden pegs instead of tacks: www.banjopete.com/old-plantation-banjo.html
Gorgeous banjo, Clifton. Very sorry I missed this vid earlier. This is too cool, I love the primitive look.
Much better tone on this gourd banjo than#1. In fact the older type with the thinner pots of gourd or wood have much better tone than the modern types with a massive thick pot and am those metal brackets.To me, they usually sound twangy, instead of mellow. My opinion.
Thanks for the history!
You’ve got pretty high string height, even as far up as the 5th fret. I know you’ve built offset neck heels to raise up the heel end of fretboard and get a more moderate neck angle, so I’m assuming this choice was also a matter of authenticity? Perhaps an 18th century, rural, perhaps enslaved banjo builder may not have had the tools to engineer a particular neck height, and may have just gone with the geometry the gourd shape offered him?
All of the early gourd banjos that still survive have actions that would be considered "unplayable" by a modern luthier. VERY high action.
I am a VERY POOR LADY. I can't afford to join and subscribe....and I really do enjoy your fiddle pickin. Guess I am lucky to be able to listen all.
Nice! You've earned a Free pass to Heaven ✨Thank you!
Even my wife, who is not a banjo fan thinks this has great tone. She was once the road manager for a professional jazz band and she was noted for having an uncanny ear for pitch perfect tuning.You have a winner there ,Clif.
O yeah, that was a crazy-sounding banjo for some reason. All the gourds, really, when made right sound amazing. My first gourd banjo didn't sound like much, but as I make more the sounds are turning out beautifully.
I love what you came up with from your project. I especially like that th peghead is flat and level with the fingerboard. This makes the neck part of the job so much simpler. This is the reason however why the action up the neck is so high. But guessing the early people did not play higher than the 5th position. The sound of the instrument is lovely. It has an antique look. What kind of gourd is it? Looks pretty small.
Man - getting some major Guthrie vibes from that song and your voice. Good stuff!
Just ordered some "bushel" gourd seeds for some gourd instrument projects, but I'm curious what variety you used for that banjo? Thanks again!
That was gourd seed from a neighbor. They were some kind of hardshell crookneck. Now I like to use "Martin" gourds, which are a very old type. This year we're growing "African Drum " gourds.
Damn that sound is good.
I've only seen one really old one, and the hide was laced on with rawhide lace. Might try that some time.
Like the swamp frog sound, up the neck.
Absolutely beautiful! Love the antique finish (that in itself is as much an art as actually playing the instrument). I've watched your video on attaching the hide, but am curious on these gourd banjos if you glue blocks/strips around the cut out to nail into when affixing the hide or is the hide simply tacked into the gourd only? And do you do anything to "harden" the gourd? Thanks and do keep bringing us these awesome instruments!
J, I have seen other builders glue hardwood binding strips inside the gourd to strengthen the opening where the hide sits, but I have not done that. To "strengthen" the gourd one might try coating it inside-and-out with shellac (as was often done historically on gourd canteens &c.) but I didn't do this either. The convex walls of a good mature hardshell gourd are surprisingly strong on their own. All I did here (after staining with black walnut dye) was thoroughly coat all surfaces of gourd and neck with the same mixture of hemp oil and beeswax that I use on all my projects.
Really neat.
Looks surprisingly similar to a baglama or setar or the like. Which is funny because that's on the other end of the afroasiatic connection
Awesome!!!!
I tried emailing you on Bandcamp, but it never worked. So I'll ask my question here. I've built 4 tack head banjos and am about to start on my first gourd banjo. My first banjo I used twig tuning pegs from my live oak tree and couldn't get the g string to stay put so I in desperation put a tiny bolt through it. I see that your peg G string tuner is just like the rest. What are the dimensions of your neck at that peg? I use red oak for my necks to and often stain with raw black walnut hulls just rubbed on the wood. Thanks, Bart
Do you fiberglass inside your gourds? Like bondo for wood to strengthen toured pot?
I don't. The most I've ever done is shellac the outside a few times and also shelac inside around the sound hole neck hole where moisture might come in &c.
What is the neck length?
25" from bridge to nut. From edge of the gourd to the end of the peg head is 27"
Have you made a cigar box 5 string banjo. If so, what would be the price?
I never have!
Hey cliff whats the tuneing ?
That is fCFAC (Standard gDGBD tuned low).
Nice aging. The gourd really looks old. The high action on the neck really scares me though it sounds great when you play it...
It certainly takes some getting used to.
@@CliftonHicksbanjo the one cedric watson plays on his version of darlin corey has this primitive frailing scoop that solves the action issue, but that's not historically accurate is it?
Your gourd pot? Sorry my computer likes to finish my thoughts.