I love this. Being a young old time banjo player in the UK. This is really rare. I'm taking your inspiration over the seas and in to the south of the UK! Keep on playing :-)
Thanks Elliot! It's good to know that there's interest in this music in the UK. After all, it was brought over here long ago by folks from that part of the world, then kinda got mixed with German and African music and became something American. But the British Isles roots are still pretty evident in much of it! In an earlier post you said you were making instruments from tins. How's that going?
Thanks Elements! Most traditional homemade banjos were fretless. Sometime around 1880 factory instruments were produced with frets and that's pretty much the norm nowadays.
It's a beautiful sound. But it's not only due to to the unique head you've made, I guess, but also to the higher pitch because of (what looks like) a short neck? If it is a short neck, why - and what decided its length? Best wishes.
Amazing sound and pickin`. I think it sounds as good as a natural or REMO head! Looks good too with the brown plastic head. I wonder how durable it is. Probably would last as long as the other kind I would imagine. Anyway I really like this tune as well !
Buenas, me regalarías las medidas de este banjo, quiero hacerme uno igual al tuyo, porfavor Good, you would give me the measures of this banjo, I want to make one equal to yours, please 😊
I love these things, woild you be interested in making one for a comission? I just want one as basic and cheap as it gets but I also want something that will last and has a nice sound.
Hey Tanner. Glad you like it. This is pretty basic with no frets. I usually make them, play them for a few weeks and then sell them. You can reach me at jmorris607@frontiernet.net if you're interested.
Thanks slimwilly. Nice bouzouki playing,btw. Pine is considered too soft a wood for necks and is more likely to warp or bow than a good hardwood like maple or walnut. Still I've got a couple of pine neck instruments that are several years old and haven't had any problems! Also pine won't give a good grip to fret material so fretless instruments are a better choice if pine is all you've got. The fun thing about making one's own instrument is that you can break all of theses "rules" just to see what happens!
Shawn D It's a homemade tailpiece which is just a flat piece of wood with 5 holes drilled for the strings to pass through. It's screwed into the body of the banjo. I use the same knot as on classical guitars since these are nylon strings but the same tailpiece works with ball ends too. You get a glimpse of it at the very beginning.
morbanjo Oops, now that I look again, these are loop end steel strings and the string goes back through the loop to hold it there. So it works with all types of strings!
everytime I watch this video I am in awe of how that little thing sounds
That is a fine-sounding instrument. Great playing - love the plastic head idea. I'm going to try that when I make one of my own.
Biiig sound from a little bitty pot! Mad props for going with what you got to make something totally playable. LOVE IT!
I love this. Being a young old time banjo player in the UK. This is really rare. I'm taking your inspiration over the seas and in to the south of the UK! Keep on playing :-)
Thanks Elliot! It's good to know that there's interest in this music in the UK. After all, it was brought over here long ago by folks from that part of the world, then kinda got mixed with German and African music and became something American. But the British Isles roots are still pretty evident in much of it! In an earlier post you said you were making instruments from tins. How's that going?
Love it! I intend to build on. Thanks.
Wow you did it again. Hey l saw your bass video now this sounds amazing too.
Thanks for all the details you ...give away love that too
So loud. Amazing.
very cool
I am going to have to try that
Sooo simply beautiful, music loaded with soul.
That's a great little banjo. Nice work.
Thanks Circuits!
I wish I had done this for the head of my homemade banjo. Sounds so much better. Great idea.
Thanks. I've since made several other banjos with this plastic and they've turned out great.
That banjo sounds amazing, especially since it was all garbage at one point. Great work!
Hey, that's some nice Banjo! Never saw a fretless version before. Go on with it
Thanks Elements! Most traditional homemade banjos were fretless. Sometime around 1880 factory instruments were produced with frets and that's pretty much the norm nowadays.
Great stuff. You never fail to surprise.
Thanks Paul L.
very very nice. much respect
It came out very nicely.
Thanks Tom.
id love to have a lil jojo like that.
wow that thing sounds great,i want one,,,,now lollll
HOW CUTE!!!!!! SOUNDS GREAT!!!!!
very very weldone. i like it a lot never seen such thing. great!
+boxing holland Thanks!
Sounds fantastic!
Simply sublime.. Thank you...
That's great! I want one!
Bob Kemper Thanks!
yea sounds better than some brand named banjos
Has a Sitar sound to it.
It's a beautiful sound. But it's not only due to to the unique head you've made, I guess, but also to the higher pitch because of (what looks like) a short neck? If it is a short neck, why - and what decided its length? Best wishes.
Wonder if plastic Clorox plastic would shrink up.
Amazing sound and pickin`. I think it sounds as good as a natural or REMO head! Looks good too with the brown plastic head. I wonder how durable it is. Probably would last as long as the other kind I would imagine. Anyway I really like this tune as well !
Perfect for camping lol
You still making instruments? I hope you are because you were darn good at it.
exelente sonido..
me encantaría hacer uno
saludos desde chile🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱
Gracias Orlando!
Buenas, me regalarías las medidas de este banjo, quiero hacerme uno igual al tuyo, porfavor
Good, you would give me the measures of this banjo, I want to make one equal to yours, please
😊
I love these things, woild you be interested in making one for a comission? I just want one as basic and cheap as it gets but I also want something that will last and has a nice sound.
Hey Tanner. Glad you like it. This is pretty basic with no frets. I usually make them, play them for a few weeks and then sell them. You can reach me at jmorris607@frontiernet.net if you're interested.
Buenas, me encantan tus videos
¿ Hay algún plano para hacer este banjo ?
Saludos
Gracias Rafael. No tengo planes, I make it up as I go. This might help
ruclips.net/video/M5XBbv_A27c/видео.html
Great stuff. What's wrong with pine for a neck?
Thanks slimwilly. Nice bouzouki playing,btw. Pine is considered too soft a wood for necks and is more likely to warp or bow than a good hardwood like maple or walnut. Still I've got a couple of pine neck instruments that are several years old and haven't had any problems! Also pine won't give a good grip to fret material so fretless instruments are a better choice if pine is all you've got. The fun thing about making one's own instrument is that you can break all of theses "rules" just to see what happens!
morbanjo That makes sense, thanks!
This is amazing! how long does the plastic keeps its tension?
What did you happen to use for tailpiece or how did you tie the strings off?
Shawn D It's a homemade tailpiece which is just a flat piece of wood with 5 holes drilled for the strings to pass through. It's screwed into the body of the banjo. I use the same knot as on classical guitars since these are nylon strings but the same tailpiece works with ball ends too. You get a glimpse of it at the very beginning.
morbanjo Oops, now that I look again, these are loop end steel strings and the string goes back through the loop to hold it there. So it works with all types of strings!
morbanjo Thanks sir Imma try and make me one of these
what song is this??
It's an old time fiddle tune called Spotted Pony.