a few favorites
RB 36 - 18 Hook
25.5" Scale x 12” Rim
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Maple neck, dowel stick & rim
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Richlite Fingerboard and overlay
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Custom Skull MOP inlay
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Paddle Peghead
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18 Hook Notched hoop
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Thumb & Arched Scoops
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Boat heel
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Whyte Laydie Tonering
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Rickard Brass Hardware
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Remo Fiberskyn Head
notes:
Skulls, I seem to have an affinity for them. The simplicity of #36 is what is most striking. Great execution of material, hardware and design. I wanted a stripped down model, missing are the heel and rim cap veneers, the maple has a deep reddish brown stain to it, both rim and neck feature spalted grain with a light figure. A subtle thumb scoop transitions into an arched scoop after the 17th fret. This banjo was hard to put down, 12" of Whyte Laydie wonder.
RB 38 - 20 Hook
25" Scale x 12" Rim
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Maple neck, dowel & rim
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Richlite fingerboard and overlay
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Wedge Peghead
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20 Hook notched tension hoop
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Boat heel
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Dobson Tonering
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J.D. Balch Goatskin head
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Nylagut strings
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Black Chrome Gotoh Tuners
notes:
A banjo designed around black chrome Gotoh tuners, yep. I love the simplicity of this banjo. The wedge peghead was originally conceived on #33. The neck of this banjo came from the same log as #36, spalted maple with a little bit of curly figure. Nylon gut strings will never replace the nuance of true gut strings but they are durable. The tailpiece that made the photos ended up being replaced with a smaller version that offered more break-over angle- which improved the tone and action considerably. Every banjo nerd should own a fretless.
RB 34 'Liszt' TB-2
notes:
This one goes up to 11.
The 'Liszt' neck was a custom order and I was given free rein to push the envelope even further. Lots of hours logged in that neck, to say it was a challenge is an understatement. Challenges make us great. Original tessellated mixed hardwood inlay featuring: English Boxwood, Goncalo Alves & Rosewood. Features a 7.25" radius Richlite fingerboard with aged binding. Maple neck with carved volute 'dart' and deep stain to color match pot assembly. Aiming for the stars like Chuck Yeager.
26 3/16" scale
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Maple neck
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Custom tessellated inlay
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radiused fingerboard & binding
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Boat heel
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1928 TB-2 Pyramid Pot Assembly
RB 28 'Deadman' - 16 Hook
25.5" Scale x 11" Pot
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1-piece Elm Neck and dowel
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English Boxwood 'Skull' inlay & 'bones' roman numeral markers
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3" Deep Maple pot
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1/2" flat bar Brass tonering
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Elite head
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Prucha Kershner tailpiece
notes:
I built this banjo for me in 2019, as I wanted to try a stipling-like technique with inlay; which required drilling a whole lotta wood plugs that were each individually glued into place to form the features of the skull. Honestly, I didn't know if it would work or read well~ naturally I had to go for it. The pot assembly is originally from RB#7. Sadly I sold this banjo to a friend who gave it to another. The deep pot and 1/2" brass tone ring had maximum sustain & a haunting tone range especially in alternate tunings. Elm has wonderful flowy grain and is a joy to work with.
RB 35 'Kawai' 24-Hook
25.5" Scale x 11" Pot
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Curly Maple Neck & Dowel
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Custom Sequoia & Owl inlays
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Whyte Laydie Tonering
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Rickard Hardware
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Rickard Planetary Tuners
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Remo Fiberskyn Head
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Buckeye Bronze Tailpiece
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Richlite and MOP rim cap
notes:
To date probably the 'fanciest' banjo completed. RB35 was a commission and features a curly maple neck and pot *wood sourced from Vermont, custom inlays of reconstituted stone, mother of pearl and mixed hardwoods. Maple stained a wonderful warm honey color- which really brings out the full figure and finished in a hard oil. 24 brass hooks, Whyte Laydie tonering wrapped in Remo Fiberskyn head- brings out a bit more thud to a bright punchy banjo.