Banjo building is hardly a lost art. There are dozens of makers of high end banjos and scores if not hundreds of moderately priced folk banjos. There are also about a dozen makers of historical replica fretless banjos of the 19th Century that I personally know of. The market is awash in banjo makers not even counting kits that are available for do-it-yourselfers. Today's commercially made factory banjos compare very favorably in sound with handmade banjos in just about every price range and, at the high end, a great deal of customization is offered. The private makers compete primarily in aesthetics, but even in this area it is difficult to compete with craftsmen who will customize factory made instruments with inlays, engravings, custom necks, tuners, tone rings, saddles etc. If you are trying to make a sustainable living, you should concentrate on customization of existing instruments. If building from scratch gives you pleasure, keep doing it as a hobby. Turning it into a business with a predictable revenue stream over time changes everything. You become a businessman first, a craftsman second. You probably will not find that so enjoyable.
Not comparable with anything new from manufactures today. The workmanship and material selection ..... pure excellency On todays banjo market you wont get that with Recoring king, Deering, Washburn, Vega, Goldtone , Gibson, Fender unless you're dropping 10,000 I mean look at the workmanship here.
I wish you the best of luck. Your story is a great example of balancing your passion for music and building with the practical requirements of family life.
Wow Buddy! Awesome Clawhammer work with that worried Mary intro My grandfather was a folk wood artist and I want to start banjo building myself your video really inspired me
The fact that this guy is selling all of his produce is uplifting and poignant. There are very few banjo fabricators in the US that can claim such success. The biggest of which cannot compete successfully against foreign competition. If you can maintain this level of quality and enjoy a good level of family support you are living the dream. May God be with you my fellow tradesman. GB welder retired recently and learner of banjo magic.
This guy had only been making banjos once in a blue moon for a couple years, yet somehow he does it in a way that only 5 other people in the entire world do? Seems pretty sketchy .
Only five people building banjos like this is a statement that i would disagree with
Cheers to that!
Banjo building is hardly a lost art. There are dozens of makers of high end banjos and scores if not hundreds of moderately priced folk banjos. There are also about a dozen makers of historical replica fretless banjos of the 19th Century that I personally know of. The market is awash in banjo makers not even counting kits that are available for do-it-yourselfers.
Today's commercially made factory banjos compare very favorably in sound with handmade banjos in just about every price range and, at the high end, a great deal of customization is offered. The private makers compete primarily in aesthetics, but even in this area it is difficult to compete with craftsmen who will customize factory made instruments with inlays, engravings, custom necks, tuners, tone rings, saddles etc.
If you are trying to make a sustainable living, you should concentrate on customization of existing instruments. If building from scratch gives you pleasure, keep doing it as a hobby. Turning it into a business with a predictable revenue stream over time changes everything. You become a businessman first, a craftsman second. You probably will not find that so enjoyable.
ypu must be fun at parties mr. bussinesman
Not comparable with anything new from manufactures today.
The workmanship and material selection ..... pure excellency
On todays banjo market you wont get that with Recoring king, Deering, Washburn, Vega, Goldtone , Gibson, Fender unless you're dropping 10,000 I mean look at the workmanship here.
Way to shit all over this guy, John. You're a true asshole.
I wish you the best of luck. Your story is a great example of balancing your passion for music and building with the practical requirements of family life.
Wow Buddy!
Awesome Clawhammer work with that worried Mary intro
My grandfather was a folk wood artist and I want to start banjo building myself your video really inspired me
The fact that this guy is selling all of his produce is uplifting and poignant. There are very few banjo fabricators in the US that can claim such success. The biggest of which cannot compete successfully against foreign competition. If you can maintain this level of quality and enjoy a good level of family support you are living the dream. May God be with you my fellow tradesman. GB welder retired recently and learner of banjo magic.
Love this guy. Seems such a cool dude
That actually looks like a lot of fun
I had the same thought
yes ma'am
Wood working is so great... doing anything with your hands ;)
A vision for the future, a beautiful thing for your family .
Thats beautiful man. I truely envy you.
This is really dope
This is great.
this is really touching.
This is so inspiring!!
Wish you to accomplish your beautiful purpose.
Not really a lost art though... (Although still globally seen on the rarer side)
Would you make a 4 string neck for my Stelling White star banjo?
Heck yeah I would! go to www.blackberrybanjo.com and send me a message from there.
I have since purchased a 1980 Gibson TB-250 tenor banjo so I won't need a neck after all. Thanks for responding anyway... :-)
love this!
so nice
winston on the banjo
i want one there beautiful
see most of the time, im pretty straight, but every so often there are moments when im just gay for someone.
*thi-*
*this is one of those moments*
This guy had only been making banjos once in a blue moon for a couple years, yet somehow he does it in a way that only 5 other people in the entire world do? Seems pretty sketchy .
dope
I thought these were just made in a factory somewhere
only the beginner ones are
DEDICATION
first
Blah blah blah, all talk no banjo building.