Articles

3 Feb 2008 Banjo of My Youth

My quest to make a reproduction of my first "real" banjo, a Fairbanks Electric Special No. 1.

2 Feb 2008 Wood Density Chart

In the quest for understanding wooden tonerings and about what makes banjo tone I have compiled a listing of wood species and their densities.

26 Jan 2008 Tone Evaluation System

After testing rims for several months I began to be able to break down the aspects of performance that made some rims better than others. In order to evaluate the performance of wood species and to make recommendations for use and dimensioning, I have initiated this system.

4 Jul 2007 Prototype 3 Development and Plans

I have decided to organize articles about Prototype 3 development in a separate articles directory. Click here for a list of articles.

17 Jun 2007 Grenadilla: The Ultimate Tonering Wood?

What exactly is grenadilla and what are its properties?

12 Jun 2007 False Jaws: Key to Accurate Turning

False jaws are "tuned up" every time you use them, assuring excellent concentricity.

11 Jun 2007 Wood Species for Tonerings: What's Best?

I am often asked, "What are the different tonal characteristics of wood species for use in tonerings?"

10 Jun 2007 Repairing a Gibson 2-Piece Flange Rim

The wood that holds back the tube broke off. I inaly wood and shape it.

9 Jun 2007 Using a Boring Bar for the Inside of the Rim

Cutting the inside of a rim cleanly and efficiently is a major challenge. One excellent choice is the machinist's boring bar.

28 May 2007 Block vs. Laminated Rims

The bluegrass community tends to put too much emphasis on single factors in it's quest for perfect tone. The organic whole must be considered.

4 May 2007 A Customer Review of DVD Volume 1

Lew Stern, "Chief Surgeon" of the Little Bear Banjo Hospital in Arlington, VA reviews DVD Volume 1: Introducing the Rim Lathe.

12 Aug 2006 A Brief History of the Banjo

A banjo history I wrote for an online encyclopedia project.

25 Dec 2004 Walnut Rim with Decorative Splines and Purfling

Walnut block rim with tubaphone tonering plus heat bending an inlay strip.

23 Nov 2004 Maple Rim with Decorative Splines and Purfling

A rim project using wood inlay splines and a herringbone purfling.

24 Sep 2004 Whyte Laydie Heel Carving: Aesthetics

A discussion of Whyte Laydie heel carving in a historical context.

17 Dec 2003 Heel Shaping Jig Utilizing a Horizonally-Mounted Router

Shaping a heel to meet the rim using a router on a pivot.

16 Dec 2003 A Rim Shaping Jig Utilizing a Horizonally-Mounted Router

My first serious attempt at an accurate jig for rim making.

15 Jun 2002 Interview WIth Ed Britt

Ed Britt is a banjo collector and banjo historian. We spent some time shooting the breeze on some aspects of banjo history.