Official Luthiers Forum!

I own one of these but it's one of these with an all metal banjo pot. Has anyone here ever built a banjo guitar? I would like to build one though with a wooden pot and and open back like an old time banjo. Maybe even nylon strung like and old gut stung banjo. Any plans out these for one? I couldn't find any...Mike

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I've built them. If you're only looking at doing one or two, it's not worth setting up the big lathe that you need for turning wooden rims. A good option that a lot of old time openback banjo makers use is to get a commercially made drum rim (Keller maple rims are used by lots of makers) and work from there. These come in long tubes that you can cut down--Google Keller Drum Rim and you'll find lots of sources. Ebay usually has a bunch of Keller rims too. The thicker ones are the ones you want--10 or 12 ply. Bill Rickard at Rickard Banjos in Canada sells rims already cut down to size too.

At any rate, you don't need a lathe if you use one of these rims, and they make good old timey sounding banjos.

Dave

Yeah I don't have a lathe but may get one. Not just for banjo rims but for things like bowls and what not. Always wanted to give that a try. But thanks for the tip on buying them pre made. I have heard mention of Rickard Banjos elsewhere so I'll look into that...Thanks

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