I build banjos one at a time using primarily hand tools. Quick look: Appalachian Mountain Banjo - YouTube Greenbrier, TN USA 37073 He recorded and played the music on a Musicmakers Mt. Scott Didlake: Few people have influenced the interest in recent gourd banjos more than Scott Didlake. Neil . During that time, I have owned some of the finest banjos madethe latest of which was a highly customized Vega Senator. +1 (615) 799-9217 Open back banjos. Top 27+ Best Banjo Brands in the World - BeNextBrand +1 (800) 877-6863 Neil's passion for quality design shows in the instruments he builds, he truly is an artist. Wooden Top Banjo Plans: How to build a Wood Top Banjo, (report link) rickardbanjos.com There was a time LLC: Services for the preservation of history & cultural heritage; fretless banjo maker and living history performer. I am very pleased with this Mountain Bsnjo, and I look forward to the many hours of practicing the great variety of clawhammer stye tunes, that interest me. Vance Banjos: Custom Banjos, (report link) Beautiful wood and craftsmanship. www.deeringbanjos.com FOR SALE. The complete lack of metal hardware around the body keeps this instrument clean looking and light weight. So what is it about this instrument that has taken me so thoroughly? Will's List of Banjo Makers, Builders & Manufacturers - Fastie Calkins Old-Time Banjos: Nate Calkins is a maker of Tackhead banjos, Gourd banjos, and Mountain banjos. 137 Utah Avenue The dulcimer isn't that widespread of an instrument in the mountains, and it's quite possible that the mountain banjo design was limited to certain regions. Two brands, DP Hopkins and Louzee, from the same builders. The Mountain Banjo, or "Frank Proffitt Style" Banjo is a Fretless no-frills instrument. (report link) 249 South Kane Street (report link) The Gardners invite you to visit them at a Festival and judge the pleasing sound of this down-home instrument for yourself. Eventually, the Vega went out the door. Walker Banjos: Handmade banjos by Marvin Walker, Kinston, NC, (report link) 3563 Highway 231 North The Desert Rose website is no longer reachable. . Outstanding kit. Please use my contact form to get in touch. (report link) Banjos by Renee: Heirloom banjos, (report link) Although I am very appreciative of my brothers work, ultimately, I am too experienced a player to allow sentimentality to cloud my judgment. All Content Copyrighted 2023 Buzzard Mountain Instruments, LLC. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to, Cox Banjos: Quality Bluegrass Instruments, Custom Crafted Banjos, ukuleles and guitars from cigar boxes, Jeffrey Menzies Tackhead and Gourd Banjos, Johannes Bonefaas Banjo Maker: Open Back Dobson Style Banjos, Kat Eyz Custom-made Banjo Bridges, Capos, and Banjos, Pickard Acoustics (Handbuilt Acoustic Instruments), String Tinkers Limited Edition Collection for V&M, '3 National PAT. +1 (270) 646-5219 Sloan Banjos: Quietly making some of the world's finest musical instruments since 1959. (report link) Scott Zimmerman It uses beautiful solid cherry for the neck and body. The kit I received had different hardware than pictured and was missing a few washers. Ken LeVan It is a well built kit with great instructions and was a really fun build.Here's a link to the kit I built: https://www.harpkit.com/mountain-banjo-kit.htmlThanks to Matt Edwards for providing the Music for this video! (report link) SC.nb("phopkins", "united.net", "", "", ""); A division of Gibson. (report link) www.frankneat.com (report link) Most parts fit accurately, but the one I got required some more complex adjustments- the headstock was too thick for the tuners, and the neck mounting screw hole was off by a few mm. I am always impressed with the instructions and quality of the wood and hardware. With the nyglut strings and lack of frets this banjo has a sound unlike any other. Saga Musical Instruments: Maker of Blue Ridge, Gold Star, Rover, and Saga banjos. Call me a sap; it hurt. Buzzard Mountain Instruments: Custom Banjos. Fairview, TN USA This banjo is of closed back style with single bound Maple resonator. I am in the middle of putting the Banjo together and I am amazed at the quality and ease of assembly. The neck is maple and the body is heart poplar which looks very similar to walnut. If you are wanting a banjo kit, this is the one to get! SHS International Johannes Bonefaas Banjo Maker: Open Back Dobson Style Banjos: Johannes Bonefaas maker of Great Sounding Banjos now based in Sweden, (report link) Shelbyville, TN USA 37160 Blue Lake, CA USA 95525 Instagram. +1 (540) 887-2313 pisgahbanjos.com Luke Mercier Handmade Banjos : Handmade violins & banjos, oldtime style, (report link) Cedar Mountain Banjos. Mark Hickler problem with this list? Very little sanding. PO Box 1197 www.bishlinebanjos.com According to one maker and seller of mountain banjos, he uses: It does lap over the neck in places (as stated in the instructions) and is a bit smaller than the neck in others. Currency: These builders may make other types as well. www.morganmonroe.com The Banjo Factory: Economical Reproduction 19th Century Banjos, (report link) I have made a small change by installing fretboard side dots, but this is not a criticism but a personal choice. (report link) Find an Mountain Dulcimers. One of my coworkers plays in a bluegrass band, so I got to hear how it sounds when played by a professional. (report link) Mountain Banjo Kit - YouTube Home 5/6 string Cello Banjo Kit $ 249.00 Add to cart; Americana Banjo Kit $ 249.00 Add to cart; Fretted Gourd Banjo Sale! www.nechville.com. Gardners Dulcimer Shop - Grafton Ohio VERY HIGH QUALITY. Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care. Mountain banjos. Cedar Mountain Banjos: Cedar Mountain open back banjos made by Lo Gordon. SC.nb("theboss", "sloanbanjos.com", "", "", ""); Scott Vestal But after a time, I realized this was just silly. Ballard Banjers: Open back and mountain style banjos hand crafted in the U.K. (report link) Thank you a ton, Matt. www.banjo.ie Doc Fossey Company: Maker of the Doc Fossey Guitar--a guitar for banjo players! Carver Banjos: Instruments Handmade by You and Me. No compensation or gratuity is accepted for inclusion on this list. Aiersi Banjos: China Aiersi banjo,mandolin,resonphonic guitars, (report link) Every Bad River Banjo is built one-at-a-time at a deliberate pace, with tools and methods from the late 19th and early 20th century. www.sagamusic.com. (412) 303-8461 It has such a pleasing size and just the right proportions. Saving the world one banjo at a time! Mills River, NC USA And adjusting the action was easy-just tighten or loosen on screw at the base of the neck. $ 249.00. And if you really want to go old-time, go for the fretless option! I live in Australia, this did not matter as Matt communicated promptly and made my purchase extremely easy, I immediately bought the kit (fretted fingerboard, steel strings) with gig bag. Now, my MM banjo the only one I ownor want to own. +1 (339) 219-3047 (report link) Recording King Banjos: Open back and bluegrass banjos. Afton, VA USA 22920 At first, I *made* myself play the Vegawhich, dont get me wrong, is a very fine instrumentreasoning that it was expensive and should, therefore, be played. SC.nb("ballardbanjers", "yahoo.co.uk", "", "", ""); Bart Reiter By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. Roy D Durrence/ RDs MusicMakers: I build gourd banjos, tackhead banjos, mountain banjos, mountain dulcimers, stick dulcimers, and other roots and folk instruments. All of Neil's instruments are built with a keen eye for detail and tone. The skin tension and neck angle are both fully adjustable. (report link) dphopkinsbanjos.com 3656 Hopkins Avenue I ordered the assembled 5 string mountain banjo. Huber Banjos: Banjos constructed along pre-war design lines. SC.nb("info", "cbguitars.com", "", "", ""); Mike Dawson, Luthier I was surprised at the overall fit and quality of the completed project. STAY TUNED for more. Greensboro, PA USA +1 (650) 588-5558 www.wildwoodbanjos.com, The Banjo Loft Banjo Brothers - Australia: Custom rims, parts, & upgrades. Heartland Banjos: Robin Smith Luthier, (report link) As the next banjo in chronological order, this is my first Mountain Banjo. Mountain Banjo Kit NEW NECK OPTIONS. In the 1920s, record companies discovered and nurtured a market for . Because I have no wood working skills, I had my Music Makers kit shipped directly to my brothera gifted wood workerand gave him free reign. SC.nb("Customer.Relations", "gibson.com", "", "", ""); Handcrafted, custom banjos for over 30 years. I also play guitar and have built a few kits. SC.nb("info", "deeringbanjos.com", "", "", ""); Scott also heads the Recording King custom shop in Japan. (report link) Danny Moloney P.O. SC.nb("phopkins", "united.net", "", "", ""); I have absolutely no information for this brand at all other than having seen several McKinley banjos, which impressed me. SC.nb("banjobart", "aol.com", "", "", ""); Rob Bishline 7151 New Hope Road repairs and restoration. Enoch Instruments was formally established in 1990. . Mostly open-back models. An instrument to pick up, sit back, relax, and enjoy! 112 Silverwood Drive No direct sales; through dealers only. Chuck Lee Banjo Company: Each Chuck Lee banjo is as unique as the musician who plays it. Mountain Banjo Kit NEW NECK OPTIONS $ 249.00 Add to cart; Travel Banjo Kit $ 249.00 Add to cart; Workshop Video. +1 (724) 943-4581 I would prefer playing it without a strap and am searching for a way to keep the beautifully finished but slippery round framework from sliding down out of position. 400+ tunes bundles available, each with chord charts and various speeds. As fretless mountain banjos are "homemade instruments," it is the Sweeney tradition to invent and borrow styles from other banjo makers to make an instrument that is truly . (report link) +1 (540) 230-0085 www.flesherbanjos.com And the sound of this thing. www.washburn.com, 56771 Lunar Drive This kit tips a hat to the traditional mountain banjo style of Frank Proffitt and other . We love this mountain banjo. So much so that I teach a video course (link below) on how to make it. SC.nb("sales", "SHSAudio.com", "", "", ""); Frank Neat For information on our handcrafted MINSTREL BANJOS, please click onto our minstrel banjo page . J. www.reiterbanjos.com Add to Favorites Getting Started with Clawhammer Banjo . I think it is highly likely that this banjo will remain my "one-and-only" for the remainder of my playing days.