seeders instruments banjo #12

will wrapped up banjo #12 last week and his client/friend is coming to pick it up tomorrow afternoon.  jeremy is going to be one happy banjo picker.  his friend is a part time professional musician and you can here jeremy's band, the flat top trio, at this link .  click the photos to enlarge them.

will used his newly learned engraving talents on this project.   he learned his new skills in west virginia this summer in a class taught by kevin enoch, a banjo maker and master engraver.  coincidentally, kevin lives in beltsville, maryland, and will and i were able to visit him when we were on our way to deliver the pool table we took the virginia in august.  it was about 5 minutes out of our way and it was a unique experience for me.

kevin enoch, of enoch banjos, is a master banjo builder and master engraver and he was kind enough to give us the tour of his studio. 

 he had a 'work in progress' and i wish now i had taken a little more time to get a good photo of it.  amazing, artistic craftsmanship, and i know will was totally inspired by the course, and by the studio visit.  it's not often we get to beltsville.

#12 has a 12" pot with a very mellow sound.  the pot is constructed from blackened claro walnut, of which we seem to have many scraps of lately, with a mahogany end cap and a wenge tone ring, an ebony fret board, and a figured mahogany neck.  a handsome combination for sure.

 vermont pride is strong here, and at the 5th string fret and a few frets below, will added new versions of his 'vermont' touch.  these are the counties engraved on a miniature map of vermont.

 the little 'flowers' are actually dots with engraved dividers that make them look like multi piece inlays.  clever.

 a little carving by the 5th string tuner

 the whole deal ... 

and on will's website, seeders intruments , there are a couple short videos so you can hear it as well as see more photos and a list of the banjo's vital statistics.  this is the banjo will was working on when the 'made in vermont' video was made for WCAX.  in case you missed that profile, you can see that short video here.

all for now ...

Banjo #3 Is Finished

When last we left you a couple of weeks ago, Will was heading down the homestretch on banjo #3, thinking he was making a Christmas present .... In the end, he got an extra couple of weeks that he really didn't need. It turns out it's to be a birthday present, the 20th of January to be exact .... It took the pressure off and allowed him some extra time to do a really super job ... Looks cool; sounds even cooler .... one of the happiest instruments I have ever heard ... Here's a one minute concert clip ... Take a bow Will ...

Click the photos to enlarge them ....
12/14
12/31
He finished it Wednesday, we photographed it today ...
For Mackintosh H.M.Swan .... 1/20/2011 is his birthday
Gold abalone in pearl inlays ...
Back view ... Keep in mind that this is actually a 'mini' banjo with an 8" head and a shortened scale and fretboard ....
from the video ... check it out
And the 'coup de grace' is the nameplate ,,,, made by Will on the CNC with a 60 degree bit .. the brass plate is about a 1/2 " tall ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!!!

PS ... We posted start to finish photos and comments on Will's first banjo here .. at the bottom of that post are links to three others ... make a banjo, start to finish ...