Some time ago I put up some photos of a rare 6-string SS Stewart (as in 5 strings with a shortened 6th) with permission of the owner. It is a most unusual,...
Hi Carroll - terrific pics of nearly the Kingston Trio's inaugural 5 string banjo, with an extra string - what was the 5th non-drone tuned to? i.e. 5 string...
Well... This is out there in the wild and woolly never-neverland ..... <G> I don't recall how George had it tuned or even if he did .... Basically one would...
I want to thank everyone for the complimentary commments regarding my banjos. I also thought I would mention that my banjos will be part of the luthier's...
There is an album, (CD), by Jimmy McCown titled, From These Mountains, That he uses a banjo with 6 strings (NOT a banjo-guitar). He uses lots of different ...
I've played six string banjos for many years--I tune the extra bass string an octave lower than the third string. As a clawhammer player, it lets me double...
I met Mr. McGown at Clifftop last year. Close up and personal, his 6 string banjoing is wonderful to hear and watch. I believe he has two CDs out. Lew -- Lew...
I am thinking about starting another banjo and i am finally going to try to cast my own hardware rather than buy the normal Chinese made lugs, bolts, etc. A...
Greetings: Any suggestions for getting the fur off goatskin? Scraping? Wet or dry ? Thanks, Don PS:Finally my gourds have dried, but I am going to make a 3.5...
Mike: Possibly we should discuss this further? I've drawn up the double pointed Vega style shoes and am looking for a firm to cast them for me. The biggest...
... me ... retirement. ... Wow, Quite the undertaking. I am a retired jeweler, metalsmith, although I keep my hand in it. I am assuming that the items you are ...
Also, a blacksmith and banjophile, Dave Brown (who used to frequent this list) has taken steps to get Eagle shield brackets cast. Last I heard, the masters...
Mike I have some JB Schall round bracket shoes. I would love to help out on your project, and loan you one. Would sure love to see someone (re)produce some of ...
Thank you, I think I will take you up on that. I don't plan on mass producing anything but I would like to get to where I can make enough parts for one or two...
Actually the person who is teaching me has made jewelry for years. I read his thesis last night on casting jewelry and he is very knowledgable. I don't plan...
... read his thesis last night on casting jewelry and he is very knowledgable. I don't plan on anything big. Something like a No Knot tailpiece but my own...
How much money are we talking about? Would it be worth approaching this the way Tim Smith did with his template for a whatchamacallit a few months ago? -- Lew...
Ouch! The things we learn on this list! <G> Actually the traditional way was (I read) to soak with wood ashes which are usually caustic. Or you can use a lye...
Looks like we are talking about the centrifugal lost wax process which jewelers learned, a long time ago, from dentists making gold crowns. The process is not...
Hair Off Goatskin - Soak the skin in water, if its dry, overnight or until it becomes pliable. Mix up a 'slurry' of hardwood ashes and water about the...
... pliable. ... consistency of ... much as you ... metal ... to make it ... in a cool ... release ... I would ... skins and ... times in ... dry or put ... ...
... I guess so Don, but can't say for sure. Also, as I was thinking about this, I've always started with fresh, untanned skins. Don't know if that would make...
Burn the charcoal first and use the remaining ashes. (Steaks are optional.) Burning releases the salts in the wood. At least that is what I have been led to...
... Greetings: I realize most of you think of charchol as those compressed squares made from sawdust, but here in Mexico we use a true wood charchol. :-) Don...
Don, There's a business opportunity here for you, with your ready access to wood charcoal: assembling and exporting de-furring kits for banjo makers here in...
First let me say that I have never in my life held or had a goat skin in any way shape or form. What little I know about the subject of skins I got from ...
... skin in any ... got from ... and make ... go about ... down the ... in Drano ... without some ... vinegar around ... it on you. ... messing with ... got...
I'll see if I can get the book and transcribe the book for you. It's well worth reading if you can find it. I know I've seen them on Amazon but you would have...
my friend, brian steiger wanted goat skin (for bag pipe); paid for live goat; attended "event", attended, assisted in process...froze the meat...for several...
