Banjo questions

[Howard Pollack]

Hi- I'd like to build a 5-string banjo for my son. If anyone knows of good instructions, or even a good kit, I'd appreciate information. My woodworking skills are intermediate. Thanks.
-Howard

[george wilson]

Stewart MacDonald sells banjo kits.

[Angie Orfanedes]

The classic book is "Constructing A Five String Banjo," by Roger Siminoff, available on Amazon.com. There is also a music instrument makers forum with a wealth of info (mimf.com).

[Karl Wicklund]

+1 mimf.com.

Also, if you're looking for functional over fancy, (or maybe I should say 'folksy over fancy') one of the Foxfire books features a banjo. I believe it's book No. 4? If you're really looking for down and dirty, but an awful lot of fun, check out Dennis Havlena's site (dennishavlena.com) for a whole lot of very simple but very functional instrument building ideas.

[Pat Foster]

Stewart MacDonald used to carry banjo kits, but no longer does. They have all the parts you'd need, though their separate parts are bit higher end than the Eagle banjo kits they had for years. Probably looking at 500-600 min. from them.

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Kit_building/a-banjobuilding.html

There's an active banjo forum that would be worth looking at.

http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/

Hope this helps.

Pat

[Howard Pollack]

Thanks folks, I appreciate these and whatever answers may show up. -Howard

[Kevin L. Waldron]

Saga makes a fair kit....... here is a vendor..... no connection.......

http://www.activemusician.com/item--...ator+banjo+Kit

kevin

[Bob Stroupe]

Foxfire #3 has the banjo and dulcimer chapter. It's okay.There are some good drawings and diagrams of mountain banjos in it but it is really more of an essay written by high school kids, who talked to guys, who lived in the mountains and built banjos rather than a "how to" sort of thing. I've seen it available over on scribd.com...
Foxfire #6 has a gourd banjo chapter. I bought the book after hearing people talk about it like it was the end all go to source for gourd banjos, but it turned out to be pretty horrible.
The banjomakers yahoo group has a book in their files section listed as banjo.pdf - G.W. Stamm's book. It is good.
If you go to David Hyatt’s website dhyatt.com and click on the craftsmanship link you should find another link for Draft Banjo Making Manual. If you’re interested in gourd banjos it is also good.
There is also an old popular mechanics article in google books titled Make Your Own Banjo. It's okay.

[Ron Petley]

I do not know if I am to late. I have bought a kit from Bill Rickard and he is the best one armed Banjo maker I know. He has kits of very good quality and vale, shoot him a e mail.
http://www.billrickard.com/?page_id=49

Ron.