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Old 12-20-2019, 07:27 AM
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Default A banjo neck with a stealth 5th string

My son Matt and I are making a replacement banjo neck for a guy who plays in a group (occasionally with Bella Fleck) to fit his old Gibson Mastertone. He wants 24 frets (evidently plays way up the neck) a stealth 5th string (new and challenging to Matt and me) and an arched fingerboard. He also wants recon stone fret markers in a rainbow configuration. (I live in Asheville)
So the fretboard is on and a brass tube conducts the fifth string from the fifth fret to the peghead. We decided to leave the adjustment rod hole open and surround that with a brass tube. I think it looks cool and if the client does not like it we can always put a cover over it.
See what you think.



That peghead is not shaped yet. Here is where the tube exits on the fretboard.
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Old 12-20-2019, 08:34 AM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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Wow! What a fun and challenging project. I love the holes open like you have done, but as you say, the customer has the final word on that. Thanks for posting this as I love learning about how luthiers approach and solve interesting requests and challenges to get musicians what they are seeking.

Best,
Jayne
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Old 12-20-2019, 08:47 AM
Les Young Les Young is offline
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Cool. I'm learning banjo & it's interesting seeing how these stealth string necks are built.
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Old 12-20-2019, 09:08 AM
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I appreciate your comments guys.
The brass tube for the stealth string is embedded half into the neck and half into the fingerboard. And it curves a up a little on the 5th fret end but plows straight ahead through the peghead veneer.
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Old 12-20-2019, 09:19 AM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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Nice project.

I build open backs and specialize in 3+2 slot head tunneled necks. I use stainless steel micro-tubing for the tunnel and the most difficult part of a tunneled neck is designing the string path to minimize any deviation from a straight path from the tuner post to the 5th fret break over point for the string.

Looks like your neck will be a very nice addition to the existing pot!

Here's an example of my preferred 3+2 slotted head stock design:



Typical tunnel exit:



Typical tunnel slot detail:


Last edited by Rudy4; 12-20-2019 at 09:30 AM.
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Old 12-20-2019, 09:21 AM
Stevied63 Stevied63 is offline
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Looks cool, John. Not being familiar with a stealth 5th string, is there greater likelihood of buzz given what appears to be a tight tolerance around that string. Perhaps there is more room than it appears?
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Old 12-20-2019, 10:30 AM
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Wow--very cool and interesting! I've never see that before...

Thanks for sharing it, John!
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Old 12-20-2019, 11:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevied63 View Post
Looks cool, John. Not being familiar with a stealth 5th string, is there greater likelihood of buzz given what appears to be a tight tolerance around that string. Perhaps there is more room than it appears?
im hoping that string tension will keep the string tight enough against the tube to prevent buss. There is a slight curve in the pathway and the string break will hold the string tightly against the openings. Fingers crossed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudy4 View Post
Nice project.

I build open backs and specialize in 3+2 slot head tunneled necks. I use stainless steel micro-tubing for the tunnel and the most difficult part of a tunneled neck is designing the string path to minimize any deviation from a straight path from the tuner post to the 5th fret break over point for the string.

Looks like your neck will be a very nice addition to the existing pot!

Here's an example of my preferred 3+2 slotted head stock design:



Typical tunnel exit:



Typical tunnel slot detail:

Thanks for the schematics. Wish I had posted my intent sooner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemoman View Post
Wow--very cool and interesting! I've never see that before...

Thanks for sharing it, John!
You are welcome Nemoman. I’ve never done this before so we are at least in similar boats......alone.
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Old 12-20-2019, 12:27 PM
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Interesting stuff.

Never a dull moment at John's shop!

Whee

A super COOL YULE to all

Paul
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Old 01-05-2020, 10:16 AM
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Just thought I would let you guys see the inlay scheme. Remember this is a banjo neck so no rules. I think this is also a political statement along with the flash the customer wants on stage.

Nothing is inlaid yet, it's just sitting there so it's not too late...yet
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Old 01-05-2020, 10:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird View Post
Just thought I would let you guys see the inlay scheme. Remember this is a banjo neck so no rules. I think this is also a political statement along with the flash the customer wants on stage.

Nothing is inlaid yet, it's just sitting there so it's not too late...yet
Wow, you DO live in Asheville!
By the way, I love the brass tube openings. Quite handsome.
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Old 01-05-2020, 11:26 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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Looks like you got the most important thing right... marker at the 10th!
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Old 01-06-2020, 07:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird View Post
Wow, you DO live in Asheville!
By the way, I love the brass tube openings. Quite handsome.
I know right😁
I like the brass tube thing too. I'm wondering about using it on a guitar.
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Old 01-06-2020, 07:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudy4 View Post
Looks like you got the most important thing right... marker at the 10th!
I made that mistake once. Why the difference do you suppose
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Old 01-06-2020, 10:47 AM
Big Band Guitar Big Band Guitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudy4 View Post
Nice project.

I build open backs and specialize in 3+2 slot head tunneled necks. I use stainless steel micro-tubing for the tunnel and the most difficult part of a tunneled neck is designing the string path to minimize any deviation from a straight path from the tuner post to the 5th fret break over point for the string.

Looks like your neck will be a very nice addition to the existing pot!

Here's an example of my preferred 3+2 slotted head stock design:



Typical tunnel exit:



Typical tunnel slot detail:

That is the way I built my banjo.

I got lucky and the string tube lines up perfectly with the hole in the tuner so restringing is easy.
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