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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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Kinnaird Guitars |
#2
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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 |
#3
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Cool. I'm learning banjo & it's interesting seeing how these stealth string necks are built.
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#4
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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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Kinnaird Guitars |
#5
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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. |
#6
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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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Steve |
#7
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Wow--very cool and interesting! I've never see that before...
Thanks for sharing it, John!
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2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa) |
#8
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Quote:
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You are welcome Nemoman. I’ve never done this before so we are at least in similar boats......alone.
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Kinnaird Guitars |
#9
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Wow
Interesting stuff.
Never a dull moment at John's shop! Whee A super COOL YULE to all Paul
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3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS: Big Maple/Cedar Dread Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro 96 422ce bought new! 96 LKSM 12 552ce 12x12 J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut More |
#10
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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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Kinnaird Guitars |
#11
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By the way, I love the brass tube openings. Quite handsome. |
#12
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Looks like you got the most important thing right... marker at the 10th!
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#13
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I like the brass tube thing too. I'm wondering about using it on a guitar.
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Kinnaird Guitars |
#14
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I made that mistake once. Why the difference do you suppose
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Kinnaird Guitars |
#15
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I got lucky and the string tube lines up perfectly with the hole in the tuner so restringing is easy.
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"My opinion is worth every penny you paid for it." "If you try to play like someone else, Who will play like you". Quote from Johnny Gimble The only musician I have to impress today is the musician I was yesterday. No tubes, No capos, No Problems. |