New Model
Last fall/winter John Bowlin and I started trading knowledge with each other. My general way of making banjos was too slow and I was on the lookout for improvement. John was looking for ways to have other metal parts made than the parts he was making by hand. I think we both came out pleased with the result and we have become pretty good friends to boot.
Now as this blog may show, I’ve been achieving my goal of completing 3-4 banjos a month without being Johnny the dull boy when it is all said and done. I even get to hangout with my family on a Saturday without the guilt of an unfinished order in the back of my mind now and again. The other bonus is that I can allow myself time to experiment. The 10L is a result of that and hanging out with John. The 10L models are the one piece neck banjos I have been making lately with 1/4” x 3” deep 10ply hard maple drum shell, which I’ve noticed some folks calling “thin rim”.
Two weeks ago I finished a project that was a result of kicking ideas back and forth between a customer who wanted a somewhat more inexpensive way to get his hands on a silverspun banjo. My solution was to silverspin one of the 10L thin rims I have recently started using. The customer opted to go another route and get a different model I that have been making for awhile. I finished the silverspun thin rim anyway and took it to an outdoor jam for a friends birthday and I have to say I’m very pleased with the outcome. I played this banjo outside at night with two fiddles, two guitars and another banjo.
The first thing I noticed was that I wasn’t having to play super hard to hear myself in the big outdoor mix and that it sounded as good as my banjo I usually play (a 30L with a Bacon tone ring). I took it to a festival that weekend and the same result, I could hear it in a big jam without trying too hard and you can really feel it as you play it, the whole thing is sounding out the tune. So, the long and short of it is that I have a new favorite. I’ve always designed my banjos to be a banjo that is nicely in the mix of instruments and not out in front with the fiddles.
I’ve never set out to make loud banjos, but I think I have stumbled across one that sounds great at the same time. It can be in the mix, or you can please the dancers at the back of the room who are yelling for more banjo. If that ever happens. Pictured is John Bowlin playing the newbie, his quote is “It sounds real pretty Brooks and you don’t have to play it hard to get a lot of sound out of it, great for a band. But it still sounds like a Brooks banjo.” So in part yes, this blog entry echoes his sentiments too. John owns one of my Bacon tone ring banjos, so he would know. If anybody in the area wants to throw in a third opinion, please stop by.
If you are interested in this banjo I’m asking $1750, please see my add on the banjo hangout for more details. http://www.banjohangout.org/classified/16038 If it doesn’t sell in a month I can justly call it mine. The rim is 11"x1/4"x3 3/8”.
