Happy Holidays
Holy cow another year went by in a blink of an eye like driving past a small town in Texas, if your not paying attention you’ll miss it. Lots of work this year, much thanks to all of you who have ordered banjos this year and in the years past. This was year six full time making banjos in this shop! The tally this year was 30 banjos, my usual average. I shoot for 36, but something always gets in the way of the last six. It’s always something, but I feel that I’m better than ever at my craft and I love working each day. Thanks again everybody for keeping this ball rolling.
I have just completed a new bench in my shop, so hopefully more space will add on at least another 3 banjos to next years tally. My son Aubrey has been eagerly helping out in the shop lately also. Since he’s entering high school next year, Aubrey is biting at the bit to get a MAC BOOK PRO and the price tag has him down in the shop with undivided attention. Maybe this can add up to another 3 or 4 banjos in the tally. Aubrey is king of the ring roller and slip roll, making the tone rings and rolling out tension hoop stock for me. Aubrey is also skilled at set up and assembly. If he has a need or a want he will be down in the shop in a second, when the need is met I’m on my own again. I feel blessed to have him around and it’s quality father/son time.
It’s the time of year where I’m getting ready for the Portland Old Time Music Gathering which happens January 12th-16th. It is also the time of year where it is frightening to drop off a banjo to ship. I went yesterday to Fed Ex to drop of a small package and they already had more than a truckload of packages ready for pick up. So, I will bring joy for the New Year and ship out this batch of banjos after the Christmas rush. There will be new banjos at New Years parties this year. I have a huge batch of 15 banjos going at the moment due to Stew Mac running out of Bacon tone rings. The new tone rings showed up last week, bringing the back burner banjos back into the mix. It’s super exciting having so many banjos about ready to string, next week I hope to flood yall with photos. For now here is a picture of our Holiday Banjo and in the background is my personal banjo that has come back to life after being stripped of it’s Bacon tone ring for about 2 years. It’s great to have it back. Happy Holidays! A special thanks goes out to John Bowlin this year for being a magnificent friend. He has helped me in so many ways this year, a lot of it is subtle and that’s what I really like about him. John sees my path as a banjo maker and really goes out of his way to be supportive and shine light on the aspects that can improve to make my banjos and my life a lot better. Much Respect.
