Instruments

A violin for me

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From July 2020-May of 2021 I am taking part in a year long luthiery apprenticeship in Violin making. I am making two violins. One for myself and one for my wife, and then maybe making more for other folks who are interested. This is the first one “in the white”. Which means before it has been varnished. I have learned so much not only about making a violin but about how violins make themselves. Before it is varnished the violin must be played (or vibrated) to train and transition the wood to resonate correctly. It finds its tone over the time of playing before finish is applied. I will play the instrument for a few months then…finish it off. So here is Violin No 1 in the white.

Fretless Octagon Kentucky Banjo

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I have always been impressed with people groups and individuals who make so much with so little. The people of Eastern Kentucky made these instruments with the most basic of tools so I thought I might do the same. This banjo is made with 5 tools; A handsaw, a coping saw, a file, a $4 reamer, and a hand drill. I filmed the making of this banjo as a video course available HERE. If you would like to see the trailer click HERE.

Electric Cigar Box Banjo

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As an experiment I thought it would be fun to make an electric banjo. Inspired by a stainless steel headed guitar a friend (and former professor) shared with me, I made a cast aluminum head for the banjo. A friend of mine sent me this cigar box sometime ago thinking I might enjoy making a cigar box guitar at some point. The neck is made from a piece of Osage Orange stock given to me.. by you guessed it, a friend. You could say this was a project where I provided the labor but the materials were collected by friends near and far.

Body: Camacho Cigar Box
Neck: Osage Orange, Cocobolo fingerboard with Acrylic fret markers
Headstock: Cast aluminum
Bridge: Osage Orange
Nut: Bloodwood

Custom banjo for Keith Nance

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This banjo was a joy and wonderful challenge to design and make. It was a commission from someone that wanted to let someone else know how much they are valued. I could work on projects like that all day. From what I have learned of Keith Nance he is a selfless father and mentor. I hope he can feel the time in this one on his behalf. Good people are a good thing…a good father…that is something to celebrate.

To see a video tour of more details and hear how it sounds click HERE.

Body: Cherry
Tone ring: 1/4 inch rolled brass
Peg head: Cherry and Richlite with inlayed acrylic and engraving.
Neck:  Cherry with India ink and pickle wash on the heel carving
Fretboard: Acrylic and Richlite.
Bridge: Richlite, Holly, and Cherry

 

Glass Bottom Banjo

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Glass Bottom Banjo:

This banjo began as all good things do… as an idea that you can’t let go of. It was (and still is) an experiment. I didn’t know that some banjo heads are clear. As soon as I saw one I knew I had to print something in the back of it. A number of years ago I did a whole series of works in a circle format (you can see them HERE) and I suddenly saw the banjo as a functional frame, something to enhance the image and for the banjo to literally resonate with the image. Around the same time I had the idea to make a banjo with a glass tone ring. The tone ring the material that is in contact with the head of the banjo. Some are made out of wood, some brass, some steel, but its material and shape impacts the sound and tone of the banjo. The hardware of this banjo is made to be easily removed (as easy as it can be) so I can change out the tone ring and see the change in sound. In the images shown it has a brass tone ring on steel posts. I thought the clear head would be great to have so you can also see the tone ring directly.
I called this the Glass Bottom Banjo for a couple of reasons, the first being the obvious intention of the glass tone ring. But also the clear image of the woman in the rowboat. When I was younger I took a trip on a glass bottom boat. It was so interesting to be in the water but not in the water all at the same time. To feel apart of something by being able to see through it. I have long been interested in the idea of borderlands. Areas of our human experience that exist in tension. Like being on the water, being at its edge, being in church, or standing with your feet the ground and feeling the air around you. Knowing that you actually have a tension of pressure from the air and a force greater than us all holding you in place. I enjoy the idea of this banjo being clear like that glass bottom boat so many years ago. To be in and apart of the music that comes from resonating in the tension of the image.

The plan moving forward is to try the different tone rings as I make them. As of now there will be a brass ring, wood ring, porcelain ring, and a glass ring. For more updates make sure to follow @LCB_Instruments on Instagram. For purchasing information please use the contact page or Direct Message me on instagram. Thanks for looking. To see a video tour and hear the banjo click HERE.

Materials:

Body (also called the pot) is made from Walnut and Cherry
Neck is Walnut and Cocobolo with Acrylic fret markers
Headstock is Cocobolo with steel and leather insets.
Head is a clear Remo head with a linoleum cut printing on the inside
Hardware is all hand fabricated steel
Tailpiece is Steel and machined Brass
Bridge and nut are acrylic (but also I have versions out of Holly)
Adjustable damper is frosted mylar

 

 

Holly’s Dulcimer

 Daniel Graham
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My wife was interested in learning to play the dulcimer so this is the one I made for her. We are in central Kentucky and Dulcimers were designed and made around the region since the early 1800’s. This one is made of out of book matched Walnut for the back, Walnut sides, and an Ambrosia Maple soundboard. The heart sound holes are a traditional touch on this Appalachian instrument.

Woman Jumping over a Stool Banjo

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This banjo is one I made for myself. The fretboard image is made from selected frames of Eadweard Muybridge’s “Woman Jumping Over a Stool”. It is made by inlaying acrylic mother of pearl into Richlite (an ebony alternative). I have seen a number of instruments with heavy adornment but never one with a whole image on the fingerboard. All of the hardware (the hooks, nuts, tension hoop, tone ring, tailpiece, and post bolt) are all made from scratch. The only things purchased for this project was the tuners and the head. To hear it being played click HERE. To see a video tour of the banjo click HERE. 

Body: Cherry and locust
Tone ring: Steel and brass
Peg head: Cherry, bog oak, and leather
Neck: Curly Cherry, Locust, and ebonized walnut. 
Arm rest: Cherry, bog oak, steel, and magnets
Fretboard: Acrylic and Richlite.
Bridge: Bloodwood, Richlite, and maple

Fretless Banjo

 Daniel Graham
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This Banjo was custom made for John Ryster.  John was expecting a daughter they were naming Rose at the time of the build. This is the reason for the inlayed rose in the peg head and for her name in the bridge. To here John play this custom fretless banjo click HERE.

Fingerboard: Brass and Richlite
Pot: Cherry and Locust
Neck: Cherry
Peg head: Richlite with inlayed acrylic
Bridge: Bloodwood and Maple
Tone ring: Brass on Brass posts

Mugshot Canjo

 Daniel Graham
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The Mugshot Canjo (can banjo) is made from an acetone can striped of its paint and repainted to hold the images of Australian Mugshots from the 1920s. I am not a Kentucky native but after living in Kentucky for the last 11 years I have come to call it home. I thought it was a good idea to learn at least a few tunes on the banjo. So I had to make one to learn on.