Dwayne has built and sold Fretless Mountain Banjos for the past decade and concludes that he is most likely the only source of plans and banjos of this style. The style of banjo construction shown in his plans and instructions are based on the Appalachian Mountain model as described in Foxfire 3, a series of books published in 1973 by the Rabun-Nacoochee School in Georgia.

Included with Dwayne's plans are complete step by step instructions plus photographs to help visualize each step. Also included are fret calculations for those whom prefer a fretted banjo. All you need is a saw and a couple of lengths of narrow fretwire, available from links shown in the instructions. Step-By-Step Instructional Slide Show.  Please use arrows on your keyboard to advance slides.  

Instructions for installing frets.              

 This banjo is not difficult or expensive to build. Mostly depends on where you purchase your material, all easily available. You will want a few board feet of hardwood, violin pegs for tuners, banjo strings, a homemade nut and bridge. For the head you'll need a 10" dia. piece of calf, deer, or goat rawhide. The tone ring is made from a small piece of sheet metal.

 Only a few tools are needed such as a jig saw or coping saw, a drill, rasp, file, screwdriver, and sandpaper. Complete the banjo with your favorite clear finish.

Plans and assembly instructions are only $14.95 plus $1.50 S&H - U.S. Only.

 

Total $16.45....Pay with PayPal or go to Order Page

Short History of the Fretless Mountain Banjo

Fretless banjos were first built in the Appalachian Mountains by woodsmen and farmers who could not afford to buy the store bought fretted banjos. They built their fretless banjos of materials obtained from the nearby forest. Most of the shaping was accomplished with a pocket knife, draw knife, spokeshave, rasp, and file. A cat, squirrel, or raccoon caught and skinned and made ready to stretch over the banjo pot and was tacked in place. Tuning pegs were hand carver and fitted into holes on the peghead. Wire or gut strings were added and the fretless banjo was complete and ready to play.

Photo by,  LisaG Photography...

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