Banjo Models
In this section you will find the different models I carry and you can order a model you are interested in here. I also make banjos in the mix that aren’t pre ordered, you can email me and ask “Are there any extra banjos in the mix?”. A third option for ordering is to pick a banjo you like in the banjo gallery and I can send you a quote for a similar banjo. Current lead time is 6-8 months.
Custom Banjo
You may also order a fully custom artisan banjo with additional hardware options, tone rings, customized fretboards, and more. Due to me being a one person shop, I keep “fully custom” banjos within my standard specs. My standard neck width is 1 3/8” at the nut and 1 15/16” at the heel. I offer 25.5”, 24” and 22” scales.
The Spartan model is named for the 1956 Chevy Spartan school bus in which I built my first banjos. The following features are included:
Cherry or walnut neck ($75 extra for walnut; upgrades to figured woods available)
Choice of peghead shape
Ebony or figured walnut peghead overlay
Gotoh tuners with black buttons
Fretted ebony fingerboard with frailing scoop
25.5” scale length
Double-action truss rod
Gold pearl side or fret position markers
11” or 12” rim in dyed maple, cherry, or walnut ($75 extra for Oregon walnut)
18 handmade brass hooks and ball end or hex shoes (upgrades available)
Handmade notched brass tension hoop
Handmade ¼” rolled brass tone ring
Hand stretched goat skin head
BB cast bronze tailpiece
Please see the Banjo Features page for details on available options, and you can also find examples of Spartan banjos in the gallery.
Spartan banjos begin at $2,350, with upgrade pricing in the order form.
Silverspun banjos have the same design as Spartan banjos, but have a silverspun rim that creates a completely different sound.
I have been making these silverspun rims by hand since 2000 and they are the finest rim I make. The sound of these rims has subtle beauty. They have a mellow bell tone, clear and pretty notes with plenty of volume. Silverspun rims have nickel silver turned over the 1/4” rolled brass hoop on the top of the rim and the nickel is turned over a 3/16” brass hoop on the bottom. These are two ply rims and are available in walnut, cherry, or maple.
Cherry or walnut neck ($75 extra for walnut; upgrades to figured woods available)
Choice of peghead shape
Ebony or figured walnut peghead overlay
Gotoh tuners with black buttons
Fretted ebony fingerboard with frailing scoop
25.5” scale length
Double-action truss rod
Gold pearl side or fret position markers
11” or 12” silverspun rim with dyed maple, cherry, or walnut interior ($75 extra for walnut)
18 handmade brass hooks and ball end or hex shoes (upgrades available)
Handmade notched brass tension hoop
Handmade ¼” rolled brass tone ring
Hand stretched goat skin head
BB cast bronze tailpiece
Please see the Banjo Features page for details on available options, and you can also find examples of Silverspun banjos in the gallery.
Silverspun banjos begin at $2,700, with upgrade pricing in the order form.
The 10L model is my nylon strung fretless banjo, made with an ash neck and red oak rim. It’s a cross between an old Post and Durkee banjo (Which were the origin of the butterfly shoes, precursors to Lyon and Healy banjos.) and a John Bowlin 1865 banjo. Designed for old time tunes, but will work for minstrel playing as well. If you want frets for this model, I add a truss rod, a fingerboard and make them out of red maple. A 1/4” bead is turned onto the top of the rim, that serves as a tone ring. Don’t be fooled thinking no tone ring as inferior, these banjos have a wonderful woody tone and a lot of volume. One of my best sounding banjo models. The fretless model is strung with nylgut strings and fretted comes with steel. The fretted version uses curly maple for the neck and rim and birdseye maple is used for the fingerboard, peghead overlay and rim cap. The fretless nylon strung version comes with a Jeff Menzies goat skin head from Jamaica. The steel strung version comes with a Pakistan goat head.
Choice of peghead shape
Gotoh tuners with black buttons
Frailing scoop
25.5” scale length
11” or 12” rim
Gold pearl side dots upon request
Frets, fingerboard & double-action truss rod on maple banjos
10 handmade brass hooks with ball end shoes (upgrades available)
Handmade notched brass tension hoop
Hand stretched goat skin head
BB cast bronze tailpiece
Please see the Banjo Features page for details on available options, and you can also find examples of 10L banjos in the gallery.
10L banjos are $1,800 for a fretless banjo with an ash neck and red oak rim, or $2,050 for an all-maple fretted banjo.
If you would like me to make a fully custom banjo for you there are a few ways to do so. One is by using the order form below. The second way to order is to find a banjo from the gallery that you are interested in and email me an inquiry about it — I will send you a price quote on making a banjo like it. Thirdly, I may have banjos in the works that aren't claimed or advertised, so you can email a simple "Do you have any extra banjos in the works?" and I will get back to you with info on those. If you would like to keep up with what I’ve been making and get to see banjos in the works before they become available, please follow me on Instagram.
Please see the Banjo Features page for details on available options, and you can also check out past banjos in the gallery.
The Spartan banjo base configuration begins at $2,350, with upgrade pricing in the order form.
