geigerbanjo
original folk art fretless five string banjo headstock featuring handmade tuning pegs, gut strings

Questions and Answers

What do you mean by "made in the folk tradition?"

When I think of a banjo made in the folk tradition I envision an instrument made by an artisan who has had no formal training in making musical instruments.  I envision an instrument made without the use of power tools and made without the use of industrial technology.  And I envision an instrument that is eclectic, eccentric and idiosyncratic.

Is there a traditional sound you are trying achieve?

Yes and no.  Traditionally, banjos were not made by luthiers (I am not one).   It is unlikely that a plantation or backwoods banjo maker had the understanding to exert significant control over the final sound of the instrument.  Therefore, presumably, each banjo had it's own voice.  So it is with my banjos.  I try to keep them (and myself) innocent from too much sophisticated technical knowledge.  These are old-time front porch instruments (softer and quieter than their bluegrass cousins), and each one sounds a bit different.  People often exclaim, "What a sweet, gentle sound they have!"  Hear them for yourself. 

What traditional methods and materials do you use?

I use methods and materials available to a 19th century rural craftsman.  I use basic hand tools - planes, spokeshaves, chisels, hand saws, scrapers, a brace and bits - ancestors of which have been used for hundreds of years.  My banjos are 100% organic.   I use no synthetic materials.  Heads are calfskin or goatskin, strings are gut.  I use nut oil finishes and old-fashioned hot hide glue.  The woods are from species indigenous to North America.

Why don't you use power tools?

I'm a bit of a Luddite.  But other than that power tools are not appropriate to the work I desire to do.  I think that handmade should look handmade.

What do you mean by "historically plausible original designs?"

I do not make reproductions.  My banjos are original designs.  However, as I use traditional methods and materials, it is possible that banjos like these could have been made 100 or more years ago.  In a historical setting these instruments would not be anachronistic.

original folk art fretless five string banjo headstock featuring handmade tuning pegs, gut strings

Where do you find your inspiration?

Simplicity.  My philosophy is "Shakeresque" - I attempt to distill the banjo to its essence by avoiding unnecessary decoration and ostentation.  I aim for elegance without opulence.

Are fretless banjos hard to play?

Not at all.  If you learned to play on a fretted instrument you should have no trouble acclimating to a fretless fingerboard.  Actually, you may find them much easier to play since no frets means no notes and no notes means no mistakes.

How do you tune your banjos?

There are about a gazillion different five-string banjo tunings so you can tune them any way you like. However the most common tuning is an open major chord - fifth (below the tonic); tonic; third; fifth; octave. I tune the chord in the neighborhood of E major. You can tune higher or lower as your taste dictates.  One of the interesting aspects of fretless banjos is that you can move the bridge to shorten or lengthen the scale (the working length of the string) and change the tuning of the instrument.  This has certain limitations in that the best tone will be produced when the bridge is away from the center of the head.  Positioning the bridge in the center of the head will produce the worst tone (surprisingly, the degradation is dramatic).  Scale length is stated with the banjo descriptions.  Positioning the bridge at the designed scale length will provide the best tonal quality.

Are gut strings difficult to find?

They may be difficult to find at your local music shop, but gut strings are available from several sources on the Internet.  I use Purr'll Gut strings in metric gauges .575, .675, .825, 1.10, .60 (strings 1 - 5 respectively).  Unlike steel and nylon strings, gut strings do not wear-out and become "dead."  So, unless you are particularly hard on them you should not have to replace them frequently.

Does an organic banjo need special care?

You need to be aware of the characteristics of hide heads but common sense should take of everything else.  A hide head is subject to the effects of humidity.  It will become tighter as humidity lessens and looser as humidity increases.  As humidity changes expect the string height to change with it.  It may be necessary to change bridges to achieve optimal action.  Not to worry, it's easily done.  When humidity exceeds 80% a hide head may become so loose as to make the banjo unplayable.  Anytime the banjo is not being played, I recommend that the bridge be slid toward the neck so that it rests on the rim.  This will prevent the head from sagging under the string pressure.  Again, not to worry.  If the head develops a sag, simply wet your hand and rub it over the head (the banjo's head, not your head).  The tension will be restored when the head is dry.  Be aware that perspiration may deteriorate a hide head.  You may wish to protect that area of the rim where your arm rests.


original folk art fretless five string banjo headstock featuring handmade tuning pegs, gut strings

How do I buy one of your banjos?

Who are we kidding?  No one wants to buy one of my banjos.  If you want to toy with my emotions contact me and we can make arrangements so you can see them, feel them, hear them, smell them.  No tasting - that's a little too weird even for me.

Are other people making banjos similar to yours?

I don't think so.  The banjos you are likely to see on the Internet will be antique reproductions or they will be completely modern.  Mine are neither.  I embrace the spirit of folk art, in that folk art is original and contemporary, and although it is linked to the past, it is not encumbered by historical accuracy.  This allows me the freedom to create unique instruments.   Please visit some of the other web sites catering to enthusiasts of old-time banjos and compare the various approaches to banjo making.  If you share my banjo making philosophy (or know of someone who does) I would enjoy hearing from you.

Tell us something about yourself.

I'm a lot like my banjos - eclectic, eccentric, idiosyncratic, 100% organic.  I'm mostly fretless but I don't yet have a skin head.  I think the meaning of life is: have fun, do good things, and try not to hurt anybody in the process.  I try to live that philosophy as best I can.  I have been a musician, a watchmaker, and a flight instructor.  But deep down I am an artist - I like to create things.