43 replies to this topic

[Pict]

Just BTW, my Dad used to make banjoleles to earn a bit extra.
And my instrument is a 12 string which I bought in America - sweet as a nut!

      Do you have any of your Dad's work? My son plays uke.

Maybe I should scale up for another go - build a bass out of 2 galvanised dustbin lids and a 6-inch drainpipe?

Edited by Pict, 23 January 2014 - 07:54 am.

[Robodene]

Sadly now all gone. Wouldn't have minded picking it up myself. I remember they were beautifully made.

PS  My double bass in our teenage skiffle group was a tea chest - in the best tradition. It did the job.

Edited by Robodene, 24 January 2014 - 12:45 pm.

[Pict]

Time to get back to your roots:

http://handmademusic...member-mike-orr

Good to find somebody else old enough to remember skiffle!! You'll have to come and join Ulysses....

[Pict]

[quote name="Robodene" post="285426" timestamp="1384358533"]
How about a round .......

Hmmmmm

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Edited by Pict, 05 June 2014 - 06:02 am.

[Pict]

For the record, this is how the prototype turned out (The T piece is removable and can rotate for support while playing upright or across knees).

Building got kind of addictive and drifted from the original scrapyard model. It's come to be neither guitar nor banjo nor.....so maybe another name is called for.The ancient Scots had a loud instrument (albeit a wind one) called a "carnyx" to scare the crap out of enemies, so.......?
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Yes I know thefe is a bolt missing

Edited by Pict, 06 June 2014 - 05:24 am.

[TeDeum]

Looks really good Ian. Great work.

[RSRocket]

Got to be a Ganjo then, spliffs ahoy.

[Pict]

Got to be a Ganjo then, spliffs ahoy.

Wayhay!

[erdferkel]

Rock on!

[Pict]

Looks really good Ian. Great work.

Thanks, maestro, but don't look too closely! Like all firstborns, this one has been through the mill of trial and error. I have enough material to rebuild a neater one, though tbh I've enough ideas for another 10 or so.with different features, and most of all I'd like to switch to a fretted cigar-box style that I might even get around to learning to play with stiffening fingers.

 

It's been real fun, though, not least in the discovery of a whole wacky homemade instrument subculture, from the US (www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACWC5tdbJQ   www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOUlgYCX_Uw) even to Russia (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpFnLdDybvQ )  [Have shortened these 3 URLs to avoid congestion - type in https://    first in each case]

 

For anybody interested in building, there are loads of books (eg http://www.amazon.co...trument factory ) + YouTube videos etc..

Edited by Pict, 05 June 2014 - 09:50 am.

[Pict]

Just a self-indulgent update for those interested.

I pretty well finished this Steampunk-flavoured one, revising the electrics for better tone control etc.

Had enough materials left for a second one, so with the aid of a curtain pole, some Plastikote granite-effect spray, skull winders, a red rose motif and red rhinestones. I went mildly gothic in honour of my wacky daughter. Glad to say it plays as well as the first despite the plastic shell.

The crowning glory is that Martin Simpson has said he'd like to try one out when he visits our local folk club in a couple of weeks. For those unfamiliar, he's a nIfty slide player (See YouTube) so I'm looking forward to hearing what a real pro can get out of my gadgetry. Will try to video.

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Edited by Pict, 14 September 2014 - 08:26 am.

[Catteeclan]

Looks real good. Looking forward to a vid or 2. 

[Pict]

Thanks D. Fingers crossed I haven't overdone things, but I'm reassured MS is friendly as well as a fine player.,e.g.

 

https://www.youtube....t=RD2wPOIIkvnwU

 

https://www.youtube....U&v=r3Ow4uxRuIU

 

https://www.youtube....ayer_detailpage

 

.so hopefully 3 strings and Chinese hardware  won't lose out too much in comparison with that famously rich-sounding 6 string Sobell.    

Edited by Pict, 14 September 2014 - 05:35 pm.

[Quartermaster]

Just listened to his version of Walking Blues, terrific, what a talented guitarist. 

[filo]

Banjo looks fantastic Pict

[Pict]

Banjo looks fantastic Pict

Ta.

 

For flying fingers (digressing a bit), have you tried the late  Bob Brozman? 

 

 

https://www.youtube....e&v=srAVvpCIP3U

 

https://www.youtube....e&v=nlILYxpIhTw

 

https://www.youtube....e&v=p7NA-Ri8Jpk

Edited by Pict, 14 September 2014 - 08:59 pm.

[RSRocket]

Mk2 Looks cool and the music links are in my library now as part of my all time greats. Cheers and keep up the good work.

[Pict]

Mk2 Looks cool.

Cheers. Should have said that the twirly finial piece is really for show. It feels like it weighs about as much aa all the rest, and throws the balance in standup playing, so it's replaceable by a simple stop end. The added weight may actually help to stabilise lap playing though.

Edited by Pict, 18 September 2014 - 04:09 am.

[Pict]

what a talented guitarist.

Agreed. Large output of consistently high quality going back many years. "Cool and Unusual" is an immaculate CD (Check it out on Spotify), and all the more impressive when you note that it was recorded in 1997

[Pict]

Well. on the big night things didn't work out quite as planned, but I was given a few minutes at the end  while the van was loading up. Didn't get into the lyrical stuff and the promised use of an amp did't materialise so the attached couple of minutes playing around on "Mark 2" in a slightly roughened voice and fed though a 3v matchbox-sized headphone amp and 6 volt batteery-driven mini speaker is my record of the occasion. Interesting tone, sustain and harmonics in those expert hands though, and I was chuffed to get a positive overall opinion, so I'll end my wee story here. Thanks for your interest, guys.

Linky

Edited by Pict, 19 October 2014 - 10:43 am.