Restored Banjo

[Stub Mandrel]

I've finally finished my 100 year old(ish) John Gray and Sons 'Dulcetta' zither banjo. I had to silver solder the tailpiece and tension ring, then make a flesh ring (I cut down an embroidery ring). I fitted the goatskin myself, having last done this on a banjo mandolin in about 1983. I also had to make the bone nut from a guitar size blank. The first string snapped twice but I was able to thread it through a bit of plastic tube for protection from the rather severe ben in the tailpiece.

 

Strings are Aquila nylgut. Tuned GDGBD. Or will be when they stop stretching!

 

I love the engraved cover for the tuners. The positions of the tuning knobs bears minimal relationship to the strings. I fitted them all so winding away fom me increases tension... for my sanity.