Click image for full size.

I have finally succeeded in making a neck that looks exactly like my oak floor.

Currently waiting for a couple new projects to begin, so I decided to start a new banjo, for myself. It will be a copy, more or less, of the banjo order I just completed, with maybe a few differences in the details.



Click on the above photo for a giant view of what my neck blanks look like just before shaping starts.

project for today: new storage rack for neck blanks

rick's banjo done, save for final finishing, set up, etc. now its on to making bridges for the next couple days...

I am happy to report that I may have (finally) secured a pretty good source for quarter-sawn curly sugar maple 3 x 3 neck blanks. Though I don't want to give anything away, I'll just say that the lumber comes from a business that requires high quality maple blanks, but cannot use any curly maple. Bonus points to anyone who can guess what this company makes (hint: it's more obvious than you might think). Anyhow, the first shipment of blanks will arrive on Friday. I'll need to let them acclimate for a while, and then will work on a neck or two from the batch to test out the quality. Banjos made from these blanks will be about $30 more expensive than my normal banjos, as straight-grained, highly figured 12/4 maple boards cut dead on the quarter aren't exactly going for bargain basement prices.

I've fancied up the graphics on the website. There's still a lot of work to be done, but o far I've finished the new main graphic on the front page, and most of the "Listen" section. Let me know what you think. Web page stuff takes forever.

more progress on rick's neck. final finishing done, along with a coat of stain that i may or may not keep. click for full size...