I make gourd banjos, go camping, and film stuff. bengreco2@gmail.com for inquiries ETSY STORE LINK: and www.etsy.com/shop/TiswinStringworks?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
Man oh man, at exactly 8.59 the idea came to me... madness! It's that the first gourd opening gets cut lower than the end one and has it's own wee drum head and is so sympathetic strings can run under the fretboard and have a bridge on that. But then I think 'but how does the transfer occur?', that'd be tricky, but an internal 'tone arm', hooked on each end, bridge underside to bridge underside, and tension tied up into the waist (using slingshot elastic plastic?) should do it. ( I haven't even got any gourds yet!) I'm 62 and a baby boomer but somehow I think I was just a really early millennial!
Ben Greco, how bout woodburning in the name Greco on that head there........just a thought. i would. be proud and slap it on there. Im fully impressed. Case usually is somebody can build but can't play, or play but can't cut a straight line if it killed them. Let alone be allowed even next to a band saw. You do both. Subscribed and will be sharing your work to others. Good job. Wish you lived down the road or something like that, lol, need more interesting creative people in my life. Especially if they play banjo! Hell, the whole world does. If u keep at it, i see you totally hitting triple digits one day. Ive made and sold a few instruments in my time, but nothing that special. .........Greco........even looks like a Gibson, or a Fender or Ibanez kinda name, you know?? lol. Fuck yea! Neat. Fucking super neat bro. ....dope. yes, totally dope!! love it live well, and rest easy my friend.
Hi Ben, I really love your videos and your content really inspired me to build my own banjo. I've already commented on another one of your videos to ask about the size for the neck. Now im shellacking the gourd and i cant seem to get a really clean and smoth finish. It is shiny but ita not really super smooth and flat, it has all these tiny tiny "scratches" that dont go away. How do you do your shellack finish to get it like its really smooth and basically polished? Thank you so mich for your cool videos and awesome, inspiring content ☺️☀️
im building my first Gourd banjo in New Zealamnd and your knowledge is a big help, first thing i notice is how thin skinned new zealand gourds are compared to yours , yours look 3 times thicker, so i guess im going to have to find some way of reinforcing mine, maybe make a internal rim or something. keep up the good work bro its inspiring , subbed.
thanks! Got it at Wellburn Gourd Farm near Fallbrook, CA. They usually don't have gourds that big but I got there right after they put up the new harvest and basically had first pick. It's easier to find really big gourds in the eastern US, but out here there aren't too many growers
What an interesting timbre. I've never described the sound of a banjo using words like "soft" or "warm" before. Very cool. Did you build it? If so, please put up a build video!
thanks! I used only nylon strings on these (aquila nylgut). These types of banjos can only be strung with nylon, steel would put too much stress on the neck and would cause damage to the nut and fingerboard. I think scale length for both of these was a standard 26.25"
Very beautiful banjo. Your fingerboard wood looks like Wenge. And the bottom white wood cedar or pine? Will you let me know. I built a gourd dotara with American Cedar and it sound plenty good.
Gonna try to binge all your videos today. Got some gardening to do. I was watching Margo MacSweeney play banjo when I found your video on making banjos. I don’t play but I got it in my blood, maybe with your videos I’ll get inspired and make my own and learn.
A cherry burl wood burned neck might be super sick though. If you’re not allergic to gourds, then it sounds like spider mites. How and where they are dried or how clean they are might be important for reducing irritation to your skin and lungs. You saying that you used to dip them in water to get a water line, and that you used to have less irritation makes me think you should at least wash the gourds before you work with them. I like your plants. Using the moisture meter as a make shift slide made me laugh. If you’re watering enough then try some microbes like yogurt or keifer and kombucha to improve microbiome in the soil. Cover crop and keep the soil cool if you’re in so cal, black pots heat up a lot in the sun.
You look very much like one of my old friends I lost contact with, even sound like him. This is my second of your videos I’m watching, I really enjoy the work you do, your quality and pace, and the videos are great. Gonna sub now so when you blow up, I’ve Ben here for a while. Do you only make banjos and does that make you a banjier?
