This old-timey banjo upgrade involves adding model railroad spikes to the fingerboard to shift the pitch of the 5th string for playing in different keys.
I've not seen round-shanked railroad spikes before. There's a guitar shop in Redlands, California that has an old, dead banjo neck hanging on the wall with a full-sized railroad spike (at least 6" long x 3/8" square) that somebody mortised right through the center of the neck with a sign saying, "Yes, we install railroad spikes." Thanks much for the tip about backing off from the fret a little. My banjo came with a black plastic nut up high like the one you showed. The plastic eventually split and the string wouldn't stay in place, so I pulled it out and made one out of aluminum. I lowered it so that the fifth fret became a zeroeth fret, like you mentioned. I like this much better. Thumbs up to crush any trolls that show up.
From the title, and my ignorance, I originally thought you were going to forge a capo out of an actual railroad spike. I've seen a lot of things made from spikes but not a capo.
What really amazes me most in all your videos is the way you play all these different instruments. I am not actually an easy sell: I graduated from three of the toughest conservatories in the world. Granted, I am not an expert on any type of steel string plucked instrument, but you impress me. If for no other reason but the breath of your skills, articulateness and your knowledge.
My grandfather told they used a hand drill for a pilot hole and then used a very small short wood screw for a fifth string. Once in dress it up to fit ur needs. He also stated he seen some use a small piece of wood shaped to go under the fifth string with a groove made to sit on top of the fret. This was done many years ago before plastic banjo heads and miniature railroad spikes.
I learned this trick when I broke my bit out on a job. Cut off the head of the nail or whatever it is you are using and stick it in the drill chuck. Use it like a drill bit, but because it is not actually cutting a hole, be prepared to let it take a little longer. The actual nail should fit reasonably snug, or otherwise glue as you have done. I do this all the time with little brads, because those little drill bits break if you even take a deep breath, and you can't get them out sometimes. The fasteners are made of malleable material that won't break so easily. It seems like this should make the wood split, but it doesn't. Try it on some scraps sometime.
Diligent work as always and a great pleasure to watch. Slightly surprised to see you fit the spikes with the open end facing downward. I’d usually have it the other way as the downward plucking action on the fifth string might inadvertently cause it to jump free in an albeit rare moment of heavyhandedness. More so with Bluegrass players than clawhammer though.
You know the 6 String Guitar Banjo that Johnny St Cyr played? That goes back to the 1920s and 30s when Guitarists had to compete w/ those blazing loud horns.
The most beautiful sound in the world is that of an accordian landing on a banjo as it is tossed into a dumpster 🤣 No really, another great vid with the finger picking as an extra treat
Very nice. I've done a few of these, but always drilled and superglued using an archimedian drill. Spikes are so much better than the big adjustable alternatives, and the new clip on ones just make that 5th string sound like a sitar. Like you I bought an ounce if these for 50 pence UK, most of which will be long outlive me. However, I see you can now buy a set of 4-6 spikes on Ebay for a few dollars! You do get installation instructions as well, mind you. What on earth can they say apart from; 'practice on scrap a lot and buy another set'! Nice playing, too.
Great job! I thought the volume and sustain increased with the new set-up and saddle intonation set properly. Bridge Doctor install was involved. I didn't see where the rod terminated
The high nut behind the zero fret makes no sense. I'd have cut it down personally to make hooking on and off the capo spikes slicker and more in tune. If height was absolutely necessary I'd have tried to relocate the string support near as dammit to the fret position. Neat job though installing the fiddly spikes!
HO scale railroad spikes to the rescue...who'd a thunk it? Crazy, creative musician types, and erudite repair pholksies, that's who. I'm waiting for HO scale railroad track, frets. That way, 'John Henry' could never sound more authentic...Helk, I can see & smell the steam and smoke now. // For today, at least, "Ol' twoodfrd was an HO steel driving man...lawd, lawd."
What's your impression of those fibreskyn heads? I have a client who asked about them - durability especially. Loads of opinions out there on the interweb. What's yours?
Great video as usual, but that tall fifth string nut seems just wrong to me. Anyway, we should respect the client's desire. Cheers from south Brazil, keep up the good work.
this may be a stupid question but forgive me because i'm not a banjo player but why not use a regular guitar capo or "spider" capo i(f it is one or two strings?)
It's just one string, and I think even a spider capo would get in the way. It's rare to see someone play both sides of a spider capo at anything approaching the speeds of banjo fiddle tunes. Also, it's just overkill because 90% of the time the 5th string capo is used at its 2nd fret (i.e. the banjo's 7th) with a regular capo at fret 2 so it's easy to play standard G and C licks with fiddlers who like to play in A and D, which is where most of the standard repertoire is. You don't even notice the spikes are there.
