How hard is it to learn to play without frets?

The main difficulty in a fretless instruments is developing the muscle memory and ear for correct fingering positions. The difficulty in learning is truly case by case. For those already familiar with playing banjos or other stringed instruments it may be a shorter learning curve. This can be remedied by temporarily marking fingering positions or permanently by having flush frets or fret markers installed or inlayed.

Where do I put the bridge?

Not sure where to place a new bridge or are having trouble getting correct intonation? Use the scale length to measure from the face of the nut to your bridge location on the head to ensure correct distance for your scale length. From here to adjust intonation, finger the 1st string in line with the 5th string pip (5th fret position) ever so slightly rotating the bridge at the 1st string end until the 1st and 5th are in tune with each other.

How do I tension the head on a mountain banjo?

Head tension can be adjusted easily by loosening or tightening the screws in the body of the banjo with a screwdriver. Heads will often need to be loosened in the dry seasons and tightened during the more humid seasons. Natural skin heads will be impacted by weather and humidity changes more than modern synthetic heads and you may prefer to have different height bridges to more quickly adapt to changing environments.

What type of strings do I use?

The type of strings used depends primarily on the type of tuners in use and secondarily on the sound you desire. Mechanical tuners support both steel, nylon, and nylgut strings while traditional ebony tuners should be used with nylon and nylgut strings.

How do I order/commission a custom banjo?

To order a banjo listed as being in inventory simply head over to the Contact Us page, fill out the contact information sheet and let us know which instrument you would like to purchase and the shipping destination. We will get back to you with an invoice and shipping information. Once the invoice has been paid your instrument will be on its way to you.

To commission your custom banjo download the form found on the Commissions page. Use the provided form to select basic; size, material, add on items etc. For custom engraving or carving, prepare a brief description of your concept and any reference photos. Email us with this information and we will work with you to finalize build design and any art. Next simply make a deposit for the materials and your order will be added to the queue. Once your banjo reaches its finishing stages you will receive your final invoice and your new banjo will soon be in your arms.

What about returns or warranty?

All sales and material deposits are final. Once a banjo has been personalized it can become extremely difficult to resell. We stand by our work and any problem with the construction of the instrument is guaranteed. General wear and tear such as damage from dropping and/or improper handling, wear in the finish, exposure to weather or extreme temperature, and improper humidification aren’t covered.

Will my purchases ship together?

If you have purchased items from the merch page they will be shipped together. If you are ordering items from the merch page as well as an instrument, merch items will be sent separately from instruments.

How much is shipping?

Shipping price for instruments can vary depending on destination and final dimensions as custom packaging is needed for each instrument . Shipping typically costs between $65 and $90 to continental U.S. but can on occasion cost may exceed that range.