Browder Stringed Instruments

No.8 A fine Cherry Banjo!

2009-03-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Robert's Banjo Shop

2009-03-03T21:13:00.000-08:00

Kevin's Fiddle Shop

2009-03-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

NO.7

2009-01-31T17:38:00.000-08:00

Waiting for final assembly

No.6

2009-01-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

the peg head.

Banjo No. 6

2009-01-31T17:24:00.001-08:00

Just finished last week! 11" rim, black walnut on the outside, maple on the inside with a curly maple rim cap AND

a really curly maple neck. I used a plain brass ring for a tone ring, however, I put it up on little pillars that isolate it from the rim some, it has tonal quality similar to the whyte lady but not so ringy and bright.

I've been gettin' into the two footed bridges here lately, they provide some nice "voicing" options.

guitar

2009-01-31T17:15:00.000-08:00

This guitar I built from a C.F. Martin kit. It is a 000-OM. The top is solid spruce which features some "bearclaw" grain, the back and sides are laminated Indian Rosewood. The neck is mahogany. I stained the top just to set it apart a little. It has a nice sound and plays well.

2009-01-31T17:04:00.000-08:00

I built this mandolin from a Stew-mac kit. It came out pretty well, I plan to build the next one from scratch. It was a great experience to finish carve the top and back. It is all quality wood, the top is spruce, the back, sides and neck are curly maple.

The curly maple back came out very nicely. The sunburst does a nice job of highlighting the flame.

I like these tailpieces, I feel that they increase sustain a little and add to a clear tone.

2009-01-31T15:50:00.000-08:00

Getting settled in at the new shop space in Radford. Turning out some work. Feels good.

Neck blanks and finger boards.

Clamp city.

the clamps hanging out.

Banjo no.2

2008-10-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

I just received this picture of banjo no.2 from my friend Ben, who rather bravely commissioned it from me after I had built just one banjo! Thanks for believing in me Ben!

Pictured with the banjo is his new daughter Abby. She, like Vester Jones has to crawl from the hoop to the neck just to tune it! That's Right!

This banjo is quite different from the rest of my work. It is built from some pictures Ben and I saw in one of the Foxfire Books. It is also a lefty and has a nice curly maple neck. Fretless! The pot has no hooks, but uses a system of two rims to achieve and maintain the neccessary tension on the head which is only 8". I had a great time building this banjo, I've also had the pleasure to have some great tunes with Ben playing it.

Tres Hombres!

2008-10-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

No.4

2008-10-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Coffee and Banjo

My Dad and I got up early and did the test fit together. The first notes grumbled out at Hillsville.
This one has a curly maple neck, plain maple rim, ebony fingerboard and peg head overlay, a cherry stripe down the back of the neck, walnut heel and rim caps. I chose a Kershner tail piece so I could add pressure behind the bridge. A renaissance head, Whyte Lady tone ring, 11" rim, 5 star planetary pegs. A bright, clean, clear, snappy tone.
Detail of the curly neck... the twin to a lefty I made for Ben, (banjo No.2)
Abalone inlay.......
The tone ring...

No.5

2008-10-07T19:31:00.001-07:00

No.5

This banjo got it's start about 2 years ago as part of a 5 banjo batch. No.4 comes from the same time.

This banjo is made from some lovely black walnut which I acquired in Roanoke. It's got the Whyte Lady tone ring. It's bright and crisp. I was assisted in the test assembly by Katie, we put it together at Mountain Lake. It's a really special experience to hear a new instrument burp out it's first notes. The finger board is made from rosewood and the tuner knobs are ebony. The rim is 11", the tuners are 5 star planetary. This is my first walnut banjo, I love everything about walnut, it works nicely and sounds a bit more mellow than maple to my ear. I left off some of the usual appointments, no peg head overlay, no heel cap, I felt the walnut looked great on its own and I wanted to keep it simple. The finish is a hand rubbed lacquer. It goes on like french polish but is way easier to work with. The finger board is a little wide on this one but I don't find it to be uncomfortable.
I chose a fiberskin head for this one, to tone down the brightness a little.
A bit of a non-trad peg head.
detail of the whyte lady
It got its first jams in at Turkey Scratch the other week, it was passed around a little and seemed to come back with a little more juice in it.

Willie's banjo

2008-10-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

2008-09-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Got a couple new banjos happening......

The work table

2007-02-10T08:29:00.000-08:00