Frailing Scoop

I did a frailing scoop on a customers banjo this week. A frailing scoop can be a nice addition to a banjo if you want to play in the clawhammer style and don't want to be knocking the head of the banjo all the time. It also exposes more of the drone string for you thumb to catch onto. I carve my frailing scoops out with a chisel the level it out with a course file, I then sanded it and oiled it.

I also find that factory spaced banjo bridges are too closely space and don't provide enough space for some people "drop their thumb", which is when you use your thumb to strike melody notes below the drone string. I spaced the stings to 15/32.

So a classic Gibson neck break came in to the shop a couple of weeks ago to be repaired. Not only did it break but a chunk of wood popped right out. It was a little complicated to get it all back together and glued the floating chunk didn't want to stay in place with the glue. With a little faith it all worked out. The client wasn't worried about the finish matching so I did a minor touch-up at the break and gave it a little lacquer.

I've moved into my new shop in the back of Market Square. I'm very excited and can't wait to make some new mountain banjos. These are pictures of my first banjo I built back in Montreal.