The Banjo, like the Indian Sarod, is a wonderful instrument because it combines the enormous flexibity of strings with the extraordinary tonal qualities of a drum head.  It suffers greatly because even marvelous well built extremely expensive banjos typically use a CRAPPY NON-GEARED TUNING PEG, WHICH IS PLACED ON THE NECK for the high string!   THAT IS THE *WORST POSSIBLE* PLACE!  If you try to work the neck like a guitar . . . YOUR THUMB CRASHES INTO THE TUNING PEG!  That's as stupid as having a guitar with a cupholder on the neck . . . so you can drink and jive.  Those aren't too popular these days.

I have SOLVED these problems by REMOVING the tuning peg from the fretboard, and replacing it where it SHOULD be, on the tailpiece.  This allows the use of a modern high quality very sensitive geared tuning machine, which is even more important on the highest string, as it is the hardest to tune exactly.  This design could also easily be adapted for the even more sensitive Steinberger tuning machines.  I have also developed a much better fret marker for the side of the neck.

I have retrofitted and played three banjos with this system, and it is FAR SUPERIOR to the normal banjo for BOTH TUNING AND PLAYING.  One was stolen   The other two are below.  Since these are retrofits, I used the neck hole from the original tuning peg to grab the ball-end of the string, which is held in place with a plug.  In a new manufacture, this would be done more elegantly with a recessed notch which catches the ball-end and needs no plug.

BILLY'S BEATER BANJO:

This is a down-home hillbilly banjo.  The neck and body seem to be originally from different banjos.  Most components are medium grade.  Not el supremo cheapo, but certainly not delux heavyweight.  I took rebuilt it totally.  New Shaller tuning machines, new head, new bridge, reset the neck, filed and reset the nut, tightened everything, added a padded a leg rest, etc. 

Accidentlally splashed wax all over the new drum head didn't enhance the appearance any, but didn't seem to hurt the tone, so I left it.  I think this was the second one I built.  It has a nice wide neck and excellent tone, and it was cheap enough I felt free to experiment without undue worry.  This one got played most, because I felt comfortable leaving it it out to grab easily.  When the dogs banged it with their butts and knocked the bridge over . . . no problem.  It looks like shit, but it plays really well and and has nice tone.

The numbers on the red tape are my string guages for D tuning on this banjo.  It's really nice to have two banjos so your can compare different string guages real time, rather than trying to remember them while you change strings.  My ear and memory are not nearly that good, but with easy rapid comparisons its easy.  I also like having two setsups instantly available.

I really hate having the sharp edge of the banjo digging into my leg, and fighting it wanting to slide down the hill of my leg.  A foam covered horizontal leg rest means comfortable playing.

Every banjo needs a hole in the headstock so you can hang it up easily and securely.

Even with a tuning meter, I have a hard enough time tuning!  I only like high quality gears.  These are Schallers.

Notice where that huge ugly stupid BAD tuning peg ISN'T on this fretboard?

The ball end of the string is buried in the old tuning post hole, and a sleeve from the old discarded tuning machines is set it to keep it from pulling out.  You can run you hand up and down the neck just as FAST just like a guitar, and still have your thumb right where you want it to hold and steady the neck.

Those same tuning-machine sleeves make excellent fret markers.  The typical fret marker on a banjo neck is PAINTED on, which means that you CAN'T FEEL IT AT ALL, and you CAN'T SEE IT IN LOW LIGHT.   An EFFECTIVE fret marker makes a smooth mound on the neck surface, so you can FEEL it as you slide your hand past it, but is low enough that it doesn't grab your fingers.  It gives you information, without impeding your hand motion or being uncomfortable.  The round convex domed shape and chrome finish mean than ANY light shining on them will be reflected to your eyes, so you can EASILY SEE the fret markers even in semi-darkness.  These are very easy to see, and very comfortable on the figners.  The recessed center is a natural comfortable effortless touch-point for your thumb but the hole diameter in the neck is rather large.  I used thumb tacks on the later banjo, even though they are not nearly as reflective, because the hole is so small. 

At first I was going to mark every fret, but since I use a D tuning I decided to mark the jumps to the other strings in D .

Here is a good shot of the tuning machine.  This knob on this one points up.  The later one points down and is easier to use.  This is a one-piece tailpiece, which is simpler than the other.

I use regular ball-end guitar strings, which are much easier to find than special banjo strings.

Since this one has a leg rest, and I play sitting down, I don't need a strap at all.

BOBS OWN BANJO OF BLISS:

This is a beautiful one-of-a kind piece.  There is no manufacturer's label.  It was made by an artist who did not sign it.  It has a narrow neck, heavy duty hardware, and really nice tone!  It's a beautiful piece of work!  And NOW it also has NO tuning post on the fretboard, and a modern geared tuning machine for the high string.  It got the complete rebuild job like the other one.  New tuning machines, new head, new bridge, reset neck, nut filed smooth, etc.  I kept comparing one banjo against the other to set them both up optimally.  I kept making the one that didn't sound as good more like the sweetest one until they both maxed out tonally.

Simple but beautiful.

Nice inlay work.

New Schaller tuning machines.

I just couldn't bring myself to cut big holes in this gorgeous neck to use the old tuning machine sleeves for fret markers, so I used thumb tacks, which work fine but not quite as well.  A stainless steel heavy duty slightly more domed "thumbtack" would be ideal for a fret marker.  I REALLY like having  TACTILE fret markers so I KNOW EXACTLY where my thumb is on the fretboard, WITHOUT LOOKING.  I often like to play with my eyes closed.  I also like being able to SEE EASILY, even in very dim light.  A candle flame is enough to make the fret markers easily visible in an otherwise dark room, as long as it shines directly on them.  This tuning and neckmarking system converts your thumb on the neck of the banjo from a LIABILITY to a multiple ASSET.

The  wood screw is holding on the strap to the tailpiece, not the tailpiece to the body.  This banjo has a really heavy duty brass tone ring and heavy duty drum tighteners to go with its very heavy duty tailpiece.

This is a two-piece  tailpiece with a cover and is much thicker and stiffer than the other one.   The disadvantage of this particular design is that the high string holds the cover down so you have to remove it to open the cover and change the other four.  This is the open position, and the front-end-edge of the cover is pointing straight up at you.

This is the tailpieice cover, on which the tuning machine for the high string rides, in the closed position.  It's ready for the high string to be installed.  Having the machine handle point to the back of the instrument makes it easier to hold and twist.  The gear projects slightly above the bridge, so I cut a small notch in the case cover for it to stick through, and protected it with tubing.

PATENT ATTORNEY NEEDED!
This system is my invention, and it has not been been in general use or disclosd to the public before 23 January 2002.  I believe I have a year from that date to file for a patent.  I'm looking for a patent attorney to do all of the legal work on the project, including patent applications and licensing to manufacturers, in exchange for part ownership of the patent.  I might also be willing to sell the intellectual property outright.  These mprovements are major in banjo history, but a minor in music overall.   I need funding to build prototypes for a REALLY IMPORTANT NEW musical instrument that could well become a MAJOR INDUSTRY in itself.  Whoever handles the banjo legal work for me will be first in line on further inventions.

Net Prophet
<net-prophet@net-prophet.net>