E-mail Kyle

 

 

 

Banjos

Check the selection of new and "almost ready" Legends below.  These are as of 1-24-07.  Get yours before they're gone!
 

  Having trouble deciding on what kind of banjo to buy to get that "just right" tone you're looking for? Do you already know which specific components can be put together to get the "perfect" banjo, not quite sure or don't have a clue? I've tried literally thousands of combinations and know what works best for each different "sound" that pickers crave and can put that experience to work for you.

The Legend can be built with either nickel or gold plated hardware and your choice of a rounded neck profile or a special "V" neck . Given what I have learned about how the different X-factors of banjo parts affect the final voice/tone of the instrument by my electronic setup, I feel that I will be able to offer some of the finest sounding instruments available today. In striving to offer the best in customer service, checking the overall setup of the banjo and adjustments for a period of three years will be included at No Charge.

All of the banjos I build will be from nothing but the finest parts available.  The flange & tension hoops on all banjos will be prewar pot metal type formulas.  The tone rings used will vary to achieve a particular sound with the wood selection used in each individual banjo.  Special attention is paid to the neck shape as to make it the very most comfortable you've ever felt with maximum playability no matter what size hand you have.  On the upper end of the neck you have your choice of v-shaped as were many of the pre-war banjos & they fit/feel so comfortably or a rounded neck profile.  All the "Chubb" is taken out of the sides of my necks so that a 10 year old can be able to perform color chord wrap around with their thumb with ease.  One of the areas that is grossly overlooked in the building of banjos is in the heel area. Nearly all the banjos I see from makers are way to small/narrow & long in my humble opinion.  I make mine as short as a prewar tenor with the neck plane running in to the heel with a very slight curve so it's easily possible to keep your thumb on the center of the neck & reach the last frets on the fingerboard with your index/middle finger. Also in the heel area I make them as wide as will fit into the flange so as for maximum heel contact to the rim/ring area which will allow the timbre of the neck wood to come out of the instrument during the setup process.

All Smith Legend banjos have
SPIKES INSTALLED 7-10 and are
equipped with the best, GHS Strings

 

 

Ready right now

2 - Black metallic (mahogany wood) RB1 pattern with white/black/white binding w/ ebony fingerboards. Tony Pass maple rims.  Prucha pre-war formula hardware, pearl nuts, spikes 7-10 with TKL Professional series cases & a limited lifetime warranty.  Also, these banjos sport a large depth resonator to accentuate more woodiness, volume & color of tone. Contact for pricing information.

The beauty of this banjo is not done justice by the pictures; the metallic finish will make you the center of attention at any jam session.  When the light hits the finish, you just can't take your eyes off of it. Each & every coat, the binding must be taped, sprayed, removed quickly/let dry, then re-taped which is very time consuming, but ohhhhhhhhhh so worth the effort.  The neck is v-shaped as all the pre-wars were originally done with great attention to taking out the "chub" from the side of the neck to make a wrap around color chord effortless.  The heel is the size of a pre-war tenor so that your thumb never has to leave the center of the neck to reach the last couple of frets when capo'd.  I also make the heel section on my banjos as full as the notch in the flange will allow for maximum heel contact. This allows more of the tone of the neck wood to come out in the timbre of the instrument.  Customers will have a 3 day approval period from time of delivery to make sure they are happy with my product & will receive a Smith Banjos LTD T-shirt or cap included with purchase.

 




 
   

Check out these previously available Legends to see the quality of workmanship.

Available soon:


1 - extreme curly maple, hearts/flowers inlay on rosewood fingerboard, white binding, pearl nuts, spikes installed, Prucha hardware along with TKL case.

1 - extreme curly maple, flying eagle pattern rosewood fingerboard, white/black/white binding, Prucha hardware, pearl nuts/spikes installed
 
1 - wreath pattern ebony fingerboard, mahogany, w/b/w binding, Prucha hardware, pearl nut/spikes, TKL case.

1 -  flying eagle/rosewood fingerboard, burl walnut w/b/w binding, Prucha hardware, pearl nut/spikes, TKL case.

1 - flying eagle ebony fingerboard, mahogany, w/b/w binding, Prucha hardware, pearl nut/spikes, TKL case.

1 - 3 wreath pattern ebony fingerboard, mahogany,  w/b/w/ binding, Prucha hardware, pearl nut/spikes, TKL case.




   

E-mail me if interested in any of these