Hello Gourd Banjo Students and Welcome to Augusta 2008,

I'm excited about teaching at Augusta again this year. I've had a lot of fun the last two years and have been really pleased by the success all of my students have had. We all work pretty hard for the week, but so far everyone has left Augusta very pleased with their banjo. The most common reaction I hear from students at the end of the class is, "I can't believe I actually made this myself!" While learning how fabricate and assemble a banjo, you'll also learn a lot about the history of the banjo, and have a lot of fun as well.

Some of the tools you'll learn to use during the class are very similar to what would have been used on original 18th century banjos, such as the spokeshave, chisel, rasp, file and reamer. We'll also speed up the process with modern power tools, like the bandsaw, the drill press and sanders. Despite amending the process with modern tools, we'll still learn something about the essential nature of the banjo. This class is open to all levels of woodworking experience, but a basic familiarity with stringed instruments is necessary.

You'll be provided with a profiled hardwood banjo neck, a gourd, goatskin for the head, bone for the nut, nylon strings and tuning pegs.

You'll construct your own banjo by shaping and finishing the neck, fitting it to the gourd, stretching the head over the gourd, fitting the tuning pegs and nut, making a bridge, and stringing it up.

I'll have a couple peghead templates to work from, but bring any design ideas to the class to customize your own banjo. You may also want to start thinking of soundhole designs to cut into the gourd.

We'll be using an assortment of woodworking tools. I'll bring some

hand tools, and large stationary power tools are provided by Augusta, but you'll need to buy a few hand tools for the class. Here's a list of them with links to a source to buy them from:

Although it uses modern materials, this spokeshave is in the form of one from the 18th century and arrives pretty sharp:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=4490

The Spokeshave can be a little challenging to use. A less historical, but less expensive ALTERNATIVE TO THE SPOKESHAVE for less ambitious students is this microplane rasp. It removes wood quickly and easily, though it leaves a much rougher surface. The starter set with the provided flat blade is all you'll need:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5166&productid=828809

After using the Spokeshave or microplane rasp, we'll move use the 4 in

1 rasp for general cleaning up:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=278

In the past I brought the following tools myself, but past students have suggested that I have future students buy their own. I guess folks did spend a lot of time waiting for their turn with these small, inexpensive tools

A detail trim saw, "B" in the picture:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=855

The 6 inch pocket ruler on this page, you'll be surprised how much you use it:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=441

If you already own any tools you think might be useful in the class, please do bring them!

I look forward to meeting and spending a week with you this summer,