As we roll into the fall season, I finished up two new gourd banjos. For #15, made of cherry and padauk with a pear wood accent, I tried a new scarf joint that I stole from guitar builders. The walnut instrument has a free-floating fifth string and "classic" strings that are tuned a fourth low (so open D instead of open G). Both have the rich and warm sound that makes these instruments fun to play.

As an aside, I recently put the same strings on my Gold Tone BC-350+ open back, only to find that it lacks the "something" that makes gourd instruments feel so full. I ended up swapping it back to steel strings, which was an easy choice now that these two are finished up.

Banjo #15: Cherry and padauk

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Banjo #16: Curly maple and walnut