full build process of two gourd banjos

[@WampusWrangler]

my man is using a skill saw barefoot and getting his fingers an inch from the band saw. You know that banjo is gonna rip bc that's some hillbilly shit right there

[@HistoryBoy]

This video should be viral. You nailed the thumbnail, and your camera quality is absolutely incredible. But I’d also settle for a Clifton Hicks comment. 😁

[@bengreco]

yeah haha was really cool to see his comment, would've never made any of these if it wasn't for him

[@BanjoBasement]

Much harder making 2 at the same time - well done! I wish I had discovered the wonder of banjos when I was younger, but better late than never eh? Cheers Ben!

[@bengreco]

same! took me till after college to discover them, but I''m glad I did

[@powerbr2929]

You are no Joke my friend ! The finishing looks stunning, then you`re done talking and back it up amazingly, with a high sound quality and a clear show how skillful you are.

[@AFMR0420]

I was gonna say a few things, but at some point it just became, oh, WOW!

[@mikegiammarise7861]

You should try cobblers pliers when stretching your hides

[@RifleRick]

I swear you used 3 power tools. Best how to I've seen in years. Sounds great too.

[@jfhorselenberg7778]

Absolutely 💯 delightful ❤ to see u? Reshaping in u tube,! A art, which ,otherwise, would be lost!? Continue , my friend 🧡 😊

[@NoahsBike]

Wow!! Thank you for showing us your Skills🙏 This was a very enjoyable experience! I hope you have great success!!

[@Gunnyman]

Both banjos look like pieces of art ! You’re a true craftsman..

[@RoflMcCoptrson]

My partner bought that first banjo that he showed a glimpse of in this video. Beautiful instrument, beautiful sound.

[@seahorsemafia]

They look as beautiful as they sound. How long have you been making them at this point? It’s something I’d love to do one day. I got a long way to go but only way to start is to start, right?

[@mikegiammarise7861]

This is such beautiful art keep going

[@gtrboy77]

That’s friggin brilliant to sand it on the asphalt!

[@bengreco]

I wish I could remember where I learned that tip from, it was definitely another builder on youtube. It's super helpful, especially when you butcher the cut like I usually do

[@jfhorselenberg7778]

Ur 1😂 of the Mohicans left, ? With, Witt & tenacity of banjo making,? (Like the glogg makers in the, Netherlands ❤ thank u for sharing ,ur original ality😊

[@mettsmusic3460]

Impressive work. Especially considering the tools that you work with. Nice sound. I hope that you get more commissions.

[@rodrigocozta]

very good, try use carnauba wax or beer wax after oil absorved on wood.

[@whatsbehindthesky]

I love seeing the process! It would be interesting to hear the story of how you started making banjos

[@bengreco]

Thanks! The story is basically just that I wanted a gourd banjo but didn't have any money so I made some crappy ones, then by the time I made a decent one, it had become hobby

[@whatsbehindthesky]

@@bengreco Cool! I play violin/fiddle and ukulele, but banjo is next on my list of string instruments to learn

[@sc1915]

Fantastic!!!

[@rebeckacanton2403]

Absolutely incredible and entirely inspiring! Where do you learn to even do this !?! I will now be studying this video like a mad woman and attempting to make my own!

[@bengreco]

thanks! mostly learned from the internet and trial and error. best of luck on making your own! I wanna get some more in depth tutorial videos made when I have the time

[@MustDote]

Wow that was impressive hand made skill and such a great finish. Sounded great!

[@dobrodoc]

Great work! What brand and type of strings do you use? Ty!

[@jameslovelace8828]

Beautiful outcome from a simple skillful process.

[@SirJulianRaya]

Where'd you get that big piece of flames maple for 20 bucks?

[@bengreco]

I got really lucky with that, I found it at a Ganahl Lumber in Pasadena, CA. It was just being sold as regular maple for like $5 bf or something

[@vrai3078]

what kind of fiberglass do you use?, is it easily available in hardware stores because I have a gourd project of my own but it's incredibly thin and I am totally going to have to use fiberglass, however I've never used it before on a gourd...

[@bengreco]

I just use bondo epoxy and fiberglass cloth which is available in pretty much any hardware store, usually in the automotive section. It's a little tricky to do but if you take your time and have a few pairs of gloves to switch out when they get too sticky, it's pretty straightforward and even if you mess up you can just wait for it to cure and come back to add more layers

[@vrai3078]

@@bengreco thanks man

[@KM-om1dy]

So beautiful! A true master craftsman.

[@ericdoolin3703]

Ben Greco, how bout woodburning in the name Greco on that head there........just a thought. i would. be proud and slap it on there. Im fully impressed. Case usually is somebody can build but can't play, or play but can't cut a straight line if it killed them. Let alone be allowed even next to a band saw. You do both. Subscribed and will be sharing your work to others. Good job. Wish you lived down the road or something like that, lol, need more interesting creative people in my life. Especially if they play banjo! Hell, the whole world does. If u keep at it, i see you totally hitting triple digits one day. Ive made and sold a few instruments in my time, but nothing that special. .........Greco........even looks like a Gibson, or a Fender or Ibanez kinda name, you know?? lol. Fuck yea! Neat. Fucking super neat bro. ....dope. yes, totally dope!! love it live well, and rest easy my friend.

[@ErickvdK]

Love your work. Fellow builder here, share most of your choices!😊 edit; all choices!

[@lorenzomutal725]

how much do you spend on materials for a banjo like this?

[@bengreco]

it varies and depends on how good of a deal I can get for the wood, but it usually falls somewhere around $125-175ish

[@zinnz7750]

im building my first Gourd banjo in New Zealamnd and your knowledge is a big help, first thing i notice is how thin skinned new zealand gourds are compared to yours , yours look 3 times thicker, so i guess im going to have to find some way of reinforcing mine, maybe make a internal rim or something. keep up the good work bro its inspiring , subbed.

[@YaSalaamYaSalaam]

Nice work. Making do without all the fancy tools and still turning out a nice product is a feat. 💯

[@yellowcat1310]

there's a farm near here that sells allkinds of gourds. never been just drove by it a lot. i'm going to go gourd shopping the winter. maybe now.

[@soulance8342]

Did you pick one up? The cure process takes a while.

[@Sor00]

Скпер! SUPER! SONG.Звук.

[@jfhorselenberg7778]

Ur amazing ,what, made u? 💖 into, wanting? Too, make, Banjo's pls? Thx😊😂

[@AuroCords]

Those are gourdgeous! Congrats :) Very interesting to watch you build them as well. What kind of music do you listen to while building? If you don't mind me asking.

[@bengreco]

Thanks! I most listen to audiobooks and podcast while building, but I'll listen to a lot of old blues stuff sometimes to get in the zone

[@AuroCords]

@@bengreco awesome

[@anthilly2585]

You sir are an artist of the finest kind, amazing, chapeau! All the best from Mick in france.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Great work. They both look great. And good picking, too.

[@bengreco]

thanks!! I'm sure you can tell where I learned the picking lol, means a lot!

[@モフモフ-z7d]

Wao! waooo〜n! 🐺🌕 Oh…　oh my god …😱 It's the skin of the moon!! 🌕 Very beautiful😳wao〜😮 Great work!👏

[@johnbowden-f4i]

Thanks heaps, inspirational. Enjoyed the tunes too. I've made a few gourd banjos and learnt some things here. Never thought about oiling the skin tho. What oil do you use? John Bramfield South Australia

[@bengreco]

I learned about oiling the skin from Jason Romero, who's pretty much the master. I'm not sure what he does exactly, but I just put a very thin layer of Danish oil over it, not sure how much it helps but doesn't seem to hurt.

[@muttandjeff5213]

Ben! Brilliant stuff! Both banjo builds are beautiful. Well done brother! Someone snap up that build #15!

[@bengreco]

Thanks!! Hope you're enjoying #14!!

[@MEHpewpewMEH]

all the people complaining about proper tool use are scared

[@benearte]

🤩

[@jfhorselenberg7778]

Ben ur a legend😂❤ thx for sharing

[@pedrosalguero5664]

nice banjo sorry to keep asking questions, but do you think cochineal dye could work to stain a skin?

[@bengreco]

thanks! no problem I'm happy to answer questions. I'm not familiar with that dye, but after looking it up I don't see why not. I'd maybe test it out first with a small scrap of skin and see what happens before dying the whole head

[@pedrosalguero5664]

ok thanks@@bengreco

[@hh4826]

Whats the song you're playing around 16:30? Sounds wonderful

[@bengreco]

thanks! It's Wise County Jail by Dock Boggs. Clifton Hicks has a great tutorial of it, and I think what I'm playing is his arrangement.

[@hh4826]

Awesome thank you. Your rendition is magical on the fretless banjo

[@greglessard1169]

Good work. Hey, what's that very last tune you started playing right at the end? I heard it played by a local player in my town but never sourced it.

[@bengreco]

that's Walkin' Boss, I learned it from a video of Mike Seeger

[@greglessard1169]

@@bengreco haha, I was thinking they said, "walkin dogs". No wonder I couldn't find it, ha.

[@rabetalouca8390]

Ficou top tabem fis uma viola louca tanque de motor estacionário kkk

[@td4dotnet]

Beautiful craftsmanship Ben you make it look too easy! Very nice!

[@S1P1G3]

Thanks for sharing the building process. I’m looking forward to my first build. These videos are so helpful. Thanks again

[@jamesrmorris1952]

Banjars great

[@davidjones9518]

How mush I’d like to get one

[@PermacultureAppalachia]

Subscribed. 👍🏿👍🏿

[@dostigresbar]

Good job, dude. Congrats. They look and sound awesome.

[@jedfra9172]

Kind of a tongue in cheek comment but only kind of and I mean no disrespect but, Ben cheer up fella. You have some mad skills that so many folk would love to be able to possess. I get you would like better tools etc but I assure you that you are already "killing it" with your craft. It is a genuine thing of beauty how you can turn these raw materials into such wonderful instruments that will create joy for those playing and all who will listen to them in future. Incredible work that you should be immensely proud of.

[@bengreco]

hahaha thanks appreciate it! Yeah I try to show my mistakes in the videos, but I can definitely be too hard on myself.

[@seemsfamiliar]

what strings are you using?

[@spudpud-T67]

I like the sound of the beech one best.

[@williamhopper310]

They look great! What scale length do you use? Nylon or steel strings? Thanks William

[@bengreco]

thanks! I used only nylon strings on these (aquila nylgut). These types of banjos can only be strung with nylon, steel would put too much stress on the neck and would cause damage to the nut and fingerboard. I think scale length for both of these was a standard 26.25"

[@bxnnyblues6033]

I am impressed.

[@swedishcrowbar4211]

What is the gourd you used called?

[@bengreco]

these were both made from kettle gourds

[@swedishcrowbar4211]

@@bengreco Thank’s

[@rachellibman4493]

Amazing to watch. What kind of gourds are those? Can I grow them? lol

[@bengreco]

Yeah! Any hard shell gourds can be grown in most parts of the country. These are kettle gourds, but canteen gourds are also great for banjos

[@terryfinley7760]

Nice work Ben! What is the diameter of your heads?

[@terryfinley7760]

Yes, what is the diameter of the heads used here?

[@Datanditto]

Greatness.

[@phillipbingham487]

excellent

[@JacobvsRex]

NICE!

[@grey3p]

Awesome Work! I’m just getting into gourd banjos and I really want to make one. My biggest problem is getting the neck, I don’t have any woodworking tools so my best bet is to just buy a pre-shaped neck? Also if you have any sources on how to learn to make one of these I’d love to know, Thanks!

[@bengreco]

thanks! you can shape neck with even fewer tools than I have! All you need is a saw and a chisel, and I've even heard of people shaping necks with just a knife. Check out Clifton Hicks' banjo building playlist, he shapes his necks with hand tools and shows the method

[@grey3p]

@@bengrecowill do! Thanks for the feedback, can’t wait to start!!

[@Knutorama]

Excellent video! Well done.

[@musiquefantastique7127]

this is amazing.

[@phillipbingham487]

wow !

[@Darkstar001]

Super cool

[@michaelpthompson]

Inspiring!

[@clawhammer704]

Tru Oil that used on gun stocks is what I use.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Ha ha. Yeah it sucks when you gotta deal whatever tools you have. I'll see people on KZbin who'll make these kinds of things and they'll have table saws and lathes and all this expensive stuff and it's like, well you can afford a banjo. I know that it's not the same but still, the whole idea is this is kind of a poor man's banjo. But I wouldn't want to begrudge anyone for doing what they want. They're welcome to make what they want. It just seems weird that they'd be into this. Or like those cigar box guitars. You know. Not just banjos.

[@bengreco]

haha yeah I started making gourd banjos because I couldn't afford to buy one. Now I finally got a little jobsite table saw and I feel like a king

[@andronikostheophilos]

Fascinating stuff to watch!!! However, you need to take a course of the safe use of bladed tools. I kept thinking you were going to lose a finger or worse. Be safe!!!!! Nice work.!!!

[@musiquefantastique7127]

*Safety Boy has entered the chat*

[@pedrosalguero5664]

What kind of gourd are you using?

[@bengreco]

I think these were both canteen gourds that I got from wellburn gourd farm in southern CA

[@pedrosalguero5664]

thanks, I'll probably ask alot more questions over the coming weeks@@bengreco

[@ともゆき池田]

I am watching your show in Japan. Your technique is great, can you make a 45 mm or 50 mm thick neck Gourd banjo?

[@bengreco]

thanks! yeah I could make pretty much any dimension

[@sublimexs]

great craftsmanship

[@yellowcat1310]

i want one

[@Frownlander]

Could you make a banjo out of a pumpkin?

[@bengreco]

for halloween?

[@Frownlander]

@@bengreco YESSSSSS 🎃

[@bengreco]

impossible@@Frownlander

[@Frownlander]

@@bengreco unsubscribing

[@fuujinmugen]

Make ‘em when you wanna! In your own time! New Sub! Thank you for sharing. Very nice work and playing! Definitely do make some from different Pumpkins! Each would have a unique Sound from the various Bowl shapes. Banjo Regards from South Africa!

[@jamesault7832]

Shalom Ben! Todah Rabah for showing us your craft in making these wonderful banjos. Baruch HaShem.

[@pamlico53]

Making do with what you have. Very admirable. However the safety issues others have pointed out are real issues. Not understanding machinery safety Will result in you becoming a statistic. Stop and get some training. It will cost you only afew hours of time. It’s not a matter of if but when. Losing a fingertip, or worse, is no badge of honor for a woodworker.

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

An excellent video on how to lose body parts through ignorance and being too lazy to learn basic tool use. There us an enormous probability that he will never play a musical instrument due to missing body parts.

[@guitfidle]

Nicely done! I found a thick glass shelf from a display cabinet at a garage sale for next to nothing. I glue sandpaper to it for levelling bodies, neck faces, etc. Works like a champ (plus, I don't think any part of my driveway is flat enough to do that on 😁)

[@bengreco]

damn yeah that's a good find, my driveway is definitely not flat. It works for the gourd, but now I'm gonna be looking for glass to level my neck faces. Probably a lot cheaper than a granite slab

[@herdfan697278]

What a disgusting picture! No way I will watch nor share!