Mountain Banjo Kit

This video documents the build of a Musicmakers Mountain Banjo Kit. Hopefully this video will be helpful to those that are thinking about purchasing one of these kits, or are in the process of building one themselves. It is a well built kit with great instructions and was a really fun build.
Here's a link to the kit I built: www.harpkit.co...
Thanks to Matt Edwards for providing the Music for this video! He recorded and played the music on a Musicmakers Mt. Banjo with nylgut strings.
Tune 1: Ladies on the Steamboat (tuning gDGBD)
Tune 2: Lily of the Valley (tuning eCGCD)
Tune 3: You Married My Daughter, But You Didn't (tuning gDGBD)
Tune 4: Pretty Betty Martin (tuning gDGBD)

[@ranzamaceanruig]

I've wanted one of these banjos for close to 30 years but never pulled the trigger for lots of reasons, mostly financial. Now I have Parkinson's and building one seems daunting, heck, even playing is a bit of a chore. Guess I shoulda made it a priority earlier. Let this be a lesson to you banjo kids out there. Your kit came out beautifully!

[@ckmworks3509]

It was brought up that the action on the banjo was to high in the video. It was a great observation and appreciate that kind of feedback. I did lower the action quite a bit already but did that after the video was completed. I did this by sanding down the nut and re-notching the grooves for the strings. It's a lot better now, but I believe I will lower it even a bit more.

[@TheCheeseBaron]

I did this mountain banjo from musicmakers. The first time I put tension on the strings, I heard a pop. It was one of the joints on the wood rim from the maker. It dulls the tone with a broken pot. I need to take it all apart to fix it, and haven't for like 4 years. Got discouraged, maybe someday I'll fix it. Yours looks great.

[@clawhammer704]

Are u putting a 15 degree back angle on the headstock of the neck?

[@ckmworks3509]

I'm not positive of that angle, it was cut by the makers of the kit, not by me. I'm sure they would be happy to answer that if you contacted them directly.

[@fullgopherman7066]

I'm gonna build one of these but I want to use a different skin head, would I be able to do that or is skin head included in the kit designed specifically for the build

[@ckmworks3509]

I just used the one from the kit. I'm sure you can reach out to them and find out the details. They are a good group of people and I'm sure they would be willing to answer your questions.

[@MrHacienda1]

Hello I have a mountain banjo with no tailpiece can you send me a picture of this one in your video. I saw how you put the nails in the hoop to secure the strings, but what is that piece of wood on the top that the strings travel over before they get to the bridge?

[@ckmworks3509]

Hey, it's actually just a piece of leather the strings travel over on the ring. It's held in place by the tension of the strings.

[@MrHacienda1]

@@ckmworks3509 OK Thank you I see now

[@thefounder4132]

I need one please, how much?

[@ckmworks3509]

Hello, they are a good kit and there is a link in the description to their website.