I did it! After 3 heart attacks, 1 stroke and 4 pairs of trousers I now have railroad spikes on my banjo! My tip for anyone who is brave/stupid enough to take a drill to their instrument is don’t underestimate the need for the feeler gauge, would have definitely saved me from 2 of the heart attacks the stroke and saved a pair of trousers. I used an old credit card, which nearly became a permanent feature of the banjo.
Thanks, I have to do this today when I get to the shop. Been repairing guitars for many years but never did this job before. Feeling pretty confident thanks to your video.
1/32" = 0.03125", in case your drill set is marked in thousandths. Great vid, I'll be using it to install some spikes that arrive with my Twanger, which is out for delivery as I type! Spikes will go on a couple of my other banjos.
Thanks for posting this video! You did a fantastic job of explaining what you were doing, as well as telling us why you did it. This video will be great to show someone wanting spikes to help them understand what will be happening to their baby when I install them. Excellent!
Thanks for this. Isn't it "dangerous" to place the opening of the spike downwards? I learned that it should be upwards so the the string cannot slip out due to "intense" playing ;-) ?
Is it the same to aim them up or down? I feel that downwards, with the force of the thumb, the string could come out of place. Thank you! excellent work
I have one banjo where the top of the spikes point one way, a second where they point the other way. I did one, a luthier did the other. Both approaches work equally well for me.
I’ve been looking for this information for ages! Living in Brazil, it’s kinda hard to come by this kind of content, since I didn’t even knew what words to use when searching on google! Do the spikes interfere with your “normal” playing in any way? Is it hard to press on a fret with the spike installed near it?
This is great, thank you Ben. A quick question, I have a spike for my 5th string, not a bone or nylon version and has worked its way loose. My closest Luthier is 100,s of miles away, do you or your followers have a solution. Many Thanks Chris (Oxford UK)
Super glue in the hole then put the spike back quickly. It should stay. Or get wood dust the same color as the fret board. Mix it with titebond wood glue. Then fill the hole and allow to dry. Redrill
@@Phoenixhunter157 I pulled my spike out and put some loctite super glue in the hole and put the spike back in the hole. It’s still holding six months later. You might have to tap the spike a little bit with a hammer and nail set. The glue came from Walmart. It was under three dollars. I hope this helps.
Now, what happens should your drill breaks? How do you take it out? and please explain the depth of the drill hole. Is it drilled the full length of the spike or just a little bit to start the spike
So, it would be helpful to list the things you need first so we can gather all that stuff before watching: So 1. Pencil 2. hammer 3. finish nail 4. dremel with 1/32" bit 5. railroad spike 6. file 7. punch 8. 12 thousandth gauge (what?) or credit card. Otherwise, very helpful.
Followed the instructions per your TH-cam video and installed spikes at the 7th and 9th frets. When I got it back in tune the 5th string was muted. The string was hitting the spike at the 9th fret. I used the proper feeler gauge when I installed the spikes. What now?? Where did I go wrong?
Good question -- my understanding is that, for a half step up to an Ab/G# (equivalent to one fret up), people just tighten the fifth string up to that tone. Any more tightening than that risks breaking the fifth string.
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I did it! After 3 heart attacks, 1 stroke and 4 pairs of trousers I now have railroad spikes on my banjo!
My tip for anyone who is brave/stupid enough to take a drill to their instrument is don’t underestimate the need for the feeler gauge, would have definitely saved me from 2 of the heart attacks the stroke and saved a pair of trousers. I used an old credit card, which nearly became a permanent feature of the banjo.
Wonderful tutorial! It showed me that I will never attempt this on my own. :)
Fantastic tutorial! I'll definitely be testing a few spikes in some scrap wood before going right to my banjo :)
I should’ve done that my drillbit was just a hare too big and I messed up. :(
Thanks, I have to do this today when I get to the shop. Been repairing guitars for many years but never did this job before. Feeling pretty confident thanks to your video.
It’s nice to see what you are going to do when you install my 5th string capos . Thanks for posting this video Jake .
Thanks for the vid. I have heard banjo players talking about railroad spike capoes but had no idea what they were talking about. Now I know
1/32" = 0.03125", in case your drill set is marked in thousandths.
Great vid, I'll be using it to install some spikes that arrive with my Twanger, which is out for delivery as I type! Spikes will go on a couple of my other banjos.
Thanks! Man, you're gonna love that banjo!
Thanks for posting this video! You did a fantastic job of explaining what you were doing, as well as telling us why you did it. This video will be great to show someone wanting spikes to help them understand what will be happening to their baby when I install them. Excellent!
Thanks, Ben, great tutorial. My problem is breaking bits in hard ebony!
You are awesome!!!!! Exactly what I was needing to know!!!!! Muh banjo is about to be a wide open ass kicker!!!!!
Thanks for this. Isn't it "dangerous" to place the opening of the spike downwards?
I learned that it should be upwards so the the string cannot slip out due to "intense" playing ;-) ?
i dont play banjo and my whole life i thought those were 1/4 step frets, i guess i learned something today
Excellent! Thanks from Barcelona
Is it the same to aim them up or down? I feel that downwards, with the force of the thumb, the string could come out of place. Thank you! excellent work
I have long thought the same thing, but have never gotten a good answer. They all do them this way, however.
I have one banjo where the top of the spikes point one way, a second where they point the other way. I did one, a luthier did the other. Both approaches work equally well for me.
Great tutorial! Perfect for my not too expensive banjos. However, I’ll pay a luthier to do the more expensive banjo.
Nah, practice on a cheap banjo once then lay it on the good one. You'll do great.
@@BanjoBen I’ll give it a shot🤘
I’ve been looking for this information for ages! Living in Brazil, it’s kinda hard to come by this kind of content, since I didn’t even knew what words to use when searching on google!
Do the spikes interfere with your “normal” playing in any way? Is it hard to press on a fret with the spike installed near it?
If done correctly, it will not interfere with your playing at all. The spike is sunk a little deeper than the height of the fret wire.
Cool video, I never really knew how it was done. Thx
This is great, thank you Ben.
A quick question, I have a spike for my 5th string, not a bone or nylon version and has worked its way loose. My closest Luthier is 100,s of miles away, do you or your followers have a solution.
Many Thanks
Chris (Oxford UK)
Super glue in the hole then put the spike back quickly. It should stay. Or get wood dust the same color as the fret board. Mix it with titebond wood glue. Then fill the hole and allow to dry. Redrill
Awesome Job Banjo Ben !
You sir have some big co-jones... I wouldn't be brave enough to drill my banjo.
What do you do when you have a spike that’s loosened up over the years? Is there some glue or something you can fix it with?
I have had to pull the spike and fill the hole with wood glue and ebony sawdust, then you can reinstall.
Banjo Ben Clark Thanks Ben.
I’m going through this same thing right now
@@Phoenixhunter157 I pulled my spike out and put some loctite super glue in the hole and put the spike back in the hole. It’s still holding six months later. You might have to tap the spike a little bit with a hammer and nail set. The glue came from Walmart. It was under three dollars. I hope this helps.
@@TheBanjobuddy thank you! I actually have some loctite in my garage! Thank you! That is very helpful. Much appreciated. And happy new year’s
Great info. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Jake,
Do you drill the full depth of the post?
Now, what happens should your drill breaks? How do you take it out? and please explain the depth of the drill hole. Is it drilled the full length of the spike or just a little bit to start the spike
Don't break the drill bit. Ha! When I do it, I drill the whole length of the spike.
You don't use any glue?
Thanks for a great tutorial!
Glad it was helpful!
Very well explained
So, it would be helpful to list the things you need first so we can gather all that stuff before watching: So 1. Pencil 2. hammer 3. finish nail 4. dremel with 1/32" bit 5. railroad spike 6. file 7. punch 8. 12 thousandth gauge (what?) or credit card. Otherwise, very helpful.
No glue?
I bought a spike, now I want to install a banjo on it
Thank you
Very cool thank you
Followed the instructions per your TH-cam video and installed spikes at the 7th and 9th frets. When I got it back in tune the 5th string was muted. The string was hitting the spike at the 9th fret. I used the proper feeler gauge when I installed the spikes. What now?? Where did I go wrong?
Your 5th string pip could be low, could be lots of things. Give us a call at the shop and we'll walk you through it: 833-226-5623
What’s a pip? Gladys Knight?
Excellent
I use a pin vise to drill.
Agree- motor, drill bit, fingerboard--not a good combo for me--just twisting is the right speed!
Why is there no spike on the first fret of the fifth string to take it up a semitone or am i being stupid?
Good question -- my understanding is that, for a half step up to an Ab/G# (equivalent to one fret up), people just tighten the fifth string up to that tone. Any more tightening than that risks breaking the fifth string.
Why don't they face the other way, that seems like you can pluck it out of the spike!
Not when they're put in correctly, no. This also makes it easier to use the spikes with one hand.
th-cam.com/video/jEHYqSYZR8I/w-d-xo.html
Man oh man that's treading very close to the edge!! The edge of despair for me.
I'm terrified of putting holes in my banjo bridge.
why would you...?
@@joshuavercobassist1594 Shoot, I meant neck.
The neck of the banjo is not the bridge.
as an electric guitar player, putting nails on the fretboard is just painful to watch.
Theys a easier way to do that ,,,,,,and that's not the way I do it