Love your channel. I have a 1920's Gretsch 7" banjolele with the original skin. I am about to replace the old head. Also several other repairs to it! Thanks for doing this video (although many years ago). Your techniques have helped me with so many ukulele repairs and restorations!
It's called a banjo-uke and is tuned the same as a regular ukulele of G,C,E,A or as some people say, "My Dog has Fleas", tuning. Just because they are small they are not a toy by any means. It is a regular instrument. much like your Mandolyn. I have a few ukes as well as a banjo-uke. The banjo uke sounds the same as a regular banjo but with one less bass string.
Been a lot of years since I've put on calfskin heads. Back when I played banjo when they came out with plastic heads I was surprised how easy they were to install compared to these. Good video!
Hi Jerry. I am working my way through all your videos. Now we are in MY world! I have "set up" and re-headed a couple of hundred African djembe drums plus a few mechanically tuned ones. And you are correct sir, smaller is definitely more difficult! I've even seen a number of drums from India that use that banjo tightening hardware. Carry on ;-)
Might add, if the strings are new or never been stretched properly to proper tuning, it will not hold the tuning for a short while till the strings have stretched enough. Once strings are stretched properly, they will hold the tuning just fine. Remember, it's a family cousin to the regular ukulele not a banjo. Some people make cigar box guitars with 4 strings and use the same tuning. Some of those cigar box ukes have old cookie tins as bodies and a maple neck, which give off the same sound as this Banjo-Uke but never need skinned/plastic drumheads.
Jerry, it looks like a banjo ukulele. I made one of those in a concert size and learned to play guitar on it by putting a low 4th string on it, so it was tuned like a 4 string guitar. Mine wasn't a resonator type, it had an open back.
Enjoyed that! I have a Gretsch banjolele that I bought a few years ago. It might be just a bit bigger than this instrument, and it holds tuning very well.
as usual, Jerry, you are one creative luthier! But, you forgot one of thebasic tools of banjo repair.......the hammer ! i bet you could have used a hammer on that one. Not necessarily for the head but to take out your frustration. You know, that is the best adjustment tool for banjos. And....that is directly from a banjo player ; -) Seriously, I enjoyed the video. ...keep 'em comin' !
very cool !!! maybe 12 years ago on a whim i bought a tenor banjo ,knew nothing about them at the time ,the calfskin head was torn ,I wanted to replace it with same but soon found that they are not cheap ,so ended up with a remo head ,still a project havnt got to yet ,but that was interesting jerry ,where would 1 aquire calfskin ? i have bongos that are very old as well and sure would be cool to restore them as well
Love your channel. I have a 1920's Gretsch 7" banjolele with the original skin. I am about to replace the old head. Also several other repairs to it! Thanks for doing this video (although many years ago). Your techniques have helped me with so many ukulele repairs and restorations!
It's called a banjo-uke and is tuned the same as a regular ukulele of G,C,E,A or as some people say, "My Dog has Fleas", tuning. Just because they are small they are not a toy by any means. It is a regular instrument. much like your Mandolyn. I have a few ukes as well as a banjo-uke. The banjo uke sounds the same as a regular banjo but with one less bass string.
Been a lot of years since I've put on calfskin heads. Back when I played banjo when they came out with plastic heads I was surprised how easy they were to install compared to these. Good video!
Thanks Randy
Hi Jerry. I am working my way through all your videos. Now we are in MY world! I have "set up" and re-headed a couple of hundred African djembe drums plus a few mechanically tuned ones. And you are correct sir, smaller is definitely more difficult! I've even seen a number of drums from India that use that banjo tightening hardware. Carry on ;-)
Might add, if the strings are new or never been stretched properly to proper tuning, it will not hold the tuning for a short while till the strings have stretched enough. Once strings are stretched properly, they will hold the tuning just fine. Remember, it's a family cousin to the regular ukulele not a banjo. Some people make cigar box guitars with 4 strings and use the same tuning. Some of those cigar box ukes have old cookie tins as bodies and a maple neck, which give off the same sound as this Banjo-Uke but never need skinned/plastic drumheads.
you can use the waste for violin bridge if you want to reuse a bridge with deep cuts ;-) one has enough for 1000 years.
Jerry, it looks like a banjo ukulele. I made one of those in a concert size and learned to play guitar on it by putting a low 4th string on it, so it was tuned like a 4 string guitar. Mine wasn't a resonator type, it had an open back.
I have one it's a Banjolele. Ukulele neck - banjo pot
Great Job when i started playing music most all banjo pickers used animal skin for the head again thanks for making the video I enjoyed it
Thanks Bobby.
I don't claim to be an expert but I used to put a wet rag or sponge in the middle to slow the drying. Also, we called that a ukejoe.
Enjoyed that! I have a Gretsch banjolele that I bought a few years ago. It might be just a bit bigger than this instrument, and it holds tuning very well.
Thanks Dean.
Good work Jerry I put one on for a guy years ago it never did get as tight as yours did.
Thanks Steve, it was all luck!
it's a banjolele...not a bluegrass instrument but a real instrument none the less. love your videos. keep em coming
Darrell Blanchard thanks for watching.
Turned out great you do some good work!
Thanks for watching.
as usual, Jerry, you are one creative luthier! But, you forgot one of thebasic tools of banjo repair.......the hammer ! i bet you could have used a hammer on that one. Not necessarily for the head but to take out your frustration. You know, that is the best adjustment tool for banjos. And....that is directly from a banjo player ; -) Seriously, I enjoyed the video. ...keep 'em comin' !
Thanks Leon. Working to put a new neck and tuners on an old Kay Kraft banjo right now. Video to follow.
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very cool !!! maybe 12 years ago on a whim i bought a tenor banjo ,knew nothing about them at the time ,the calfskin head was torn ,I wanted to replace it with same but soon found that they are not cheap ,so ended up with a remo head ,still a project havnt got to yet ,but that was interesting jerry ,where would 1 aquire calfskin ? i have bongos that are very old as well and sure would be cool to restore them as well
That was quite a while ago. I think I got the calfskin from Stewart MacDonald
sir what is the measurements of strings on your jig for the mandolin.
Rick Murphy I must be losing it because I'm drawing a blank on what you're asking. Sorry
No haters in this video. Whey don't you just block them?