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Banjo Inlay restoration
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=8581		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  1bordeaux [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:48 am ]
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Hey guys,

Here's an 1890's Acme Banjo,(made by S.S. Stewart), which needed a slight over haul. It was missing over half of the inlays and had numerous sections of fretboard missing.
We decided to replace the fretboard, all the inlay, and re-finish/ repair the headstock.


Here's the fretboard removal!
They had cut every inlay slot completely through the board. (Where was dremel company )


The completed restoration.


Pale red ab and pewter for the vine.


this last image includes the only inlays salvageable- The "flower pot" at the bottom. most of the inlays were only about .008, probably due to the fretboard being sanded down during it's lifetime.


I took plenty of photos and measurements prior to beginning the job to keep everything as close as possible to the original,(including the flower pot slightly off center!)
It was truly interesting to uncover the techniques that were used to cut and inlay back then, without any type of router.


Thanks for looking...........

Paul
Author:  burbank [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:59 am ]
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Paul,

I love old banjos.

Fantastic piece of work! But then I guess that's nothing new, from what I've seen of your work on the web.
Author:  Colin S [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:15 am ]
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Now you see I just don't like abalone and pearl on a guitar at all, but on an old banjo, it just looks right! Fabulous job.

Shame you have to marry your cousin before you can play one, . Whoops, I do play one!

Colin
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:09 am ]
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Fantastic job Paul, you never cease to amaze me brother!

That red ab is Gorgeous!
Author:  Bobc [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:01 am ]
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Wow!! Beautiful work Paul.
Author:  LanceK [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:08 am ]
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Paul, that is fantastic!
Author:  1bordeaux [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:37 am ]
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[QUOTE=Colin S] Shame you have to marry your cousin before you can play one, . Whoops, I do play one!

Colin[/QUOTE]
Say Hello to your significant...Cousin
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:19 pm ]
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Paul, that was courageous of you. But the owner's faith was not misplaced, you did an outstanding job!

Steve
Author:  old man [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:17 pm ]
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Paul, that is great work!!   Although there several around this forum who probably appreciate the "before" picture more.


Ron
Author:  Mark Swanson [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:27 pm ]
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I love those old banjos, and I am happy to admit that I play one as well. I wish I had the old Stewart that I was loaned as a kid of a tender 16 years...but the old lady who loaned it to me took it back! But I still love the banjo.

The inlay work on the old Stewarts wasn't very well done, and your inlay is better done than the original as far as I can see!
Author:  1bordeaux [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:13 am ]
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[QUOTE=old man] Paul, that is great work!!   Although there several around this forum who probably appreciate the "before" picture more.


Ron[/QUOTE]

Ron, I never had a fretboard come off in pieces before;
Now that I think about it, it was enjoyable!!!!

The headplate inlays were actually cut to fit the existing recesses, which had lost most of the shell.

I was even able to save the old skin by resoaking it.

Overall a great learning experience!

Paul
Author:  JBreault [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:04 am ]
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Beautiful restoration Paul. I have a feeling the restoration probably looks better than the original inlay!
Author:  Louis Freilicher [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:46 pm ]
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Very well done indeed!! I'm about to start cutting new fingerboard
inlay for an Orpheum #3 special. I'll post pics when she's done.

Louis
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