Trad Banjo

05/09/2026

Congratulations Daniel! I am so happy to see this unique, modified Orpheum banjo in your talented young hands. Best of luck in Connaught.

04/21/2026

Congratulations Patrick Winch for winning the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh last weekend. Thanks for stopping by the shop on your way home for a visit and to record a few tunes on some banjos in the shop. 🏆

04/13/2026

This is a great banjo! It’s not a “Recording” but it will have have great tone and volume

04/09/2026

I had a great National Banjo Day today. This all original (original tailpiece is broken but in the case), one owner 1930’s Gibson TB-00 was brought in by the original owners daughter and son today. They wanted to know more about it and what it would take to get it playing again. In talking the daughter of the original owner told me her mother owned the banjo, and her and her siblings would come into town to play music weekly. I let them know that my wife’s family owned the music store in town back then called Smith’s House of Music. I also said that the desk the banjo is sitting on was my wife’s great grandfather’s and was used in the store. Could this banjo and desk have met before?

04/05/2026

To have a “well rounded” banjo it’s important to show them a world exists outside the pubs and pints. This one spent a few days relaxing off the grid in the PA mountains.

03/31/2026

Interesting discovery today! While helping a friend over a video chat I stumbled upon a way to determine your action height by using coins.

Dime - .056” - very low action, my personal preference with a light touch, great to play if there’s no buzzing.
Quarter .067” - low action, easy to play, heavy pickers will buzz
Nickel .074” - medium action the lowest that I setup banjos that leave my shop. Heavy pickers might still get a buzz.

Directions, slide the coin on top of the 12 fret level to the fret board. It should barely touch the string. If you feel too much of the string on the coin try a lower coin. If you have much space above the nickel your action is too high.

03/27/2026

Two walnut banjos recently arrived! A Weymann Style 6 and a Peterson (Majestic).

03/23/2026

I just listed this very ornate and finely crafted Ludwig Standard for sale.

This is some of the finest craftsmanship you find on a banjo. The Ludwig Standard Art was among the top of line that Ludwig offered. Neck - The neck is made from walnut with a multi-piece center stripe inlaid with mother of pearl diamonds. This inlaid stripe is also under the fingerboard binding. Th...

03/19/2026

A little repair to a Ludwig Standard Art resonator. Captions with the pictures.