That looks great, Mark.  I do indeed hope you make more.

Thank you @Bob! I love the voice of a gourd banjo! There is nothing warmer to me. One day I will learn to play! Anyone reading this want to trade an instrument for lessons?

I don't think I can put videos of others playing my instruments, but here are two links where you can hear the banjo. Here are two different sounds.

This was at the Homer Ledford Festival last year.

This is Val at home .

Big smiles to all!

really, REALLY cool banjo. I never saw a gourd banjo. Do you have any sound or video files?

Very beautiful gift Mark. Wow Lisa you know your banjer, great information.

Golly I didn't even notice the 5th string heart hole....so sweeeet!  

Thank you so much for the kind words. I love it, too. Please don't shut up! How else can I learn? And I plan on building more of these because I love the tone.

And thank you for all of the info.

I originally had the bridge centered in the picture because I thought that was the best place, but as we tuned it it made its way to the back. I will make some softer bridges to experiment with.

One secret thing I did for this was to make a pine ring to put around the edge of the gourd so that I can stretch the skin tighter. It really helped. I'll do this again with a harder wood on the next one to see what happens. But in my mind the voice gets louder and the tone richer--we'll see.

And the carving is really similar to what I do on the dulcimer because it just feels right. Plus it was a great mechanical solution to keeping the gourd, strings, and tailpiece attached to the fretboard. I love carving scrolls.

Dena Jennings has been so helpful with information, and she supplied me with the strings and the goat skin. But I'm definitely following the tradition of doing what I know with the help of those who'll help. Val and I want to go over to Dena's to take her banjo building workshop--it'll be our honeymoon.

I really love the whole thing, but the heart hole for the 5th string is just pretty to me.

Thanks again!

I luuuuuuuuuuv it Mark!!!     How wonderful this is for Val to have and play.  

I see you used the Aquilla red bass string.  Is it a goat or calf skin head? 

That tiny tailpiece scroll/curl is just gorgeous.

You know, gourd/minstrel banjos are unique beasts that don't always follow the rules.
Two little non-intuitive tips you can try on them that can do brilliant things for the tone:  for some reason putting the bridge right in the exact middle does not produce the best tone- better to slide it an inch or so to either side- towards neck or towards tail.  Has something to do with allowing vibrations better.  Also: you wouldn't think so but in lightweight minstrel and gourd banjos, a softwood bridge usually yields the best resonance- try whittling a bridge from some good spruce or cedar that matches the bridge you have on there, and test the difference in sound as an experiment.  The bridge can be around 1/4" thick at its base and taper up thinner at top.  

Lots of folks carry  two bridges for banjos that are tackheads (no easy-adjust tension brackets)- one normal bridge for dry weather, and one that's taller- to slip in during humid conditions when the skin sags a bit.  Some folks pack a hair dryer or light bulb to tighten and dry a sagging head....or lay the banjer a few feet from the campfire or woodstove for a few minutes before playing (but not too near!)   =8-o

Ok blahblahblah... i'll shut up now.  lol