Banjo parts, including: Head Rim Tension hoop J-bolts and nuts Tone ring Flange Armrest Tailpiece Coordinator rods Resonator with mounting hardware Finished neck Tuners String nut Bridge Strings Tools, including: Wrench Mallet Small flat head screwdriver. Small Phillips screwdriver. If you are playing bluegrass you might be better off buying a proper bluegrass banjo which has a resonator. ). All of the most difficult work has already been done for you and the clearly illustrated instructions make the process even easier. neck to pot view from the rear. Saga’s RK-2 Resonator Banjo Kit offers any musician or hobbyist the thrill of accomplishment from building their very own professional quality custom banjo! If you don't want to install your own frets, or finish a resonator, and you want to build a banjo, you could order a Gold Tone neck and resonator, prefinished, ready to go, for around $450 (for the OB-250), or less, if you don't mind cutting the heelpiece of the neck yourself (not a job for a beginner! pot view with the tailpiece. looking bad in black. Early forms of the instrument were fashioned by African-Americans in the United States, adapted from African instruments of similar design. As i am going for a kinda ‘hot rod’ look on this banjo, i have decided to paint the neck and resonator matt black and the rim cherry red [its a cherry wood rim]. Banjo type guitar I made from an aluminum pot.....I live in Costa Rica and am very limited on tools and supplies.....I only used hand tools (hand saw, coping saw, files, etc.) The Songster features an inlaid M.O.P. How to Remove the Resonator on a Fender Banjo. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Learn More → Things You'll Need. The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. A very important part of the job is to make sure the string height at the twelth fret is just so. A resonator makes a lot of difference, but not all open back banjos suit a resonator. With its sharp attack and minimal sustain, the RK-R20 Songster is a great-sounding traditional resonator banjo. It would be best to try one before buying as most open backs are better suited to frailing. peghead inlay and heart-shaped position markers, plus a rolled brass tone ring, planetary tuners and a bound rosewood fretboard. front view.