How to Repair Antique Banjos
The banjo originated in Africa. The instrument and the design technique came to America by way of African American slaves. The original banjo featured animal-gut strings that were connected to an animal hide that was stretched tight. The vibration from the strings is amplified by the taut hide and creates the sound that is unique to the banjo. Older banjos can be very ornate or simple. There are some common repairs necessary with older banjos.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Banjo
- Replacement banjo head, bridge, strings or keys
- Instrument wood cleaner
- Ratchet
- Warm cloth
- Electric tuner
Instructions
-
-
1
Unscrew the screws that hold down the top of the banjo.
-
2
Examine the hide on the top. Some hide will dry and tear over years. If the hide is not indented or torn, you don't need to replace it.
-
-
3
Search your banjo for a bridge. This is a small piece of wood that supports the strings. If it is missing, you'll need to get a new one.
-
4
Look for the "nut" at the top of the banjo neck; this should have four straight grooves in it. Older nuts are made out of bone; these can sometimes crack. If the nut is cracked, you will need a new one.
-
5
Look for your tail piece. These are often metal and attached to the body of your banjo. There is little reason why it should not be present or broken; but if it is, you will need a new one.
-
6
Wipe down the banjo with the instrument polish. Pay special attention to the fingerboard (on the front) and the back of the neck. These are locations where grime can build up.
-
7
The bridge is in front of the tailpiece. Wipe down the top of your banjo head with a warm cloth. Allow the top to dry fully.
-
8
Re-screw the top of your banjo with a ratchet.
-
9
Place your bridge a few inches in front of your tail piece.
-
10
Anchor your first string. If you have a five-string banjo, this will be attached to your top, middle tuning key. This string should be run over the bridge.
-
11
Tune this string to a "G." Wait five minutes.
-
12
Pluck this string again. If the pitch of the string has changed, you may have a weak tuning peg. This may need to be replaced.
-
13
Repeat this process for the remaining four strings, tuning them to "D" "G" "B" and "D" from the top to bottom.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you are replacing one tuning key, you might want to change them all so they look uniform.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Banjo Picking image by Tequila Photography from Fotolia.com
