Custom built banjos and banjo parts

Perkins Banjos - high quality new banjos built to order at competitive prices

All my banjos are made to order.  I used to make some standard lines but I've found, over the years, that most people want something special in a custom built banjo.  I describe the five most popular types that I've made below so that you can get an idea of what sort of price you are likely to be looking at for one of my banjos.  Have a look at these and phone me to discuss just how different you want your banjo to be!  I always confirm the exact specification that's been ordered so you get plenty of opportunity to review what you want and revise it if necessary.  I usually make quite heavy banjos (20mm - 22mm  rims) but lighter weight models can be made to order if required.  If you're not sure what you want, please phone for a chat.  

"Old-timey" open back 5-string banjos

Simple banjo style 105:  Hardwood body with light or heavy brass tone ring (or "woodentop"), 24 brackets, notched tension ring, simple tailpiece.  Simple hardwood neck with unbound fingerboard and dot inlays, planet geared tuners (worm geared 5th peg).  Remo, Elite 5-Star or Fibreskin head.  This banjo gives a nice plunky sound and is suitable for most styles of "old-time" playing including frailing & clawhammer.  It is available with a fingerboard cutaway or fretless if required.  The tone ring is easily upgraded (several different styles available).  Extra fingerboard inlay is available.  26" scale neck is standard but other lengths are available on request

Price from £475  

White Lady style 405:  3 ply maple body with "White Lady" 3 part tone ring, 24 heavy brackets, notched tension ring, choice of tailpieces (I like the "No-Knot").  Maple neck with bound fingerboard and diamond or dot & star inlays, planet geared tuners (worm geared 5th peg).  Remo, Elite, 5-Star or Fibreskin head.  This banjo has a nice clear mellow sound which projects very well and is ideal for most types of "old-time" playing.  Other tone rings can be fitted (cast flathead, cast archtop or Bacon FF style).  It is available with a fingerboard cutaway or fretless if required; extra fingerboard inlay can be installed as well as extra bindings & purflings on the body - normally finished blonde as the originals were but can be stained if required.  26" scale neck is standard but other lengths are available on request

Price from £650  

"Irish" open back shortscale tenor banjos  

Simple banjo style 104:  Hardwood body with light or heavy brass tone ring, 24 brackets, notched tension ring, simple tailpiece;  simple hardwood neck with unbound fingerboard and dot inlays, planet geared tuners;   Remo, Elite, 5-Star or Fibreskin head.  This banjo gives a nice plunky sound and is good for both single note melody and chord playing.  It is specifically designed to take the stress of "drop" tuning and will play (& stay) in tune very well.  For extra volume, a resonator can be added - either a simple "bolt-on" for occasional use or a full resonator & flange if you're going to want it most of the time.  The tone ring is easily upgraded if required (several different styles available).  Extra fingerboard inlay is available

Price from £450

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Mastertone style 304:  Solid maple body with a heavy cast flathead tone ring, 24 brackets, notched tension ring, choice of nice tailpieces.  Maple neck with bound fingerboard with diamond or dot and star inlays, planet geared tuners.  Remo, Elite, 5-Star or Fibreskin head.  The mass of the tone ring in this banjo means that it has a very bright sound and is ideal for loud "sessions" as it projects very well indeed;  you're unlikely to need to think about a resonator unless you habitually play with multiple pipers or similar noisy persons (if you play in a fiddler's session, you're going to need a mute!).  It will stand almost any weight of stringing that you care to put on it although I don't recommend anything much over 46 thou for the bottom G.  Extra inlays, bindings, purflings etc are available on request.

Price from £675  

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Mastertone style 314:  fundamentally the same banjo as the 310 but with a solid cast metal flange substituted for the normal shoes and a big resonator; this is a very loud instrument indeed and is best suited to acoustic ceilidh band or very noisy session playing - this is a splendid banjo which lends itself well to extra decoration; it works best when it is driven hard so it's definitely not for the faint-hearted

Price from £850  

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If you'd like a more detailed specification for any of the above, please e-mail or phone me and I'll send it to you.  I also have some photographs of banjos that I have made if you'd like to get some idea of what they look like.  Other styles of banjo are possible (standard tenor, plectrum, mandolin & resonator 5-string) - give me a call for a price

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