Elloree Mandolins

09/09/2026

Mr. Sheppard came by my shop and tried out Mr. Wewers' banjo before I packed it up for the trip.

09/04/2026

I think Mr. Wewers' banjo is built. Let me take a couple of days to make sure I like everything and then early one day I hope to make shipment. Peace.

09/03/2026

Mr. Wewers' banjo has five strings. It was very important for me to get the neck and body together, along with the tail piece positioned correctly, so that the strings run evenly across the fret board and body. That short 5th string made me work and pray with equal enthusiasm. But it is done. It is right. Peace.

09/03/2026

In the words of that great American philosopher, Jed Clampitt, "Weeeeeeell doggie". My plan for Mr. Wewers' banjo was to have a straight string pull from the nut to the machine heads. Looks like I arrived at that goal. Now, if I do that good the next time, it might become a habit. Peace.

09/03/2026

Got the ash ring glued around the sound hole of Mr. Wewers' banjo. It is a simple addition that covered for me since I did not get the sound hole lined up exactly in the middle. I like it. It could be that I have stumbled on to something I should do on all my acoustic instruments. I don't like the rosettes that require routering around the sound hole to install them. This seems like a good possibility. This banjo is together and I will have more pictures in coming posts. Peace.

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

I like to let a finish cure for two weeks before making final assembly. Pray for me, America. I have built a baritone guitar and a banjo with an octave mandolin body at the same time. The banjo always makes me think REALLY hard. That short 5th string and getting the neck and body to lineup with the tailpiece is a chore on my good days. So, this week is when an old man tries to see if he can get it right one more time. Peace.

08/18/2026

What I am building for Mr. Wewers never has been a mandolin. It is a banjo with an octave mandolin body. Now that the finish is sprayed, we have 2 weeks where I let the instrument be while the finish cures a bit. Don't let it leave your mind. We will come back to it soon. Peace.

08/15/2026

Before going to the paint house, I want to know I have a good fit for the body and neck assembly. I will take the neck back off and spray the finish on each part. Peace.

08/14/2026

Here is how I make sure the frets are level. I mark the top of each fret with a Magic Marker. With my sanding block, I work back and forth across the fret board. Not up and down. When the marker is gone from the crowns of the frets, they are all level. It is not an easy job, but over the years I have gotten to the place that they are very nearly level to begin with. A quick check lets me know the job is complete. Peace.