The Laurel Creek Special
Made to jam
This handmade walnut banjo is custom-built with a 12-inch rim for a deeper bass sound and greater volume. The peghead sports a large 50-cent coal scrip coin from the historic Laurel Creek Coal Company from West Virginia.
The walnut rim is built with an integral ebony tone ring and a matching ebony rim cap. An ogee-shaped scoop in the fingerboard allows for higher fretting on the bottom strings. The figured walnut neck was specially sourced from Oregon, and the hand-rubbed oil finish allows the character of the grain to show through.
Custom Banjo Features
Figured walnut neck / 12-inch walnut rim
Fretted ebony fingerboard / ogee-shaped frailing scoop
Nickel hardware / Old-style round bracket shoes
Ebony tone ring / Waverly 5th string tuner
No-knot tailpiece / Steel strings
Handmade Maple bridge / Gotoh planetary tuners
Ebony rim cap / Elite Amber head
See additional images and details about this banjo.
A note about sustainable materials
I only use domestically harvested North American hardwoods (walnut, cherry and maple) along with sustainable fingerboard materials. I’ve replaced ebony with Richlite (a superior renewable alternative) in all of my newer banjos.