The strangest instrument I've come across
But built pretty well for being a DIY job.
This is a 1920s Bruno & Sons No. 200 "Vernon" banjo neck mounted on a 1950s Kay tenor archtop body. The neck is birch with an ebonized maple fretboard that has mother of pearl inlays in it. I reinforced it with carbon fiber to help keep it straight but there is only so much it could do. The body has had a couple impacts and some were repaired with a really strong glue that I could not break with heat. The tailpiece is a tenor tailpiece that has been slotted for accepting banjo string loops.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsNKqs0rhxWM30ouetknDFlVYc6r8sRsjZ8wvZvxk7mwnU-MipkQ8fR5OFcN06n_K0YV_VzTmH4sQqpmVVivEavTSjd0nvN4ChJ7g7G7QK_TotFqUjVF2e3dhbr33aKZ99sgKtk62k5E/s320/IMG_0208.JPG) |
Note the pseudo-heel that was made from the neck. It screws to the neck and screws to the neck block. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fbrhKHhOKz7pLeM-NtOLHzRp7EfW341tb6aHpsRBc1PB9tiBKcpV0H58Mho9-UajvHo-xMhGel-doseqLqmgauTFvqPKgTGIRB_KRKMWkcBbppuXNkzDZQPwKb673c1KjmRyaWUUHSs/s320/IMG_0209.JPG) |
Black clay inserts are pressed into the ebonized maple fretboard |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaS3NzICrPoq6KuxJXDETUiCSt1Mvb-8L44ybs3JD5uHG-zWdWt84jGTavgGnQ9-gY93s390oxVwqXo1YGbNepwHy0hXRME4knEu9MWUX9WNXk4mSMERZHbdQg-otjxtEGyoFR7b44ns/s320/IMG_0210.JPG) |
They disguise screws |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEyMYHCvzsZ3bKO_ekzXF29XY0gdqZhgoAx4UPQE_YnNM3fMhGsU0YvkEIPboASaUDaqTa-lV601-iXw1G0_qrOkFsHUoM7THaocfOnhkvWPJW4ixIalc_kC35vZjbVkkVTiMAZfNB-Q/s320/IMG_0211.JPG) |
Two screws go into the neck block while a makeshift dovetail helps lock it in place. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksvtYVuJicY684NOAyMVbqJxJWtQkRTODA8-ieD7eeGAHhV3Q-48sjU7wCXO3c1ccgEFxyNu5BBoZVR7stIZA99R8SezlRZrdZPXbqAU9XglXOTAiWWduxWztcAKYirHmUNQu7bo3N-4/s320/IMG_0214.JPG) |
Pearl fleur-de-lis hidden under the black paint |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHxXERiTtuxvt5tuR9NuSMy1vyZBPCnsEabzSjMGtN73Evk6t-WbFdoZsCt3TOEMPM9aS_1b6rzuFZVVoBUeOswAqNoe6jb2F0wnvspGI8Ab4CbItOV_ed7RK_pWk4Ms0tK73EneWdY0/s320/Capture.PNG) |
Original Kay tuners chopped and carved to fit on the neck |
For sale here:
https://reverb.com/item/25829831-vintage-kay-archtop-bruno-banjo-conversion
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