1920s/2010s/2024 Wildwood 22" Buffalo Banjo Bass

I have made a lot of banjo basses through the years and have learned different things each time I make one. This Frankenstein project mixes a 22x6" marching bass drum (a '20s Ludwig) that I picked-up at Quechee Antiques Mall with a Chappell bass neck my buddy Charlie found somewhere out there on the web some time ago (which has been living upstairs).

This version incorporates all of the various ideas I wanted to use to make a good, loud, punchy instrument that would replace the need for a double bass in "acoustic band" gigs -- of which we have a number, usually, in winter up here.

First-off, it's double-headed and so has an enclosed sound chamber which is on the large side. The second head acts as a second "soundboard" as well, further enhancing the power of the instrument.

If you've worked on banjos much, you'll also notice that they hate too much tension on the head. Too much tension and you get a woofy or overdriven sound that reduces the power of the instrument. To this end I've used Slap Happy Weedwacker strings like you might use on a rockabilly-style upright bass. I've used the heavy tension set (meant for a low B, I suppose) because the scale on this instrument is only 34" compared to the 40" or more of an upright. I've also used a low break-angle with the neck and bridge setup which helps keep the tension on the head more efficient and I've used a very lightweight cedar bridge to keep weight on the head down.

The construction is really simple -- I bolted the neck to a beam that I fit through the rim (it's rosewood scrap from the old Stanley Tools factory that my friend Tom gave me) -- and then anchored the strings through both of the tension hoops to make use of their extra length and keep tension off any one section of the instrument at the tailpiece end (this also means that you could "load" normal light-tension upright strings in the same way).

Suffice to say, this instrument exceeded all of my expectations -- it has a sort-of indefinite low-end due to the string type (they act that way on uprights to some extent, too) -- but it's boomy, loud, punchy, and carries very well. You can hear this bouncing-away on the complete other end of the shop and around corners just like an upright.

It's also lightweight -- maybe about 8 lbs total? -- and I either stand (or walk!) or sit with it slung from a strap with the neck face tilted like it's facing up and at a slight angle sort-of the way mariachis play the guitarron. It works really well for getting a nice powerful pull on the strings with the fingers, too.

Also, to answer the questions -- yes, the buffalo was on it when I bought it -- yes, it would probably have more power and a better sound with modern, synthetic heads -- yes, there are tears that need to be patched on the back head -- and, yes, I should probably turn the lugs around, but they do make good "forearm rests" in a pinch.