Books & Accessories

Minstrel Banjo
Brigg's Banjo Instructor

Performance Notes and Transcriptions by Joseph Weidlich

A good primer on the stroke style of playing minstrel or gourd Banjo. Weidliech provides explanations and tablature transcriptions from Brigg's 1855 Banjo Method.
Songs provided with music and Tab but no lyrics.

Price: $12.95 + Postage

The Early Minstrel Banjo

Technique and Repertoire by Joseph Weidlich

A good study on the evolution of the stroke style of playing minstrel Banjo. Weidliech provides explanations and Tablature transcriptions from several Minstrel Banjo players of the Civil War period. Also how to arrange songs for Minstrel Banjo.
Songs provided with music and Tab but no lyrics.
265 pages - includes a history of the banjo and several period illustrations.

Price: $29.95 + Postage

More Minstrel Banjo
Frank Converse's Banjo Instructor

Performance Notes and Transcriptions by Joseph Weidlich

A good primer on the stroke style of playing minstrel or gourd Banjo. Weidliech provides explanations and Tablature transcriptions from Converse's 1865 Banjo Without a Master.
Songs provided with music and Tab but no lyrics.

Price: $12.95 + Postage

Artificial or simulated light gage gut banjo strings imported from Italy (Nylgut). Nylon guitar strings are usually too hard in texture to produce a satisfactory sound on gourd banjos. Aquila Nylgut strings are of softer texture and manufactured to strict modern tolerances, made especially for fine antique and replica string instruments. They strongly resemble real gut in tone and appearance, but are more consistent in gage and less susceptible to temperature and humidity. The initial stretch-in period is still a couple of days, but once in tune, they are much more stable than gut.

Per set of 5 strings..............................$15.00

Modern gut strings are factory made to fairly consistent tolerances, but will vary slightly from batch to batch. For an absolutely authentic minstrel banjo sound this is the way to go. If playing outdoors, you may need to re-tune more frequently as temperature and humidity fluctuate during the day.

Per set of 5 banjo strings......................$35.00

(Sorry, we are sold out of gut strings.)

Hal Leonard
Dulcimer Method by Neal Helman
For Beginning to Intermediate Players

A good basic book including a CD illustrating many of the tunes.

Price: $12.95 + Postage

Custom Guitar Cases

The accompanying photographs are of a "19th Century style" called the coffin case for a guitar. They are a little complicated to make and we finish them out to resemble a 19th century trunk. The sides are half inch thick and the top is attached with three brass hinges. The top and bottom are made of thin (1/4" or approx 6 mm) plywood. Dimensions are approx. 38.5"L x 13.5"W x 4.75"D. Weight approx. 8 pounds) There are two hooked hasps and a leather trunk handle. There is a small built in compartment for extra stings, tuner or humidifier etc.. Please send us your specifications. To order a guitar case, click here for a printable Adobe (PDF) with the measurements required.

When purchased with one of our antique guitars, you pay only $285.00 + additional S&H.
Guitar cases without an instrument, built to specification.... $400.00 (+ S&H) Cases exceeding 40" in length or of unusual width or depth require a custom quotation. Send us your specifications for a quote.

Please call or email us for details. Allow three to four weeks for delivery.

KORG CA-30 Chromatic Tuner

The Korg CA-30 Chromatic Tuner gives you a high-precision LCD needle-type meter. Wide range of pitch detection covers C1-C8. Calibration function lets you specify concert pitch or synch to your harmonica and then have a visual way to tune your strings in perfect synch with your harp! Built-in high-sensitivity mic. Produces reference tone on internal speaker and has marks for pure major thirds and minor thirds. . Auto power off. Low draw gets up to 100 hours of battery life in continuous use. Wide Range of Pitch Detection

This compact chromatic tuner supports a broad range of C1 (32.70 Hz)-C8 (4186.01 Hz), allowing speedy and high-precision tuning of wind, string, keyboard, and other instruments. This tuner is ideal for tuning even low-register notes containing numerous overtones that are often difficult to tune. A high-sensitivity mic is built-in, allowing easy and accurate tuning of acoustic instruments such as our fretless banjos. Great for pros and essential for beginners, I highly recommend this tuner.

$19.99 when purchased separately. $14.99 when purchased with one of our instruments.

Custom Cedar Banjo Cases

Light weight sturdy protection for your banjo. Purchased separately............$335.00 (includes S&H)

When purchased with one of our instruments, you pay only $200.00

A rectangular case made of 1/2" cedar throughout and finished with a coat of shellac. (Can be painted or left unfinished upon request.) Leather handle and brass hinges are replicas of 19th Century trunk hardware. Liner paper is replica of a Victorian pattern. We can make this case for almost any instrument. For minor modifications there is no additional charge. For over size instruments such as modern guitars there may be an additional charge. Please send us your specifications for a quotation.