Building a Bella Voce Banjo Neck from Scratch

by
Richie Dotson

    Once in a great while an opportunity is presented that may never come again.  This was just such an occasion.  I was invited to build a reproduction 5-string banjo neck for a 1927 Gibson Bella Voce.  The following photos will serve to describe most of the process.  Like many other projects, however, there is no substitution for experience and there are no amount of words that can convey the actions taken to produce such a fine neck for such a rare banjo that is in such great condition for its age.  The owner of this banjo has asked to remain anonymous.  These pictures may take a while to load.

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