Author: Thumpy Banjos

Five string banjo, short-scale nylon strung fretless. Has very, very subtle fret markers to aid in way finding around the fingerboard. Fret markers may be tough to see in the photos. Great for clawhammer and finger-style parlor music. Plays well in common old-time tunings like A, C, D, and G. Will also go down further than G, plays well in F and B-flat. This particular Thumpy Banjo features a 12″ rim with a renaissance head. Has extra hard tension nylon strings. Very articulate for a fretless nylon strung banjo. Rim features a bearing edge, no tone-ring.

• Walnut neck, non-adjustable carbon fiber reinforced
• Gotoh 2-band tuners
• 12″ maple rim
• 22.25″ scale length
• Indian Laurel fingerboard

What is a Thumpy Banjo Anyway? Thumpy Banjos are short-scale, nylon-strung, fretless, open-back banjos. They are a slightly different animal than steel strung open-back banjos. The short scale length can be helpful with shoulder fatigue. The fretless feature facilitates certain playing styles. The nylon strings, IMO, make it easier to get clean notes from a fretless fingerboard and they have a mellower tone than steel strings.

What’s so Ultra-Light about it? This banjo weighs 3 pounds and 9.8 ounces. As banjos go, that’s light!

What’s precision about it? This fretless banjo has fret markers that are set flush with the fingerboard. This gives the player the best of both worlds, the sound and feel of fretless with the precision of a fretted banjo. As a long-time fretless player, this feature emboldens me to play stuff up the neck even in performance setting.

What’s minus about it? This banjo features a deep thumb scoop. These can be a great comfort feature for some players.

• Walnut neck with Indian Laurel fingerboard
• carbon fiber reinforced neck (non-adjustable)
• Nickel hardware including Gotoh 2-band tuners and geared fifth peg
• 11″ multi-ply maple rim with bearing edge
• 22.25″ scale length
• Weight: 3 pounds, 9.8 ounces
• Strings through the rim

Five string banjo, short-scale nylon strung fretless. Great for clawhammer and finger-style parlor music. Plays well in common old-time tunings like A, C, D, and G. Will also go down further than G, plays well in F and B-flat. This particular Thumpy Banjo features a 12″ rim with a renaissance head. Has extra hard tension nylon strings. Very articulate for a fretless nylon strung banjo. Rim features a bearing edge, no tone-ring. Includes new gig-bag. Hand-Crafted in Radford, Virginia.

• Lightly flamed maple neck, non-adjustable carbon fiber reinforced
• Gotoh 2-band tuners
• 12″ maple rim
• 22.5″ scale length
• Figured Cocobolo fingerboard

• Lightly flamed maple, carbon fiber reinforced neck
• Wenge fingerboard
• 12″ maple rim with bearing edge
• Brass VanEps style tension hoop (made by Zach Hoyt)
• Gotoh 2-band tuners

• Mahogany neck, carbon fiber reinforced
• Gotoh 2-band tuners
• 11″ maple rim with bearing edge
• 22.5″ scale length
• BlackwoodTek fingerboard
• Brass VanEps style tension hoop (made by Zach Hoyt)

• Flame maple neck, carbon fiber reinforced
• Gotoh 2-band tuners
• 12″ painted maple rim
• 22.5″ scale length
• Bocoté fingerboard

• Flame maple, carbon fiber reinforced neck
• BlackwoodTek fingerboard
• 12″ Acrylic rim with bearing edge
• Brass VanEps style tension hoop (made by Zach Hoyt)
• Gotoh 2-band tuners

• Walnut neck, carbon fiber reinforced
• Bocoté fingerboard
• Peghedz geared tuning pegs
• 11″ maple rim with walnut cap
• 22.5″ scale length
• Nylon strung
• Rolled brass tone ring

• Nylon strung
• 22.5″ scale length
• Deep scoop
• Off-set fifth peg
• Walnut neck & stick
• Bocote fingerboard
• No-knot tailpiece
• 11″ 10-ply maple rim in forest green
• Rolled brass tone ring
• Renaissance head
• Gotoh 2-band tuning machines

• Nylon strung
• 22.5″ scale length
• Deep scoop
• Off-set fifth peg
• Walnut neck & stick
• Katalox fingerboard w/ matching tailpiece
• 11″ 10-ply maple rim in fiesta red
• Rolled brass tone ring
• Renaissance head
• Pegheds geared tuning pegs