Kearney Luthier

The Ten Tenors

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:58 +1100

I have put together info on my last ten banjos ,I am going to add to this over the next few days .

No 1 was Australian Blackwood (same family as Koa) 17 fret

No2 was a Maple 17 fret for my mate Dave "Daves N0 2"

New Zooki

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:35 +1100

I am working on a new zooki smaller body, still arch top but I have shifted the sound hole and changed the bracing system to a hybrid X brace.

The back and sides are Bubinga, so far the tap tones are looking good. I will post more as the project continues, basically I am trying to find a sound for the bouzouki that combines the tone of the tear drop shape with the volume of the guitar body arch top.

Clancy's Banjo

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 00:00 +1100

Clancy now has his new Tenor Banjo, a fine maple instrument, which I finished a few weeks ago. I am pleased with the tone and volume and the short scale is a joy to play. I plan to make a longer scale for the National Folk festival, 19 frets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbgG3PbKnGA

Irish Boukouki

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 00:00 +1100

The irish bouzouki is an interesting new-comer to the traditional music scene and it seems to have become a favourite session instrument for many players. Personally, I like it for the modal sound and the diversity of tone that comes with different body shapes. The guitar body is very popular at present and I have spent some time investigating the construction of arch-top bouzoukis. The instrument I have settled on is a 26" scale carved top; usually spruce; and a hard resonant timber like rosewood for the back and sides.