kay 5 string banjo

[Lee Gendvilas]

I have a Kay 5 string banjo that needs new frets. The person who owns it is a friend who wants to start talking banjo lessons with it. The frets have been filed down to nearly the level of the fretboard, except for the first fret which measures .024 tall. The relief at the 7th fret (as measured from the fretboard to the bottom of the third string) is 3/64. Fretboard has not been sanded. If I sand the fretboard flat, will it be taking too much wood off and weaken the neck?

 

Thanks in advance for your comments and insight.

[Ned Knepp]

I don't know about their Banjo's but Kay guitars have a steel rod in the neck for reinforcement. If you are talking about flattening the fingerboard by taking 3/64 off of the neck, I doubt it will make much difference. I guess that I would probably try it anyway if the banjo is not comfortable to play as it is now. Take my advice with a grain of salt, I'm not much of a banjo guy.

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi Ned, I enjoy your dialogues and I value your opinion and advice. Yes, I'm considering flattening the fingerboard. I haven't worked on a Kay banjo before and given it's age, I don't want to do something that would cause more problems in fixing it. Thanks for the reply!

[harrison phipps]

Sanding the fretboard should not weaken the neck, string tension on a banjo is not too great anyway.  There is no truss rod on that model Kay. 

Use a compensated bridge as they make a huge difference in playing in tune.  Remember the old saying "Banjo players spend 90% of the time tuning and 10% of the time playing out of tune."

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi harrison, thanks for letting me know about that there is no truss rod. I kinda figured there wouldn't be and that it's better to ask for help from those more experienced. I love compensated bridges-I have them on my Stelling and Vega 5 string banjos. Thanks for your reply!

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hello again. I have the frets off. The fretboard is kind of dry. Any suggestions on helping it from getting dryer-possibly conditioning it? and with what? Please remember I'm in Arizona and the banjo is staying in Arizona. I believe the fretboard is mahogany-can anyone confirm this?

[Eric Steven Johansen]

Lee, get yourself a bottle of Howard Feed-N-Wax, available at most hardware stores and Home Depot. It's a mixture of beeswax and orange oil and does a great job of rehydrating and lubricating unfinished wood. I'm 3/4s through my second bottle after 20 years so it lasts a long time and every instrument gets treated as the last step before strings. Let it soak in for about 30 mins and buff. I think you are correct about the mahogany fretboard as well. Oh and I would install the frets first BTW.

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi Eric, thanks for your reply. I have a bottle of Stewmacs Fretboard Finishing oil, but they recommend it for rosewood and ebony fretboards. Does the Howard Feed-N-Wax stay clear after application?

[Eric Steven Johansen]

It will darken the wood at first, usually in a nice way, but that fades over time. I've used it on every fretboard and never had a bad result. 

[Lee Gendvilas]

O.k, it's off to home depot. Thanks again.