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Darkwood collection

The Darkwood collection comprises individual models.  Each has its own look and sound.  A strong design ethos gives Darkwood banjos their individual but familiar look of classic clean and simple lines.  A small number are manufactured each year and are available for purchase. Each model can also be commissioned.  For further information see the commissions page

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Raven

RAVEN

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​      Detail

  • ​Lightly figured and stained English sycamore neck with brass heel plate

  • Ebony fingerboard 25" scale with Evo 53x37 fret, scooped at the 17th fret.

  • Darkwood blockhead style peg-head with ebony face and back plate.

  • Gold MOP inlay on the scoop only, for a clean uncomplicated look.

  • 11" ebonized black walnut block built 3" deep rim, topped with Pau ferro tone wood and fitted with a Darkwood made brass tone ring                                                                                                                                                                                                        

     Hardware                                                                                                                                            

  • Aged brass Gotoh tuners.

  • No-knot aged brass tailpiece.

  • Darkwood designed aged brass shoes.

  • Darkwood designed spoke wheel and chamber connector rod.

  • Darkwood brass tension hoop with 14 hooks

  • Medium aged brass patina.

Woodpigeon

WOOD PIGEON 

Darkwood banjos

       Detail

  • Left handed A Scale English sycamore neck.

  • Brass fretless slide to the 6th fret and a Darkwood scoop that starts at the 15th fret and ends at the 17th.

  • Darkwood blockhead style peg head with ebony face plate and walnut back.

  • Black mother of pearl inlay designed to symbolise the wing of the wood pigeon.

  • 10.5" English sycamore block built rim capped with walnut.

  • Integral walnut tone ring.

 

      Hardware

  • Modified 5 star tuners.

  • Darkwood designed machined brass tailpiece.

  • Darkwood designed spoke-wheel and chamber connector rod.

  • Early 20th century tension hoop with 22 matching hooks.

  • Brass plated 5 star 5th string tuner.

  • Aged look patina on brass.

Notes

The tension hoop, hooks and shoes were salvaged from an early 20th century British banjo that was beyond repair, consequently on this build the wood and brass were given a slightly worn/aged look to fit in with the old tension hoop.  The sycamore wood on the connector rod and neck has some interesting figuring.

Sound sample

NIGHTJAR RH

Darkwood banjos

​      Detail

  • ​Right handed American cherry wood neck.

  • Ebony fingerboard 25" scale with Evo 53x37 fret, scooped at the 17th fret.

  • Darkwood blockhead style peg-head with ebony face plate and English cherry back.

  • Small squared black mother of pearl inlay on the 17th and 12th fret, for a clean uncomplicated look.

  • 11" American cherry wood 3" block built rim, capped with English cherry, fitted with a Dobson style tone ring for a warm vintage tone                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

     Hardware                                                                                                                                            

  • Modified 5 star tuners.

  • Darkwood designed machined brass tailpiece.

  • Darkwood designed brass shoes.

  • Darkwood designed spoke wheel and chamber connector rod.

      Medium aged brass patina.

Notes

The wood sourced for this banjo had been dry stored for over twenty years it has slight figuring and a beautiful rich colour that gives it a deep luster with a nice bright tone quality. 

Nightjar-RH
Nightjar-LH
Nightjar LH - Sound sample
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NIGHTJAR LH

Darkwood banjos

​      Detail

  • ​Left handed American cherry wood neck.

  • Ebony fingerboard 25" scale with Evo 53x37 fret, scooped at the 17th fret.

  • Darkwood blockhead style peg-head with ebony face plate and black walnut back.

  • Small squared black mother of pearl inlay on the 17th and 12th fret, for a clean uncomplicated look.

  • 11" American cherry wood 3" block built rim, capped with black walnut, fitted with a Dobson style tone ring for a warm vintage tone                                                                                                                                                                        

     Hardware                                                                                                                                            

  • Modified 5 star tuners.

  • Darkwood designed machined brass tailpiece.

  • Darkwood designed brass shoes.

  • Darkwood designed spoke wheel and chamber connector rod.

  • Heavy aged brass patina.

Notes

The wood sourced for this banjo had been dry stored for over twenty years, it has slight figuring and a beautiful rich colour that gives it a deep luster with a nice bright tone quality. 

Dark moon
Dark Moon - Sound sample
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DARK MOON

Darkwood banjos

​      Detail

  • Left handed ​figured maple neck with adjustable truss rod.

  • Ebony fingerboard 26.1/4" scale 1.3/16" at the nut and 1.13/16" at the rim, scooped at the 19th fret.

  • Traditional vega style inspired peg-head with ebony face plate and ebony back.

  • Mother of pearl crescent moon and black mother of pearl full moon inlay.

  • 11" three ply maple rim 3" deep, capped with ebony, solid ebony dowel-stick style connector rod.

  •  Fitted with a goat skin head and Tuba-phone style tone ring for a bright but warm vintage tone.                                                                 

      Hardware                                                                                                                                            

  • Modified 5 star tuners.

  • No-Knot brass tailpiece.

  • Darkwood designed brass shoes.

  • Darkwood designed spoke-wheel and chamber connector rod.

  • Brass tension hoop with 24 hooks. 

  • Medium aged brass patina.

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