![Ben Greco](/img/default-banner.jpg)
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Ben Greco
Registrace 28. 02. 2023
I make gourd banjos, go camping, and film stuff.
bengreco2@gmail.com for inquiries
ETSY STORE LINK: and www.etsy.com/shop/TiswinStringworks?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
bengreco2@gmail.com for inquiries
ETSY STORE LINK: and www.etsy.com/shop/TiswinStringworks?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
playing a GIANT GOURD BANJO by Malibu Creek
Full build video coming soon!
This was built on commission. Contact me at bengreco2@gmail.com
This was built on commission. Contact me at bengreco2@gmail.com
zhlédnutí: 952
Video
Playing gourd banjos and drum on Mt. Pinos with Jesse Head
zhlédnutí 525Před 14 dny
I'm so far behind on editing videos, this was about 3 months ago. Check out Jesse's work: www.youtube.com/@jesseheadluthierie And see more of this beautiful wood top banjo on Phoebe Sanders' page: www.youtube.com/@phoebesanders2487
Applewood Gourd Banjo FULL BUILD
zhlédnutí 1,8KPřed měsícem
Mostly the full build, not very comprehensive and a bit rough around the edges, but just got my new camera so I'll probably go off on the next one. Link to Phoebe's channel: www.youtube.com/@phoebesanders2487 Contact me at: bengreco2@gmail.com
New Applewood Gourd Banjo and summer update on what I'm up to
zhlédnutí 661Před měsícem
Potentially the worst I've ever played in a video haha. Build video for this one coming soon. Just wanted to get this out, many videos in the works, just no time to work on them at the moment. Some really cool builds are on the agenda as well.
Short Scale Gourd Banjo, Super Low Tuning (Wild Bill Jones)
zhlédnutí 1,3KPřed 3 měsíci
Just wanted to make one more video with this banjo before sending it off. This demonstrates the range of these short scale instruments. I think I'm playing with the banjo tuned 3 1/2 full down from the aEACE that I demonstrate at the end.
Two New Travel Sized Gourd Banjos and Two Gourd Ukuleles
zhlédnutí 1,7KPřed 3 měsíci
I built all four of these at once and I love how they came out, but don't think I'll be building more than one or two at a time going forward. Email me at bengreco2@gmail.com if interested.
Yew Wood Neck and End Grain Fingerboard FULL BANJO BUILD
zhlédnutí 2,4KPřed 3 měsíci
Contact me at bengreco2@gmail.com I made this gourd banjo with a Yew wood neck and hard maple end grain fingerboard. I probably didn't really invent it, but I can't find any examples of it online. This thing is awesome. I'm gonna say gourd banjo a few times for search results. Gourd banjo gourd banjo gourd banjo.
Playing Gourd Banjo during the partial Solar Eclipse
zhlédnutí 682Před 3 měsíci
Build video coming soon for this banjo! I thought there'd be a bit more noticeable of an eclipse here in Southern California, but it was still nice to get out. I'm in the Mojave near Pearblossom, with the snow covered San Gabriels behind me. This area is amazing this time of year, very lush with all the rain, and with the flowing streams and snowy peaks, it feels more like the Eastern Sierra sa...
Rebuilding My LOST Gourd Banjo
zhlédnutí 1KPřed 5 měsíci
Email me at bengreco2@gmail.com Sorry the first shot is out of focus, I blew it! Also, I need to fix my mic setup, I'm not happy with how the playing sounds in this video. The banjo sounds much better and much less tinny in real life.
I'll Fly Away played on a mini gourd banjo
zhlédnutí 806Před 6 měsíci
This is my latest build, a mini gourd banjo. Its scale length is 18 inches, so just over tenor uke sized. Email me at bengreco2@gmail.com w
A Mini Gourd Travel Banjo and a Banjolele FULL BUILD
zhlédnutí 1,7KPřed 6 měsíci
This is a double build I did with a mini gourd travel-sized banjo and gourd banjolele. Both from the same piece of mahogany with lacewood and maple fingerboards. Email me at bengreco2@gmail.com
Jay Gould's Daughter on Oil Can Banjo at the railroad tracks
zhlédnutí 1,7KPřed 6 měsíci
Jay Gould's Daughter on Oil Can Banjo at the railroad tracks
ELECTRIC GOURD BANJO played by man STRANDED on raft in the ocean
zhlédnutí 631Před 6 měsíci
ELECTRIC GOURD BANJO played by man STRANDED on raft in the ocean
Catch and Release Balalaika (SHORT FILM)
zhlédnutí 286Před 7 měsíci
Catch and Release Balalaika (SHORT FILM)
Gourd banjo FULL BUILD with walnut and cherry burl
zhlédnutí 5KPřed 7 měsíci
Gourd banjo FULL BUILD with walnut and cherry burl
playing gourd banjo on a mountain in front of the Los Angeles skyline
zhlédnutí 2KPřed 8 měsíci
playing gourd banjo on a mountain in front of the Los Angeles skyline
Desert Man plays DARK FIRESIDE HALLOWEEN BANJO on HAUNTED Shores of Salton Sea
zhlédnutí 381Před 9 měsíci
Desert Man plays DARK FIRESIDE HALLOWEEN BANJO on HAUNTED Shores of Salton Sea
gourd ukulele and the LAST NATURAL ARCH IN LA
zhlédnutí 735Před 9 měsíci
gourd ukulele and the LAST NATURAL ARCH IN LA
full build process of two gourd banjos
zhlédnutí 14KPřed 10 měsíci
full build process of two gourd banjos
Sugar Baby by Dock Boggs on new gourd banjo #15
zhlédnutí 1,1KPřed 10 měsíci
Sugar Baby by Dock Boggs on new gourd banjo #15
Lonesome Road Blues on gourd banjo in the River
zhlédnutí 2,1KPřed 10 měsíci
Lonesome Road Blues on gourd banjo in the River
Worried Man Blues and other songs on homemade gourd banjo in the oak woodland at Santa Rosa Plateau
zhlédnutí 609Před 10 měsíci
Worried Man Blues and other songs on homemade gourd banjo in the oak woodland at Santa Rosa Plateau
man in cool hat plays homemade gourd banjo in polluted stream
zhlédnutí 1,6KPřed rokem
man in cool hat plays homemade gourd banjo in polluted stream
Building a bottle gourd banjo, and hopefully learning from a major mistake
zhlédnutí 4,8KPřed rokem
Building a bottle gourd banjo, and hopefully learning from a major mistake
East Virginia and Cluck Old Hen on homemade Bottle Gourd Banjo
zhlédnutí 7KPřed rokem
East Virginia and Cluck Old Hen on homemade Bottle Gourd Banjo
Gourd Banjo 12, Walnut neck birdseye maple fingerboard
zhlédnutí 2,3KPřed rokem
Gourd Banjo 12, Walnut neck birdseye maple fingerboard
ECHOMAN Vol. 1 (Charcoal Kilns Death Valley)
zhlédnutí 69Před rokem
ECHOMAN Vol. 1 (Charcoal Kilns Death Valley)
beut sound and the location looks the one , thanks for posting this .
im building my first Gourd banjo in New Zealamnd and your knowledge is a big help, first thing i notice is how thin skinned new zealand gourds are compared to yours , yours look 3 times thicker, so i guess im going to have to find some way of reinforcing mine, maybe make a internal rim or something. keep up the good work bro its inspiring , subbed.
What are you using for the interior epoxying? I love to watch a video on you doing this step.
Where'd you get a gourd that big? Awesome build
thanks! Got it at Wellburn Gourd Farm near Fallbrook, CA. They usually don't have gourds that big but I got there right after they put up the new harvest and basically had first pick. It's easier to find really big gourds in the eastern US, but out here there aren't too many growers
Algorithm works in a wonderous way sometimes...
What an interesting timbre. I've never described the sound of a banjo using words like "soft" or "warm" before. Very cool. Did you build it? If so, please put up a build video!
Thanks! I did build it and will have a build video coming out within the next week or two!
@joshblain7476 checkout His channel! He's got lots of build videos!
Wow that tone is surprisingly nice
Faith Hill's Mississippi Girl Video was also filmed here( I was rep for the company that owns the bridge she used)
MCSP is a beautiful place, used to work next door :) a fiiting place for the video :)
I agree, it's an amazing spot. Where did you work? I'm working for NPS out of Diamond X Ranch right now, right next door to KGR
@@bengreco Used to inspect the sewer lines for Las Virgenes Water in the park once a month
That looks and sounds awesome! Can't wait to see the build video!
god damn that's a beautiful instrument
I love how the notes sound like pebbles hitting the water at the bottom of a well. *bloop* *bloop* *bloop*
yeah! I was thinking the same thing I love how the slides sound on this
Dang, did you get that gourd at welburn?
yep! got it at wellburn just at the right time when they had the newer harvest on the racks
It's always fun hanging out with you Ben. I really like the way a native drum sounds with an old time banjo. We should experiment with that more👍
that last note error + purple short made me fear you would turn into the Hulk, glad you didnt! :)
Beautiful!!
Love the deep resonance of this banjo.
The algorithm has done me well yet again. You guys are awesome!
Hey man, sent an email re commission if you get time 👍
hey! not sure if I got it, did you send to bengreco2@gmail.com?
Heeey, there's my banjo again! And electrified at the end there!
yeah haha I was mad that I messed up the mic levels at first, but it sounds pretty cool!
Very Nice! I see Phoebe’s videos. For Jesse, it would be cool if you learned to tie an Ulzii at the back of your drum.
They look great! What scale length do you use? Nylon or steel strings? Thanks William
thanks! I used only nylon strings on these (aquila nylgut). These types of banjos can only be strung with nylon, steel would put too much stress on the neck and would cause damage to the nut and fingerboard. I think scale length for both of these was a standard 26.25"
your flat surface can be a piece of plate glass
This instrument is great. Will you make more?
thanks! yeah I really wanna make more of these little ones, and really wanna do some fretless versions
Sing along, don't be shy
Why dont you make the pegs as 2 piece? It would be so much easier
I want.
No way, that's the banjo I played! It sounds so good!! It's really cool to watch the build process like this.
thanks! it was so cool to see you play it, especially with that fiddle accompaniment!
My partner bought that first banjo that he showed a glimpse of in this video. Beautiful instrument, beautiful sound.
Very beautiful banjo. Your fingerboard wood looks like Wenge. And the bottom white wood cedar or pine? Will you let me know. I built a gourd dotara with American Cedar and it sound plenty good.
Unique sound. WOW!
excellent
Wish he would do it with his shirt off
Excellent video style!
Gonna try to binge all your videos today. Got some gardening to do. I was watching Margo MacSweeney play banjo when I found your video on making banjos. I don’t play but I got it in my blood, maybe with your videos I’ll get inspired and make my own and learn.
hell yeah, thanks! you should definitely try making one!
A cherry burl wood burned neck might be super sick though. If you’re not allergic to gourds, then it sounds like spider mites. How and where they are dried or how clean they are might be important for reducing irritation to your skin and lungs. You saying that you used to dip them in water to get a water line, and that you used to have less irritation makes me think you should at least wash the gourds before you work with them. I like your plants. Using the moisture meter as a make shift slide made me laugh. If you’re watering enough then try some microbes like yogurt or keifer and kombucha to improve microbiome in the soil. Cover crop and keep the soil cool if you’re in so cal, black pots heat up a lot in the sun.
You look very much like one of my old friends I lost contact with, even sound like him. This is my second of your videos I’m watching, I really enjoy the work you do, your quality and pace, and the videos are great. Gonna sub now so when you blow up, I’ve Ben here for a while. Do you only make banjos and does that make you a banjier?
thanks appreciate it! I only make banjos for now but I wanna make a gourd bass pretty badly, and I have plans to attempt a tagelharpa build
I like the sound of the beech one best.
Ur just such a vibe. Also! Looking forward to watching the in depth tuning peg video!
Absolutely incredible and entirely inspiring! Where do you learn to even do this !?! I will now be studying this video like a mad woman and attempting to make my own!
thanks! mostly learned from the internet and trial and error. best of luck on making your own! I wanna get some more in depth tutorial videos made when I have the time
Hey, curious if I could get your opinion on something… Do you suppose there’s any value in a 3-stringed banjo? I typically make instruments that are inspired by morin khuur, erhu, rebab and lyras. Sometimes I only use two strings, which can be very cool for playing with a bow. But often I’ll use 3 and might look into doing some with 4. But 5 is a stretch for me. Some of my instruments already have a banjo-esque tone when plucked and I want to lean into that a bit. Anyway, the point of this was just to ask if you thought any banjo players would be happy with 3 strings. Thanks and keep up the awesome work!
hey, yeah actually early banjos and akontings would only have 3 or 4 strings, the low 4th string didn't come around until later, so I've seen a lot of gourd banjos with only 3 strings, plus the 4th drone string. The drone string would probably get in the way playing with a bow, but I haven't tried so I'm not sure. I checked out your videos, really cool instruments with a great sound. It reminds me of a scandanavian tagelharpa, which I really want to build and learn to play. Also, a Japanese shamisen has an animal hide head and 3 strings, but it's played with a pick. I'd say go for it, it would probably sound amazing
I was gonna say a few things, but at some point it just became, oh, WOW!
very good, try use carnauba wax or beer wax after oil absorved on wood.
Tell me something. if I was to make my own custom banjo, are the frets on the finger board necessary?
not necessary at all, but the side dots on the neck make it way easier to play fretless. I like to do dots at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th
its so chiill to listen, and watch you working. + super interesting to hear about a topic i dont know shit about
"You're famous!" "It's actually very sad" I'M DEAD (but I agree w you it's truly very sad 😢 )
Is this one sold?
I still have it, but I'm holding onto it for a little while longer because the end grain fingerboard is a little experimental and I want to make sure nothing crazy happens to it (so far so good), but it could be going up for sale in the near future. I also give a little more info about it in the full build video if you haven't seen it
I have the same bubble stick
it's a good one, I got mine from a guy named Paul on a job I worked a few years ago
Great job man. Had fun watching.
That fingerboard looks super cool!