The Jolt – Electric Banjo

This unique banjo is more of a tenor guitar but embodies the classic form.  Made in collaboration between Student Craft and Beth Ireland Studios, the Jolt combines a love for natural materials, the tradition of instrument making in Appalachia, and a punk aesthetic that defines our current Woodcraft crew. 

The body is made of segmented walnut rings, turned at the lathe to create a shell.  The top and back are made from curly maple, book-matched to highlight the lovely figure.  The back is removable to access the pickup, knobs and input jack.  The neck is a lamination of maple and walnut.   

The knobs were turned from walnut at the lathe, and each copper tail piece carefully cut to shape, sanded and bent by hand.  Each bridge is hand-shaped from walnut. 

Each headstock is unique and features a mixture of woods in the saw blade marquetry—an original work from Woodcraft designer/maker, Janee ’28.