Rex Krueger

Early Access Video: The Music Cut

Added 2023-06-24 11:00:04 +0000 UTC

Friends:

This week, something a little different. We're going back over some of the build videos and re-cutting them with music and no talking. Some people just like to zone out and see something get built.

We tried using YouTube stock music for these videos, but it was terrible and I went looking for something better.

Right away, I reached out to Adam Hinkel, a Patron who many of you know as @Noodlin on the forum and @blacksheepbanjos on Instagram. Adam builds fretless banjos in a traditional style and plays those banjos with grace and emotion.

If you're not familiar with the fretless banjo, it's the original form of the instrument when it was first brought to American by African slaves, who adapted it to the materials and culture of the Colonies. Later, builders added frets, steel strings, and more modern construction, all of which give the instrument WAY more volume and a bright, piercing sound that cuts through in string bands. The modern banjo is associated with players like Earl Scruggs and bluegrass music.

That modern sound is too much for some folks and they think they don't like banjo music. The fretless banjo is completely different animal. It has a round, mellow tone with more bass. It's a bit like a lute or cello. Adam's instruments and his soulful playing are the perfect accompaniment to woodworking and you can sit back and enjoy the build without some idiot yammering in your ear.

I admit, June wasn't our best month for content. Getting the Compass Rose planing stop out was a major project, I've had illness in my family, and just been burned out in general. We're planing to come back strong in July. I've got several videos shot and we're about to start editing them.

Here's to a fresh start next month.

As always, thank you for making it possible.

--Rex