Banjos On Salt Spring

Banjos on Salt Spring - now Wickland Instruments - is the result of my enthusiasm for problem solving and innovation in building new instruments.  I have built 65 banjos and a wide variety of other stringed instruments leading me to my new name ...Wickland Instruments.
I am building German Silver resonator guitars and 20-string resonator veenas in two models, a parlor size and a deep bodied jumbo concert body. I also build a very sweet cutaway parlor resonator guitar with a German Silver body and Bolivian rosewood neck.

For my banjos I use a variety of hardwoods including Bolivian Rosewood, American Black Walnut and Eastern Maple in two piece neck construction.  The rims are block rim construction with a lower overall glue content, beautiful exposed wood grain and deep color. I have built a dozen thin (7/16") block rim rosewood banjos with raw brass Dobson tone rings.  This Rosewood model has evolved into banjo ukuleles with a 17" scale and 10" rim and also into open-back tenor banjos.

My instruments have received an excellent response this year from their exposure at the Salt Spring Saturday Market, this website, and a variety of instrument internet "Hangouts". My winter plans include more banjo ukuleles, several parlor resonator guitars and 20-string resonator veenas.
I am also building four-string Hill harps, aka Cigar Box guitars, on Harry Manx's design and a newly designed Rosewood resonator box dobro .
With wholesale purchasing of components from Gotoh, National Guitar, Saga and Lace Music I am offering quality hand built instruments  at an affordable price.

Grant Wickland