While you look at this article you can listen to a cut featuring one of these 3 Holers and get an idea what they sound like. This is a cut off one of my CD’s and it is called “Nearer My God To Thee”

 

Sometime in the 1980’s I think it was, I saw Jim and Jesse perform. Allen Shelton was playing with them at the time along with Mike Scott. Alan was playing a 5 String Dobro. The sound of it was so pretty that I had to try making something similar. I made two Dobro potted banjos that I called Walloons. Then I got interested in making a wooden topped banjo. These “3 Holers” evolved from this idea. I’ve made several of them through the years. I must admit that I can’t remember how many I’ve actually made.

Here is my latest one. It has luthier tools inlaid in the fingerboard.

All these instruments are an ongoing experiment in sound. I have never been afraid to try something different with them in an attempt to make them sound better.

Some had spruce tops and some had western cedar.

This picture shows one with a set of my ball bearing D-Tuners.

Here is a picture of one with birds eye maple sides.

Curly maple. It’s look is attractive to me.

I think this one has western cedar for the top.

Here is some pretty rosewood with curly maple binding.

Some luthier tools in the fingerboard.

 

Some had round holes and some had oblong holes. The 3 holes seemed to make the sound project better. They don’t have a lot of volume, but they have a different tone similar to a dulcimer sound. I have sold some of them and given away some of them. Not all banjo pickers are interested in this type sound. I have tried to get several good banjo players interested in these things but, so far, I think I am the only fan of the 3 Holer.