Welcome to my Gourd Banjo website. My name is Barry Sholder, and I am the maker of Barry Sholder Gourd banjos and Barry Sholder Gourd Ukulele.
When I make one of my instruments, I approach the building process as an organic sculpture taking into consideration the color and texture of exotic woods, shape and size of the gourds, color contrast. These elements combine to give the musician, not only a fine musical instrument, but a beautiful piece of art.
Available Items
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Banjo #429 Fretless Gourd 5 String Banjo "Watermelon Man"
In Stock
Banjo #429 Fretless Gourd 5 String Banjo “Watermelon Man”
Cherry Neck with oil finish Oak Fretless Fingerboard Hand Carved and Colored Peghead Ebony Friction Violin Tuners ... very smooth operation Big Canteen 11" deep x 5 1/2" tall ... Deep Tone 1 3/4" Soundport Romero Style Tailpiece Barry Sholder Standard Gourd Banjo String Set *Extra strings available on the accessaries page **This banjo can be custom ordered with frets.$475.00 -
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New Barry Sholder #430 Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo "Tall Gourd"
In Stock
New Barry Sholder #430 Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo “Tall Gourd”
Black Walnut neck with oil finish Fretted Oak Fretboard 26 3/16" scale Tall Gourd 10" length x 6 1/2" wide x 5 1/2" deep Sound Port 1 3/4" Goat Skin Head Ebony Violin Friction Tuners...very smooth operation Corian Nut 1 3/16" wide Black Walnut Dots with a turquoise dot at the 12th fret Barry Sholder std. Gourd String Set Free "Simple Strap" included *Extra sting sets available on the accessories page **This banjo can be custom ordered without frets$475.00 -
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New Barry Sholder 5 String Gourd Banjo #431 Fretted "Hotrod"
In Stock
New Barry Sholder 5 String Gourd Banjo #431 Fretted “Hotrod”
Madagascar Rosewood Fretboard Premium curly maple neck Boucher #13 peghead Kettle Gourd 9" dia. x 5" Deep Turquoise cabachon peghead button Corian Nut 1 3/8" wide Ebony friction violin tuner pegs ... very smooth operation Goatskin Head 1 3/4" sound port Romero style tailpiece Barry Sholder std. Gourd Banjo string set *Extra Stings sets available on the accessories page$475.00 -
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New Barry Sholder Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo #432 Mini 5 "Irma"
In Stock
New Barry Sholder Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo #432 Mini 5 “Irma”
Cherry Neck 17" scale 16 frets Rosewood Fretted Fingerboard Oil Finish Irma Peghead with Cocobolo overlay Corian Nut 1 7/16" wide Ebony Friction violin tuners...very smooth operation Canteen Gourd 9" dia. X 4 1/2" deep with 1 3/4" soundport Custom Dyed Goatskin Head Romero Style Tailpiece Barry Sholder mini 5 string set *Extra string sets available on the accessaries page$390.00 -
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New Barry Sholder Fretless 5 String Gourd Banjo #404 "Shooting Star"
In Stock
New Barry Sholder Fretless 5 String Gourd Banjo #404 “Shooting Star”
Premium Curly Maple neck Cherry Fretless Fingerboard Handmade glass insert ... Shooting Star Kettle Gourd 7 1/2" dia. X 5" deep 2" soundport Tru-oil finish Goatskin Head Romero Style tailpiece Corian nut Barry Sholder Std. Gourd Banjo string set *Extra string sets available on the accessories page **This Banjo can be custom ordered with frets.$550.00
Banjos
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New Barry Sholder Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo #432 Mini 5 "Irma"
In StockNew Barry Sholder Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo #432 Mini 5 “Irma”
Cherry Neck 17" scale 16 frets Rosewood Fretted Fingerboard Oil Finish Irma Peghead with Cocobolo overlay Corian Nut 1 7/16" wide Ebony Friction violin tuners...very smooth operation Canteen Gourd 9" dia. X 4 1/2" deep with 1 3/4" soundport Custom Dyed Goatskin Head Romero Style Tailpiece Barry Sholder mini 5 string set *Extra string sets available on the accessaries page$390.00 -
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New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjo #393 "Hot Rod Bottle"
New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjo #393 “Hot Rod Bottle”
Walnut neck Maple Fretless Fingerboard Corion nut (Used in Gibson Guitars) Ebony friction violin tuners ...very smooth Small Bottle gourd 10" length x 6 1/2" wide x 5" deep 2 sound ports 2 goatskins ScotchGard treated heads Barry Sholder Standard Gourd string set *extra sets available on the accessories page Strap included ... ya can't hold it without one! *Can be ordered with frets **Out of stock/Special Order Available$440.00Please note: Available for special order means that the instrument is currently unavailable and will have to be built Usually about 2 weeks.
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Banjo #345 Raku Moonman
Mahogany neck Curly maple fretless fingerboard Ebony friction violin tuners Barry Sholder standard 5 string banjo strings * extras available on the accessories page Canteen Gourd 9 3/4" dia. x 4" deep with 2" sound port Romero style tailpiece Goatskin head Handmade Raku moon medallion Out of Stock/Special Order Available Please note: Available for special order means that the instrument is currently unavailable and will have to be built Usually about 2 weeks.$390.00 -
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New Barry Sholder Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo #420 "Bottle Gourd"
In Stock
New Barry Sholder Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo #420 “Bottle Gourd”
Black Walnut neck...highly figured (Oil Finish) Oak fretted fingerboard with 14 frets Stitcher Peghead Ebony friction violin tuners .... very smooth operation Bottle gourd 12" long 8" wide 6 1/2" deep 2 Sound ports 2 Goatskin heads Romero style tailpiece Corion nut 1 3/8" wide Strap included Barry Sholder standard gourd banjo string set *Extra string sets available on the accessories page **This banjo can be custom ordered without frets.$490.00 -
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New Barry Sholder Fretless Gourd Banjo #376 Tooled
In Stock
New Barry Sholder Fretless Gourd Banjo #376 Tooled
Hand Burned Faux Leather Gourd Treatment Mahogany Neck Maple Fretless Fingerboard 1890's style Buckbee Peghead Ebony Friction Violin Tuners.....Very Smooth Antique Oil Finish Romero Style Tailpiece Corian Nut Big Kettle Gourd 8 1/2" X 5 1/4" ..... 2 3/8" Soundport Goatskin Head Barry Sholder Standard String Set *Extra sting sets available on the accessories page$600.00
Banjoleles
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New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjolele Uke#092T Tenor size
In Stock
New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjolele Uke#092T Tenor size
Walnut Neck 16 frets 17" scale 1 3/4" sound port Goatskin head 8" dia x 3 1/2" deep canteen gourd Western Cedar fretboard C.B. Gitty chrome & Pearl friction tuners Corian nut 1.27" wide Aquila 87U Red Series tenor string set$350.00 -
New Barry Sholder Banjolele Uke #091T (Tenor)
Walnut Neck 14 Frets 17" sclae Oil Finish Purpleheart Fretboard/Oil 8" X 4" Canteen Gourd with 1 1/2 " Sound Port Lucy's Vintage Friction Tuners Aquila Tenor Regular 10u String Set Corian Nut Goatskin head *Extra sting sets available on the accessaries page **Can be ordered in concert size$350.00 -
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Banjolele #084C Concert "Bottle Gourd"
Banjolele #084C Concert “Bottle Gourd”
Premium Curly maple neck with a brick red dye...with Tru-oil gloss finish Oak fretboard 12 frets Mother of pearl top dots and white side dots Bone nut 1.43" wide Grover Champion Sta-Tite friction tuners. These are top of the line. Aquila standard nylgut string set #7U Bottle gourd (2 chambers) measures 9 1/2" long, 4 1/2" deepest point Goatskin, Romero style tailpiece Free strap included Please note: Available for special order means that the instrument is currently unavailable and will have to be built Usually about 2 weeks.$400.00 -
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New Barry Sholder Banjolele Uke #093C (Concert) "Radical"
In Stock
New Barry Sholder Banjolele Uke #093C (Concert) “Radical”
Curly cherry neck Oak fingerboard Canteen gourd 7 1/4" dia X 3 3/4" deep with 2"soundport Oak fretboard Green abalone fretboard dots Lucy's vintage friction tuners Cherry bridge Corian nut Cocobolo peghead & scoop veneer Aquila New Nylgut strings #7U *Extra sting sets available on the accessories page$400.00
Accessories
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Thumpin Down in the Ukulele Hollar
Thumpin Down in the Ukulele Hollar
$18.00 -
Mini 5 travel banjo String set
$18.00 -
Gourd banjo String set – Standard
$18.00 -
Aquila Tenor Super Nylgut String Set #10U
$12.00
