
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
-
Barry Sholder Gourd Banjolele #089T fretted Tenor Uke “Woodspirit
Cherry neck with hand-carved wood spirit peghead Rosewood fretted fingerboard 17 frets and 17" tenor scale Friction tuners Aquila New Nylgut #10U string set 1 1/2" wide Corian nut Kettle gourd 8 1/2" dia. x 4 1/2" deep with 2 1/4" soundport Big Sound! Romero style tailpiece Goatskin head$350.00 -
New Barry Sholder #414 Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo Mini 5
Cherry Neck 17" scale Overall length 28" Ebony veneer peghead overlay Madagascar Rosewood fretboard 13 frets Abalone fretboard dots Ebony nut Ebony Friction violin tuners...very smooth operation Canteen Gourd 9 1/2" X 3 1/2" deep with 2" soundport Black Goatskin Head Romero Style Tailpiece Tuned like a full-size banjo G or A tuning Barry Sholder mini 5 string set *Extra string sets available on the accessaries page$400.00 -
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 -
New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjo #419 “Fencepost”
Cherry Neck with Faux barnwood All rough and natural except the neck Oak Fretless Fingerboard (26 3/16" scale) Barnwood Peghead Hand-carved Nut Hand-carved tuning pegs Hand-carved nut 1 7/16" Rusty Nail Goatskin Head Not so round Canteen Gourd 8 1/2" X 5" Deep 2" Soundport Romero Style Tailpiece Barry Sholder Std. gourd String Set *Extra string sets available on the accessories page **Can be ordered with frets$430.00 -
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
Banjos
-
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 -
Barry Sholder Akonting #107 replica
Mahogany neck * no frets 9" canteen gourd left natural as it would have come from the fields of plantations where they were made and played 2" sound port Goatskin head African style tailpiece and neck hand-painted 3 ebony friction tuners 60 lb. nylon fishing line strings extra included 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.$280.00 -
New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjo #421 “Irma” It’s Got it All!
Black Walnut Neck Oak fretboard with 16 frets Oil finish Ebony dots Corian nut 1 3/16" wide Planetary tuners Pearloid buttons Canteen Gourd 11" dia. x 5 "deep 2" soundport Romero style tailpiece Black Goatskin head Barry Sholder Standard Gourd String Set *Additional string sets available on the accessories page *Can be special ordered fretless$495.00 -
New Barry Sholder Fretless Gourd Banjo #392 “Greenman”
Maple fingerboard Cherry Neck Handcarved Greenman Woodspirit Maple Bridge Big Kettle Gourd 10 1/2" x 6" Deep Olive Green Dye 2 3/8" soundport Goatskin with Waterproofing Corion Nut (used on Gibson guitars) Ebony Friction Tuners (Very Smooth Operation) Barry Sholder Standard Gourd Banjo String Set *Extra string sets available on the accessories page 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. *This Banjo can be custom ordered with frets. -
Banjo #371 fretless Gourd 5 string “Modified Buckbee “
Mahogany neck Oak fretless fingerboard 26 3/16" scale Modified Buckbee Minstrel peghead Ebony friction tuners Barry Sholder standard string set Corian nut Canteen gourd 10 1/2" dia. x 4 1/2" deep 2" soundport Goatskin head * this banjo can be custom ordered with frets. 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.
Banjoleles
-
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 -
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 #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 -
New Barry Sholder #414 Fretted 5 String Gourd Banjo Mini 5
Cherry Neck 17" scale Overall length 28" Ebony veneer peghead overlay Madagascar Rosewood fretboard 13 frets Abalone fretboard dots Ebony nut Ebony Friction violin tuners...very smooth operation Canteen Gourd 9 1/2" X 3 1/2" deep with 2" soundport Black Goatskin Head Romero Style Tailpiece Tuned like a full-size banjo G or A tuning Barry Sholder mini 5 string set *Extra string sets available on the accessaries page$400.00 -
Barry Sholder Gourd Banjolele #089T fretted Tenor Uke “Woodspirit
Cherry neck with hand-carved wood spirit peghead Rosewood fretted fingerboard 17 frets and 17" tenor scale Friction tuners Aquila New Nylgut #10U string set 1 1/2" wide Corian nut Kettle gourd 8 1/2" dia. x 4 1/2" deep with 2 1/4" soundport Big Sound! Romero style tailpiece Goatskin head$350.00
Accessories
-
labella #13 banjolele string set
It has a wound 3rd. 1st.......024 2nd......032 3rd......036w 4th......028$12.00