
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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New Barry Sholder Gourd Banjo 5 string # 379″Bottle”
Premium Curly Maple neck 26 3/16" scale Ebony friction violin tuners...very smooth operation Barry Sholder standard gourd string set Bottle gourd 12" length 6 1/2" deep 9" wide 2 sound ports 2 goatskins Corian nut free strap included.... ya can't hold it without it! gloss Lacquer finish lemon oiled fingerboard$425.00 -
New Barry Sholder 5 string fretless Gourd banjo #376 “Fencepost”
Cherry neck Barnwood peghead w/ 1rusty nails Ebony friction violin tuners.....very smooth operation Oak fretless fingerboard Ebony nut 36 3/16" scale tuned to std G Goatskin head w/weatherproofing Canteen gourd 10" dia x 4" deep left natural from the fields with matte urethane finish 2" soundport$400.00 -
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$250.00 -
Barry Sholder Gourd banjo #369 “Tone Ring”
Walnut neck and peghead with Danish oil finish Curly maple fretless fingerboard Ebony friction violin tuners..very smooth operation Large kettle gourd 9" dia x 5 1/2" deep 2 1/2" soundport Ebony nut Barry Sholder standard gourd banjo string set 1/4" solid brass tone ring 25 1/2" scale Walnut bridge and Romero style tailpiece$435.00
Banjos
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Banjo – #300 – HotRod – 5 String Fretless
The gourd is 9" in diameter and 5" deep The banjo features a Black walnut neck and peghead Fingerboard is Oak with hand-rubbed Danish oil. The Corian nut measures 1 5/16" This one has Friction Ebony tuners$350.00 -
Barry Sholder Gourd “Mini-5” 5 string travel banjo #364
Mahogany neck Rosewood fingerboard and peghead 15 frets Goatskin head Romeros style tailpiece Corian nut Ebony friction violin tuners...very smooth Canteen gourd 9 1/2" dia x 4" deep 2" sound port$325.00 -
Banjo #330 Fiddlehead Bald Eagle
Cherry Neck Tru-oil finish semi-gloss Black Walnut fretless fingerboard with a danish oil finish Hand carved and colored Bald Eagle peghead Ebony friction violin tuners Barry Sholder Standard Gourd banjo string set Canteen Gourd measures 10 3/4" dia x 4 1/4" deep 2" soundport Goatskin head Romero style tailpiece$650.00 -
Banjo #325 longneck Relic Gourdie “The Muzzleloader”
Highly figured Curly Maple Antiqued oil finish 32' Longneck scale with 3 gold frets Minstral peghead Ebony violin friction tuners #17 LaBella string set wound 4th Oak fingerboard Bone nut Goatskin head with Romero style tailpiece Large Kettle gourd 9 3/4" dia x 6 1/2" deep with 1 1/2" soundport Gourd interior has been fiberglassed$425.00 -
Banjo #327 Faux frets
Mahogany neck with Tru-oil finish Rosewood fingerboard 12 ivory plastic faux frets Peghead is Curly Padauck Canteen gourd 9 1/2" dia. x 4" deep with a 1 1/2" sound port Simple purfling rosette on sound port Goatskin head with Romero style tailpiece Ebony friction violin tuners...very smooth Corian nut Barry Sholder Standard Gourd string set, nylon and wound 4th$425.00Please note: Available for special order means that the instrument is currently unavailable and will have to be built Usually about 2 weeks.
Banjoleles
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Banjolele #082T Tattoo series “Sparrow”
Cherry neck with hand-rubbed oil finish Marbled Black Walnut peghead and backstrap veneer Black Walnut Fretboard with 16 frets Abalone dots and white side dots Grover Champion Statite #6B open machine tuners LaBella #13 string set w/ wound 3rd Canteen style gourd 8 1/2"x 4" deep with 1 1/2" soundport Corian nut and Romero style tasilpiece$300.00 -
Banjolele #083T Premium
Neck is Premium grade highly figured curly maple Burl Veneer Peghead Rosewood radiused fretboard with 17 frets Grover open machine geared tuners 40mm genuine bone nut Canteen Gourd measuring 8 1/2" dia. x 3 1/2" deep 1 1/2" soundport Abalone fretboard dots and white acrylic side dots #13 LaBella Banjolele string set with wound 3rd$375.00 -
New Barry Sholder Banjolele #086C Concert “Fiddlehead”
Concert size 15" scale 18 frets O/A length 28" Premium Curly Maple neck Walnut fretboard Ebony violin friction tuners Aquila New Nylgut #7U concert string set 8 1/2" diameter Gourd fiberglassed * This banjolele is available as a custom order with different wood combinations and hardware$350.00 -
Banjolele #083S Soprano
Mahogany neck 13 frets with Corian nut 1 3/8" Curly Maple fretboard with Ebony dots and the 12th pearl side dots Grover premium Champion Sta-tite friction tuners LaBella #17 string set with wound 3rd Canteen goiurd 8" dia x 2 3/4" deep 1 1/2" soundport Goatskin head with custom bridge$250.00 -
Banjolele #067T “Geared Tuners”
Tenor Size 17"scale 15 frets O/A length 26" Highly figured Curly Maple neck Abalone markers Ebonized Oak fretboard Veneer peghead overlay Geared machine tuners LaBella #13 Banjolele Strings wound 3rd Gourd measures7 1/2 "dia x 4" deep with sound port Abalone dots Goatskin head Romero Style tailpiece$290.00