This instrument was commissioned by Joshua "Shua" Grant, who needed a light (under 1.5 lb), durable and playable banjo to take along with him on his 3 month trip on the Appalachian Trail.
Here are the results. It's a Cigar Box Banjo with an 18 inch scale, 1 lb, under 2 feet long, very durable and very playable banjo.
The neck is mahogany and purple heart. The fingerboard, tailpiece and bridge are rosewood. Ane the peghead overlay is walnut.
Here's a video of Shua playing his new instrument. He came over and within minutes he was playing it and I took this video:
Here are a few more pictures of the instrument:
