[ ZEPP Country Music]

ZEPP Country Music, Inc.

P.O. Box 306
Wendell, NC 27591-0306

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Disassembling A Goodtime Banjo

Following are the steps needed to disassemble an open-back Goodtime banjo. This can be handy for travel (you can carry the thing in your suitcase) shipping (makes a much smaller, hence cheaper, package, and is necessary if you wish to change the head. Just follow the steps in reverse order to reassemble it. There is a photo to accompany each step--most is intuitive, but you can click on any photo to enlarge it. Click this link for these same photos in reverse order with reassembly instructions.


Before doing anything else, remove the strings and bridge. If you're really careful, you can reuse the strings, but it's a real pain, so I suggest having another set on hand for when you put everything back together. OK--After you've taken off the strings, remove the exterior nut holding the tailpiece over the threaded end of the coordinator rod protruding through the rim.
Remove Tailpiece
  Click on photo to enlarge it
Loosen the interior nut on the coordinator rod, running it as far up the coordinator rod as it will go.
Loosen nut inside on Coordinator Rod
  Click on photo to enlarge it
Loosen the coordinator rod. If it is really tight, you can use a drill bit or a small Allen wrench stuck through the holes to break it loose. Speaking of breaking, do be careful, as bits and Allen wrenches can snap if you apply too much pressure.
Loosen Coordinator Rod
  Click on photo to enlarge it
Unscrew the coordinator rod completely
Detach coordinator rod
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Remove the coordinator rod by sliding it obliquely, back towards the neck.
Remove Coordinator rod
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Note that the heel of the neck has two lagscrews protruding into the pot. The one that will be closer to the head of the banjo is the "upper" screw. This can be confusing, as we normally work on these things "upside down," but by convention the terms "upper" and "lower" refer to the instrument when viewed from the front. Remove any and all washers on the lower lagscrew... This number varies from banjo to banjo, so make note of how many you remove.
Washers on lower lagscrew
  Click on photo to enlarge it
Remove the nut from the upper lag screw.
Remove upper lag screw nut
  Click on photo to enlarge it
Remove any and all washers from the upper lagscrew... This number varies from banjo to banjo, so make note of how many you remove.
Washers on upper lagscrew
  Click on photo to enlarge it
Remove the neck by pulling the lagscrews through the two holes in the rim.
Insert lagsrews into rim
  Click on photo to enlarge it
That's it; you're done and now have bunches of banjo parts lying around. To reassemble the thing, either simply reverse these directions, or look at the same series of photos (plus a few extra) with reassembly directions at gtassembly.htm

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