premium old time banjos forged in the PNW

Calkins banjos handcrafts one of a kind Mountain, Openback, & Gourd banjos, with modern features that draw inspiration from builders of the late 19th century.

A modern take on an old time tradition

After receiving my MFA in sculpture from the New York Academy of Art, I dove full speed ahead into woodworking. In 2003, I made my first banjo, bringing together two of my passions, Sculpture and Old-time music.

Today, I strive to make the best playing banjo possible. Each banjo is meticulously crafted to produce that unmistakable Old-Timey sound. This New Year, 2025 marks twenty years of making custom traditional banjos. My aim is to continue to make high quality banjos that enable both beginners and pros to pursue their love of playing old time music.

The Banjos

The Swift

The workhorse, this openback model is an every day player. With plenty of options & upgrades available, each one is unique.

Choose one already in stock, in the works, or have a custom one made for you.

Mountain Banjo

Traditional Appalachian design with some modern features. This is the banjo that got me Hooked!

These no-frills, “Frank Proffitt” style banjos have an old-timey sound unlike any other.

The Ohioan

A very popular choice among players getting into the Fretless banjo. Simple, but elegant, this banjo produces a warm tone.

This banjo is light weight and makes a perfect travel companion.

Gourd

Inspired by very early examples, this primitive banjo has a fretless neck speared through a Canteen or Kettle Gourd.

These banjos are as much a piece of art as they are a musical instrument.

Features & Addons

Rims

Two types of Openback rims are available:

Maple Ply: Dyed black to contrast the neck, these rims have a more open sound, slightly brighter and warmer tone. The ply rims also make for a lighter weight banjo.

Block Rim: These rims are hand turned on a lathe and made to match the neck. Block Rims have a more focused and slightly darker woodier tone.

Necks & Fingerboards

Necks are shaped by hand from Cherry, Khaya, or Black Walnut.

They have a nice C shape profile that is comfortable in the hand and offers excellent playability.

All necks are a 25.5″ scale length which is ideal for Old-time playing styes.

Pegheads & Hardware

Openback and Mountain Banjos feature Gotoh geared tuners in Brass or Nickel. Ebony Fiddle Pegs are always an option on banjos strung with Nyglut strings.

Rim Hardware is Brass, or a combination of both Brass and Nickel.

Tension Hoops are handmade from Brass, and tailpieces are No-knot style.

* Brass Hardware and Tuners can be aged if desired.

Where design meets functionality

New banjos are always in the works, with some in stock and ready to ship. Custom orders are always welcome. Ready to build your dream banjo?

What my customers say

"I pick up Nate's banjo daily, the 11" fretless model called The Ohioan. Its lightweight design has an exceptional build quality you can feel and is not lacking any artisan touches. Beautiful wood selection, very fun to play. With its Nylgut strings, it produces a warm, woody, and distinctive old-time sound that sings! Who needs a tonering? I look forward to playing this one for a long, long time. Great communication from Nate, banjo arrived super quickly and well packaged. Couldn't be more satisfied

David S

Seattle, WA

This "Swift" banjo is my second Calkins banjo. The Ohioan was my first, and was something of a custom order. The Swift (like the Ohioan) uses really nice wood and is well built. These banjos are light weight, and very comfortable to play. The Swift has a round, full, old-timey sound that is perfect for clawhammer. The light weight makes it perfect for travel.

Peter P.

Colorado Springs, CO

My first instrument from Calkins Banjos, the Swift 12". I am very happy with it. Excellent workmanship. Arrived without a scratch on it. Most instruments take a while to grow on me, but I loved this banjo's voice from the very first notes I struck on the strings. Transaction was smooth, and Nate was helpful and communicative.

Chad K.

Fort George, MD

Nate made the banjo that my husband has always wanted! The quality is incredible and the instrument is beautiful to see and hear. We received excellent customer service, as Nate truly went above and beyond to make exactly what we wanted. Thank you so much for helping me give this incredible anniversary gift to my husband!

Caitlin H.

Kentucky

I couldn't be happier with this mountain banjo from Nate. Not only did Nate take the time to answer all my questions and customize it to my specs, his work is impeccable. It plays beautifully and the fit and finish is clean as a whistle. And bonus...it sounds exactly right. An amazing custum-built banjo at an affordable price!

Patrick C. Lyons

Colorado

Nate is great to work with! I love my banjo! Great craftsmanship well worth the money.

Dennis

NYC

Calkins Banjos

Nate Calkins creates traditional banjos in his one-man, one-dog workshop in Portland, Oregon.