ABOUT PAUL REILLY - BANJO PLAYER AND MAKER
Paul describes himself as "...an old timey tragic who makes functional works of art." A man with a sense of humour, Paul builds open back banjos from beautifully figured tonewoods. His recent instruments feature pegheads with an Art Deco motif. The latest two creations from his workshop have colour-stained backstrapping and heelcaps. Reilly pots are block rim construction faced inside and out with hand cut veneers and fitted with traditional dowel stick. Tension hoops are hand crafted, nickel plated brass. Over the years Paul has adopted the fail-safe method of non-adjustable truss rod for strength and permanance. |
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Although fretted instruments are popular being easier to play, Paul has a personal affection for fretless instruments. "There's something appealing," he says, "in the liquid smooth slides a fretless makes possible." Reilly instruments are finished with multiple coats of danish oil which bring out the deep lustre of the woods. To find out what's currently on the Reilly workbench, |
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