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Choose Your Wood Type

All of my tenor models have three wood choices to choose from.
These are all FSC certified and chosen for their premium quality.

Stained Maple and Ebony wood type on a Irish tenor banjo

Stained Maple and Ebony

Maple - Rock Maple a hard dense wood, its natural colour is cream, but here its stained a Amber/Brown

Ebony- Gaboon Ebony extremely hard dense wood, dark black colouring often with streaks of gold and orange

Cherry and Pau Ferro wood on a Irish tenor banjo

Cherry and Pau Ferro

Cherry - Black Cherry is lighter in weight and lower hardness than Maple with gorgeous golden and salmon pink colouring.  

Pau Ferro - Santos Rosewood, not a true rosewood but shares many of the same attributes, dense and wear resistant though not as heavy as Ebony, red brown - orange and gold in colour. 

Cherry and Richlite wood type on tenor banjo

Cherry and Richlite

Black Cherry is lighter in weight and lower hardness than Maple with gorgeous golden and salmon pink colouring.

Richlite - Invented in 1943 is a composite material made from recycled paper, dense and stable it has a smooth feeling slightly different from wood and a jet black appearance with mottled look close up, Used by many major guitar manufacturers as an Ebony substitute.

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Tenor Banjo Models

The tone ring is one of the main contributors to the sound of a tenor banjo, although other variables also hugely affect a banjos tone, the style of tone ring is the ingredient that gives a characteristic tone, attack, sustain, decay.
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You could say a tone ring gives an underpinning personality to the sound of an instrument that can then be further refined with the setup.

4 string tenor banjo deep rim tone ring

Deep Rim

The rolled brass tone ring gives a strong direct tone and the deeper rim adds an extra depth or presence to the sound.

Nickle Hardware £1525
Brass Hardware £1650

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4 string tenor banjo ebony tone ring

Ebony

Extremely versatile tone ring capable of a mellow woody tone but with the right set up also capable of a bright punchy tone. 

Nickle Hardware £1625
Brass Hardware £1750

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four string tenor banjo dobson tone ring

Dobson

This model has a well balanced tone with a sweet rich high end and a funky low end and a characteristic sustain and decay to the notes.

Nickle Hardware £1700
Brass Hardware £1825

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four string irish tenor banjo with a tubaphone tone ring

Tubaphone

Tubaphone tone ring is paired with a bracket band to add weight an is characterised by a powerful full tone and lots of sustain.

Open Back £1950
Resonator £2500

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tenor banjo open back dobson tone ring
irish tenor banjo
headstock with a wren for an irish tenor banjo
open back four string banjo
head stock with a hare inlay on a 4 string banjo
hare headstock
back of a four string banjo
another handcrafted custom tenor banjo

Customer Testimonials

"Will has produced a fantastic open-back banjo in Cherry with a 12" Renaissance head and Dobson Tonering.
Excellent tone, lightweight and easy to play.
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Why pay 000$ for overrated US imports when we have some talented luthiers in the UK?
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Highly recommended."

John Charnock

"Unlike many banjos I’ve played, it maintains clarity all the way up the neck. I've now owned it for a few months and would say this is now my favourite banjo, and I'm lucky enough to own some really nice ones from other well-known builders.
Dealing with Will was a pleasure.

If the house was on fire and I could save one banjo, this would be the one!."

Tom Philips

"I was smitten from the moment Will handed it over.
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The craftsmanship is awesome and the sound just gets better and better.
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Fabulous projection without a hint of harshness, just a well balanced tone across the range and up the neck.
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And it’s plenty loud enough to be heard in my local Old Time session where it has been the target of some serious admiration.
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If you are looking for a work of art at a very acceptable price point, Will’s your man. You won’t regret it!!"

Sue Woolard

"I'm delighted with my Howson, it's my go to, everyday banjo. 12" cherry pot, ebony tone ring, goat hide head, brass hardware. I have a few others, including antique banjos from some of the best American makers. It's the Howson that I reach for most. Check out my videos on YouTube at Cerddoriaeth Fynyddig / Mountain Music. Most of those include my Howson."

Andy Taylor

"I often think that looking at a banjo is like looking at food because firstly it has to appeal to the eye and that is how I felt the first time I saw the fretless banjo I bought from WGF Howson Instruments. Not only does it sound great but when I’m not playing it, it stands in my room like a piece of art."

Tat Taylor

Tenor Banjos

Ebony

Deep Rim

Dobson

Tubaphone