It has been a little over a year since I posted news that Snowbird Banjo Company was shutting down, and it seems time has flashed by. But during that time, this mild “mid-life crisis” has played itself out, at least for now, and I have been considering reopening the business. I no longer have a shop, I have a place where one will soon be started and my gears are turning about how I can make this attempt better than last time.
It is my goal with Snowbird Banjo Company to continue building instruments with hand crafted quality and standard shop tools (no CNC computerized cutting or shaping). I will not be offering custom orders in the beginning, but I will be revamping my standard models of the “Little Birdie” and the “Barn Owl” and I might even do a higher end standard model. Some considerations right now are the Little Birdie is meant to be as low cost as possible, so I will be eliminating the staining process and just give it a clear coat or maybe even just an oil finish. The Barn Owl will start getting the staining process that the Little Birdie used to have. I really like the darker tones on my banjos.
There will be a significant amount of time devoted to building the new shop and I am hoping the new shop will be a Timberframe building. I have been learning how to do this on the side, and I think I can make this happen. The foundation will be the greatest challenge because I do not live on a flat piece of property and the footer wall in the back will be about 4 to 5 feet tall at ground level. So I will be building the concrete forms myself to pour the footer. This will take a lot of time.
I have a Woodmizer sawmill now, and I am able to cut my own lumber and timbers for the build. This is both a good thing and an inconvenient thing in that I will have to first cut the large number of trees to make the frame structure, mill them, and then put together. That said, I am eager to start and see how it comes out.
EDIT: Feb. 14, 2025, I am now leaning towards a standard stick built building. This will cost a little bit more but it will be much faster to complete.
With the huge amount of work in front of me, I would hate to estimate a time until re-opening just because of the sheer number of variables, but I hope to have the foundation done this summer and maybe even start on the frame before winter. If I get further than this, I will say I’m making good progress.
Thank you to all who have supported Snowbird Banjo Company in the past! Maybe this bird can fly again soon.
Jeremy Myers
With his small-town Missouri roots, singer/songwriter/banjo builder Jeremy Myers navigates life’s wilderness through music, blending his dreams and adventures into a vibrant tapestry of sound that reflects the American countryside. A husband, father of three, and multi-instrumentalist, he founded Snowbird Banjo Company in 2018, merging his passion for music and woodworking.