Tommy George banjo with Icelandic Worm Monster inlay
A couple years ago I ordered a custom left-handed tenor banjo from Tommy George of George Banjos in Somerville, TN. I like it so much that about six months ago I asked Tommy if he'd build me another one with a slightly different design. That 2nd banjo is now nearing completion. He's just added a coat of sealer, dulled-down the metal spunover rim, and this week he'll be trimming out the neck. As a special feature Tommy is adding a unique inlay of my choosing on the headstock. He just sent me this picture!
That logo/inlay is inspired by a road sign I saw when traveling in Iceland in 2008. There's a lake there said to contain the Lagarfljót Worm, also known as the Icelandic Worm Monster - a creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster. While driving around Lagarfljót lake in Egilsstaðir I noticed these signs which I think were meant to indicate good vantage points for viewing the worm. Unfortunately I didn't see the Lagarfljót monster but I did come away with a cool symbol!
Worm road sign, Lagarfljót Lake, Egilsstaðir Iceland
I'm fortunate to have found Tommy George, as he is an excellent craftsman willing to take on the challenge of making a tenor banjo for a reasonable price. A Nashville based TV show did a segment about George Banjos and posted it on YouTube. Here's that video.
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