By Patrick David Sawyer
North Carolina has quietly nurtured one of the richest and most diverse banjo-building traditions in the world. From the fretless mountain banjos of Beech Mountain to the boutique open-back revival of today, the Tar Heel State continues to inspire builders and players alike.
Note:
This is not a complete list. North Carolina’s banjo-building heritage runs deep and wide, and many talented makers have worked quietly in small shops or family garages. If you know of a documented builder who should be added, or spot a correction, please contact us here so we can keep this archive accurate and growing. (photo of Frank Profit to the left)
Beech Mountain & High Country
Home of the traditional mountain banjo
Nathan Hicks – Beech Mountain (1920s – 1960s)
Father of Stanley Hicks and one of the earliest known luthiers in the Beech Mountain tradition. Built mountain banjos and dulcimers from native woods, helping shape the regional folk-instrument style that inspired later builders.
Frank Proffitt – Beech Mountain (1930s – 1965)
Folk icon and source of “Tom Dooley.” His hand-carved fretless mountain banjos became templates for generations of builders.
Stanley Hicks – Beech Mountain (1930s – 1989)
NEA Heritage Fellow (1983). Renowned maker of mountain banjos and dulcimers; helped preserve traditional construction methods.
Roby Hicks – Beech Mountain (1930s – 1970s)
Part of the extended Hicks family of instrument makers. Known for his hand-built fretless mountain banjos and dulcimers that carried forward the authentic Beech Mountain form.
M. C. Worley – Watauga County / Beech Mountain region (mid-20th century)
A traditional Appalachian craftsman, Worley built fretless mountain banjos (and other instruments) using bent hickory hoops, hide heads (even house-cat skins and groundhog hides), and local woods. His tools and methods reflect the handcrafted legacy of the Beech Mountain instrument-making tradition.
Ernest Franklin – Watauga County (1940s – 1970s)
Featured in Foxfire 3 (1975) for his traditional mountain banjos built from local hardwoods. His instruments exemplify the rustic, functional craftsmanship of mid-century Appalachian makers.
Edd Presnell – Watauga County (1930s – 1990s)
Respected builder and craftsman best known for his fine mountain dulcimers, but also created fretless mountain banjos. Married to traditional musician Nettie Presnell; together they helped preserve Appalachian string traditions.
Leonard Glenn – Watauga County (1940s – 1997)
Created fretless mountain banjos that defined the Beech Mountain look and tone.
Clifford Glenn – Watauga County (1960s – 2015)
Continued the Glenn/Presnell family lineage; respected regional craftsman.
Charlie Glenn – Watauga County (1965 – present)
Active builder preserving the Glenn family’s mountain-banjo style designs as well as bracket-style banjos. Made his first banjo with the help of Stanley Hicks.
Tab Ward – Beech Mountain / Watauga County (1960s – 1976)
Famous for developing the “double knock” style of playing. Apprentice to the Glenn–Hicks line; built authentic mountain banjos using traditional hand tools and local woods.
Rick Ward – Beech Mountain / Watauga County (2000s – present)
Grandson of Tab Ward; a third-generation maker continuing the Beech Mountain fretless tradition. Learned to play like his grandfather from recordings.
Tedra Harmon – Beech Mountain (2000s – present)
Contemporary Beech Mountain builder and musician continuing the Hicks-Presnell heritage. Crafts traditional fretless mountain banjos and dulcimers using locally sourced woods and regional patterns.
Charlie Glenn
Round Peak & Surry County
Root of the modern clawhammer sound
Kyle Creed – Galax VA / NC border (1950s – 1982)
Though based in Virginia, Creed’s shop and playing defined the Round Peak open-back tone still emulated by NC builders today.
John Boulding – Mt. Airy, NC (1980s – present)
Luthier and builder based in Mt. Airy; though much of his work is repair/restoration, he occasionally builds bluegrass/open-back banjos and is listed in multiple luthier directories.
Riley Baugus – Elkville / Wilkes County (1990s – present)
Old-time musician and builder producing Round Peak-style instruments rooted in tradition.
Kevin Fore (Round Peak Banjos) – Mt. Airy (2000s – present)
Carries forward the Kyle Creed approach with handcrafted Round Peak-style open-backs.
Richard Bowman – Mt. Airy (1990s – present)
Round Peak-style open-backs.
Kyle Creed
Piedmont Region
Dave Pickett – Davidson County (1970s)
Born and raised in Davidson County, North Carolina, Dave moved from engineering into instrument building. He makes banjos and folk toys, and appears in Foxfire 3 as a documented builder
Marvin Walker – Kinston, NC (1978 – present)
Builds handcrafted banjos under the “Walker Banjos” name; known for mini- and full-sized open-backs, custom inlay, and instruments gifted to top players
Mike Ramsey (“Chanterelle”) – Chapel Hill → Pittsboro (1986 – ~2017)
Produced thousands of open-backs that shaped the modern old-time banjo revival.
Hanson & Crawford Stringed Instruments – Durham (1999 – present)
Hand-built, heirloom-quality instruments including open-back banjos, lap steels, mandolins and guitars; based in downtown Durham, NC.
David Manuel – Graham / Mebane / Elon, NC (2008 – present)
Owner of Carolina Luthier Guitar Repair; began building his own line of handcrafted banjos circa 2008 while in college.
Ryan Navey (Carolina Banjo Company) – Salisbury / Davidson area (2010s – present)
Boutique builder of hookless open-back banjos known for minimalist design, hand-rubbed finishes, and remarkable tone clarity. Each instrument reflects precise craftsmanship and a modern aesthetic rooted in North Carolina’s old-time heritage.
Tim Davis (Davis Banjos) – Harrisburg, NC (est. 2015-present)
Combines intricate inlay work with both bluegrass and open-back lines; precision-machined parts and traditional setups.
Lindsey Lewellen (Quail Creek Banjos) – Charlotte (2015 – present)
Produces boutique open-backs with engraved brass hardware and polished finishes.
Mike Ramsey (on the left)
Western North Carolina & Asheville Area
Modern open-backs and artistic innovation
Cedar Mountain Banjos (Lo & Tim Gardner) – Brevard (1993 – present)
Founded by Lo Gordon; continued by Tim Gardner. Known for elegant craftsmanship and bell-like tone.
Noel Booth – Balsam (early 2000s – present)
Builds gourd and tackhead banjos from native hardwoods; rustic yet refined.
Pisgah Banjo Company (Patrick Sawyer) – Fairview / Asheville (2005 – present)
Sustainable Appalachian hardwoods, solar-powered shop, and 100% U.S.-made hardware — a model for ethical, local lutherie.
Andrew Norcross – Marshall (2005 – 2020)
Small-batch builder creating open-back banjos with refined craftsmanship and traditional Appalachian character.
Deep Creek Strings (Jeff Danfield) – Bryson City (2010s – present)
Hand-built open-backs, known for natural finishes, artistic design, and instruments that celebrate the raw, earthy character of Western North Carolina.
Rob Magnum – Weaverville (2010s – present)
Known for his innovative ceramic banjo rims, blending pottery and lutherie to explore new tonal textures and artistic forms within the open-back tradition.
Frank Abrams (Banjo Tam) – Western NC (2010s – present)
Creator of the “Banjo-Tam”
Dean Robinson (DeNoCraft Banjos) – Robbinsville (2010s – present)
Builds both bluegrass and open-back models; fabricates his own hardware and tone rings in-house.
Joshua Grant – Fontana (2010s – present)
Small-batch builder blending modern aesthetics with mountain-inspired design.
Lindsey Liden (Mulheron Banjos) – Brasstown (2017 – present)
Folk School instructor crafting highly refined, tonally balanced open-backs.
Kyle Landers – Asheville (2020s – present)
Creates minimalist open-backs emphasizing ergonomics, playability, and clean tone.
Lo Gordon
Eastern NC and the Outer Banks
Pangea Banjo (Grant Davidson) – Kitty Hawk (2020s – present)
A one-person shop on the Outer Banks of North Carolina crafting handmade open-back banjos rooted in the mountain tradition, while also offering custom parts and repairs.
