Ron Raymer
Custom Banjo Engraving & Design

I was an engraver and later a designer engraver for Hallmark Cards for 37 years (1962-1999).  In 1973, I took a guitar into George’s Music Service to have the bridge reset.  Bob George, one of the best luthiers in the Mid-west, saw the engraving I had put into the pick guard and asked me to engrave some inlay patterns for a reproduction banjo neck.  That began my career in banjo engraving.

Soon he had me carving heel designs, resonators and engraving ivory and mother of pearl patterns.  We replicated four string necks converting many into five-string banjos.  In 1975, Bob offered to build me a 5-string banjo if I would design, carve and engrave one for him at the same time.  He chose a patriotic theme, as the bi-centennial was approaching, and I chose a Native American theme for mine.  Due to work loads and our ‘day jobs’, the banjos were not completed until 1983.  Bob was a wonderful man to work and after awhile many other luthiers utilized Bob as a source to get their engraving and carving done.

Dale Small, was one of the luthiers who came to Bob for his embellishments but he desired to work directly with the engraver.  So, he did a bit of detective work and found sources in NYC that knew a common friend and luthier, Tom Mathis, that called and asked me if he should give out my name.  Little did I know that I was being referred to as “The Phantom Engraver”.  This was all news to me as I had no desire to remain anonymous.

The humorous thing is that Dale Small, lives only about two hours from me and he had to go to New York to find me. Over the past 35 years the banjos that I have designed, carved and engraved for him have become known world wide.  One is in the Smithsonian Museum; about 5 that I have worked on are in the Four String Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City.  The collector with the most banjos which we have built is Steve DiBonaventura.   Steve is a tremendous tenor banjo player who lives in the Philadelphia area.  At last count I think he owns 20 of our most elaborate banjos. 

 Through a small notice in The Banjo Newsletter some other builders have found my services for banjo engraving.  Rob Bishline of Bishline Banjos, Jim Stull of JLS Banjos, Vinnie Mondello, a very talented 4-string builder who has a wonderful way to show the progress on the banjos he builds.

Other builders or dealers that I have done work for is Tom Mathis of Blue Bell Banjos, Dave Schenkman of Turtle Hill Banjos and Frank Neet the renown builder of quality banjos.  Wyatt Fawley of the Banjo Loft and Charlie Russell of Minnesota.  I did several necks over the years for the late Bill Kelly of Kansas City.  Bill converted many four string banjos into five string. 

I worked with Leo Posch of Lawrence, Kansas to build a very fancy banjo with the theme of Prairie Pioneers.  I think he has some photos on his web page and I have a few.  Leo is a very conscientious craftsman and I enjoyed partnering with him.  If anyone is considering a custom banjo give Leo a call.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you can get for your money compared to Gibson, Stelling, Ome and other major builders.