Aurora, Ontario

Rickard Banjos

Old world design meets modern technology. Bill Rickard has been in the banjo parts business for decades. He now uses his engineering background and love of fine old instruments to craft his own line of old-time banjos.

Models We Love

Maple Ridge | 11" or 12"

The Maple Ridge model has a wonderful, old-time cluckiness, and a very warm voice. This model features:

A maple neck with two way adjustable truss rod | 11" or 12" diameter 3/8" thick maple rim | Aged Brass Hardware including Dobson Tone Ring and Rickard's patented 10:1 Ratio Cyclone Tuners | 25.5 scale | ebony fretboard | dots with star inlay | frailing scoop | antiqued brass hardware | Remo Renaissance or Fiberskyn head

Dobson | 11" or 12"

Rickard's Dobson model features:

A maple neck | 1/2" thick maple rim with rim cap and faux tortoise binding | Aged Brass Hardware including Dobson Tone Ring and Rickard's patented 10:1 Ratio Cyclone Tuners | 25.5" scale ebony fretboard | dots with star inlay | frailing scoop | EVO Gold Fretwire | Remo Renaissance or Fiberskyn head 

Spunover | 11" or 12"

Spunover banjo rims are annealed and hand spun from a single sheet of brass or copper with a brass ring embedded in both open sides. This process creates unique tonal qualities and eliminates the need of a welded seam under the necks heel contact point.  

Brass or Copper Spunover Rim | Slotted Peghead | Cherry neck | 25.5" Scale | Ebony fretboard | Diamonds and stars inlays | Antiqued 18 Notch Tension Hoop | Rickard Cyclone High Precision 10:1 Ratio Tuning Pegs | North Star Tailpiece

Little Wonder | 11" or 12"

This banjo features:

A 3 ply cherry neck and 2 ply steamed and rolled cherry rim with ebony rim cap and decorative purfling band | ebony fretboard featuring dots or diamond inlays | frailing scoop | 25.5" scale length.

All Aged Brass Hardware including Little Wonder style tone ring is manufactured in Rickard's shop. It also includes their standard EVO Gold fret wire, Rickard Cyclone 10:1 Ratio Tuners, and either a Remo Renaissance or Fiberskyn head.

Bill Rickard's Remarkable Story

Bill Rickard shares his remarkable story of surviving a near fatal motorcycle accident and his road back to building his beloved banjos.