Rioga
Maple Leaf
Tenor Banjo

Whether it’s your first handmade banjo, or your last! The Rioga Maple will have you hooked!

The Rioga Maple Leaf has been uniquely designed to replicate the feel and playability of the 1920’s USA built Epiphone Bandmaster. If you’ve played a vintage Epiphone tenor banjo then playing the Maple Leaf will feel exactly the same.

The current pictures showcase the Maple Leaf as a open back banjo (which some players prefer) but the model will come with a close fit maple concave resonator with matching side bindings.

Available in three scale lengths we found the 18 fret model a dream to play, especially reaching the 7th fret (high B) with ease.

Fusing design elements of the 1920’s tenor banjos with a twist of the modern day Irish tenor banjo we came up with the Maple Leaf.

Neck width at the nut: 28 mm
Scale Length, Nut to Bridge: 19 fret – 23 inches, ; 18 fret – 21 – 1/2 inches,
Approximate weight: 3.6 Kg (with fitted resonator)

18 fret design with 21.5″ scale length.
5 piece North American maple neck with centre walnut/maple laminate strips
Beautifully carved neck profile and longer heel side walls to support the coordinator rod bolts.
Carbon fibre truss rod.
Solid block sycamore rim with maple veneer and dark mahogany wood marquetry around the inner and outer edges.
Locally manufactured Rioga archtop tone ring
Bacon & Day style hooks and nuts.
Standard Kershner style tailpiece.
Standard nickel plated armrest.

Maple Leaf features

Neck wood

5 piece North American maple neck with centre walnut/maple laminate strips. Our woods are locally sourced wherever possible and cured for a minimum of 3-5 years. We only choose select straight grain hardwoods quarter sawn to give increased structural integrity. This model uses a carbon fibre adjustable truss rod for extra strength and stability.

Rim wood

Our block rims are constructed from Irish sycamore which are built in three tiers and covered in veneers to match the neck wood. The banjo rim is such an important factor in the tone and resonance of a banjo which is mostly overlooked. Our rims are highly decorated with wood marquetry and ivoroid binding along the inner and outer edges.

Resonator wood

The Maple Leaf resonator is concave in shape and close fitting, meaning there is no flange fitted. This is similar in design to the 1920’s Vega Style M tenor banjo and ideal to those of you who prefer a smaller type banjo body on your lap. The tone produced by a banjo with a concave resonator is generally warmer and less bright, making it well-suited for folk, traditional, and more intimate acoustic settings.

Headstock

Elegantly hand crafted headstock shaped from the styles of the 1920’s vintage era banjos from the USA.

Armrest

We use a standard metal Gibson style armrest, nickel plated. This is attached to the side hooks via one attachment screw.

Figured Maple Inlay

The Maple Leaf model will have either birds eye maple/tiger maple headstock inlays. This will have a beautiful organic look and contrast nicely with the rosewood/ebony headstock. The fretboard will have solid brass rod position markers and side dots.

RiogaMaple LeafTenor Banjo