Oh my. This builder was in the most elite of categories.

Meet the artist, sculptor and teacher (emeritus from Kent State), Doug Unger. Doug’s esthetic eye, intensity and attention to detail make him a world-recognized, premier builder/restorer of the finest instruments from the first halcyon days of the banjo.

He’s left an amazing legacy for all banjo builders. His art and works will grace us for decades to come. RIP, friend.

More information on the Series is available here:

The Smithsonian Folkways documentary series is Conversations with North American Banjo Builders, a 4-volume, 12-DVD collection produced by filmmaker Craig Evans and released in 2015. [1, 2]