In 2005, René́e Karnes was inducted into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, in Guthrie, Oklahoma.  Her Hall of Fame bio reads:

"By virtually every benchmark, banjos manufactured during the 1920s by major manufacturers such as Vega, Bacon & Day, Paramount, Gibson and Epiphone are believed to have reached a level of design and craftsmanship which is seldom equaled and rarely exceeded in today's musical marketplace.  However, on occasion, a contemporary banjo maker emerges who embodies both the vision and skills necessary to rival the priceless instruments of the past in both form and function. René́e Karnes is such an artist.

Renée Karnes

As a young banjo player and enthusiast in California, Renée began her banjo making career as an apprentice of Henry Lea, a highly respected banjo repairperson.  Beginning by doing the "busy work" of Lea's shop, she proved herself an able and enthusiastic student, eventually graduating to skills which equaled, if not surpassed, her mentor.  After Lea's passing, Karnes was no longer content with masterfully repairing and restoring vintage instruments and began creating new, completely hand-made instruments of her own design.  Her blending of rare and exotic materials with craftsmanship skills never before seen in the banjo world has resulted in today's musical community enjoying a very limited number of totally unique banjo creations.  With an unquestionable worldwide reputation, the name René́e Karnes is synonymous with "excellence" in the banjo making art."

Quotes:
I try to do something special on each banjo. There are times I draw a design and I have no idea how I will achieve it, I just know it is what I want. It always seems to work out in the end. As my creativity evolves, so does my audience...

...I am the 3rd generation in a distinguished lineage of luthiers. I too will pass on the knowledge when the time presents itself. My shop today is still the same as it was with Henry, all the same tools and workbenches. The work is still done by hand with chisels, files, engravers, and sand paper. People come in and ask, “Where are the machine tools, how do you do this work?” [I answer] as Henry used to tell them, “With my two grubby fists.”

Henry always said the banjo was a disease. Once you get it you can’t get rid of it. I hope with my work, I will have infected a few more along the way.

Featured Exhibition Pieces

The Black Widow, 2005	The Maritime, 1997
The Whaler, 2003	The Predator, 2007

Website:
For more information, visit: http://www.banjosbyrenee.com