About Lemon Banjos
I'm Hunter Lemon — the builder, designer, and one-man shop behind Lemon Banjos. I started experimenting with banjo construction as a junior in high school, slowly learning the craft one attempt at a time. My first successful build was completed in May 2020, about a week after my high school graduation.
Things began moving quickly. A close friend asked me to build a custom banjo inspired by a 1954 RB-250, another asked for a conversion rim, and before long I was building instruments for players across the country — all while beginning my first semesters of college.
Over the next six years, banjo building grew alongside my education. In 2026, I graduated from Glenville State University with degrees in Land Surveying and Mapping and Computer & Information Systems, after previously completing an associate degree in Land Surveying Technology and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. Today, I work as a land surveying instructor while continuing to operate Lemon Banjos from my shop in Glenville, West Virginia.
Lemon Banjos grew out of a deep respect for traditional instruments and a desire to build banjos that honor that legacy while meeting the expectations of modern players. Much of my work is inspired by the great American banjos of the prewar and postwar eras, and I continually study original instruments, construction methods, inlay patterns, and other historical details to better understand what made those instruments special.
At the same time, I bring modern tools and methods into the shop where they can improve consistency and precision without sacrificing the character of a traditionally built instrument. From designing and cutting pearl inlays to machining components, finishing, assembly, and final setup, I handle each stage with careful attention to detail.
My goal is simple: to build banjos that feel alive in your hands, inspire you to play more often, and serve you for decades. I now focus primarily on crafting complete instruments, each built from the ground up with care, precision, and intention.
A Lemon has never been sweeter!
