Most information below can be more completely addressed by viewing the specific pages of the main web site, www.canjoe.com. The highlighted portions of this page are also links to additional details.
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(Q) How do I order a canjoe?... (A) The most effective way to order is by calling CanJoe*John at the CanJoe Company directly, (423) 323-0174. The CanJoe Company offers an infinate number of options for canjoe enthusiasts to
choose from when ordering or inquiring about canjoe instruments. CanJoe*John will gladly and personally help you choose the materials, offering from hundreds of choices of cans from his own collection or you supply your own; he builds them to suit and to satisfy your individual, personal tastes into fine "canjoe art". The CanJoe Company Store web page shows examples and price options of the levels of canjoe instruments that are currently available. Since every canjoe instrument
produced by CanJoe*John and the CanJoe Company is handmade and tailor made to the buyers specifications, "every CanJoe Company canjo instrument is uniquely hand made and finished to suit one's personal musical tastes".
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(Q) How long does it take to get a canjoe after it's ordered and how do I pay for it?... (A) Once CanJoe*John receives an order for a canjoe instrument, he begins its construction. Though he keeps a few "stock" delux models ready to mount cans and hardware for quick completion and shipping of these
orders, each of the CanJoe Company products, once finished, signed and dated, are then promptly packed and mailed as quickly as possible, usually in just a few days of receiving the orders. All orders are shipped by USPS priority mail unless other shipping arrangements are made. Again,the whole process from ordering to receiving the canjoe instruments/products usually has just a few short days of turn around time but please order early during the Christmas holiday period to allow for additional
shipping time. The CanJoe Company accepts personal checks or money orders as payment; to keep life at the CanJoe Company simple, credit card payments are no longer accepted.
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(Q) Where did the canjoe come from, who made the first one and how did they get named?... (A) Herschel R. Brown of Jacksonville, NC created and named the canjoe
instrument in the late 1980's. He is the originator in the conceptual design, was first to manufacture and market the instrument and, yes again, he created the name for the first well made one-stringed "canjoe" instruments, using #1 pine as his standard for constructing the solid wood finger boards. He made his own versions of his canjoe instruments and marketed them as kits, simple finished instruments, and he sold many in bulk to individual buyers as well as he kept a woodworking
magazine/store supplied for many years too. Herschel also gave many of his canjoes away to schools, patients in hospitals, and to individuals because he truly believed that "everyone needs a canjoe".
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(Q) When & How did the CanJoe Company get started?... (A) Briefly, John, now known as "CanJoe*John", met Herschel R. Brown, the true and official originator of the one-stringed canjoe instrument, at a local north Carolina music
jam session. Herschel introduced to John one of his "new little creations" he had named "canjoes", and he gave one of the first few he had personally made to John. Every where John took Herschel's newly created canjoe instrument, people asked how they could get one for themselves. John soon went back to Herschel and said, "Herschel, everybody wants one, I can 'canmercialize' these things"...Herschel replied, "well, son, you go right ahead. I'll help you get started".
So Herschel sent John 25 parts, John then assembled and sold them, and was "hooked". With Herschel's support and blessings, John later (1994) officially licensed and established the CanJoe Company of Blountville,TN and has been in continuous operation since. Over the years, John's own canjoe versions, modifications and creations have evolved to represent only the finest, most accurate and beautifully built/designed canjoes made and his signature models have become highly recognized,
established, sought after, collectible works of Americana folk art.
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(Q) How did the canjoe get so well known about and established into the (world) market?... (A) Since the earliest beginnings, CanJoe*John
personally dedicated himself to getting out everywhere he possibly could with the earliest versions of canjoes. In the CanJoe Company beginnings, he became a vendor at craft fairs, music festvals, and events all over the U.S. south, especially in western North Carolina, East Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, S.E.Virginia, and West Virginia. He has played his own canjoe instrument for the public on many prominent stages , did as many TV and radio interviews as possible and has had many,many news stories
about him and his canjoes written in news papers and magazines around the country to help spread the word. He also publically released the first commercially available recording of the canjoe, called "One String, One Can, One Man, and One Band" and his second CD, "An Uncanny Christmas" has been recorded and released too. He then released a music video, "Wayfaring Stranger" for cable TV airplay, and he has even played the
Grand Ole Opry. His efforts to make canjoes available on the market, to make them known and to establish them in the world market have them now in every state of the US, in several European countries as well as in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuala, Mexico, and even in communist Cuba! Now, his canjoe creations/versions including his business techniques have begun being copied and used by others in their own (unauthorized) ventures to capitolize
on canjoes. But remember,the CanJoe Company instruments/products are the only authentic, original, official, hand created/crafted works of art, made, signed, dated, and sold by CanJoe*John and the CanJoe Company. If anyone wishes to purchase and own the "real deal", then they can only get them from the CanJoe Company.
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(Q)Does the canjoe instrument(s) come with any warranty? (A) Yes...All CanJoe Company canjoe instruments made, sold, or provided to anyone are warranted from craftsmanship defects for ever...the official hand signed trademark signature of CanJoe*John is always found 'canspicuously' placed just below the mounted can and assures authenticity
and quality of any canjoe instrument originating from the CanJoe Company. The CanJoe Company promises to repair, restore, or replace any official CanJoe Company canjoe instrument for any reason of manufactured defect that prevents the owner from being able to play his/her CanJoe Company instrument and this lifetime warranty includes replacing the can with one of comprable value if the can becomes crushed or severely damaged, or repairing/replacing any other part or possibly the whole instrument if anything other
than obvious neglect or abuse of the instrument occurs. The CanJoe Company does not warrant against broken strings though, and the owner is fully responsible to purchase and replace any broken canjoe instrument string.
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(Q) Does the CanJoe Company sell canjoe instrument kits or "cheaper" models? (A) In the early years of operation, the CanJoe Company did sell kits but found that the quality of the finished products were frequently severely compromised and could not be warranted. CanJoe Company instruments are completely finished, ready to play
and enjoy right-from-the-box products. The CanJoe Company will not lower its established standards or quality of craftsmanship of any canjoe instrument or product for any reason. Having remained in continuous business for over 15 years requires that every single one of the products produced and distributed by the CanJoe Company reflect and represent uncompromised, incomparable quality.
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(Q) With the economy as it is, how well spent is my money? Are canjoes durable? (A) The actual cost of the least expensive Canjoe Deluxe at $50.00 would calculate over the instrument life of even just one year at an expense of only $4.17 per month, or just 14 cents a day to enjoy playing music. Each CanJoe Company product or instrument is hand made to order and made only with the finest materials and craftsmanship available. All CanJoe Company instruments come with a lifetime warranty included which provides for many years of canjoe instrument playing enjoyment and potentially millions of smiles that are priceless.
- (Q) How can we be sure if our canjoe instrument is authentic? (A) The cool, one-stringed musical "canjo" instruments produced or provided by the CanJoe Company are the "first chip off the block"; truly authentic, official products, designed, created, and hand crafted by CanJoe*John and are based on those first made canjoe instruments of their originator, Herschel R. Brown. The public should be aware that there
are now a few hobbiests and wood working entrepreneurs who have begun copying and marketing similar one-stringed "canjo" instruments and that some of these "copycats" are even unfairly taking credit for creating them, only for the purpose of their own personal gain, recognition or profit. All one-stringed "canjo" instruments being made, sold, or given away, and/or identified with the name "canjoe" or "canjo" anywhere
else in the world that even closely resemble or match the appearance, the name, the function, or the characteristics of Herschel Brown's original canjoe instruments, or of those that are produced or distributed by the CanJoe Company are "knock off" copies. Nobody anywhere in this world alive has more experience in designing, creating, or handcrafting canjoe instruments, nor has anyone, anywhere ever closely produced, provided or sold even close to the number of quality one-stringed canjoe instruments than CanJoe*John. The CanJoe Company
was established and licensed in 1994 and has remained in continuous operation since. The CanJoe Company products have maintained an unblemished reputation and remain recognized in the world market because of CanJoe*John's many years of personal dedication for accurately and painstakingly producing and marketing them always and only as the highest quality of functional works of musical art. Every CanJoe Company instrument is always personally signed and dated with CanJoe*John's trademark signature located 'canspicuously' on each instrument.
- (Q) Do today's CanJoe Company instruments still reflect any influence of Herschel Brown's original canjoe instruments and designs? (A) CanJoe*John has always persistently believed in the true value of the canjoe instruments and has always kept them genuine to the purpose of what Herschel originally created them for...the smiles and joy that they universally cause among those who encounter
them. Herschel personally believed that his original "canjoe" instrument creations belong in the hands of virtually everyone and he gladly gave many of his own canjoe instruments away as gifts to individuals, patients in hospitals, and kids in schools; to those that he felt needed to smile or would benefit from them. CanJoe*John has always given credit where it belongs and by this public notice continues to give full credit to Herschel for originating these wonderful
one-stringed instruments including the fact that it was Herschel who also coined the word "canjoe", the name that identifies these instruments. Though the CanJoe Company instrument designs have continued to evolve and improve over the years, the basic concepts and ideals of Herschels original instruments remain and CanJoe*John intends to carry on with Herschel's spirit of the purpose of these cool instruments, with the goal of giving away as many official, authentic, CanJoe Company trademark signature canjoe instruments to those who really need to smile the most...the many kids who are patients of childrens hospitals. (© The CanJoe Company, 10/08)
- (Q) There is a video occassionally being aired on the PBS station out of North Carolina, UNC-TV, about the canjoe. The guy on that program offered his (instruments) at a much lower price than what is available by the CanJoe Company. Why the difference? (A) Here's the complete and factual response to this question:
- The video article that occasionally airs on public television station UNC-TV called "The Canjoe Man" is about Herschel Brown, the originator of the canjoe instrument, and is about Herschel's version of the canjoe instruments that he personally produced and offered. Herschel was officially, by profession, a contractor who built beautiful buildings for a living and was very successful in his cantractor's business for over 60 years. As a hobbiest dulcimer maker, he created the original canjoe instrument in the late 1980's in his shop. He used scrap wood such as left over pine wood 2X4's from his construction sites and ripped them into the sizes needed to build his instruments. The expenses to operate his spacious, well stocked construction company owned shop were derived from his contracting business. His labor to mass produce his stock of canjoe instrument parts frequently involved two or more of his construction company employees who, as needed, helped cut and fret them. Herschel began supplying his kit version canjoe parts to a wood working magazine that offered mail order items to its subscribers. For several years, the demand was sufficient enough to require a large volume of unfinished canjoe parts so Herschel had a special jig designed, built and purchased allowing him to quickly cut and shape up to 11 (eleven) canjoe instrument parts at a time. This jig can be operated by just one person who can easily feed the jig to cut and shape the wood, potentially making hundreds of parts a day. His employees would then, in assembly line fashion, fret and finish his simple canjoe instruments. Herschel also believed his versions of canjoe instruments should all be manufactured equally using only the recycled pine wood and each to be made as simple as possible with no finished edging, no fine sanding, no stain, no wood sealers, just the raw wood cut, shaped, fretted, stringed and canned for the finished product. As a very kind-hearted, hard working man, Herschel enjoyed the good life of making a great living as a contractor. He felt that the world needed his hobby crafted canjoe instruments because of their simplicity in allowing most anyone to learn and play music. He was never concerned with the expenses of producing or offering his instruments, frequently giving them away and selling them well below their market value. Herschel passed away in late 2008 having made and provided thousands of his canjoe instruments and he openly, accurately, proudly boasted before his passing that he "never made a dime" on any of them. In 1989, Herschel gave one of his first canjoe instruments that he had just made to John L. VanArsdall (aka "CanJoe*John") as a gift and John quickly discovered a consumer demand for them. At that time, Herschel, fully involved in his contracting business, had no intention of dedicating his energy to full time canjoe production. His sales of canjoe parts to the wood working magazine developed later. Early on, Herschel gave John full permission and assistance to develop his own canjoe making ventures. Through the years, John discovered the need to make improvements on Herschel's original designs and concepts. John and Herschel actually maintained close communication and frequently collaborated on canjoe design changes and ideas. Herschel personally chose to maintain his versions as described, making only minor modifications in his instruments from his original design. Some modifications he did adapt were discovered by John and passed on to him, such as replacing the instrument "nut" with a slotted screw instead of the original slotted wood button. Over the years, through constant interaction with the public that John maintained as a canjoe instrument vendor and performer also led to more suggestions and ideas for other improvements as well as requests by consumers for different materials, wood types, colors, finishes, designs and custom orders. The CanJoe Company products produced continued evolving and improving to supply the demand. Unlike Herschel's canjoe making set up, each and every canjoe instrument made by John and distributed as a CanJoe Company product has always been individually and completely hand crafted. The CanJoe Company has no elaborate custom built jigs to mass produce stock and does not ever intend to provide or offer canjoe instruments in large quantities for retailers. Over the many years, CanJoe*John's hand made instruments with their improvements and high quality finished craftsmanship have earned him the reputation and respect for producing and providing only the best and he never compromises or offers less. The CanJoe Company is not a hobby operation. The CanJoe Company instruments and products produced and sold are the sole means of income that supplies the finances for continued business operation. Like any "real" business, the CanJoe Company has the many operational expenses that include, but are not limited to, the rent on shop space, the cost of electricity and other utilities, the cost of insurance, the costs of materials and supplies such as wood, tuner keys, screws, strings, fret wire, wood stains, sealers and finishes; the expenses of purchasing and maintaining manufacturing tools such as table saw, band saw, scroll saw, table and hand sanders, planer/jointer, drill presses, table and hand routers, and many other tools. These highly expensive tools require frequent replacement of parts or maintenance such as replacing or factory sharpening of blades, replacing worn sanding belts, replacing broken or damaged drill bits, the costs of upgrading and purchasing new equipment, and many other expenses. All printed materials, booklets, etc., and internet marketing and advertising expenses, costs of gas, travel, vehicle insurance expenses, postage, shipping and packaging expenses, office expenses such as telephone, computer and costs of office space are also part of the company operational expenses. Further, most who are not self employed and "work" for a living are paid wages for the time they expend to do their work. As employees of any US company/business, employees are paid at least the minimum wages required by the federal government for their time but also are frequently provided additional benefits, retirement investments, such as 401K, health insurance, etc. The CanJoe Company has no employees other than the owner, but the owner who also has the same needs to pay his own personal basic expenses such as a home mortgage, insurance, food, health care, etc. must derive the monetary income required to pay these expenses from the sales of the CanJoe Company products. Occasionaly, the CanJoe Company also has to out source by paying highly skilled and hand selected craftsmen to help supply some materials in order to fill the rare occassion of larger orders. The price charged by the CanJoe Company for the basic "Delux" model canjoe instrument at US $50 is still realistically way under value of the actual costs of manufacture (COM) and for the quality of the finished product sold or offered. This basic instrument model, for example, requires a minimum of three (3) hours of bench labor time (BLT), of physical hands on production time for each and every one produced. The dealers cost (wholesale) of the basic required materials for manufacturing a single instrument of this level, ie, the hardware, the string, the tuner key, and the raw wood materials (not including costs of wood stains or wood finishers, etc) used per instrument (and also not even including the bench labor time required to make one) actually rivals the total amount Herschel charged for his completed instruments. Herschel never had any intention to produce canjoe instruments for any financial gain (profit). Again, he made his living as a building contractor. The CanJoe Company has always included a lifetime warranty on all of the instruments manufactured or sold and clearly identified as a CanJoe Company product, as well. Excluding the replacing of a broken string, if an authentic signed, dated CanJoe Company product becomes damaged (excluding wilful abuse) it will be replaced or restored to the purchased value and made playable again ...forever. Nowhere does any other musical instrument manufacturer offer anything similar. As for the value a consumer who purchases a CanJoe Company product receives by the purchase expense, simple math can reveal that if one were to divide the $50 US dollars spent for a "Delux" model canjoe instrument by 12 months (one year), the cost would equal an investment of just $4.17 a month, or, a cost of just 14 cents a day to be able to enjoy and play music. The quality crafted CanJoe Company instruments do not include built in obsolescence where they require frequent replacement of expensive parts or lose value over time. In fact, as collectible objects of art, CanJoe Company products, if well cared for, actually increase in value. CanJoe Company instruments are proven durable and quality built to last for many years of continued playing pleasure. Therefore, having explained these reasons for the price differences of the CanJoe Company instruments/products verses those that Herschel Brown did offer, it is hoped by the CanJoe Company that those who are seeking to own or purchase one or more of these fine, fun instruments more fully understand that these instruments are not toys, not "gag" gifts, not yard sale junk, not homemade hobby crafts and actually are not public domain for anyone, except by authority or written permission of the CanJoe Company, to attempt to duplicate for wholesale or retail sale either. The CanJoe Company claims and holds all rights protected by the US department of patents, trademarks, and copyrights for any literature used for and created for use, for the purposes of advertising, including all marketing materials designs, and/or the use of the CanJoe Company trademarked logos, including the use of the instrument names describing or identifying any CanJoe Company instrument or similar product. Though the evidence is clear that there is no great profitability garnered by the producing and selling of canjoe instruments, the CanJoe Company has been in continuous business since 1994 and has invested an exhaustive amount of time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, and money in to maintaining and marketing the business so that those, as quality seeking consumers, and who, too, understand and appreciate the unique opportunity to purchase, have, or receive their own hand made authentic CanJoe Company instruments, can. (© The CanJoe Company, 2009)
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More FAQs will be added soon, so stay tuned. If anyone would like an answer to their questions published on this web page, please send them to canjoe@canjoe.com or contact:
CanJoe Company FAQ's