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) Please call 423-323-0174 for all inquiries. All instruments offered by the CanJoe Company are custom created specific to the needs of the buyer.
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(Q) How long does it take to get a canjoe instrument after it's ordered and how do I pay for it?... (A) CanJoe Company instruments are each completely hand crafted and take about three days for each instrument to be created, start to finish (unless a highly complex build is ordered) and once finished, then is signed & dated, and promptly packed and mailed. All orders are shipped by USPS priority mail unless other shipping arrangements are made. The CanJoe Company accepts personal checks or money orders as payment; sorry credit card payments are not accepted. Prices are quoted via phone call only and are determined based on the purchaser's choices of materials and according to the specific complexity of each build
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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.
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(Q) When & How did the CanJoe Company get started?... (A) Briefly, John, now known as "CanJoe*John" was a close friend of Herschel R. Brown. From the beginning, by and with Herschel's direct support and blessings, John officially licensed and established the CanJoe Company of Blountville,TN. Over many years, now, John's own canjoe instrument creations have evolved to represent only the finest, most accurate and beautifully built/designed, authentic canjoe instruments 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
dedicated himself to getting out into the public promoting the earliest versions of canjoe in every way he could. In the CanJoe Company earliest beginnings, he started as a vendor at craft fairs, music festivals, and events, traveling and setting up all over the U.S. south, especially in western North Carolina, East Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, S.E.Virginia, and West Virginia. He also played his own canjoe instrument for the public on many prominent stages, performed and interviewed on many TV and radio stations and has had many, many news and public interest stories published about him and his canjoe instruments; in news papers and magazines around the country to help spread the word. He also publicly 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 them known and to establish them in the world market has resulted in having sold them now in every state of the US, in several European countries, and in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, and even in communist Cuba! The CanJoe Company instruments/products are truly the only authentic, original, official, hand created/crafted works of art, made, signed, dated, and sold by CanJoe*John and 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 ..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 product 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 (except a broken string). This lifetime warranty includes replacing the can with one of comparable value if the can becomes crushed or severely damaged, or repairing/replacing it if needed. .
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(Q) Does the CanJoe Company sell canjoe instrument kits or "cheaper" models? (A) Canjoe instrument kits are available but require an adult to assemble. They are not as simple to assemble as they may appear and some craftsmanship skills are required.
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(Q) With the economy as it is, how well spent is my money? Are canjoes durable? (A) 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. All one-stringed "canjo" instruments now being made, sold, or given away, and/or identified with the name "canjoe" or "canjo" are NOT all authentic. Nobody anywhere in this world alive has more experience in designing, creating, or handcrafting the original one-stringed canjoe musical 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. 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) 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. 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 musical 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. (� The CanJoe Company, 10/08)
- (Q) Who is the story aired frequently on UNC public TV about?
- 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. Over many years time and experience, CanJoe*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. But over the years, through constant interaction with the public led to more ideas for improvements; different materials, wood types, colors, finishes, designs and custom orders. The CanJoe Company products produced continued evolving and improving to supply the demand. 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 is a licensed sole proprietor operation, not a factory, and every instrument is hand crafted, not mass manufactured. (� 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