Nov 19, 2014 Replacement parts damage a banjo’s value in a number of ways. First, it interferes with the authenticity of the banjo, a highly-prized quality for collectors. Second, it can compromise the banjo’s sound. For example, a common repair since the 1980s has been to replace a vintage banjo’s friction tuners with easier-to-use modern gear turners. Vintage Banjo Stringed Instruments For sale The banjo is a stringed instrument, typically with either four or five strings, although the use of six stringed banjos is becoming increasingly popular in modern day music. Many have no identification at all. Most have the patented L&H tailpiece shown in the inset. These shoes are shown in an 1890s Washburn banjo catalog, on low end models with simple peghead shapes. Many seen have no identification at all. Also, the tailpiece on this banjo is a patent assigned to Lyon & Healy, further suggesting them as the makers.
Banjos
Latest Arrivals
DB - 00809 ca. 1912 'The Dayton' 5 string Banjo EXC+ Here's another one from my personal collection that has been a 'keeper' for many years. In beautiful condition and with the unique metal head which gives it a distinctive deep sound. You can hear it in the video clip below. Laminated walnut and mahogany 5/8ths inch thick 11 3/4' rim with 28 brackets, one of which is missing. 26 1/2' scale length and an extended fingerboard giving it 26 frets. Attractive fretboard inlays and 'The Dayton' inlaid on the peghead . Straight mahogany neck with good frets. Fricton tuning pegs function well. (loosen the screw, tune it a bit sharp, tighten the screw and adjust to pitch). The label is in fine shape with serial #809. NoKnot tailpiece. Chipboard case.
Price: $2250.00
UK - 0003 1920's Fancy No Name Banjo Uke EXC + What a cutie this is. And it is in splendid condition. The fancy cutouts in the metal clad rim are exquisite and there is a bigmetal tone ring that gives it a big butmellow tone. The two tiny screw holes in the head stock and the oval shadow indicate that there was once an oval placque residing there as is typical of British instruments.The original tuning pegs have a screwadjustment that allows quick and slip proof tuning. Themahogany resonator has a large knurled screw for quick easy removal.Some fancy inlays on the fingerboard.Orginal bridge and tailpiece . Chipboard case .Rim = 7 1/2' Scale Length = 13 1/4' Nut Width = 1 1/4'.
Price: $1350.00
VB 00033 ca. 1931 Vega Vegavox IV Deluxe Tenor Banjo EXC ++ This is one of the very nicest, classiest banjos I have ever seen. And it rings out loud and clear and plays perfectly. It has been restored by Renee Karnes several years ago and has received basically no wear since then. Here is the original catalog picture and the catalog description. ( $425.00 in 1931 = $7,144.81 in 2019 dollars) Elegance abounds everywhere on this gold plated instrument from the engraved tailpiece to the engraved inlay on the back of the peghead. Also beautifully engraved are the fingerboard inlays and the intricate inlay on the headstock which is as beautiful viewed from the side as it is from the front. There is a comforting feel to the warmth of a gold plated banjo and I think it makes for a richer sound but that could be just psychological. The resonator sides are fancy, it's true, but the back is exquisite with its elegant 'De-Luxe Vegavox' star in the middle. Elegance is also evident in the long back strap extending down the back of the 5 piece laminated neck and the carving on the inlaid heel. Modern hard shell case.
Price: $5250.00
DBM - 0003 mid teens 'The Dayton' Banjo Mandolin' EXC ++ We have another gem here in museum quality that is not only rare but a great sounding instrument. Made by Charles Rauch in (guess where) Dayton, Ohio known for his high quality and innovative instruments. Unique horizontally laminated thick rim of maple and walnut with a metal tone ring. Pearl inlaid 'The Dayton' on the headstock with metal ferrules surrounding the posts of the original tuning pegs. Ebony pearl inlaid fingerboard is extended and elevated over the head. Nice original cloud taiplpiece cover over a replacement tailpiece (original is in the case with one broken tab). The metal label is present and excellent displaying serial number #1506. And the original hard shell case is in fine condition with corduroy interior and in the pocket an original 'D' Dayton tuning key, the original bridge, and tailpiece. 10' Rim 14' Scale Length 1 3/32' Nut width
Price: $1750.00
GB - 00035 1935 KelKroyden (by Gibson) Conversion VG++ Here's the real dealand you can hear it in the tone. You got your one piece flange full thickness rim same as a Mastertone without a tone ring. The flange is a Nashville Plating Co. replacement since the old one (included) was broken. And we had Larry Cohea install a Mc Peake flat head tone ring and a second co-ordinator rod (the KKrim is originally drilled for it but has only one installed) as well as anice Wreath Patternfive string neck and then set it up perfectly with spikes at frets 7,8,9, and10. It plays beautifully and sounds incredible. Gibson script on the headstock and Planettuning pegs and the fabulous M.O.T. resonator with original lugs. Original case and tenor neckwith original pegs, flange (and broken pieces), and brass rod 'tone ring' are available if you so desire.
Price: $5850.00
PB - 00404 1924Paramount Style C Plectrum Banjo EXC This is a fineexample with good strong sound and great playability. Good neck, frets,etc. and wonderful condition. Nice old skin head. The dove pattern fingerboard inlay is Paramounts most beautiful in my opinion. The Cupid or Ludwig Van Beethoven on the first fret is a pleasureable puzzlement. And the high grade mahogany used in the neck and the maple capped rim and the resonator are beautifully accented by the colorful marquetry usedthroughout. Original Pagetuning pegs in fine condition. Fancy headstock inlay. Carved heel. Lovely volute. (Don't ya justlove volutes?) Original tailpiece and .... it's wired for .... light. (Perhaps you noticed) The serial number on the rim matches that on the dowel. The label proudly states 'Piano Volume - Harp Quality Tone'.No lie. Original Paramount double pocket blue lined hard shell case in pretty niceshape.
Price: $1795.00 SOLD
VB 00032 1928 Vega Style N 5 StringConversion EXC - This is a wonderful player as well as abeautiful piece of art. The 10 15/16' head is graced with a lovely, whimsical art deco illustration of two frolickingnudes. It has the simple 'rolled over' tone ring. The bottom of the metal pot cladding sits in aledge that locates the cladding precisely on the pot. The rolled-over tone ring doesn't sit on wood,but is held a little less than a millimeter above the wood of the pot, so the simple tone ring doesn't touch wood. All thehardware is original and in good shape including the No Knot Tailpiece.There are a few nicks and scratches on the rim butnothing major. It has the original dowel stickand the serial numbers match on thedowel and the rim. (87793) The 26 1/2' scale length neck is mint and appears to be the work ofWyatt Fawley. Simple (and proper) star on the headstock and Planet style tuning pegs.Here's a video clip of it:
Nice newer hard shell 'bump' case. Price: $3350.00.00
EB - 0007 Mid teens CliffordEssex 5 String Banjo EXC With its 11 inch rim spunover what looks like mahogany and a simple hooptonering and nice skin head, this old feller gets a mighty sweet oldtimey sound. Scale Length is 26 3/4' and the nut width is 1 3/16' and themahogany neck shows wear on the back and is very comfortable to play.Ebony fingerboard has lovely abalone and pearl inlays in it as does the headstock. The tuning pegs work fine. All partsappear original and match nicely and the 15a Grafton Street label proudly graces the dowelstick. Oversize chipboard case.
Price: $1195.00
BU - 0004 ca. 1935 JohnGrey Banjo Uke EXC Very nice little banjo ukefrom the esteemed English maker John Grey. Birds eye maple back and blue striped maple sides. 10 1/4' head and 13 1/4' scale length.Maple rim and mahoganyneck and dowel. Resonator attaches with a single thumb knob. There is a dark grain line that definitelyis not a crack in the heelof which we have large pictures. The letters R B E are stamped intothe bottom of the heel. Friction tuning pegs with the number 13797 stamped into the back of the peghead. John Grey& Sons, London on the headstock. The piano shaped case is unique.
Price: $795.00
To contact Players Vintage Instruments, e-mail us at info@vintageinstruments.com
Or telephone: 415-669-1107 West Coast Time
Or write to: Box 445, Inverness, Ca. 94937
**email is best by far**
Lowell Levinger - Proprietor
All images and text on this web site are :
Copyright 1997-2021 by Players Vintage Instruments.
By nguiver, Nov 19 2020 05:32PM
Origin of the long neck banjo
Having just had a banjo made out of English yew by artisan maker Dave Stacey, this Williamson of Lincoln turns up with a yew neck along with the Grimshaw banjo (London), a Kumalae soprano Uke (Hawaii) and an 1885 Bay State Guitar (USA)... all at an auction in North Yorkshire.
We shouldn’t underestimate how the exponential growth in the production of musical instruments in both Europe and the USA quickly fulfilled the interest in “home grown music” that spread throughout the world in the years following the American Civil War.
Initially it was the banjo, but mass immigration into the US created demand for a wider range of instruments as well as providing the links and avenues for imports from, and exports to countries around the globe: the proverbial melting pot.
Vintage Banjo Parts
The Yew was revered in medieval times for its strength and power when used in the English Longbow. Examples with 170lb “pull” were recovered from ships sunk in the Tudor period. Dave Stacey commented that having squared up the yew neck blank, it then went out of true when cut to profile.
Vintage Banjo Identification Chart
There are a lot of natural stresses in timber and do these stresses contribute to the tone, and hence did mass produced banjos utilise stable timbers for the benefit of manufacturing process and were these necessarily the best tone woods?
Vintage Kent Banjo Identification
Neck clamps
Vintage Banjo Identification Guide
How about this one on the Williamson featured. Clearly the banjo attracted skilled metal workers as well as carpenters... Send us your pictures of unusual neck clamps.
Comments are closed.