Hi, I picked up this old tenor banjo and wonder if anyone has a clue what it is. The workmanship is wonderful. but somewhere along the way someone really messed up the neck. It has an archtop tonering that has a patent date of 1920, so I know it's no older than that.
Any clues?
My friend has a vega "Little Wonder" tenor banjo(well 4 strings and 19 frets. the serial number is 93516. I can't figure out when it was made or what it is worth. His Dad wants to sell it. I think he has had it for a long time, Anyway, I took the back off and got the serial number. I have to say it is in outstanding condition. The wood on the back has a really neat design in it and the neck seems to almost be like a sunburst. Pics are on this thread at the mandolin cafe. http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?111408-trying-to-identify-this-banjo
Got a late sixties bowtie in shop today and I have a few questions.......
Serial on back of peghead is 829429 and I believe this dates it to a late 1960s and the shape of volute and around the heel looks very much like other late 60s necks from that era.
My question is......who would have been the flathead toner ring supplier at that time?
Ring weighs in at 3 lbs 6.5 ounces and I believe it to be chrome plated like the tension hoop and flange and other metal.
Has 20 unburred holes in ring and you can see brass color down inside of ring at the V groove.
Thanks for anything anyone can share and this ring might be available if there is any interest.
Don Bryant NC banjo luthier
From what little info I can gather, this may be an Asian-built Vega VV-24. Some interesting notes: the bracket nuts are open-ended 9/32" identical to US-built Vega, it has the phony bracket band, but the thin rim is built up at the top to support a no-hole flat-head 'masterclone' tone ring, I realize it's a Galaxy, but I would like to learn more about this particular model. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks, Paul The Folk Shop
Guys, I am very new to this forum so please play nice. :)
I have a Stelling Golden Cross Banjo #384 built in 1977. I believe it would be considered in excellent shape. Original case too.
I am looking to sell it but have no idea what it may be worth. It is such a beautiful instrument and I fell ashamed it just is stored in its case year after year when I believe it should be played.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
I played a gig at a local bar tonight, and afterwards, a older gentleman came up to me and asked about my 1928 TB-3 conversion I was playing.. He told my that he had a RB-350 at home. I thought he had mis spoke, but he repeated that he indeed had a RB-350, he didn't really play much, he bought the banjo used and didn't know the year is was built.
I have never heard of a RB-350 Could this be legit? I don't want the to hurt s the guys feelings, he tipped me $10!
Collective wisdom,
Aside from the unique home-reinforced dowel stick, what is this banjo? 12" pot, and an apparently solid brass rim. It has been fitted with a Vega resonator. Thanks for any insight!
Tom
Does anyone know who the manufacturer of this banjo is? It has a carved heel and a spun over rim. It belongs to a friend at the Ozark Folk Center.
would like any info on a Gibson 5 string banjo serial no 881-82 4 hole tone ring and bowtie on 22 second fret on neck. I know it is an RB model. Would like to know what year built and what model RB Thanks Ronald Perry
Hi..I purchased this banjo a few years back, and have tried to find info on it. It appears to be an award banjo..I have heard Kentucky Fired Chicken used to have contests.. It is painted wood. If anyone has any info on this, please let me know
Mary
Photo montage w/ comments of restoration of a ~1880 Joseph Daniels 6-string zither banjo
In 1978 my fatherinlaw handed me this old banjo and told me to learn to play it. Someone had given it to him. I played a little
guitar, but had never even considered playing banjo. I bought Earl's book and in a few weeks was hearing something that I thought sounded like Cripple Creek, so I bought me a new Fender Leo. I put the old banjo in the closet where it stayed for the last 36 years. I don't think I had ever removed the resonator until a couple days ago. The peghead says Gretsch Banner Blue but the pot is I believe something else. The rim is cut for a flange, the neck is cut for a straight pot. There is no flange. Someone who must have been drinking installed 12 shoes and hooks, with no logic at all to the spacing. Most are on the top side. There are no additional holes in the rim so there are no missing shoes. A wood screw has been inserted into the base of the neck, pretty ugly but the neck is very stable. Pot is 11 inches. The tension hoop is grooved with decoration. There is a band on the rim and resonator with matching decoration. There is also plain metal around the top side of the rim underneath where the head is pulled down. The top of the rim is beaded, I can't tell if its a small hoop or if it's just the rim. I realize this thing is worth about 15 cents, but I'm going to keep it and would like to get it in a little better shape before I pass it along to my kids. I would like to find a flange for it, would need to be 10 3/8 inside diameter and 12 3/4 ouside diameter. I would appreciate any thoughts on the possiblity of finding a flange and what this pot and resonator might be. There are no markings any where on the pot.
Here's a link to a Stewart Thoroughbred Model 2 with a copper clad pot being offered for sale on e-Bay:http://www.ebay.com/itm/S-S-STEWART-5-STRING-BANJO-/281311027675?pt=Guitar&hash=item417f71a1db
I used to have one exactly like this that I finally found a home from with an old friend. Evidently the pot wasn't unique.
I inherited this banjo and had it cleaned up and repaired. It seems to be an Epiphone Bandmaster B tenor style with a serial number of 5873. Attached is a picture. Can anyone provide more information and its approximate value?
Thanks in advance,
Heggster
I play this banjo daily and it has a great sound but has no markings, it has 24 brackets and extremely heavy so must have a pretty good tone ring, I have had a expert tell me it is a Stewart McDonald but cant find anything close to it on their website. It has a better sound than a newer top name instrument I have, Any info is greatly appreciated, Thanks
I just re-discovered a Souza's Make banjo-mandolin I had forgotten. It's in fair shape, but missing a few lugs. It has a 10" head. I'm thinking that I should make an A-scale frailer out of it. What do you think?
Just got this no-name banjo on EBAY. Any thoughts as to what she might be?
Thanks!
Jim Jacquet
jimjacquet2000@yahoo.com
A lot is written on the forums about prewar Gibson banjos, their authenticity and value. I realize it is possible to pay $100k for the right "holy grail" . My question is : is there any formal certification process for such a Banjo? Is it solely up to the buyer to verify authenticity? Has there ever been a totally fake prewar Gibson pawned off for a large amount of cash? Is there any expert that would actually certify a banjos authenticity?
Hi all, my name is Pat and I have a problem. Not long ago, a friend left a small banjo behind after a jam at my house. It had no case, so I found an empty guitar stand where it stood waiting for its owner to return. It was a cute little thing, and while I'm not a banjo player, I sort of enjoyed its company. When my friend arrived the following week, I handed him his wayward banjo. To my surprise, he responded, "Why don't you keep it here for awhile?" So I did.
Not being a banjo player, I didn't think much of it at first, but I did start to notice, over time, that the banjo started to look sort of... attractive. It seemed to grow a bit more alluring as each day passed, until (You know what's coming next, don't you? I can hear the chuckles from here.) ... one day, I picked it up. It seemed like a harmless enough thing to do. It was just a small banjo, after all, what harm could it possibly do? I would just try it once. The next thing you know, I'm not getting stuff done, I'm skipping meals, my taxes are late, I'm using new words like "clawhammer", "forward roll", "tone ring", and "planetary tuners", and I'm writing checks for weekly lessons.
That's when I realized that I needed to take the first step in admitting that I have a problem. The second step was to get my own banjo (ebay, another thread for another day). Assuming that it's an incurable condition, I think the third step is to learn more about the little banjo that got me hooked.
She's just a little thing, enticingly sized for a mandolin player like myself at only 33" long with a 10 1/2" open back pot. Sweet and plain, no frills whatsoever, marked "Artists Banjo Thompson & O'Dell 65". In my google search, I learned quite a bit about banjos in general and the Thompson & O'Dell company in particular, but no mention anywhere of their model of this size, which I'm presuming to be a ladies banjo. The number "65" doesn't seem to help at all.
Can anyone tell me anything more about this banjo?
It's a Craigslist ad advertising a vintage banjo for $40.
http://stockton.craigslist.org/msg/4796984245.html
Not sure what it is, but it appears to be an old person unaware of what they're selling, and from the ad text, "To the gentleman who bought this banjo, please call about the turntable," someone might be taking advantage.
I would at least like to contact the seller with any insights. Cheers.