Very Old, Very Rare, Very Invisible Ebay Banjo
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Gibson 3 Piece Flanges on ealry Mastertone
I was looking into a replacement 2 Piece tube and plate flange as I thought mine was aftermarket and am pretty sure I have discovered that some early 1925 banjos came with the flange plate in 2 pieces making these a 3 piece flange. So far we found 3 people with plates split into 2 at the tailpiece including a Gold engraved style 5.
I had brought up this subject several years ago in the Ball Bearing group but there was little response at the time. Discussion and pics can be found here in the repair forum.
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Windrose Banjos
I was recently visiting Seattle so I made my first ever pilgrimage to Dustry Strings, which is even more impressive in person than I imagined from years of seeing its ads in various publications.
While at DS I played about 10 different guitars (including two prewar Martins), and about 8 banjos. I kept going back to this one banjo that had a perfect feel and a great sound, and a beautiful aesthetic. It had a name I had never heard before -- Windrose. The tag said it was built by a local banjo builder in Seattle. So, I googled the name, called and spoke to Tas Philp, who is a great guy. Turns out he is originally from Annapolis, where I currently live. Long story short, I bought the banjo the next day and it is being shipped and I expect to receive it later this week.
As is often the case, "the instrument chooses the player." I went into DS without any expectation of purchasing anything more than maybe a book and some guitar picks. I walk out with an order for a beautiful new Windrose banjo.
From the two other reviews I have found on this website, I am not alone in thinking this is an incredibly beautiful sounding, playing, and looking banjo.
www.windrosebanjos.com
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Framus Dixie Banjo
Just FYI, not for sale; My Framus “Dixie” Banjo that I bought in 1964 for $50 at a BX while I was stationed in Germany. I didn’t realize how odd it was at the time in that it had an extra-long neck with a bluegrass bottom (I just HAD to have an extra-long neck). The long neck thing wore off later on and I had the neck shortened in 1975 I guess I shouldn’t have but - - -
It’s a great sounding banjo, extraordinary so, especially considering that there’s no wooden pot or separate tone ring. The pot, tone ring, and flange are one piece of stamped steel. The neck is a bit thick and it has an oversized heel that gets in the way.
The top tension ring is plated cast metal. I cracked it while tensioning the original head but was able to repair it by carefully drilling and screwing a brass piece to bridge the crack. The repair is hidden under the tailpiece. The ring is symmetrical, top and bottom.
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Guild Banjo
I noticed a few threads a couple of years ago discussing the possibility that Guild made Banjos. I have a Guild prototype banjo made i believe in their New England factory in the late 70s or early 80s. George Gruhn, who said he was on the Guild Board during this period told me that they made under a dozen banjos, some with elaborate fret board inlay. He said mine was the only one he had seen outside of the factory. He photographed it for a catalogue he was preparing.
My Guild is in excellent condition, has an unbound, dot neck with "GUILD" on the headstock in the same script as their guitars. It all areas, except the dot neck it would be considered a high end instrument. It is very heavy and extremely loud! I have owned it since the mid 1980s.
I primarily play non-pedal steel guitar and standard guitar in a local band so I would consider selling the banjo to an interested party.
Michael Misetich
mmisetich@tx.rr.com
214-272-7737
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Vintage 5 String banjo ID Help Please
Hi can anyone help me ID this vintage 5 string banjo .
I have my ideas on who the maker is due to the headstock shape but wanted some more expert opinions.
What's confusing me is the truss rod as I have not seen many on banjos from this period
The neck has been refinished ( including the Star on the headstock ) and new tuners added so it may have had the truss work done at the same time .
It plays great and is a really sweet sounding instrument .
any help would be much appreciated.
Mustar
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Help ID this Banjo
Hi guys, I'm new around here and would appreciate some help. Been trying to figure out the manufacturer of this banjo. My best guess is its just a vintage Japanese built no-name. Anyone recognize the inlays or anything? Only pictures I have at this time.
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OLD 4 STRING GIBSON BAJO
Hello all - I have inherited a 4-string Gibson banjo that was my great grandfathers. I have had it now for about 20 years and it just sits in a closet. I had someone offer me $3-4 thousand for it once but it was my great grandfathers and at the time - I was not ready to let it go. I feel bad that it sits in a room with no one using it.
Can anyone help me identify it and it's value?
The serial number is 8081-43.
Many thanks!
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Vega 1919 Tubaphone Short neck
Can anyone help me find out the background, value and/or rarity of my banjo? It was a recent present from my grandmother-in-law. It was her father's.It is a Vega Tubaphone Style X No.9 short neck (I assume its a banjo/mandolin). I can't find this exact model anywhere online. According to some websites the serial number places it around 1918 or 1919. This makes sense because we also have a picture of the original owner, my great grandfater-in-law playing it and the photo is dated 1920 by what looks like a professional photography studio. I think it was used primarily as a ragtime instrument (if that helps) Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks! |
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Oliver Ditson Tenor BAnjo ID
Another instrument that I picked up in trade with the unbranded 5 String that was expertly identified by the very helpful people on this forum .
This instrument was sold to me as a Vega / Fairbanks Tenor Irish banjo with Oliver Ditson being the distributer . I cannot find any makers marking apart from the plaque on pole. There is a patent number on the string retainer .
Can someone please either confirm this or correctly ID the instrument .
The overall condition is very good and does sound pretty good .
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I.D. Tenor Banjo Please.
On ebay:
What is that tenor banjo? I don't recognize it. Duh - I can't recognize any of them hardly. A Leedy? A Ludwig. Like that?
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Gibson
Thanks!
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Help date an ODE longneck
Hello,
I am trying to pinpoint a more exact date for this ODE banjo. I believe it to be an early 1960's model, pre-1965. It has Grover tuners, brass hardware, had the original ODE skin. The series number is 760. Could anyone elaborate on the brass hardware? Many thanks!!
I am trying to pinpoint a more exact date for this ODE banjo. I believe it to be an early 1960's model, pre-1965. It has Grover tuners, brass hardware, had the original ODE skin. The series number is 760. Could anyone elaborate on the brass hardware? Many thanks!!
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I got an amazing Crazy banjo.
I have lusted over this banjo for about ten years. Saw it at John Bernunzio's and when the price came down to something I could think about, it was bought out from under me in a matter of a couple minutes of posting.
My lust was never satiated and would well up every so often.
Finally contacted the owner and made a deal. Then business got bad and I could not muster the money.
Three weeks ago, it showed up at Bernunzio's again and I put a deposit on it.
Of course, money dried up as soon as I made the commitment, but I managed to pull something together.
And here it is. The inlays are in bad shape, but the neck is pretty straight, given the laminations. The pot is heavy. Heavier than any other vintage open back.
It appears to be solid brass. The tuners are awful. And I hate skin heads.
But all that is fixable.
I suspect I will make a new neck to copy this one with MOP inlays.
BUT, the peghead is all worth everything. This is what a Victorian Banjo peghead should look like.
Tom in Maine!
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Closet find Vega, advice requested…
Some backstory on this one:
I remembered as a child my friend from across the street talking about his grandfather’s old banjo. I was never allowed to see it, so there was an air of mystery about it, and I often thought of it as I learned to play the banjo (who knows, it could be one of the lost Granada’s from Earl’s batch…). On a recent visit back home I saw my friend and I asked if could take a look at that banjo, as I might be able tell him a little about it now.
Well, it wasn’t a pre-war Gibson, but it was this very fine Vega Professional, which made a lot of sense given the region I grew up in (Northeastern PA).
Of course, I couldn’t tell my friend as much about this banjo since I play the 5 string, but what I could find through my web-sleuthing is that it is a 19 fret Vega Style X Professional model tenor banjo with a 11 13/16” head with a pie resonator. Based on the inlay on the head the instrument could not have been made earlier than 1923. The SN of 69264 indicates a manufacture date of 1926. The hard case looks original to me.
I told him that based on listings I could find it was probably worth about a 1000 bucks. He does not wish to sell it, being the heirloom that it is, and expressed an interest in learning to play it.
So my questions:
Did I give him correct information? is there any other relevant info about this banjo that I should pass along?
The skin head looks like it could be original, and it isn’t torn. Is it OK to just re-string it without replacing the head?
That bridge looks a bit suspect to me. Should I suggest a replacement or is it original (and therefore desirable)?
If the head and/or bridge should be replaced, what should I replace them with?
I’d love to do a basic setup, see how it sounds, and give him an opportunity to learn on it, so any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
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Identification withou serial number
Mastertone: is there a way to pin down date of production without a serial number? Nothing on inside or outside - stamped or written.
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Vega Style S banjo mandolin
My buddy picked this up at a garage sale for $20.00 when we were seniors in High School, 1976.
I replaced the busted skin head with a Remo years and years ago (it's a pre-EPA head) and I believe the head was 10 7/8 or 10 15/16". Also, the bridge was put on by my buddy, there was no bridge on it when he got it.
I'm a Bluegrasser (so's my buddy, mandolin picker) and we're kinda "out of our element" on Vega's, etc..
Can any of you Vega aficionado's shed any light on year, value, collectibility, etc..?
Thanks in advance!
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Epiphone Mayfair Conversion
I got an Epiphone Mayfair tenor banjo off of ebay. I just liked it, and it didn't cost a fortune. It arrived today.
Construction is similar to a Gibson. It's in pretty good condition. It looks and feels solid.
I don't actually know how to play a tenor banjo. I may put another neck on it.
The rim is thin, but I've not measured it. There is a brass or metal tone bar, I think is what you would call it, a rectangular shaped piece which serves as a type of tone ring.
It looks like it would make a nice sounding banjo.
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Post your favorite Prewar Gibson clip that demonstrates tone...
Some folks don't understand the draw of prewar Gibson banjos. I LOVE them! I thought it would be great for those who love them like I do to post their favorite audio or video clips to show off the tone of these old banjos. I'll get it started.
Here is Ron Stewart playing DA-5055, a 1939 RB-75 original 5-string flathead. It only takes three notes for me to hear something special!
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/media-player/audio_player2.asp?musicid=15234&archived=
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1929 Supertone 5-String Banjo for sale
Hey all, I have a 1929 Supertone 5-String Dixie Wonde Openback Banjo (Model #414) for sale. She has been living in my closet for the last 25 years in a Gibson Case.I am kicking her to the curb. It's time for her to get out and earn her keep. She is waiting for you. The banjo and case are in excellent condition No rust. No peeling on the inlay. All lugs are accounted for and in great condition. Have original bridge for back-up. $1000 OBO. Contact me for more info and to make offer.
Email me at cheswilliwill@gmail.com
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