Posting for joe28675 and general interest.
This was the first “period” banjo I bought which I used for reenacting the “old west” (confusing other reenactors as I played correct period classic banjo pieces, something they has not heard before).
It is strange as it has a mix of different SSS eras. Eli Kaufman speculated that it was sent back to Stewart for repairs in the 1890s which is where it got the later heel “carving” clovers. IDK.
The neck and heel shape does match the serial number era.
The scale is rather short.
Rim size: 13”
Neck Length: 18”
Scale: 27 3/8”
Nut width: 1.176”
Fingerboard width at 12th fret: 1.854”
Fingerboard width at 18th fret (highest): 1.931”
Rim depth: 2 1/4”
It came with an Asian no knot (as tailpieces seem to be the first casualty of wire strings). I had a English bone tailpiece on it for years and eventually put on one of Mark Ralston’s common sense replicas.
There are three replacement hooks (either side of the heel) that I put on.
If I did not know better I would think that the rim was nickel plated brass as where the plating has been polished off shows yellow/orange.
I welcome comments or thoughts and am interested in what Joe has to say.
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S. S. Stewart Orchestra Serial #2021
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Vega tenor banjo
Being sold by the family of an old friend. Age? Market value?
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New Era Banjo # 1
I acquired a New Era Banjo with a Sydney Young Stamp. It's also stamped #1 in various places.
It's a wonderful banjo, the craftmanship is second to none.
I've seen a few Young banjos and personally own a couple. But this is the only one I've seen stamped Sydney Young, and certainly the only one stamped #1.
Quite rare?
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cleaning a vintage banjolele
I just acquired an inexpensive vintage banjolele that I would like to restore to a useable condition. Most all the parts are there and working but I would like to clean it if possible. Is there some way to clean things like the fretboard without harming any potential vintage value?
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Old banjo head, maybe original?
I recently acquired a wonderful old 1891 patent Lion banjo with an 11 3/4 inch skin head that sounds amazing. Now I’m familiar with the old Signature Rodgers head but this one has a different print design from Roger’s tannery. In addition it has in hand written letters MB Park 1896… any thoughts? It looks practically brand new.
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Need help identifying antique banjo!
Well I heard good things about this forum. Tried others to no answer. Pictured here is a beautiful old banjo that I picked up and is also my first banjo. My guess is that its late 1800s-early 1900s. Just need help if it could be identified as I cant find a manufacturer tag anywhere on it. It has a few replacement parts I have found such as an Elton tailpiece and grover bridge. And the neck appears to be handmade but us very solid. Has a total of 37 j-hooks, of course there are some missing. And has the text, 'patent appld. for' on the back. Thanks for yalls help.
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Strange Granada clone? Or Real?
Looking at what is being represented as a Custom Gibson Granada from an estate sale, but the serial number makes no sense and there are no Custom Shop stamp on the head. Serial number stamped on the rim is 0006-26. I spoke with Greg Rich and he has no idea. I believe that this may be a conversion. Any one have any knowledge on this one?
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Mystery Peghead! Help
I cannot for the we life of me make out the faded name on this peghead. Any ideas and thx in advance.
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Mystery peg head w pic!
I cannot figure out what the faded name on this peghead says. Any help appreciated.
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Clifford Essex 6 string vintage banjo
Can someone provide any information about my grandfather's (born 1879) Clifford Essex 6 string banjo? He brought it from Scotland to Canada around 1911 so this instrument is at least that old. The nut may have been changed because it only has 4 string grooves in it; has 22 frets. Is it rare or collectable? I am a guitar player so know very little about banjos but it seems unusual to me that an old banjo like this has six tuning keys? Any sources for information or advice would be appreciated. Thanks, -Canduck
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Gibson Epiphone Masterbuilt
I have a Gibson Epiphone Masterbuilt 5-string banjo. The serial number starts with X96. I'm assuming, based on that number, it was made in 1996. The neck has MASTERBUILT as an inset on the 22nd fret. Epiphone is a decal script and Gibson is shown vertically on a piece attached with 3 small screws just above the first fret.
Anyone have information about this banjo? Am I correct as to when it was made? Is this an Asian made model? Any information would be appreciated.
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Pair of 00’s
Nice pair of 00’s listed by an eBay seller. Priced as what I think is way too high, but I am a huge fan of the lowly Gibson RB-00.
Nice photos.
I have zero association with the listing or the seller.
ebay.com/itm/114994921210?hash...wgRphRAYz
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Numbers on Farland banjos
I was made aware that some Farland banjos have a number stamped on the inside of the ring. I have been told that he did not put serial numbers on them. Does anybody know what they are for?
Thanks,
Nick
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Vega Style N, 1926, with original scalloped tone ring. What's going on?
I have a lovely 1926 (87691) Vega tenor conversion (unknown neck builder but very good workmanship). I love this banjo and I want to know more about it. I heard that Vega put scalloped tonerings (electric tonerings?) on Style Ns for a couple of years in the mid-20s, that before this time they would have been marketed as Grand ... Somethings? Does anyone know more about this, the actual flow of Vega models and parts?
Keith
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Any thoughts about this banjo?
I believe this banjo is likely a Buckbee, but would like input and opinions on that. It has the numbers 1 - 12 on the fretboard, in between the frets. The scale length is 24.75", the nut is 1 3/8", the neck at the pot is 2.150". It needs a 1/2" or 7/16" bridge for the action to be correct; I didn't have one and will make one for it. The tailpiece is not original; it is one I made from ebony. Two of the pegs are original, the rest are violin pegs I bought. The head was on it when I acquired it, and cleaned up nicely.
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Gibson banjo
reverb.com/item/44050904-gibson-banjo
This looks interesting what are your thoughts
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SS Stewart pot
I bought this pot at a yard sale at least 30 years ago. It has no serial number. 38 brackets. Someone drilled holes between the original. It has a Stewart sticker on it.
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Is this an old Dobson?
A young banjo pickin' friend of mine in Ottawa Canada (it's their nation's capital, you know...) is really getting into old time. All of a sudden he sends me a video and photos of a REAL old one, not the usual Vega he has been playing (Tu Ba Phone). He's got this old one strung with nylon/nylgut/whatever and it sound great (plastic head).
He asked me if I could ID it. 38 brackets. Hopefully the photos, especially the peghead, heel and dowel stick, will tell the tale. There's an "8" or maybe "3" stamped in the inner rim.
Can anyone tell what this is, and rough age?
Thanks in advance. If we do this right, I'm confident it could lead to re-opening the border.
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Inherited Vega banjo
I inherited this Vega, pie back banjo from my grandfather. Rumor is he played with Eddie Condon in Chicago in the 1920's. I'm not sure if this is the banjo he used.
Any help in identifying the model and year would be great. Thanks.
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Old, unknown rim - any ID?
Here are some photos of an old rim I accumulated too long ago to recall where. The tag inside says "OOD RIM BANJO" but most of it isn't there any more. Anyone have any idea what it might be?
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