The Old Timer - Posted - 03/25/2013:  11:28:16

Hmmmm...

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...S:US:1123

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 03/25/2013:  11:40:05

Wow, that thing's been put through the ringer

mikehalloran - Posted - 03/25/2013:  12:13:12

Is that an optical illusion or is the neck particularly wide?

Oalbrets - Posted - 03/25/2013:  12:52:59

Pretty rough shape.

The Old Timer - Posted - 03/25/2013:  16:47:49

No comments thus far about flat head tone rings in 1957?

wfawley - Posted - 03/25/2013:  17:26:50

The neck's not original, and likely the tone ring isn't either. I suspect that when it was renecked, it had the flathead ring added as well. It may have been a 250 archtop...5 string or 4, or could even been a 150 at the start. There's no way to know now, but it didn't leave Kalamazoo in that format, that's for sure.

Wyatt

beegee - Posted - 03/25/2013:  19:13:37

I would only be interested in a banjo like this if it was all-original. The beat-up condition is not so troublesome as is the replacement neck and tone ring. Bill Holden's ownership and $7.00 will buy me a cup of Starbuck's coffee, which I will never buy.

southerndrifter - Posted - 03/25/2013:  19:13:41

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

 

No comments thus far about flat head tone rings in 1957?

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It "could" be a 1958 and it "could" have come with this tonering.

southerndrifter - Posted - 03/25/2013:  19:19:49

quote:

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Originally posted by beegee

 

I would only be interested in a banjo like this if it was all-original. The beat-up condition is not so troublesome as is the replacement neck and tone ring. Bill Holden's ownership and $7.00 will buy me a cup of Starbuck's coffee, which I will never buy.

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It would only be worth it to a fan of Bill Holden and his contributions to the history of bluegrass. I am such a fan, but I wouldn't pay the sum the seller seems to think this banjo should command. I have heard the CG recording done with this banjo and some live shows of Monroe. I always liked to tone of the banjo (I had no idea what kind it was until now), but much of that can be attributed to the picker.

Ebanjo - Posted - 03/26/2013:  08:23:06

Mike,
I played this banjo back in the mid '90's when Bill holden had sent it to Snuffy Smith for a set up. The neck is not wider than normal, it's just the way the photo makes it look.
Eric Ellis

mikehalloran - Posted - 03/26/2013:  11:15:11

quote:

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Originally posted by Ebanjo

 

Mike,

I played this banjo back in the mid '90's when Bill holden had sent it to Snuffy Smith for a set up. The neck is not wider than normal, it's just the way the photo makes it look.

Eric Ellis

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Thanks, Eric. The seller also emailed me saying the nut width was 1 1/4".