budbennett - Posted - 04/23/2014:  07:49:56

Did B&D or Gretsch make a 5 string Ne Plus Ultra ever?  If so, anybody got any photos?  i am looking for a few nice photos for an interview film i'm workign on.

Brerrabbit - Posted - 04/23/2014:  07:59:26

You might check this site.   americanbanjomuseum.com/

Jim D - Posted - 04/23/2014:  12:51:01

Try this... scroll down and read

reunionblues.com/blog/2012/03/3451/

Jim

Edited by - Jim D on 04/23/2014 12:52:17

budbennett - Posted - 04/23/2014:  14:29:56

wow- fantastic!  thanks for the Becky Schneider link!

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/23/2014:  23:42:01

Bud,

The owners of the extremely rare and very costly original 5-string NPU´s are normally very secretive about their banjos - the BHO members Becky Schneider banjohangout.org/myhangout/hom...?id=26381) and Nykolus Vail banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=7455 are exceptions.

BTW - apart from Nykolus all owners, that I´m aware of, are playing classic style with nylon or gut strings.

Polle

PS!

Becky´s example is not from 1923 as mentioned in the article - it´s most likely 2+ years younger.

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 04/23/2014 23:45:34

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/24/2014:  03:37:06

PPS!

I mentioned ALL owners above - this may sound as MANY - please don´t misunderstand me - the number of original 5-string NPU´s is extremely limited - I do for now estimate it to be somewhere between 5 and 10 - with 5 maybe being the closest "guess". LOL!

mainejohn - Posted - 04/24/2014:  05:34:36

Is this what you're talking about? That's me on the right. Not my banjo but the 1950's Boston Braves cap is.

 

Peghead (front)

w/Ray Montana's Neplus Ultra#9 B&D

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/24/2014:  05:55:40

quote:

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Originally posted by mainejohn

Is this what you're talking about? That's me on the right. Not my banjo but the 1950's Boston Braves cap is.

 

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John,

Indeed a spectacular banjo posted by you - but this thread goes for the ebony classic Silver Bell NPU´s.

Polle

mainejohn - Posted - 04/24/2014:  11:59:43

quote:

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Originally posted by Polle Flaunoe

quote:

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Originally posted by mainejohn

Is this what you're talking about? That's me on the right. Not my banjo but the 1950's Boston Braves cap is.

 

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John,

Indeed a spectacular banjo posted by you - but this thread goes for the ebony classic Silver Bell NPU´s.

Polle

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I guess I missed that, but going back and reading the posts, I don't see a reference to "ebony classic." Must be in my old age my eyes are failing.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/24/2014:  23:30:02

John,

Sorry - my mistake. There has lately been some discussions  - mostly off-line - regarding the classic Silver Bell 5-stringers and especially the extremely rare ebony NPU examples - that´s why I automatically had these in mind.

Regarding the Montana #9 NPU in your hands - has the Ray Montana provenance been documented? I´m a little puzzled by it - AFAIK Montana´s banjos were in fact plectrums with a dummy 5th string tuner.

Polle