Paramount N/A Banjo Reviews
Paramount N/A
submitted 10/16/2002
|
Submitter |
Unknown |
Where Purchased |
private party |
Year Purchased |
1961 |
Price Paid |
$20 ($US) (bought USED) |
Sound
|
started life as a tenor, refitted with a 5 string neck, with the original skin head. All the Paramounts I've heard have that Dark, rich, full sound models A thru F. Like Earl's Gibson on Lp's |
Sound Rating |
9 |
Setup
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Mortal sin in banjos is changing them to make them better. Mea Culpa. Took a while to learn how ( I was only 14) but it was pretty easy to set the action. Changed hardware (tailpiece) and neck in my irresponsible blugrass days, but ended up returning to all the original stuff. I copied the original neck when I made the 5 string neck, so except for the rounded frets, instead of the square ones, it was a pretty fair repro. If I had it to do over now, I'd do a much better job on the neck. It looks pretty, but it's a little too clubby for my tastes now. |
Setup Rating |
7 |
Appearance
|
It sure is pretty! The wood carving and inlay work matches the original, but the engraving on some inlays isn't there. It's either worn off, or never got there in the first place. ( I had to expand the fingerboard inlays fo the extra frets, and at the time, I didn't have a clue about engraving.)
When I first got it, there was a little surface rust on the hardware, but a little polish and/or fine steel wool brought it right back. The original owner had it stored in its case, in the attic, unopened for 20 or more years. |
Appearance Rating |
9 |
Reliability
|
Reliable? The owner bought it somewhere around 1925, and it was nearly pristine when I got it. I've had it for 40 years, and I'd use it without a backup.
Its only inherent flaw is dealing with the skin head.Changes in temperature and humidity, that kind of stuff. |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
|
Paramount was gone before I was around (Ithink) |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
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Components Rating |
not rated |
Overall Comments
|
Eat your heart out! Getting a banjo like this one for the price I paid would make you serriously consider selling your wife and children! I love it, love it's sound. If it got stolen, I'd hunt the villain down and administer cruel and unusual punishment. There are a lot of Paramount tenors around, but very Few original 5 strings. I saw one just like mine about 3 years ago for $1500. But it necessitates the sin of changing the neck, as I did. The higher the Style, the more elaborate the wood, carving and inlay work. If I get another one, I think I'd bear the slings and arrows to have a new neck for it. But I'd certainly keep the original one totally intact. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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