Banjo Hangout - Collector's Corner Forum Feed

This Bacon needs some TLC

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:36:02 CST

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-B-D-SUPER-BANJO-PROJECT-/140980982544

coles eclipse hook and nut wanted

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:09:22 CST

Anyone have a couple of spare Cole hooks and nuts?

I need two for my little Cole eclipse.

happy to pay,or trade a fairbanks cobra,or later vega.

Okay who drilled the holes in the Bacon

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:20 CST

Although I'd like the tuners http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bacon-Day-Montana-Silver-Bell-Tenor-Banjo-/200926540556

B&D Montana Silver Bell

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:03:11 CST

I have a B&D Montana Silver Bell #1 5 String. I was told that the Pot and the neck are not matched. Does any one know how many 5 string Montana Silver Bells were produced by B&D? I have heard that 5 strings are fairly rare . I have uploaded photos to my profile. Thanks much.

~ nice [original] Goldstar Tenor ~

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:54:33 CST

Never seen such a nice example of this in a Tenor before;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Goldstar-Tenor-banjo-/200924731132?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item2ec80c16fc

I have an '81 G12 [5 string] and its a hoss of a banjo [block rim in there instead of the 11 ply], anyway pricey, but very clean.

Waverly Planetary 5th String Peg

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:17:25 CST

Hi,

Is there any difference in size of the Waverly Planetary 5th String Peg and a Standard 5th string tuner?? I know the Waverly Planetary 5th String Tuner does not have the shaft where you wrap the string, it has just the gear box no shaft. Is there any difference in the size that goes into the hole of the Neck??

Thanks very much,

Rodney Carter

1968 RB-250?

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:12:19 CST

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130912315043

I don't think so. He says he has a "letter from Gibson confirming it is a 1968..." I guess he didn't get th ememo that Gibson knows little or nothing about their banjos.

I say 1972 . What say you ladies and gentlemen of the jury? I know it's not a 1968.

H.C.Dobson Brackets and nuts

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:10:20 CST

Still no luck finding any brackets or square nuts for my 1880s H.C.Dobson. I need 5.

Anyone out there have any?

Jim Jacquet

jimjacquet2000@yahoo.com

intersting chas a stromberg & son

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:46 CST

the tailpeice and tone ring are very interesting

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Banjo-Chas-A-Stromberg-Son-made-in-Boston-/130910527018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e7ae01e2a

Unmarked Tenor Banjo

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:26:17 CST

My wife's grandfather left this to her brother after he passed. I started playing in December, so of course now it piqued my interest. I know it's not anything high end, just looking for some info on the history of it. I was told it was 1920's ish. Any ideas? Excuse the dust, to my understanding it's been under a bed for a few years. Full album here: http://imgur.com/a/NTNSb

help identifying this tenor banjo

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:48:23 CST

just picked this older banjo up at a garage sale. looks like a nice instrument. has a grover bridge and resonator . no seriel number or name on it.. any help would be great. came with a really nice corduroy lined hardshell case. was said to be from the 70's .. here are photos of fret board inlay and headstock

1938 B&D Serenader Silver Bell

eric@banjohangout.org — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:30:01 CST

I'm posting for a friend who is a banjo player, but not a computer guy. He was born in the Groton area (c.1930) and his dad bought a brand new B&D Serenader Silver Bell in 1938; it was handed down to my friend and it is still in pristine condition and is played regularly. The serial number is 35463. He was raised knowing it was one of the last banjos made in Groton before the hurricane of '38. My query is to see if it can be determined when in '38 his banjo was made - he'd like to know how long it was before the hurricane hit on September 21st, and how many more banjos were made in Groton before the storm. The banjo hasn't gotten very far as he's still in that area.

Thanks for any help!

Identify This Banjo Plz

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:17:44 CST

Hi guys this is my Grandfathers banjo.

I have no clue about banjos and was just wondering what this is ?

cheers.

few quick pics i took.

http://tinypic.com/r/zjfa4i/5

http://tinypic.com/r/24zfwqw/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2utm72u/5

http://tinypic.com/r/34rf2ip/5

i dont know how to post pics in here so if you could plz just copy and paste the links in a new browser.

cheers

Info on Prewar The Gibson Tb1

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:05:45 CST

Hi I am looking at a banjo that I am told is a tb1 and serial is 8763-3. The banjo appears to have a short four string neck with standard hex style flange. From the small picture I have seen I can not see the resonator. Can anyone give me any idea if this would be a good conversion candidate and an idea of value. Headstock reads THE GIBSON .

pre-war Matertone vs parts banjo question

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:38:56 CST

On a recent thread the issue arose about calling a banjo a pre-war Mastertone vs its being a parts banjo. I hear these terms applied all the time and I would like to hear opinions on the subject. When does a pre-war become a parts banjo.

For example, when Earl Scruggs put a new neck on his Granada did it become a parts banjo? What if someone replaces an unusable flange with a new flange. How about replacing a friction tuner with a geared tuner? And in the latter two cases what if you kept the original parts?

So when does it move from being a complete unaltered pre-war to a parts banjo? Or does any change make it a parts banjo?

Gibson RB-170 Openback....Same Quality as Resos?

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:36:10 CST

I've been kind of intrigued by a couple of RB-170's I've seen. I know Gibson didn't do a lot in the openback world so I thought it might be fun to own one of these. If I find one in really good condition does anyone have any idea of what a fair price would be or ballpark value on these. This will at least give me a reference point....thanks, Rick

This Look Right to You?

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:19:42 CST

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190836635325?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_491wt_958

Dating Gibson RB-250

eric@banjohangout.org — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:52:48 CST

Hi all. I have just returned home from inspecting an RB250 that is coming up for sale. S/n 122388 stamped on the back of the peghead. It has a tube and plate flange. I have checked the banjophiles site but cannot pin this jo down to a particular year. As Gibsons don't turn up here in NZ with any regularity, I have skipped over the threads that deal with dating these instruments. Anybody offer a date?

Help identify a tone ring

eric@banjohangout.org — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:59:27 CST

I took a tone ring in on trade a while back that was said to be a Tennessee 20. When I got it, it had no visible markings. A closer look shows in three distinct places on the inside of the skirt that someone had apparently filed out whatever identifying marks existed. I had a knowledgeable friend look at it and he thought it looked more like a Ryan ring. I had the tone ring weighed this morning on a shipping agents scale and it weighed in at 3.52 lb. Looking at the attached pictures you'll see it's a 20 hole ring. It is nickel plated on the outside but copper/brass looking on the underneath side. From where the filing was done it appears that the first coating on the underside of the ring is copper colored and the second coat has a brass/gold look. With the tone ring vertical with the underside facing you and the neck lag screw hole in the 12 o'clock position, the three filed places are at approximately the 2:30 position, the 5:30 position, and the 10:00 position. Another point: when tapping it, it comes out about C#, significantly higher pitch than a Hopkins conversion ring and a Blaylock ring I compared it to.

Any thoughts on who the maker of this tone ring might be?

Superbo circa 1895

eric@banjohangout.org — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:59:52 CST

This is my Elias Howe Superbo that I am playing around on. Don't know much about them but guessing this was made by Cole. Doesn't have the boat shaped heel though.

Mike

Bela Fleck's Cello

eric@banjohangout.org — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:10:45 CST

I had the pleasure of seeing Bela's first solo show yesterday evening at the musical insturment museum. That man is genius. Anyway he played a suite of african songs on a cello banjo. Unfortunatly I didnt get pictures, but it had a very large pot (of course) fancy inlay work on the headstock that reminded me of white ladies from the early 1900s. It looked vintage and I'm wondering if anyone here knows anything about the insturment.

if you get a chance to see this solo show, dont turn it up, best 90 minutes of esoteric banjo music you will ever hear.

Any idea of maker and date?

eric@banjohangout.org — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:48:27 CST

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-OPEN-BACK-NO-NAME-5-STRING-BANJO-FRET-INLAY-W-CASE-NO-RESERVE-/161027348658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257dfa58b2

Mystery Banjo Maker

eric@banjohangout.org — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:16:29 CST

I found this bajo in a local antique store. Paid $116 US. I could not find any maker name or date. It appears to be a no name copy. Any ideas about indentiying the maker and date? It was missing three hooks and bolts and eight of the nuts have been replace with longer modern ones, so I'll have to search for some 1/4"x1/2" nuts that match the original. Thanks.

bizarre custom accordion/banjo hybrid

eric@banjohangout.org — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:46:31 CST

A couple months back on this site, someone had posted photos of a bizarre custom instrument made somewhere in Appalachia. It was an enormous octahedral accordion, but the left 'wall' of the accordion had a banjo neck sticking up perpendicular to the bellows, and a banjo-ish drum drilled into the accordion wall. It also had a case. Has anyone seen pictures of this around? I'm trying to find it, but no luck so far and google isn't helping with search term 'accordion banjo hybrid instrument.

Help with ID'ing a Banjo

eric@banjohangout.org — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:18:27 CST

Hi,

There is currently a Tenor Banjo on eBay which is listed as a Slingerland. The link is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=151044288706&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Could someone give me their opinion on whether this is a Slingerland and if not what they believe it is?

Thanks!!

What possesses some people.......

eric@banjohangout.org — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:25:39 CST

...do do things like this???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prewar-Gibson-Banjo-/300905868469

Good banjo shops in Vancouver, BC?

eric@banjohangout.org — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:01:07 CST

I'm headed out to Vancouver for a visit next week and I'm wondering if anyone knows of any music stores that have a nice selection of good banjos.

Kay Banjo

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:54:04 CST

Could someone provide some help in identifying this banjo I found cleaning out a storage locker? I absolutely love it. It is a Kay 5 string, but other than that I have been unable to figure out style, year, etc.

Any ideas on this "Companion Style C" at ebay?

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:28:29 CST

I just checked out that "companion" style C . I have never heard of one. It does have a tail piece that's interesting. I like it! It needs a bit of work though. Anyboby have any ideas on the banjo. Is it a rare piece I have never seen a "companion" model except by Paramount.
Rob_Rocker

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-vintage-antique-Companion-C-pre-1920s-5-string-open-back-banjo-/161024221204?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257dcaa014

Gibson ES?

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:03:50 CST

In case anyone is interested...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/3781935325.html

Double Resonator?

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:31:06 CST

Attached photo is on ebay. Holding the banjo is Arthur Hughes who was a radio personality.

Who was maker of Hughes' banjo?

What was the idea behind the double resonator?

Origin of the ZIther Style Banjo Maybe?

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:54:08 CST

Original Dobson zither style banjo. First one of these I have ever seen up for auction. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Henry-C-Dobson-5-string-banjo-patent-date-July-16-1867-US-highly-original-/130908255800?
Bob Moore

1895 Star fretless info

eric@banjohangout.org — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:15:04 CST

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STAR-FRETLESS-BANJO-CIRCA-1895-/251274358841?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item3a811e7039

I'm not usually moved by fretless banjos but this just popped up on ebay [uk] and i have to say it looks rather lovely. Anyone know about these banjos?

Ball park value perhaps?

Thanks.

Older Banjo

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:15:16 CST

This was my grandfathers banjo. I would love to learn anything about it. I know he had it during World War 2 and thats about it.

Thanks

Tenor Banjo Inventor - Wm. C. Stahl?

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:39:46 CST

Tenor Banjo History Continued --

William C. Stahl of Milwaukee briefly claimed to have been the first to manufacture a tenor banjo!

See attached March 1919 Crescendo magazine ad.

He was most probably referring to his Banjorine Mandolin that he advertised in 1909. See attached.

Stahl claimed that he manufactured the Banjorine after J.B. Schall's death because Schall died before he could produce the Schall Banjorine for the market.

I am looking for someone who has information about Wm. C. Stahl's Banjorine Mandolin.

Help if you can, please.

Merlin Long neck

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:12:15 CST

I know the answer already but im going to ask anyway! Does anyone know where I could get my hands on a Merlin banjo? Im willing to pay the going rate of course.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Noel.

Stanleytone question

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:36:56 CST

I mentioned this question a few months ago on another thread, but never did get any responses. Just wondering how/why the Stanleytones were made in the configuration that they were...

Point in question. Ralph is known mostly for playing his RB-2 and RB-5 banjos. Both of these were walnut and the 5 was his main banjo for many, many years. The 5 had it's own distinct marquetry & binding and unique 'fan' inlay on the peghead.

The Stanleytones were maple with Bela Voce inlay for the most part I guess.. At least mine did. I had #25, nickel plated for years. Bought it new in 1987.

The Stanleytones are exceptional banjos no doubt, but if you were trying to capture the great Stanley sound, wouldn't it have made more sense to make them walnut and have a wreath inlay?

Just wondering if anyone knows the reason behind this? Did Ralph actually participate/care about them or were they just 'money makers' for him and Frank? I would have thought Frank could have made them out of walnut just as inexpensively, given that most of the parts were Cox anyhow... Just curious...

Gibson banjo ID and value ?

eric@banjohangout.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 02:54:29 CST

I'm not up-to-speed on Gibson banjos, and this weekend I visited a guy who has a number of stringed instruments that he's interested in selling for his uncle's estate. He has a Gibson Mastertone tenor, SN 8225-39. I can't make sense out of the serial number, so I can't figure out its age. It has a perforated, tube-type tone ring that, from the side, appears to have a ball bearing suspension, and is in very nice condition. Anyone know what year this is ? How about a fair selling price ?

FYI, he also has two Gibson A mandolins and a Gibson mandola, which I posted on the Mandolin hangout.

http://www.mandohangout.com/topic/33249

Retro 4's

eric@banjohangout.org — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:15:45 CST

Tony Arcuri has posted his Retro 4 for sale, and several of us have also posted on his thread with testimonials for this model.

For those who don't know of these, they're non-burled walnut, chrome hardware, the original abbreviated Hearts and Flowers inlay pattern (no inlays on 1 or 15), yellowed bindings, and the 1925 style fiddle peghead with "Mastertone" inlaid under the Gibson logo.

There were 40 produced, and as a result of Tony's thread, we now know where five of those 40 are. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be curious as to where some of the rest of them are.

Best,

John

Antique Inlaid Fingerboard and drum Banjo...help needed please!

eric@banjohangout.org — Sun, 12 May 2013 10:51:48 CST

Hi There, I am desperate to find a bit of history if possible on a rather unusual banjo which has been hanging on our living room wall for some time. The only mark is a stamp on the back of the neck reading W. Davis, Bloomsbury. He was apparently a tobacconist not a luthier! I will attempt to post some pictures as it is hard to describe the beautiful marquetry right up the fingerboard and around the drum. All I can say is that it is fretless and a 7 stringer!!! I'll see what I can do!! Any help greatly appreciated!!

1926 TB-1 on e-bay

eric@banjohangout.org — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:22:28 CST

This banjo is listed as a 1928, but the seller notes the correct date of 1926 in his comments. It is a TB-1, diamond flange, and it looks to be in pretty good shape. I have written to him about the date and style and he seems quite genuine. He is starting the bids at $899, which seems a bit high, but perhaps someone might be interested.

I have GOT to learn how to paste a live link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321122499718&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

Original ESS "The Gibson Banjo Tuners" (d tuners). I want it back!

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:16:50 CST

I recently had a friend of mine send my original 1989 Earl Scruggs Standard gibson labeled D-tuners to Bill Keith (at Beacon Banjo) to have them greased as they were stiff to turn. Only cost $27 after shipping with insurance. When they were returned one of them now says "The Keith Banjo Tuner". The letter sent back accompanying the tuners insinuated that only one sent had said "The Gibson Banjo Tuner". I took photos of them just before I mailed them for insurance purposes. I have emailed Mr. Keith through the Beacon website and messaged the Facebook page asking for an exchange to my original but have not received a reply yet. I realize there is only one difference in these two d tuners but I was wanting to keep my ESS as original as possible. Will I ever get it back? Or should I just accept it as the way life goes? Your opinion is appreciated. Respectfully, Aaron

Gibson I.D.Count

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:31:44 CST

Does anyone know how many inquiries there have been on BHO to identify a Gibson banjo? The number has to be huge.

Unusual old TB Granada neck on EBay

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:21:50 CST

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIBSON-MASTERTONE-19-FRET-TENOR-BANJO-NECK-1920s-1930s-HEARTS-FLOWERS-FLAME-/161024527536?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

Has anyone seen this before? A TB Granada neck, two piece flange maple, with a WREATH peghead and H&F fingerboard? Some of the sloppiest inlay work I've ever seen. Someone changed tuners and altered the heel by filling in the cut out for the flange tube, and maybe more.

The back of the peghead shows the ears, no one-piece veneer to hide them, but who on earth has ever copied an old tenor neck, especially as odd as this one?

Interested if anyone has seen another inlaid this way.

Comments?

The Banjo Is Your Buddy.

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:47:08 CST

I've always get a warm sentimental feeling for the Comrade and Pal models from Slingerland.

http://www.banjoworld.de/High505.htm

After all, the banjo is our buddy and should be named appropriately.

Now here on ebay is a "Companion". Nice name.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-vintage-antique-Companion-C-pre-1920s-5-string-open-back-banjo-/161024221204?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257dcaa014

We need more banjo models with fuzzy names like "My Chum" or "Old Partner".

Names like Mastertone and such are just to industrial sounding. Like naming a refrigerator - "MasterKool".

Just sayin'.

Turning the corner

eric@banjohangout.org — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:56:42 CST

As I make the creeping evolution from guitar to bluegrass I'm hunting down a good banjo. I've already been playing clawhammer on a Wildwood Tubaphone.

I was a vintage snob with acoustic guitars for a long time....but eventually turned the corner, finding better sounding, easier playing, and less expensive modern alternatives to vintage Martins Ds (i.e. Collings).

I'm falling back into the vintage abyss as I look for a banjo ....the quandary being: Gibson vs all others......vintage vs modern....original vs upgraded...etc. What words to the wise do you guys have on finding good sounding, well made banjo?

Sven

PS - Come jam with us Saturday mornings on Naperville's Riverwalk.

Bacon/B&D by Gretsch. Question?

eric@banjohangout.org — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:25:46 CST

When did Gretsch stop making Bacon/B&D banjos?

Where were Gretsch Bacon/B&D banjos made after the Baldwin buyout in 1967?

I recently got Guitar Player magazine from October 1971. (attached).

In this issue Gretsch ran a full page ad for its Bacon Banjos. (attached).

This is the very same ad that I found in the Nov/Dec 1970 issue of Sing Out magazine.

Internet web pages generally state that Baldwin acquired Gretsch in 1967 and that Gretsch guitar and drum manufacturing moved to Booneville, Arknasas in 1970, Finally, Baldwin moved Gretsch offices to Chicago in 1972.

Do you suppose that the Gretsch made Bacon/B&D banjos were manufactured in the old Gretsch Brooklyn factory until 1972 and then production ceased when the Gretsch offices were moved to Chicago?

BTW an early Gretsch B&D Serenader was just listed on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321123583677?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Kel

eric@banjohangout.org — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:35:32 CST

Wha

No bowtie inlay below mastertone

eric@banjohangout.org — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:49:35 CST

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1954-Gibson-Bowtie-RB-250-Mastertone-5-String-Banjo-/121106158258#ht_988wt_9640

Any thoughts on this one. I don't think the fingerboard is the original and Am sure the grovers are not.

Doug J.

1923 Vega Tenor....

eric@banjohangout.org — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:33:10 CST

Yesterday I was contacted by an elderly woman who is selling her husband's 1923 Vega Tenor banjo. She stated he was the only owner and had it most of his life. Not wanting to pry I can only assume he passed away some time in the 80s because she told me she had the banjo appraised at $350 back in 1991. She is offering it for $500 and I'm a little leery of the price because I just do not know that much about tenor banjos. I have read up on Vega tenors from past BHO postings and was hoping for any advice because I am going to see it tomorrow morning. Thanks in advance!