Here is the next banjo to be offered. It is a Gibson Granada Clone. Understand that it is not an original Granada, rather my own interpretation using old and new Gibson parts.

The rim and resonator are from a pre-war Gibson 00 banjo. The resonator has been reskinned, bound and finished appropriate to a pre-war Granada. The rim has had an inner lamination of Old Factory Floor wood added, bringing the rim to full thickness. The tone ring is an original gold plated Gibson PM ring. The rest of the hardware is new and I will say some of the nicest engraved hardware that I have had. The neck is of presentation grade curly maple with an ebony H&F fingerboard.

I have done several banjos with this exact rim and tone ring combination and have been very happy with each one. This particular one far exceeded my expectations, and delivers a clean, powerful, dry sound that rattles your stomach when you play it. Hard to imagine one sounding much better than this folks and it's been together less than an hour. If it doesn't sell before, it will be available at Joe Val for anyone interested. Comes with Guardian style HSC...Bill

http://www.banjohangout.org/classified/26609

Lovely looking banjo, what is a PM  ring?  Please don't say it can only be played at night.

That is one FINE looking Jo !.

Rick,

No no.  It stands for Precision Machining or something like that.  They are the folks that have been making the tone rings for most of the higher end Gibson, like the style 6s.  Gibson had an agreement with Earl to use Richard Kulesh rings on anything that carried his name or endorsement.  They used the PM ring, sometimes referred to as the mystery ring on everything else.  Some of you more knowledgeable folks may be able to flesh that out a bit, but it really works well in combination with this rim in a maple banjo...Bill

I know it depends on the banjo but the PM (Precision Molders) Gibson rings can sound really good with the right combination and setup. They love maple. I've got a (real) Granada with one in it and it sounds like it's 70 years old already. I've heard others too and they have a real nice dry biting growl that you don't get with the other standard issue Gibson rings. My bet is Bill's banjo sounds really great.

Edited by - banjoez on 02/03/2012 17:59:51

I like it a lot except for that extra flower on the first fret. To me it makes it look like an Earl Scruggs Deluxe.Which is still a great banjo.

Wow,Bill.Exceptionally fine.Incredible.

Hey Joe, thanks for the additional information on the PM ring.  Dry growl definitely describes the sound of this banjo.

Steve, thanks for the kind words.  Maybe I'll see you at Buxton next week...Bill

I'll try and get to that one,Bill.

For you eagle eyes who have asked, yes that is a nickel tuner nut and washer on the peghead in the one picture.  I was putting it together the other night and realized that I was missing a nut and washer for my last set of gold tuners.  I had to use a nickel one until I get a replacement this week.  Good eyes folks...Bill