Boofhead - Posted - 05/20/2008:  17:01:29

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I have a Stewart-McDonald kit banjo and resonator that I put together about 25 years go, but never learned to play. I'm thinking of selling it. Any idea how much it is worth?

RWPark - Posted - 05/20/2008:  17:20:08

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Depends on how well you put it together...but I'm guessing no more than $200.00 to 300.00 dollars.

Rich

I prefer to resonate internally...

lightgauge - Posted - 05/20/2008:  20:16:51

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And which kit it was. The Diamond Eagle was their top kit.

Boofhead - Posted - 05/21/2008:  01:46:42

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At this point, I am not sure which kit. It seems basic. No fancy inlay.

lightgauge - Posted - 05/21/2008:  04:21:49

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Full weight 5 Star tone ring?
One piece flange or shoe brackets?
3 ply rim or multiply?
Maple or mahogany?

Kevin B - Posted - 05/21/2008:  06:57:30

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Here is a picture from an old Stewart McDonald Catalogue page about the Diamond Eagle

This is how mine turned out

A banjo with those components new would be $2500 and up. Of course being a no name built by yours truly (me) would make it worth much less to a buyer but no less to me. Maybe come up with a price on the value of the components on the used market. I list mine as $1500 for insurance purposes but that wouldn't replace it.
Kevin ( )=='=~

'Possum, It's what's for dinner . . ."

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Edited by - Kevin B on 05/21/2008 07:02:01

RB100 - Posted - 05/21/2008:  08:07:34

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Kevin,
That is a nice banjo!

I always wanted to assemble one of those...however, at the time the kits were being sold, I was financially challenged with higher priorities...most likely a good thing...I don't think one I had worked on would be nearly as nice!

Bill

"I've been to Georgia on a fast train..." Shaver

Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 05/21/2008:  12:32:44

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quote:

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Originally posted by Boofhead

At this point, I am not sure which kit. It seems basic. No fancy inlay.

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Sight unseen I estimate its worth at about $35 to $40. I'll send you my mailing address and I'll cut you a check, okay?!

Anyway... Stew-Mac made some pretty nice banjo kits... even the most basic banjo kit they offered (the one with the paddle-shaped headstock and aluminum arch-top rim) was a very solid banjo and worthy of festival/parking-lot picking sessions. If the banjo’s in pretty decent condition, I'd say you could fetch at least $200 to $300 (or more if it was professionally finished, etc.). Even if it's in less than pristine condition, you could probably still command about $150 or more because these banjos are easily re-finished and just scream to have fancier inlays added (if the buyer was so inclined). Good luck!

Your Pal,
Stu D. Baker-Hawk

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati"

Boofhead - Posted - 05/22/2008:  01:25:33

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Hey Stu, ad a zero to those numbers and you have a deal!
Obviously, I don't know enough about banjos to accurately describe it. I has a mahogany neck, the fretboard just as dot inlay, and the peghead has an inlaid star. The resonator has tortoise shell binding. I took a look around for the catalog, but couldn't find it. I kept if for years.
Don't know if you guys care about Stewart-MacDonald or not, but I live in Ohio and bought the kit at their factory. At the time, Stewart was living in a farmhouse near Shade, Ohio, and the factory was located in a former chicken coop. The company kept a low profile, and didn't advertise its location. I had a friend who knew Stewart, and that's how I was able to find the place. I can't recall if MacDonald had moved to Bozeman yet.
Now, Stewart-MacDonald is located in a former McBee printing plant in Athens, Ohio.

Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 05/22/2008:  10:16:15

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I think I have some old (VERY OLD) Stew-Mac catalogs that feature their original banjo kits (as you described). If I remember, I'll try to scan some of the catalog pages tonight (or this weekend) and post them here for your review.

Your Pal,
Stu D. Baker-Hawk

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati"

Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 05/22/2008:  17:02:19

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Okay, Boofhead, your turn... Which one of these Stew-Mac Eagle banjo kits to you have?

From the 1976 Stewart-MacDonald catalog (sorry, couldn't locate the accompanying price sheet for these kit banjos).



From the 1984 Stewart-MacDonald catalog.



Your Pal,
Stu D. Baker-Hawk

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati"

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Edited by - Studebaker Hawk on 05/23/2008 09:37:01

Boofhead - Posted - 05/22/2008:  23:37:06

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Ta da! The Eagle Standard. Mine would have been purchased about 4 or 5 years after this catalog. Thanks, Stu
So what is it worth?

Boofhead - Posted - 05/22/2008:  23:52:51

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Of, course, I based my "ta da" on the shape of the peghead. The descriptions mean nothing to me. lThe kit was a gift, and $369 seems a bit much for a gift. Any chance it could be a 99 model with the other pedhead?

Boofhead - Posted - 05/22/2008:  23:57:16

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If someone can tell me how to post pictures on here, I can show you the banjo

Kevin B - Posted - 05/23/2008:  03:41:26

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Upload the picture to store it at your BHO Homepage then right click the stored picture to get its URL under properties. Copy and paste that URL between this code Left bracket [ followed by IMG followed by a right bracket. Then your URL. Then this /IMG between two more brackets.

Full instructions are found on this FAQ page http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/faq.asp

Kevin ( )==''=~

''Possum, It''s what''s for dinner . . ."

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Edited by - Kevin B on 05/23/2008 10:33:18