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dejlallen - Posted - 09/29/2012: 10:53:53
I inherited a HC Dobson 5 string banjo (1884) from a distant relative awhile ago. It's missing the tailpiece, bridge, and 5th string tuning key. Calfskin head is still in good shape. I'm curious as to it's collector value, which I'm pretty sure is worth more than residing under our bed. :) I would really appreciate any comments and advice. I play tenor banjo & mandolin but don't play a 5-string so I'd rather see it go to someone who will fix it up & use it
Thanks,
Don
Edited by - dejlallen on 09/29/2012 12:23:52
chadp - Posted - 09/29/2012: 11:45:17
contact bart veerman for a bridge, mralson for a nice reproduction tailpiece, and SOMEONE around here HAS to have a 5th string tuner that'll work on it.
approx value? no idea. never sell it.
dbrooks - Posted - 09/29/2012: 12:32:36
More detailed pictures would be helpful: peghead and tuners, fretboard details, etc. The bridge is no big deal. The tailpiece might be rather pricey to replace since those who have an original may be reluctant to part with it. A modern reproduction of a no-knot tailpiece would be inexpensive. A friction 5th string tuner wouldn't be too expensive to replace. I would not put modern tuners on it since the holes would need to enlarged.
It probably has more value as a player than as a collectible. Adam Hurt records with an H.C. Dobson. John Balch has had several and would be a great resource for you. Folks still buy and play these old Dobsons, and some banjo makers have created new banjos modeled after them. (I play two 1890s banjo regularly.) If the neck is in bad shape, then its value would be hurt.
I'm not the best at appraising its value. I suspect John Balch will weigh in with expert commentary. As is, the banjo might be worth $700-900. Restored with appropriate hardware and made playable, it could be worth $1200-1600. These are guesses on my part. A poor quality restoration would hurt its value.
You have a nice banjo there and a number of people would like to own it.
David
pernicketylad - Posted - 09/29/2012: 12:55:47
I'd say that if the neck is straight and there is a good connection to the pot it's worth a bit more than David suggested. The fifth string tuner is the only issue really.This kind of banjo is in vogue at the moment.
If it was me I'd send it to someone like Bob Smakula to fix it up properly and then decide whether or not to move it on.........and then I'd decide to keep it! It's a beauty.
dejlallen - Posted - 09/29/2012: 13:21:47
The neck is true (unstrung), the fingerboard and frets are probably 90%. Less wear than my 30 yrs old D45 for sure. The pics show that it needs a real good cleaning after removing the head. Before I got it, the banjo was kept in a closet in my great uncle's home for gosh knows how long.
Don
henwaddle - Posted - 09/29/2012: 13:29:35
I sent mine to Jason Burns. Not only did he do superb work, he was priced reasonably, and was communicative and easy to work with.i know several others who have used Jason and they have all said the same thing. You can contact him on BHO at Jhynakin or hi web site is burnsrepair.com/Home.html
jbalch - Posted - 09/29/2012: 13:35:47
These Dobson banjos are indeed in fashion. Plus they are great banjos.
I had one in great playing shape. I chose NOT to change the head or clean it too much. I preferred the old look of it. I also strung it with nylon or gut strings and tuned it low (as would have been original). I used that banjo on a couple of tracks from my ~HOT~ Biscuit Jam CD. Rattletrap from that CD is attached (with nylgut strings) here along with another home-recorded sound sample (with steel strings).
I sold it on ebaY a couple of yeas ago. At the time, it brought only $900. But I suspect it would be worth a good bit more today. I guess that if a good complete H.C Dobson were at a dealer's shop it would be listed for $1600-1800. But others here may have a better idea of the current market value.
One thing to consider is the rim size. Mine was 11". But many are smaller. The smaller rims are less desirable.
Adam Hurt is a famous proponent of these banjos. Others who have used them include Richie Sterns and Dirk Powell.
Edited by - jbalch on 09/29/2012 13:44:10
dejlallen - Posted - 09/29/2012: 13:37:28
My inclination is to sell it "as is", best offer. That way, the new owner/player can have the work done to his/her standards. That's what I did when I bought my 60+ yr Gibson mandolin.
Thanks for all of you good suggestions and comments. Keep 'em comin'.
Don
mrphysics55 - Posted - 09/29/2012: 15:08:51
dejlallen
If you want to sell it on the Hangout you will need to set the price and attempt to sell it in a Hangout Classified Ad.
Check Here ...... banjohangout.org/topic/154520
Good Luck,
MrP
mrphysics55 - Posted - 09/29/2012: 15:09:00
dejlallen
If you want to sell it on the Hangout you will need to set the price and attempt to sell it in a Hangout Classified Ad.
Check Here ...... banjohangout.org/topic/154520
Good Luck,
MrP
mrphysics55 - Posted - 09/29/2012: 15:42:41
Dang!
Multiple posts ....
Sorry
dejlallen - Posted - 09/29/2012: 15:53:04
At this time I think I'll entertain reasonable offers because I don't really have a feel for the value of the banjo. Evidently, the 9 in bucket is a crucial negative. Need a lot more info if I were to set a firm sale price. I said at the beginning of the thread, I inherited the instrument awhile ago and had no knowledge of the value. While cleaning out the furniture in our MB today readying for new carpet, I "rediscovered it" under the bed. Go figure! Now that I know that it is a well respected instrument I guess it needs to go where it will be put to good use and make music. Any suggestions on a posting price would be great!
Thanks,
Don
Edited by - dejlallen on 09/29/2012 15:54:52
the-fish - Posted - 09/30/2012: 18:28:18
so, just making sure for myself, this ISNT an 11 inch rim, its 9 inch correct?
dejlallen - Posted - 09/30/2012: 18:56:35
That is correct,,,9 inch
dbrooks - Posted - 10/01/2012: 07:19:03
Thanks for posting this link, John. It will ne interesting to watch. May even bid myself.
David
hektic - Posted - 10/07/2012: 14:28:16
I bid, but my max was 420$, oh well you win some and you lose some :P didnt really want to go above 4.
She's definitely a nice one, and I was kinda enjoying the idea of a 9" pot. She'll be even nicer once she's restored even to just a playable state
pernicketylad - Posted - 10/07/2012: 14:38:56
Seems about right for a nine inch rim.
pacrat21 - Posted - 12/11/2012: 19:24:48
Recently purchased a Dobson banjo with a patent date of 1881, and I have a question. This banjo has no frets (just a solid piece of brass screwed to the walnut neck), is this original and were banjos set up this way? Any information would be really appreciated.
R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 12/11/2012: 19:36:07
got any pics pacrat? dobson built some fretless banjos but i only know of 1 with a metal fretboard...
Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 12/11/2012: 19:52:13
quote:
Originally posted by pacrat21
Recently purchased a Dobson banjo with a patent date of 1881, and I have a question. This banjo has no frets (just a solid piece of brass screwed to the walnut neck), is this original and were banjos set up this way? Any information would be really appreciated.
I have seen several Dobsons with fretless metal fingerboards, but would need to see a photo to determine if yours is original or not.
Andy
R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 12/12/2012: 06:05:02
Hey Andy - are you talking about HC Dobsons with the donut ring? Got any pics?
Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 12/12/2012: 07:37:24
quote:
Originally posted by R. Blakeslee Gilpin
Hey Andy - are you talking about HC Dobsons with the donut ring? Got any pics?
Yes. A friend of mine has one, and there's one in the Tsumura book. I have seen a few others. Don't have any photos, unfortunately.
Andy
pacrat21 - Posted - 12/12/2012: 09:15:46
quote:
Originally posted by R. Blakeslee Gilpin
got any pics pacrat? dobson built some fretless banjos but i only know of 1 with a metal fretboard...
Thanks for your help. Here are 3 pics of the banjo, can send more if it would help. Thanks
R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 12/12/2012: 14:12:21
Yours is an earlier H.C. Dobson pacrat - you can tell by the square nuts and the dowel stamping/shape. I am not an authority like Andy so I can't tell you if the brass overlay is original - the screws indicate to me that it's not, as does the weird mis-alignment by the fifth string pip and the missing strip along the bass side up the neck.
But I'd love to see some more pics of it!
For reference, here is the Tsumura Dobson fretless - a 10 inch pot presentation banjo given by King Edward (then the Prince of Wales) to Birdie Brightling (stage name of Alice Lyman) on Nov 28, 1881. If I could pick one banjo out of 1001 Banjos, that'd be the one!
Edited by - R. Blakeslee Gilpin on 12/12/2012 14:13:25
Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 12/13/2012: 09:56:30
That fingerboard does not look original to me, because of the poor fit.
Andy
David McLaughlin - Posted - 12/14/2012: 09:54:43
I don't believe your fingerboard is original for the same reasons posted above. However, Henry Dobson did indeed make several fretless metal fingerboard Silver Bell Patent banjos, possibly all of which had nickel (German Silver) fingerboards with matching peg-head overlays. They are not common. I have had in my hands no more than three or four of these. They were all the earlier Silver Bells (early to mid 1880s), using Buckbee rims, necks, and brackets. All the ones I have seen had beautifully fitted and polished nickel fingerboards with matching peg-heads. It is quite possible that there are later versions of the Silver Bell out there.
R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 12/14/2012: 10:14:14
Hey David,
Where you running into all these old beauties?!
Blake
wbelm - Posted - 12/14/2012: 14:24:28
My advice is to sell it as is, allowing the new caretaker to restore it.
David McLaughlin - Posted - 12/14/2012: 14:29:21
Hi, Blake. I've been a huge fan of the Great Patent Silver Bell since the 1960s, when everybody would laugh at me for bringing them to jams. I always look for them. So three or four of the nickel fingerboard fretless banjos over a five decade period is not very many. I currently know the location of two. I'm sure there are more out there, though.
David McLaughlin - Posted - 12/14/2012: 14:55:52
I agree with Bill. I don't ever advise to "Get interested in playing banjo and fix'er up", especially when it is made clear that they are not interested in doing so..."I play tenor banjo & mandolin but don't play a 5-string so I'd rather see it go to someone who will fix it up & use it"
Edited by - David McLaughlin on 12/14/2012 14:59:57
R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 12/14/2012: 19:05:36
David - very cool - you're the original Dobson freak! I'd love to get one of those original Dobson fretless banjos but I'm equally in love with your amazing slothead with its FANTASTIC Ashborn-esque peghead. As of this count though, I've got 5 HC Dobson Silver Bells - 9" Colin Vance conversion, 9" slothead, 10" paddlehead, 11" slothead, 11" slothead doublespun - I should really stop the madness! But one or two more wouldn't hurt would they?
Edited by - R. Blakeslee Gilpin on 12/14/2012 19:09:46
